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CONVENTION REPORTS
(Continued from Page 9)
their favorite school, depending on the
amount of their store purchases.
Allan J. Hayhurst, store manager of
Wurlitzers. Detroit, discussed how his
firm took advantage of the "Do It Your-
self" show in that city to get citizens
to make their own music or "play it
yourself.*'
How music merchants can cooperate
for a successful festival was described
by Laurin A. Mueller, store manager of
Kedewill Music Co., Phoenix, and Paul
K. Murphy, treasurer of M. Steinert's
& Son, Boston.
Single sponsorship of a festival was
discussed by Harry E. Callaway, presi-
dent of Thearle's in San Diego, and Sax
Smith, promotion director of Grinnells.
Detroit, both of whom ran successful
events in their respective cities.
Marceaux summed up the theme of
the meeting by saying:
"There seems to be considerable con-
cern today that we do not get enough
public impact with our musical mer-
chandise. There does not seem to be
enough glamour and buildup given our
beautiful musical instruments. We know
that there are millions of Americans
who want to be able to play the piano
or other instruments 'a little'—why do
they not begin?
"Is it because of not having the money
for an instrument. We doubt it! Is it
because they have just not received that
'final push' or 'urge' in the right and
appealing manner? Our big job seems
to be to REACH folks, probably through
no one particular medium, but through
a continual hammering of the facts
with everything at our strength and dis-
posal."
Group Insurance
The year old National Association of
Music Merchants' Group Insurance
Trust now has life insurance amounting
to $985,250 in force—or just $14,750
short of the million dollar mark.
This was the report of Harry E. Call-
away. San Diego. Cal., re-elected trustee
and trust chairman for the coming two
years, at the first annual meeting of
trustees held during the 1954 Music
Industry Trade Show and Convention
in Chicago.
Mr. Callaway, who said the plan is
growing at a steady pace, reported that
the number of NAMM companies par-
ticipating is nearly double the figure of
those originally enrolled a year ago.
The total amount of claims paid out for
the first year was $19,011.20, he added.
12
New trustees of the trust include
prominent NAMM members — Earl
Campbell of Washington, D. C, new
NAMM president and president of the
Campbell Music Co.; Paul E. Murphy,
Boston, NAMM vice president and
treasurer of M. Steinert & Son, and
Russell B. Wells, Denver, president of
the Charles E. Wells Music Co., and
retiring NAMM president, who also was
named vice chairman of the trust.
Remaining trustees are: Charles B.
Adams, Adams Music Co., Peoria. 111.;
J. A. Brown, Brown Music Co., Jack-
son Miss.; Ben F. Duvall, W. W. Kim-
ball Co., Chicago; Charles O. Morgan.
Morgan Piano Co., Miami, Fla., and
William R. Card, NAMM executive sec-
retary and trust secretary. Chicago,
Junior Executives
All 195H officers of the year old Jun-
ior Executives of NAMM were re-elect-
ed, it was announced following the 53rd
annual convention of the National As-
sociation of Music Merchants in the
Palmer House.
Parham Werlein of Philip Werlein
Ltd., New Orleans, was retained as pres-
ident; William P. Chrisler of Aeolian
Corp. of Missouri, St. Louis, as vice
president and John W. Jenkins IV of
Jenkins Music Co,, Kansas City, Mo.,
as secretary.
Directors are John Enrich of Thearle
Music Co., San Diego; Ben E. Neal, Jr.,
of Neal-Clark-Neal, : Buffalo, N. Y., and
Timothy Clark, vice president of the
Clark Music Co., Syracuse, N. Y., in
addition to the three officers.
Music Men on Panel Telecast
NAMM Members Gave Music Career
Advice on the Television Program . . .
"Choose Your Career," WBBM-TV, Sat-
urday, July 10, Channel 2 (CBS) in
Chicago.
Vincent Bach, president of the Na-
tional Association of Band Instrument
Manufacturers, Ralph Ginsburg, dis-
tinguished violinist and eoncertmeister
at the Palmer House for the last 28
years; Dr. Jarslav (Jerry) Cimera, well
known trombone and trumpet instructor
at Northwestern University, and the
Chicago Conservatory of Music; and
Ben F. Duvall, vice president and gen-
eral manager of the W. W. Kimball Co.
and newly elected National Association
of Music Merchants' treasurer, com-
prised the pane] which faced four Chi-
cago teen-agers who are seriously con-
sidering a career in music. Frank Rey-
nolds of the WBBM-TV newsroom is
moderator of the half hour weekly pro-
gram.
Mr. Bach told of ihe difficulties and
satisfactions of the band instrument
manufacturing business. Mr. Ginsburg
described his work as a career musician
and the qualifications needed. Dr.
Cimera stressed the need for qualified
music teachers and of the excellent op-
portunities in this field.- Mr. Duvall
explained the role of the music retail-
er, his importance to the community,
and expressed his personal hope that
viewers wouldn't overlook a career in
the business end of music.
Banquet
The annual banquet was held in the
Grand Ballroom of the Conrad Hilton
Hotel on Thursday evening, July 15th.
At the conclusion of the dinner, Russell
B. Wells, President of the association,
introduced the newly-elected officers
and directors as well as the persons sit-
ting at the speakers' table.
Mr. Wells then with a few very well-
chosen words, presented an illuminated
scroll to Steinway & Sons on account of
their centennial year which was grate-
fully received by William R. Steinway,
Vice-President of the company.
Another illuminated scroll was pre-
sented to Louis G. LaMair, President of
the American Music Conference, by
Frank 0. Wilking for his initiative in
getting the Conference started several
years ago and his continued interest in
the activities of this organization as
President for the last six years, from
which he will retire at the end of the
fiscal year of the organization in Au-
gust, due to the fact that he is now liv-
ing in Los Angeles, Cal.
He then introduced Earl Campbell,
President-Elect, who in a few words
pledged himself to continue the activi-
ties of the organization and particularly
to work indefatigably on the project of
having the Excise Tax on musical in-
struments repealed during the next year.
At the termination of his remarks, Mr.
Campbell pinned the Past President's
medal in the lapel of Mr. Wells' coat.
A Defense Bond was presented to
Walter Hedenberg for having secured
the most members for the association
during the past year.
The guests were then entertained by
Jack Herbert, Master of Ceremonies;
the Bonellis; John Thomas Covelli, pi-
anist; Los Aragons and Robert Max-
well, the harpist.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, AUGUST, 1954