Presto

December 11, 1920.
PRESTO
27
messenger for H. M. Higgins, when that old-time
leader had a large double store on Randolph Street
near Clark, and that was in the sixties.
TRADE WANTS MCKINLEY HITS
HOW SHEET MUSIC HELPS
The music dealer, during these weeks before
Christmas, is lucky when he has a tempting
line of sheet music to satisfy the increased de-
mand at this time. The dealer who sees the
possibilities of the sheet music for attracting
business asserts that every day is sheet music
day. That is true, but there are particular
times when the sheet music days are more
cheering in results and more satisfactory in
profits than at other periods.
"My most effective publicity, my greatest
bid for the interest of people who love music
is my sheet music department," said a promi-
nent dealer in expressing his views at the
monthly meeting of a local trade association in
a western city recently. "My music roll de-
partment and my phonograph record depart-
ment are noticeably stimulated by the active
condition of the printed music. In fact every
department in a music store helps every other
department but the first incentive to buy rolls
and records in a great many cases comes from
the direct hearing of the singing or playing
from the printed sheet."
The force of the statements of the western
dealer was enhanced by the knowledge his
hearers had of the importance of his sheet
music department. That was something that
had a small beginning about five years ago.
Being an observant man he soon saw the
great possibilities of a well-managed sheet mu-
sic counter. Now his favorite topic is the in-
fluence of that valued department on the others
in his store.
Making the nation's songs for bare plaudits,
once satisfied the troubadour, now it is a prof-
itable business. "I care not who makes the
Nation's songs, if I can make the hits," is
now the paraphrasing of a famous poet's de-
sire. It is the motto of a vast host of song
makers. According to the song publishers
there are at least a million ambidextrous indi-
viduals who seek expression of an inward
prompting by working the words with the
right hand while they pick out the tune on
the piano with the first finger of the left. In
one hand there is little regard for rhyme and
in the other an utter indifference to rhythm.
Successful Publishers of Fine Songs Find Repeat
Orders Best Evidence of Merit in Productions.
'"The House of Good Ballads" is a phrase familiar
to sheet music dealers and accurately represents the
character of the production of its users, the McKin-
ley Music Co., Chicago and New York. The good
ballad is one with the obvious merit that commands
success. Th,e evidence of success in the McKinley
national honors at. the biennial convention in June. songs may be gathered everywhere at home and
The various classes and prizes offered are:
abroad. McKinley successes are as familiar to the
Special Prize—Oratorio—Apocalypse on a libretto song lovers of England as they are to the McKinley
by Pauline Arnoux McArthur and Henri Pierre fans here at home. And the song that Paris is sing-
Roche, to be known as the Carrie Jacobs Bond prize, ing and whistling just now is a McKinley hit, "Sweet
$5,000.
Hawaiian Moonlight."
Class 1—Violin solo, $150. Given by Musicians
But in the list of McKinley hits that America is
Club of Chicago.
singing are other alluring numbers with the moon-
Class 2—Organ solo, $100. Given by the St. Ce- light theme, "Suwanec Moonlight" and "Shimmy
cilia Club of Grand Rapids, Mich., as memorial to Moon" and "Song of the Southern Moon" and "Wish-
Mrs. Edwin F. Uhl, first president of the National ing Moon." Other songs also suggest the romance
Federation of 1 Musical Clubs.
of Hawaii, "Hawaiian Rose," for instance. And
Class 3—Cel o soio, $100. Given by the St. Cecilia Dixie, that ever fresh incentive to the writer of songs
Club of Grand Rapids. Mich., as a memorial to Mrs. with human feeling provided the suggestion for some
Charles B. Kelsey, a president of the National Fed- of the pronounced song successes of the McKinley
eration of Musical Clubs.
Music Co. "Pickaninny Blues," full of the rollick-
Class 4—Song, $100. Composition must be by a ing character of the Dixie ditty; "Play Me a Dixie
woman composer and a member of the National Fed- Melody," "Floatin' Down to Cotton Town" and others
eration of Musical Clubs. Offered by Mrs. J. B. that add to the joy of living.
Custer of Chicago, this being a perpetual prize.
Class 5—Chorus for unchanged children's voices,
SHEET MUSIC MEN ACTIVE.
$100. Offered by Mrs. Francis E. Clark, Philadel-
A.
D.
La Motte, head of the sheet music depart-
phia, Pa.
ment of the Thearle Music Co., San Diego, Cal., is
These contests have aroused the greatest interest one of the music commissioners appointed by the
because the winners are given a year's management mayor of San Diego. Mr. La Motte has been iden-
for their concerts, the last year being tremendously tified with every movement to advance the cause of
successful for the winners of this contest at the last music in the Southern California city. Through
biennial held at Peterboro, N. H. Many clubs his activity the San Diego Union has decided to
throughout the country engaged these young artists, run a music page in the daily edition and several
paying them a fair price for their services.
pages in the Sunday paper. The editor of the San
The endowment fund committee has for its chair- Diego Union's music page has requested the service
man Mrs. Frank Gates Allen of Moline, 111., who has of the National Bureau for the Advancement of
reported a "much-increased fund in her department. Music.
Ways and means have been devised to help strug-
gling young professionals from this fund.
The National Federation of Musical Clubs is a
If you are not handling the
purely altruistic organization. The attitude for serv-
ice is one of co-operation and fraternity toward all
existing organizations.
The aim is a music club in every city, in every
county, in every state in the Union, and soldiers'
clubs, and junior boys' and girls' club auxiliary.
McKINLEY EDITION OF
10c MUSIC
CHARLES HIMMELMAN DIES.
Charles Himmelman, one of the veterans of the
music trade in Chicago, died at his home in Oak
Park, a suburb of that city, on Friday of last week.
For a great many years Mr. Himmelman had con-
ducted a mail order sheet music business in the Tem-
ple Court Building, Chicago. His special lines were
hymn books, school song books and books of musi-
cal instruction generally. In later years he had
published books of instruction for violin, banjo and
ukulele which proved very successful. Mr. Himme!-
man was one of the few remaining "pioneers" of the
music trade in Chicago. He began when a boy as
A National Song Hit
That finds its way into the Hearts of the
People is
'AMERICA!, FIRST and FOREVER"
"Our Greatest Song of Praise"
COMPOSERS SEEK HONORS
Hundreds of Manuscripts Are Being Submit-
ted for Illinois and Iowa Contests at Tri-
Cities June 8 to 15.
The seventh biennial prize competition for Ameri-
can composers, which will be decided at the conven-
tion of the National Federation of Musical Clubs at
Moline, 111., Davenport, Iowa, and Rock Island, III.,
on June 8 to 15, brought forth hundreds of compo-
sitions, the manuscripts of which had to be in the
hands of Mrs. El'a Smith of Columbus, Ohio, by
last Wednesday night, according to the president,
Mrs. Frank A. Seiberling of Akron, Ohio.
Airs. Louise E. Yager of Oak Park, 111., chairman
of tin- young artists' contests, has announced that
these competitions will be held in every state in thf
Union, the state winners to go to the district com-
petition and the district winners to compete for the
Song Leaders and Supervisors of Music Laud
Its Power to Strengthen Americanism.
It is full of pep. 18 cents. Order Now.
Corinthian Music Co.
Hadley, Illinois
Copies may be secured thro' Lyon & Healy, Ch'cago, and
Plaza Music Co., New York.
Comprising Standard,
Classic and Teaching Music
you are losing an opportunity to make money
Dealers Realize
150% PROFIT
On Sales of McKinley Music
It is the most popular library of 10c music
on the market. Selections contained in this
Edition are used by the most prominent
teachers in the country—Students, Accom-
plished Musicians, and the Music Loving
Public in general.
It is conveniently handled; arranged in
compact form, and is labor saving in serving
the customers.
The dealer is supplied with catalogs bear-
ing the business imprint which serves to
bring more customers to the store than any
other advertising medium that could be em-
ployed.
WRITE US FOR SAMPLES AND PAR-
TICULARS TODAY
Our Jobbing Department is the largest and
most complete in the country. We can sup-
ply you with every want in the sheet music
line. We fill all orders the day they are
received.
McKinley Music Company
The Largest Sheet Music House
in the World
CHICAGO
NEW YORK
1501-13 E. 55th St.
145 W. 45th St.
A Most Beautiful Waltz Ballad
"THAT IRISH LULLABY"
Endorsed by the BEST, as the BEST
Dealers and Jobbers Send for Sample and Introductory Prices
EMIL BACHER, 46 Henion St., DUBUQUE, IOWA
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