PRESTO
October 13, 1923
HOLLENBERG STORE
IN CELEBRATION
Big Southern Music Firm, with Branches in
Little Rock, Memphis and Elsewhere,
Commemorates Date of Its Found-
ing Seventy Years Ago.
Unified
Cooperation
The Factory
Durable, Satisfaction-Giv-
ing instruments mean real
profit after the sale. The
Seeburg is always recog-
nized as the standard coin
operated player.
Fourteen styles f r o m
which t o select.
The
smallest to the largest.
The l a r g e s t to the
smallest.
The Sales
Organization
A trained force of travel-
ing representatives, en-
tirely experienced in de-
veloping automatic in-
strument sales.
Piano men who under-
stand the dealer's prob-
lems and capable and glad
to extend real co-opera-
tion and assistance.
J. P. SEEBURG
PIANO CO.
Factory
1508-16 Dayton St.
Offices
1510 Dayton St.
CHICAGO, ILL.
The Nationally
Known Line
RECALLS PROUD HISTORY
Progress Sure and Steady Since First Days of House
in Huntsville, Where It Was Established
in 1853 by H. C. Hollenberg.
During the week beginning October 1 the Hollen-
berg Music Co., Little Rock, Ark., and Memphis,
Tenn., celebrated the 70th anniversary of its founding,
and during the week many interesting incidents com-
memorated the completion of three score years of
clean and progressive trading in music goods. But,
although Little Rock is now the headquarters of a
business which reaches to distant points in the South,
it was in Huntsville, Ark., that H. C. Hollenberg,
father of Col. T. B. T. Hollenberg, present head of
the business, founded the firm in 1853.
One could hardly find a sharper contrast than the
homes of Arkansas as they were when H. G. Hollen-
berg started the business that was to reach its cul-
mination in Little Rock, then a small, ugly town of
a few thousand inhabitants. That his policies were
ones that made for growth and permanence is evi-
denced in the widespread business of the Hollenberg
Music Co. today. The success with which II. G.
Hollenberg's business venture in Huntsville met en-
couraged him to seek a larger field, and following the
Civil War the business was moved to Memphis, where
it played a conspicuous part in the cultural life of the
people living in the trade territory of that city.
Creates Music Desire.
Hollenberg agents, as soon as the dark clouds of
the Civil War had cleared away, began spreading the
doctrine of "music in every home" in Arkansas,
reaching not only the principal towns of eastern Ar-
kansa's, but penetrating the wilderness and delivering
pianos by ox and mule teams, far from the reaches
of railroads and steamboat lines. The history of the
house is admirably told in the "Hollenberg Music Co.
70th Anniversary Section" of the Arkansas Democrat
of September 30. In the ten pages of interesting
matter this is printed:
Interesting History Facts.
In 1873—50 years ago—a branch was opened in
Little Rock to handle the steadily increasing business
in this territory. This branch was located in the
same block as the present Hollenberg establishment,
Main street, between Fourth street and Capitol
avenue.
It was shortly after the establishment of the Little
Rock branch that a newcomer destined to play a very
important part in the history of the Hollenberg Music
Company appeared on the scene, a young graduate
of the Kentucky Military Institute named F. B. T.
Hollenberg, son of the founder of the business.
He first became identified with the firm during a
college vacation in 1884, but only in a small way.
He came to Little Rock in 1885 and was so impressed
with the business possibilities of Little Rock and
Arkansas that he chose the Little Rock branch as the
field of his endeavors. Later he became secretary
and assistant manager of the entire Hollenberg busi-
ness, serving as assistant to his father, whose advanc-
ing years made it necessary for him to divide the
responsibility.
The Reorganization.
Finally in 1891 a new stock company was formed
with F. B. T. Hollenberg as its head, and two years
later the founder of the "House of Hollenberg" died,
leaving behind him a record for integrity, sound busi-
ness judgment and fair dealing that typified the high-
est ideals of American business.
It is worthy of note that the House of Hollenberg
has had only two presidents in its 70 years of thriv-
ing existence—the founder of the business and his son,
F. B. T. Hollenberg. In the natural course of events,
the third president of the business will be F. B. T.
Hollenberg, Jr., the present assistant manager of the
firm. He has been with the company continuously
since the completion of his education with the excep-
tion of the time that he spent as an officer of the
American expeditionary forces in France during the
World War.
The present head of the business looks forward
with a great deal of satisfaction to the prospect of
the business being continued for many more years
under the guidance of the "heir apparent."
Event in Progress.
From the original location of the Hollenberg
branch on Main street, the business was moved to
the Capital Hotel, where it remained until a commo-
dious home was secured on Main street between
Third and Fourth streets. Here the business was
housed until 1906, when it was removed to a building
especially constructed for it at. Seventh and Main
streets, on the present site of the Donaghey building.
Then came the fire of 1911, destroying this building
and its entire stock, the reopening of the business on
the very day of the fire in temporary quarters almost
at • the scene of the fire on Main street; then new
quarters, built on the site of the former Hollenberg
establishment; and finally the opening of the present
magnificent Hollenberg establishment at 415 Main
street, in 1916, which is acknowledged to be one of
the finest stores of its kind in the South.
At the time the present establishment was built it
was thought that it would be adequate for all needs
for many years to come. But it proved that the
growth of the business had been underestimated, and
it was soon found necessary to build another modern
structure, the three-story Hollenberg building at 112-
14 East Capitol avenue, most of the first floor of
which is occupied for repair rooms and storage.
Congratulations from Manufacturers.
In the special section of the Arkansas Democrat
the appreciation of the Hollenberg Music Co. for the
"confidence and generous patronage of the people of
Arkansas and surrounding states" is expressed in a
graceful way.
Special pages in the section also express the con-
gratulations of the Q R S Music Co., whose rolls the
Little Rock company has sold for 20 years; the Hallet
& Davis Piano Co., whose pianos have been sold by
the company for two-thirds of a century; the W. W.
Kimball Co., with 50 years dealings with the Little
Rock house; the Mason & Hamlin Co., Brambach
Piano Co., Estey Piano Co., Welte-Mignon Corpora-
tion, Gulbransen-Dickinson Co., and Brunswick-
Balke-Collender Co.
ANNUAL MEETING AND DINNER
OF CHICAGO PIANO CLUB
Election of New Officers and Board of Control for
the Ensuing Year.
The Red Room, Hotel La Salle, Chicago, Wednes-
day evening of this week, was the scene of an ani-
mated meeting of the Chicago Piano Club. The
members of the industry and trade were on hand.
Perhaps not quite so hilarious as at some of the
former dinners, but the occasion proved that every-
thing and everybody were full of pep and an un-
usually interesting entertainment by artists supple-
mented the local members of club entertainers. Axel
Christiansen, Walter Wilson, Elias Day and Will L.
Bush were in their best form and seemed to outdo
themselves, Mr. Bush delivering a better and more
appropriate speech than usually flows from his always
eloquent lips. He, in manner vivid and picturesque,
traced music and music trade affairs from October 9,
1871, up to today.
He told of walking over ruins of the city, even
where the La Salle Hotel now stands, the day after
the fire. He asked anyone in the room who helped
put out the Chicago fire, or who lost much of their
all in the fire, to stand. Platt P. Gibbs promptly
arose and declared that he did his duty at the lime,
and gave a graphic description of his part in the
terrific events of 52*years ago. Mr. Gibbs lost all he
had, even to his last shirt. At the time he was in
the employ of Root & Cady in the Wright's Opera
House building on Washington street.
The officers of the club for 1924 were elected, the
fiscal year beginning the 15th of this month. The
nominating committee brought in the following ticket,
which was elected without dissenting vote—not a
word of opposition or move to put up competition.
The new officers are: J. McKenna, president; R. E.
Davis, vice-president; Harry Schoenwald, secretary;
and Gordon Laughead, treasurer.
The outgoing president, James T. Bristol, made a
speech of appreciation, thanking the officers and com-
mittee for their co-operation and wishing still further
success for the incoming officers. Mr. McKenna also
spoke, outlining plans for the coming year. Among
the other pleasant incidents of the evening was the
singing by Gus Edwards, the song writer, of some
of his compositions.
It was reported at the meeting that the club gained
81 new members during this year. The total mem-
bership is now 351.
NEW COLUMBUS, O., FIRM.
Koebel & Keller, Columbus, O., who recently
opened an attractive store at 846 North High street,
is handling the Baldwin line of pianos and Victor
talking machines and records. Messrs. Koebel and
Keller are both experienced piano men and were
formerly connected with the Heaton Piano Co., of
Columbus. The new store is in a desirable location,
and the equipment includes four booths for the
demonstration of records and one for pianos.
Having purchased an interest in the Williams-Gut-
tenberger Music Co., Macon, Ga. ( Harry P. West is
disposing of the stock of his own firm, the H. P.
West Music Co., this week.
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