PRESTO
October 23, 1920.
MUSIC DAY IN
DALLAS A TRIUMPH
Progressive Texas City Surpasses All Its Past
Efforts in Cultural Work in Which
Merchants in All Lines Co-Oper-
ated with Music Interests.
Dallas, Tex., celebrated Music Day last week fn
a manner that would have done credit to any city,
no matter how large, for the entire population united
in making it a day of delightful harmonies. Mer-
chants in all lines of business co-operated and as-
sisted in the festivities. All of the stores observed
the day with either especially decorated windows or
emblems and all of the musical societies contributed
to the wonderful success of the day which was de-
clared a special day of observance, under the
auspices of the Civic Music Commission, the Music
Teachers' Association and the music trade indus-
try.
Music in Stores.
The programs given in the stores were exception-
ally good and had an attendance of from 300 to 1,000
people at each function. The reception at the
Adolphus Hotel in the evening, under the auspices
of the Music Teachers' Association, was crowded
to the doors of the large and beautiful palm garden,
where the festivities were held.
The Dallas Music Trade Industry Association has
inaugurated another innovation which was the result
of a suggestion made by William L. Bush some six
months ago and that was immediately taken up and
whipped into shape. For the past fourteen weeks
fifteen of the largest moving picture houses in Dal-
las, have been running a special series of films illus-
trating music as an important factor in the social,
religious and industrial phases of human life.
Aid from. Movies.
These reels and scenarios were carefully worked
out by Mr. Mansfield, president, and Robert A. Wat-
kin, secretary of the Dallas Music Trade Industries
Association, ably assisted by several of the members
and J. P. Simpson, an advertising expert on movie
advertising.
"These films," writes Wm. L. Bush, "were so
forceful in their power of suggestion and so interest-
ing in detail that they were a decided and added
feature of entertainment and it will be a splendid
thing if these reels could be reproduced in all of the
large cities in which music trade associations have
been established. The members of each association
co-operating and contributing to the expense would
reduce the amount to "a minimum, guaranteeing the
best and most economical advertising obtainable.
Work at State Fair.
The Texas State Fair was held in Dallas last week.
Frank E. Morton conducted a great educational fea-
ture at the American Steel & Wire Co.'s booth. He
also had some wonderful propaganda on "Music in
Industry." The Bush & Gerts Piano Co., of Texas,
furnished Mr. Morton with a Bush & Gerts Parlor
Grand piano. He also used a Steinway Duo Art, a
beautiful Lyon & Healy harp and an Estey reed or-
gan
and
ily.
this
one
in carrying out his program, and the dealers
musicians of Dallas co-operated witht him heart-
The Civic Music Commission stood back of
work as sponsor and the mayor of Dallas was
of its most enthusiastic advocates.
QULBRANSEN BOOK
FOR PLAYER OWNERS
INDIANA BRANCH STORE
CONSIDERABLY ENLARGED
Free Classified List of All the Music Available
in Player Rolls Presented in this
Publication.
Warerooms of Pearson Piano Company in Ander-
son Give Best Evidences of Success.
The Pearson Piano Company, which has
"expended" several hundreds of dollars in doubling
the size of its store in Anderson, Ind., and refurn-
ishing and redecorating the entire branch, formally
opened its remodeled store at 7 East Ninth -street to
the public last week.
The Pearson Piano Company has taken the sec-
ond floor over its Ninth street room. The upstairs
room will be used exclusively as a phonograph par-
lor. The main floor will be used for players and
pianos while a new record booth has been installed
at the rear end of the main floor. The entire main
and upper floors have bee'n thoroughly remodeled,
redecorated and refurnished in artistic style.
The Pearson Piano Company was established at
Indianapolis in 1873 by George C. Pearson on North
Pennsylvania street. Mr. Pearson was always ac-
tively identified with the business until two and
one-half years ago. The company has enjoyed
steady growth, especially in the last ten years. The
house has had branch stores in a number of cities
in Central Indiana for five years.
The Anderson branch was established in March,
1916, with B. E. Shirley as manager. The business
has grown to such an extent that the additional
floor space was considered necessary, and the credit
for the success of the local branch is due to Mr.
Shirley, whose business ability and untiring efforts
have built up trade. Mr. Shirley employes a large
force of able assistants.
INDIANAPOLIS TUNERS ORGANIZE.
A new organization has been formed in Indian-
apolis which will affiliate With the National Associa-
tion of Piano Tuners. At the first meeting of the
new organization the following gentlemen were se-
lected as temporary officers: Dean H. Craft, chair-
man; O. T. Poarch, vice-chairman; W. E. Metcalf,
corresponding secretary; C. W. Tice, recording sec-
retary; B. Pike, treasurer. The meeting was quite
an enthusiastic one, and plans were perfected for the
formation of a band, all members of which will be-
long to the tuners' association.
KNOCK FOR DANISH PIANOS.
The Danish piano trade is comparatively small.
Before the war about 2.500 were manufactured there
every year. About the same number was imported
from Germany. Now the Danes have another story.
During 1919 8,000 German pianos were imported into
Denmark and this has produced a glut, as the home
market cannot support such extensive importation.
As a consequence the Danish industry suffers. A
great many piano factory workers are said to be out
of employment.
PLAYER ACTION CLASS AT WORK
The interesting cut accom-
panying this story shows a
group of students of the Dau-
quard Player Action School,
New York, at the study pe-
riod. Quite an army of men
who have been graduated
from the school and who
now are practicing their pro-
fession in various parts of
the country, will recall the
absorbing moments when
the repair and tuning prob-
lems claimed their attention.
The Danquard Player Ac-
tion School was established
for the purpose of imparting
a knowledge of player
mechanism to tuners, repair
men and dealers of an ambi-
tious turn of mind. The
school is under the direction
of Milton Cheek, who is the
chief instructor. Over four
hundred graduates of the
school are at present using
the knowledge acquired there
in solving the problems of player owners in every
part of the country and in foreign countries as well.
The new book issued by the Gulbransen-Dickinson
Co., Chicago, is advertised in a page in the Saturday
Evening Post of this date (October 23). Other
means of bringing the book to the knowledge of the
public have been adopted so it is safe to say "Good
Times With Your Gulbransen" will be sought* by a
great many playerpiano and piano owners interested
in getting the full musical benefits from their instru-
ments.
The book is the first attempt ever made to classify
all the music available for the Gulbransen and other
playerpianos; to give examples of the most enjoyable
music of every kind; to select for each composition
the actual roll which is most artistically arranged for
playing. The editor-in-chief, Anne Shaw Faulkner
(Mrs. M. E. Oberndorfer), is National Chairman of
Music, General Federation of Women's Clubs; lec-
turer on music for Chicago Symphony Orchestra,
children's concerts, author of "What We Hear in
Music" and "Music in the Home." Miss Faulkner's
wide knowledge of the appealing in music is here
given to playerpiano owners for the first time.
Miss Faulkner has been assisted in the work of
selecting and editing by John Martin, whose love
of music and personal delight in the Gulbransen
playerpiano led him to the development of the
now famous Martin method of playerpiano inter-
pretation. Mr. Martin's invaluable work in select-
ing the rolls most artistically carrying-, out Miss
Faulkner's ideas will be appreciated by every player
owner.
Months of time of musical authorities and Gu!-
bransen playerpiano experts were devoted to the
preparation of this book. Thousands of rolls have
been tested. The whole world of music has been
searched for the most enjoyable examples of every
kind of music. The book is a condensed education
in the many forms and varieties of music. It classi-
fies national songs, compiles all the opera music
available for playerpianos, lists the great composi-
tions in classic, romantic and modern schools of
music.
Miss Faulkner has provided ideas for every occa-
sion. Popular parties, such as church, school,
Christmas, stag and children's affairs, have specially
selected numbers. Women's club programs for music
study are given in detail, even to suggested encores.
The book is given free upon request filled out on
coupons provided in the advertising.
STARR BRANCH MANAGER
FINDS TOLEDO TRADE GOOD
Excellent Business During Past Month Taken As
Assurance of Fine Fall Business.
The sales force of the Starr Piano Co.'s branch in
Toledo, O., has been particularly active in closing
sales for high-grade instruments during the past
month. Manager E. J. Austin sees in the successes
of his sales force an assurance of an excellent fall
and winter business.
The Starr grand as a source of stimulation for
the lovers of the dance was favored in three notable
instances within the past few weeks. The managers,
of the Coliseum, which is said to have the largest
dancing floor in the state of Ohio, have purchased a
Starr parlor grand. A Starr concert grand for as-
sembly use has been purchased by Louis Schackne'}
Dancing Academy. The dancing academy of J. R.
Hattas has also been equipped with a Starr grand.
Manager Austin evidently anticipates even greater
demands on his sales force than those experienced
for the past month because he has added the follow-
ing competent salesmen: C. E. Everingham, H. D.
Walk and Frank Osborn..
DEALER FOR STATE SENATOR.
Rudolph Leytze, of Swan & Leytze, the piano firm
cf Independence, la , is a candidate for State Sen-
r.tor on the Democratic ticket
and his chances oi
success are considered ve r y bright. He is public-
spirited and open-minded with the gift of telling
what he thinks in a forceful way.
OMAHA DEALERS MEET.
The school is equipped with models of all the well
known player actions.
At a meeting of the Omaha, Neb., division of the
National Piano Tuners' Association last week, A. \V.
Fisher was elected chairman, Charles H. Thatcher
vice-chairman, and H. K. Hutchinson secretary and
treasuier. It was agreed to hold meetings of the
local branch on the first Monday of each month.
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