January 26, 1924.
SHEET MUSIC TRADE
TO PUBLISHERS
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
THE COMBINED CIRCULATION
OF PRESTO (EST. 1884), AND MUS-
ICAL TIMES (EST. 1881), IS BY FAR
THE LARGEST IN THE FIELD OF
THE MUSIC TRADE. COMBINA-
TION RATES OF SPECIAL AT-
TRACTIVENESS FOR ADVERTIS-
ING SPACE IN BOTH PAPERS
WILL BE MADE TO MUSIC PUB-
LISHERS.
This department is designed to advance the sales
of sheet music, and give any current information in
the Sheet Music Trade.
This publication believes that Sheet Music will
pay the dealer, just as any other commodity pays
those who merchandise it properly.
The conductor of this department will review
any numbers that are sent in for the purpose. It is
not the intent to criticise, but to review these offer-
ings, giving particular information of the theme and
a description of the musical setting of the number
discussed.
Address all communications to Conductor Sheet
Music Dept., Presto, 407 S. Dearborn, Chicago, 111.
POWER OF AMERICAN SOCIETY
Organization of Composers, Authors and Publishers
Now Representative of All Phases of Business.
The American Society of Composers, Authors and
Publishers now represent the majority of American
publishing houses both in the standard and popular
fields and the members believe it is in a position to
take strong action on many questions that obtrude
themselves by their importance. Questions relating
to radio broadcasting, copyrights and performances
of members' works by orchestras constitute problems
for solution by the society.
Many questions to be considered in common with
foreign organizations of publishers and composers
will be made easier by the broad character of mem-
bership in the American organization. Relations on
many questions of copyright will be made pleasanter
and the distribution of funds made more equitable.
The following new firms have joined the American
Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers: Bel-
win, Inc.,' John Church Co., Carl Fischer, Inc., Har-
old Flammer, Inc., Sam Fox Publishing Co., J.
Fischer & Bro., Walter Jacobs and G. Schirmer, Inc.
MUSIC PUBLISHERS MEET
Directors Hear Report of Committees and Discuss
Provision of New Canadian Copyright Act.
A well-attended, meeting of the directors and mem-
bers of the Music Publishers' Association of the
United States was held in the offices of the Music
Industries Chamber of Commerce on January 15,
George Fischer, president of the association, pre-
siding, and the following matters of importance were
acted upon:
A report was received from the committee on a
"Historical Record of Music Publishing in America,"
and in view of the expense involved the matter was
referred to a new committee, to be appointed by Mr.
Fischer, with instructions to ascertain if some pub-
lishers would undertake to publish the book as a his-
torical reference work.
The provisions of the new Canadian Copyright Act'
were discussed at some length, and because of the
- 9est
Music Printers
ANY PUBLISHER
\
OUR REFERENCE
RAYNER DALrJEIM S Ca
25
PRESTO
complicated and seemingly conflicting provisions of
the statute it was decided to obtain the advice of
counsel with regord to it before making any sugges-
tions or recommendations to members as to how to
proceed. A plan for the establishment of a Music
Publishers' Clearing House to take the place of the
proposed general catalog, was presented, but it was
decided that the benefits to be derived from such a
clearing house would not justify the expense involved,
and the plan was accordingly abandoned.
A resolution was adopted extending the sympathy
of the Association to the family and business asso-
ciates of the late A. F. Adams, former proprietor of
the Wolfsohn Musical Bureau.
The Membership Committee announced the admis-
sion to membership of the Heidelberg Press, of Phila-
delphia, Pa., and presented the application of the
Boston Music Company, which was accepted by the
association.
SANG FRANKLIN SONGS
Birthday Program Commemorative of Great Ameri-
can Given in New York Last Week.
Songs written by Benjamin Franklin were received
delightedly by a big audience of printers, electricians,
advertising men, music people and other admirers of
the great American statesman and philosopher, at a
dinner under the auspices of the International Ben-
jamin Franklin Society in the Hotel Astor in New
York City last week Friday night.
The Franklin songs were well sung by Harvey
Hindermeyer, tenor, accompanied at the piano by
Mrs. Howard W. Kimsey. They were the contribu-
tion of the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce,
one of eleven co-operating organizations, to illustrate
the great versatility of the many-sided Franklin.
The far-reaching influence of Franklin's career is
shown in a prospectus of the Franklin Society. As to
music, it mentions his invention of the armonica, or
glassy-chord, an instrument based on musical glasses,
now obsolete but popular in its day, and his writing
of popular songs of his time. It says further of
Franklin, "Being many men in one, he could shift
with ease from war to chess, from administrative
work to the playing of violin, harp or guitar."
THE HARDEN MUSIC CO.
John Harden, well known in the sheet music busi-
ness, has purchased from C. Schirmer, Inc., the sheet
music department of the M. Steinert & Son store in
Springfield, Mass. Mr. Harden, who formerly was
traveler for Chappell-Harms Co., Inc., who has many
friends in the sheet music field, will operate the de-
partment as the Harden Music Co.
REMICK HIT FEATURED.
"So I Took the $50,000," the successful song of
Jerome H. Remick & Co., was featured last week by
the Columbia Theater orchestra in Portland, Ore., a
fact which augmented the sale of the song in the
Remick Song & Gift Shop, in that city. According
to I. Sklare, the manager, the calls for the song have
increased amazingly.
WHAT IS AMERICAN MUSIC?
"What is American Music?" is a question that will
be decided at the Paul Whiteman concert at Aeolian
Hall, New York, February 12. Among the commit-
tee to act as judges are: Leonard Liebling, chairman;
Serge Rachmaninoff, Jascha Heifetz, Efrem Zimbalist
and Alma Gluck.
BUY SHEET MUSIC STOCK.
Mrs. J. C. Karle recently purchased the sheet music
stock and business of the firm of Gerth & Basket in
Memphis, Tenn. She will, later, be located on the
square, where she will have a studio and give music
lessons in connection with her sheet music business.
Estimates
TRADE WANTS THOMAS HITS
Why George W. Thomas Music Co.'s Music Sells
Readily Explained by Head of Firm.
"We have a very gratifying number of hits on our
list because we sensed what the music buying public
wanted and provided it. It is something that any
business man can understand," said George W.
Thomas, head of the George W. Thomas Music Co.,
428 Bowen avenue, Chicago, this week. Mr. Thomas
understands the music market. He is an accom-
plished musician and his orchestra, The Nine Muscle
Shoals Devils, has been a theater feature in many
cities in the country for the past year. Properly
gauging the market, Mr. Thomas two years ago
brought out "Muscle Shoals Blues," his first number.
It won immediate success because it was "different."'
"The world wants dancing music, and, tunefulness
apart, wants something not reminiscent of hundreds
of dances that have gone before," said Mr. Thomas.
"It is a waste of energy for the composer or publisher
to plagiarize a winner. The music buying public is
too wise today. And people who love to dance, even
if they do not play music, are quick to appreciate
novelty in melody and theme in a new song."
"I Ain't No Sheik," the second of the Geo. W.
Thomas Music Co.'s productions, repeated the suc-
cesses of "Muscle Shoals Blues." It has the swing
and go that made the dancing folk want it. After
that the production of a number by the Chicago house
quickly resulted in big sales. Bands of orchestras are
eager to play a Thomas number at the earliest and
dealers find it good business to stock and feature it.
Other good sellers of the George W. Thomas Music
Co. are "I've Got a Man of My Own," "Houston
Blues," "Up the Country Blues," "Shorty George
Blues" and "I've Found a Sweetheart."
Gus Edwards, New York, song writer and actor,
last week filed a petition in bankruptcy, giving liabili-
ties at $79,000 and assets at $41,000.
REMICK SONG HITS
Nearer and Dearer
Watchin' the Moon Rise
Until Tomorrow
Nobody Knows but My Pillow
and Me
The Old Folks at Home
Arizona Stars
Barney Google
Beside a Babbling Brook
You Can't Make a Fool Out of Me
Big Blond Mamma
First, Last and Always
Somebody's Wrong
Do You, Don't You, Will You,
Won't You?
Tweet, Tweet
Lou'siana
J. H. REMICK & CO.
New York
Chicago
Detroit
SONGS THAT SELL
"I Ain't No Sheik, Just Sweet Papa,
That's All."
"I've Got a Man of My Own."
"Houston Blues." "The Fives."
"Muscle Shoals Blues." "The Rocks."
"You Have a Home Somewhere."
"Up the Country Blues."
"Shorty George Blues."
"I've Found a Sweetheart."
"Mammy's Little Brown Rose."
and the Sensational Waltz Success
"AT SUNDOWN"
Order From Your Jobber or Direct.
'
WORK DONE BY
ALL PROCESSES
'2054-2060 W.Lake St., Chicago, 111.
Geo. W. Thomas Music Co.
428 Bowen Ave.
Chicago, U. S. A.
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