25
PRESTO
August 2, 1924.
SHEET MUSIC TRADE
THE "YANKEE DOODLE" SHRINE
House Where Army Surgeon R. Shuckberg Wrote
Jingle, Taken Over by State.
Fort Crailo, formerly the Van Renselaer manor
house, near Albany, N. Y., where "Yankee Doodle"
was written in 1758, is to be set aside as one of the
country's historic monuments, the gift recently hav-
ing been accepted by the State of New York. It
was here that an army surgeon attached to the forces
of General Abercrombie wrote the popular song when
British troops were waiting to attack Fort Ticon-
deroga.
Authentic records show that the name "Fort
Crailo" first occurs under date of 1663 in connection
with the digging of a well. It was on the edge of this
well that the author of "Yankee Doodle," Army Sur-
geon R. Shuckberg, was supposed to have sat while
inscribing the well-known jingle about our early
American recruits.
The old building has been the scene of much hos-
pitality, and its distinguished guests include the names
of Washington, Lafayette, Hamilton, General Philip
Schuyler, Daniel Webster and Harrison Grey Otis.
Tradition connects many interesting events with the
Fort Crailo neighborhood, and in presenting the prop-
erty to the state Mrs. Alan Hartwell Strong, herself
a Van Rensselaer, makes possible the preservation
of a national monument with a particularly warm
appeal—the appeal of "Yankee Doodle's" merry
strains.
JAZZ MUSICIANS IN FRANCE
How They Are Razzed by Police Learned in Letter
to Ferdinand A. Buescher.
Police in France are carefully watching the activi-
ties of American jazz musicians in Paris, according
to a letter received today by Paul Specht, the well-
known director of the Alamac Hotel Orchestra, New
York. The letter, which was received from the Sec-
retary of State by Ferdinand A. Buescher, noted
band instrument manufacturer of Elkhart, Ind., and
turned over to Mr. Specht, reads:
"Sir: The Department is informed by the em-
bassy at Paris that on June 4, 1924, it received from
you a cabled request to intercede in behalf of
American musicians in France who, it was reported,
were about, to be expelled from the country, and stat-
ing that you added your protest to that of Mr. Paul
Specht, who also had sent a cablegram of similar
tenor, which was received by the embassy at Paris
on the same date.
"You are informed that the Department is in re-
ceipt of a report from the embassy at Paris stating
that it has been informed by the French Foreign
Office that the papers of nine American musicians
were examined by the police, and that, while in seven
cases the papers were in order, in two cases they
were not. These two last, however, were to be given
REMICK SONG HITS
Where the Lazy Daisies Grow
I Wonder Who's Dancing with You
Tonight
There's Yes Yes in Your Eyes
Hula Hula Dream Girl
It Had to Be You
Mandalay
Bring Back the Old Fashioned Waltz
Until Tomorrow
Twilight Rose
Watchin' the Moonrise
Counting the Days
Not Yet Susette
Arizona Stars
If You'll Come Back
Land of Broken Dreams
an opportunity to regularize their situation, and the
Foreign Office appeared to feel that no action would
be taken against them.
"Inasmuch as the Department has no knowledge
of Mr. Specht's address, it would be pleased if, in
case you are cognizant thereof, you would transmit
the foregoing information to him."
MUSIC SALES IMPROVING
Chicago Branch of Carl Fischer, Inc., New York,
Reports Sheet Music Trade Improving.
The conditions of the sheet music trade is not
alarming to Chicago dealers, and particularly the Carl
Fischer, Inc., 430 South Wabash avenue, who reports
that sheet music conditions have improved to the
extent that all worries of future sales have been elim-
inated.
"The sale of sheet music, both popular and stand-
ard, has been ascending since the beginning of the
summer months," said Harry Ruppel, manager of the
Chicago Carl Fischer store, this week. "The sheet
music sale is better than it was at this time last
year and I believe with the coining of the school
months this year's business will be better," con-
tinued Mr. Ruppel.
MANAGER LITTLE PLEASED.
Ed. Little, sheet music manager of the sheet music
department of Sherman, Clay & Co.'s headquarters in
San Francisco, spent several days in Portland, Ore.,
en route home from the Sheet Music Dealers' con-
vention in New York. Mr. Little expressed himself
as greatly pleased with the progress made by the
Portland sheet music department of the firm since
it was opened just one year ago, June 25. Mr. Little
was present at the first anniversary of the opening.
He said that the installation of their complete classi-
cal department filled a long felt want in Portland
and attributed the success of the department to the
untiring efforts of Wm. Purdy, who was sent from
San Francisco to organize and install the Portland
department.
SHEET MUSIC IN CHINA.
There is a good demand for sheet music in Hong-
kong, U. S. Consul Leroy Webber reports. Dealers
report a marked improvement in this line during the
past few years. The 1923 sales were valued at ap-
proximately $5,000 gold, of which amount it is esti-
mated that 30 per cent represented dance music and
popular songs and the balance classical, semi-classi-
cal and band music. Practically all of the sales are
confined to the foreign residents of the colony and
the more prosperous class of Chinese. Jazz music is
increasing in popularity among the latter, which is
attributed to the return to this district of large num-
bers of Chinese who have been educated in the
United States and Europe.
REMICK SONGS WINNERS.
"It Had to Be You" and "Mandalay," two Remick
songs, are the biggest sellers in Portland, Ore., ac-
cording to Maybelle Elliott, manager of the sheet
music department of Seiberling-Lucas Music Store,
who has one of the largest clienteles in Portland.
Mrs. Elliott says: "All local orchestras are playing
these numbers and this has stimulated interest to a
great extent. Besides, they are all good numbers to
start with."
"BIG INJUN" WINDOW.
The Francis Piano Company of Galesburg, 111.,
put on a unique advertisement recently in the shape
of "A Heap Big Injun Chief," with feathers, blanket
and other paraphanalia. The musical red man at-
tracted groups on the streets to which he described
the merits of the pianos and phonographs displayed.
Mr. Francis has won a widespread reputation for his
novelty display with which to attract prospects.
SHEET MUSIC TRADE NOTES
A Few Items Interesting to People in Sheet Musk
Department Are Printed.
Six entertaining and instructive compositions for
the piano, melodious and easy to play, by J. S.
Unger, have been published by the J. S. Unger
Music House, Reading, Pa.
The University of Pennsylvania prize fox-trot,
"Dreary Weather," written by Clay Boland and
Frank Winegar, is being played by Waring's Penn-
sylvanians at the Stanley Theater, Philadelphia.
The popular favor for the old songs is expressed
at the concerts in Chicago parks this summer. The
old ones like "Old Black Joe," "My Old Kentucky
Home," "Mother Machree," "Annie Laurie," and
other famous old time songs are greeted with great
enthusiasm by the public when included in the band
programs.
Hayden H. Whitney, who wrote numerous hymns
which were featured by Homer Rodeheaver, the
evangelist, died recently in the hospital of The Good
Shepherd, Syracuse, N. Y.
The Kiwanis, Portland, Ore., have organized a
male chorus of 60 members, and it is the purpose of
the organization to give concerts and to engage the
leading artists of the country as visiting soloists.
RUN ON HYMNS.
"A-hymn-a-day" is the slogan of the youthful con-
testants in the National Hymn Contest of the After-
noon Musical Club of Wichita, Kans. Pupils in the
Vacation Bible Schools are learning a hymn each
day and this fact, together with the action of the local
churches in agreeing to feature one of the twelve
hymns each Sunday, has given quite a boost to the
sale of sacred music, according to Mrs. Nina Baird,
head of the sheet music department of the Adams
Music Co., Wichita.
HEARST HITS
You Can Take Me Away From Dixie
Forget Me Not
(Means Remember Me)
Bringin' Home the Bacon
My Dream Moon
Waiting for the Rainbow
Only a Butterfly
June
Broken Dreams
Lovers Lane Is a Lonesome Trail
If I Had You
I'm Falling in Love With a Shadow
Just a Lullaby
In a Wonderful World of Our Own
Someone Else
(Took Your Place In My Heart)
Boost Your Sheet Music Sales. Record Releases Announced.
Victor, Columbia, Brunswick, Vocation, Okeh, Paramount
and other records played by the famous orchestras, Including
Vincent Lopez, Paul Specht, Ben Selvln, Jack Chapman,
Don Bestor, Carl Fenton, Ray Miller, etc.
Q. R. S., U. S., COLUMBIA, ETC. PLAYER PIANO ROLLS
HEARST MUSIC PUBLISHERS
of Canada, Limited
HEAD OFFICE—WINNIPEG, Canada
New York
-
Chicago
-
Vancouver
-
Toronto
J. H. REMICK & CO.
N e w York
Chicago
Dwfarvit
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