Presto

October 4, 1924.
THERE ARE NO DEAD SONGS
The Alert Sheet Music Dealer Can Always Revive
the Supposedly Defunct.
In outlining a program for a music week, to be
celebrated by women's clubs, Anne Shaw Faulkner,
National Chairman of Music in the General Federa-
tion of Women's Clubs, suggests a paper on "The
Musical Taste of the Community," to be contributed
by the "principal music dealers" in the town who.
she says, should be able to indicate what the demand
indicated.
The suggestion is an excellent idea for the women's
club, but the plan for the dealer of setting down
what is the demand indicated every week is worthy of
his attention. Finding out what the public wants
in popular songs is easy. All the dealer has got to
do is to listen. But increasing sales of other popu-
lars by taking advantage of a run. on this or that
"hit" comes under the head of salesmanship.
The dealer should remember that few songs create
a demand for themselves by intrinsic musical and
lyrical merits; that even the admittedly good songs
must be featured and exploited before they are "put
over"; then he can realize his own opportunities for
exploiting something already in stock.
Merchants in other trades see the advantages of
"showing the goods." Why shouldn't the sheet music
dealer prevent the accumulation of copies by varying
the "hit" featuring with the playing of something
from the leftover shelf?
Don't be bluffed by the "newest" song fans into
relegating the not so new T or even the admittedly
old to the limbo of the sheet music department—the
dusty resting place of the supposedly dead.
SHEET MUSIC TRADE NOTES
A Few Items Interesting to People in Sheet Music
Department Are Printed.
Harold Flammer, Inc., New York, has issued a new
catalog containing a list of the firm's songs, both
secular and sacred, vocal duets, choruses, anthems
and compositions for the piano, organ, violin, etc.
J. W. Jenkins Music Co., Kansas City, Mo., still
continues to find a demand for "Memory's Garden,"
a song which has found favor with Mme. Frances
Alda, Metropolitan Opera singer, and was recorded
by her on a Victor record. The same publishers are
featuring a love song, entitled "Kiss Me, Dear," by
Thekla Hollinsworth Andrew.
Chief Capaulican, the Indian baritone, late of the
Metropolitan Opera House, and now one of the great-
est singing favorites of the vaudeville stage, is tour-
ing over both the Keith and Orpheum circuits featur-
ing Victor Herbert's famous "Gypsy Love Song."
All the sheet music departments in Denver, Colo.,
report an excellent business in songs of the ballad
type.
N. J. Stone, the Petoskey, Mich., music dealer, has
expanded his sheet' music business by a series of at-
tractive show windows.
The Oliver Ditson Co., Boston, has just completed
a book of 100 pages devoted to music books with net
prices.
A. F. Venimo, head of the piano department in the
ADVERTISING SONG BOOKS
Editor Presto: One of our customers inquires
about a collection of old-fashioned songs, suitable for
giving out to prospects and the general public. If
you can inform us where these are printed, you will
confer a great favor, and incidentally boost the piano
business, as it is a foregone conclusion that every-
one receiving a book will need a piano on which to
produce the accompaniments.—A Jobber.
Reply: About the best book of the kind within
our knowledge is put forth in quantities by the Illi-
nois State Register of Springfield, III. We believe
if you write to that concern you will get a sample of
about what you want.—Presto.
Over 50 songs, words and music for 4 voices and piano,
22 p.p., 0x9, in editions with special illuminated cover
printed to order as wanted. Mention Presto.
25
PRESTO
University of Washington, has published another
book of compositions for piano students.
Ed. Little, head of the sheet music department of
Sherman, Clay & Co., San Francisco, attributes much
of the increased favor for sheet music to the com-
munity efforts in singing and other events in which
singing is a prominent part.
"A Kiss of Desire" was the fervent title of a love
ballad written by Frank R. Florentine, manager of
the Congress Hotel, Chicago, shortly after meeting
Miss Bernadette Ruth Griffin a year ago. He dedi-
cated this lyric with the cryptic precede, "To B. R.
G." The hotel man was married to his inspiration
this week.
WARNING AGAINST FAKERS
Crosley Radio Corp. Advises Merchants to Beware
of Bogus Representatives with Advertising Scheme.
Merchants are warned to beware of bogus repre-
sentatives claiming to be connected with The Crosley
Radio Corporation, Cincinnati, who offer a co-opera-
tive advertising scheme to cost the merchants $20.00,
for which they are to receive a radio receiver of
Crosley make. Instead of the vacuum tube outfit
promised by the fake representatives, a number of
merchants have received crystal sets and in some
cases, nothing at all.
Duly accredited representatives and sales-engineers
of the Crosley organization have been trying to locate
the bogus salesmen who collect money or try to
cash the merchants' check before executing the or-
ders, which in many cases have not been filled.
"Crosley radio apparatus is sold by electrical, hard-
ware, automotive, music and other legitimate jobbers
to dealers. Be sure you know with whom you are
dealing and get what you order before paying any
money," is the warning issued by Powel Crosley, Jr.
SUES FOR COPYRIGHT TAX.
Three managers of motion picture theaters in Kan-
sas City, Mo., were sued for alleged infringement of
copyright by Leo Fiest, Inc., Charles K. Harris and
Jerome H. Remick & Co., all of New York. Damages
in the sum of $250 were sought in each case against
the owners of the Benton, Roanoke and Strand thea-
ters. The petition alleged that the theaters had played
copyright music without paying the required tax.
A similar suit against several theaters in that city
are pending in the Circuit Court of Appeals.
P. KAUFMAN TO TRAVEL.
P. Kaufman, well known in the talking machine
industry and well known to the trade generally
throughout the Middle West and East, recently
joined the organization of the Dalrymple-Whitney
Radio Corp., 437 Fifth avenue, New York, as gen-
eral representative. Mr. Kaufman possesses experi-
ence in selling, and, in addition to his wide knowl-
edge of the retail music field, is also well versed in
the radio trade.
NEW ATLANTA SONG SHOP.
Jimmie's Song Shop is the title of a new sheet
music business at 4 Plaza Way, Atlanta, Ga. The
owner is James Finley, a well known baritone and
clever pianist whose singing and playing have been
heard with pleasure over radio, broadcasting from
station WGM. He has organized a mail order de-
partment and will specialize in popular numbers.
ADD RADIO DEPARTMENT.
A new display room for radio goods has been con-
structed at the rear of the piano warerooms of Hard-
man, Peck & Co., 51 Flatbush avenue, Brooklyn, of
which J. C. Franke is manager. The radio depart-
ment will in the future be located on the rear mezza-
nine of the store and will be attractively decorated,
with L. Cerf as manager.
NEW TRENTON DEPARTMENT.
G. A. Barlow Sons Co., Trenton, N. J., formally
opened a new radio department last week. The new
department has a most prominent place in the store,
and is well equipped to handle the quality and volume
of business that the store attracts.
WRITING NATIONAL ANTHEMS
London Observer Says "They Are Not Designed;
They Happen," and Gives Examples.
W. B. Yeats, James Stephens and Lennox Robin-
son, famous respectively as poet, novelist and com-
poser of music, are to act as judges in a competition
for an Irish national anthem, promoted by the Irish
Free State. Commenting of this competition a writer
in the Observer of London, says:
"If Ireland is able to get a good national anthem
written to order, she will be more fortunate than most
countries. It may almost be said of national anthems
that they are not designed; they happen.
"The only one in Europe written with intention by
a poet of distinction is the Norwegian national an-
them, which is the work of Bjornson. The old Por-
tuguese national anthem is unique in that it was writ-
ten by a monarch, the Emperor Don Pedro of Brazil.
It was threatened with competition during the war,
when the Kaiser and Dr. Richard Strauss were said
to be collaborating in an effort worthy of the occa-
sion; but nothing came of it—perhaps, owing to the
librettist's pressing engagement elsewhere. There is
something to be said for the plan on which the Czar's
national anthem was devised. Lvoff wrote the tune
and someone was told off to set words to it."
SEATTLE STORES ADD RADIO
Hopper, Kelly Co. and Frederick & Nelson Depart-
ment Store Install Sets and Accessories.
The radio department, opened during the summer
by the Hopper Kelly Co., has been put in charge of
Frank Croft, who is a radio expert. This depart-
ment is fitted to install radio, either in conjunction
with a phonograph, or independently. It is the first
music house to take this step. Radio is in its in-
fancy in Seattle, and the music dealers feel that it
will be foolish to take any definite steps in this direc-
tion until it has a firmer hold on the public mind.
Among other new things being received in the
Fredrick & Nelson Department Store are the new
Radiola Super-Heterodine. It comes in the popular
suitcase model, which is portable.
This department under the direction of Mr. Britz
has made extensive changes in the last month. It
has been enlarged, and a large demonstration room
has been made from two smaller ones.
OLD OHIO MUSIC HOUSE.
One of the veteran music dealers in Ohio is C. F.
Leftwich who, in addition to doing a large piano
business, has in years past written some very popular
songs. When Mr. Leftwich was a young man—that
is, younger than he is now—his songs were put forth
by the John Church Co., of Cincinnati. But it is
as one of the veteran music dealers in Ohio that
the gentleman of Greenville has made his mark. It
is said that the Leftwich Music House is one of the
oldest in the state, and the business done th£re is
always clean and progressive.
The Liberty Piano & Music Co. recently opened a
store in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
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
J. H. REMICK & CO.
New York
Chicago
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