MAKES DE LUXE RECORDS
Musical Incidents in Career of Malcolm Johnson from
School Days to Sherry's.
Malcolm "Johnny" Johnson, the newest addition
to the Welte-Mignon (Licensee) popular music artists,
finds time to furnish the dance music at New York's
newest supper club, the Mirador, and also at Sherry's
when not engaged in recording for De Luxe Repro-
ducing Rolls. He hails from Indiana and might be
called a student of the mid-west school of jazz. At
eleven, a concert career was presaged and he held a
scholarship at the Indianapolis Conservatory of Mu-
sic, studying under Carl Bentel.
Saturdays called for a trip from Washington, Ind.,
to the Hoosier capital for lessons, but after the les-
sons, a certain Alhambra Theater which featured
Walter Sherwood and Cyril McDonald, playing rag-
time on two pianos, was always his shrine until time
for the last train back to Variens County.
High School finished, he started on a journalistic
career. Finally music asserted itself over the journal-
istic tendency and after two years in vaudeville, he
became associated with Yerke's Happy Six and other
recording orchestras as pianist and arranger. Found-
ing his own orchestra in 1923 at Murray's, Philadel-
phia, Johnson has progressed rapidly and has had
orchestras at Ross-Fenton Farms, Asbury Park;
Club de Montmartre, Palm Beach; El Patio, Hotel
McAlpin; Pelham Heath Inn, Blossom Heath Inn,
besides the aforementioned Club Mirador and
Sherry's, New York.
His latest enterprise is a tieup with Eugene Fos-
dick to be known as Johnson-Fosdick orchestras, sup-
plying music to hotels and private functions. An
exponent of dancier player rolls, he always uses
drums while recording with a gratifying result in the
matter of rhythm and ideas in syncopation.
23
PRESTO
November 1, 1924.
mcras lamp trade and many who have not sold them
before are adding lamp departments. A very attrac-
tive lamp folder may be received from Lyon & Healy
on request.
NO FEAR OF GERMAN MODELS
British Phonograph Industry Congratulating Itself
on Conditions of a Favorable Kind.
SCHOOL MUSIC HELPS TRADE
New Courses in Milwaukee Public Schools Found
Beneficial to Business in Music Goods.
The attention given to musical education in the Mil-
waukee schools is having a favorable effect on sales
of musical merchandise in that city. Bands are being
organized more extensively this year than ever be-
fore, which naturally is reflected in the business of
local music stores.
A juvenile orchestra of fifty pieces, under the direc-
tion of Henry Panduro, musical instructor in public
schools, is a new organization this year. Plans have
been formulated by Director Alfred Hiles Bergen for
the addition of ten special music instructors. These
plans are certain to be adopted by the school board.
Investigation of teaching of music in schools of other
cities has been suggested, and a resolution allowing
two representatives to go to Detroit, Cleveland and
other cities for this purpose has been put before the
board.
The British manufacturers of phonographs have
little to fear just now from German competition in
the home market. The German industry, in spite of
the abolition of the McKenna duties, could not hope
to do much business, except in the very cheap lines.
English domestic competition was so very keen, and
the English models display such taste in the cabinet
work and design over the German styles that com-
petition at the moment is impossible.
High prices for German makes are the cause of the
condition. Some of the reasons why prices are high
are (1) the establishment of wages under the gold
currency set up, and (2) the enormous rate of inter-
est demanded by the bankers for loans, 20 per cent to
50 per cent per annum being asked. The inability of
Continental manufacturers to supply the British
gramophone trade is evidenced by the fact that orders
for tone-arms, sound-boxes and other gramophone
components have been placed in London by Canadian
firms.
LEASES IN PORTLAND, ORE.
The McDougall-Conn Music Co., Portland, Ore.,
has leased the ground floor corner of the new $1,000,-
000 Elks' Building at Eleventh and Alder streets.
There are 2,500 square feet of floor space in the new
quarters. The lease on the quarters at Park and
Alder streets will not expirt until January 1, 1925.
The Crawford-Milwaukee Music Shop was recently
opened at 3318 North Crawford avenue, Chicago.
A new playerpiano line was recently installed by
the Doner Piano Co., Seattle.
"SUPERIOR" PIANO PLATES
IN SMALL GOODS DEPARTMENT
Growth of the Musical Merchandise Business Shown
by New Stores and Extensions.
Louis D. Robbin is proprietor of a new music
store at 3606 Georgia avenue, N. W., Washington,
D. C.
Fred Gardner is the successor to M. Polsky in a
music business at 1006 O street, Lincoln, Neb.
Jimmie's Song Shop is the style name of a new
store at 4 Plaza Way, Atlanta, Ga.
The Wagner-Bund Music Co., Inc., 113 North
Whitfield street, Pittsburgh, is expanding its business
and becoming a general music store.
The music store of Mr. and Mrs. Frank W.
Weaver, Franklin, Mass., was opened recently.
The stock music goods of the Wingren Co., Burnet,
Tex., was damaged by fire recently.
The Rice-Waters Music Co., Seattle, Wash., has
closed out its picture department and the space is
now used for pianos and phonographs.
An alteration sale was recently closed at the A. B.
Clinton Co., 33 Church street, New Haven, Conn.
Manufactured by
SUPERIOR FOUNDRY CO.
LAMPS FOR MUSIC TRADE.
With every indication that the largest season in
the history of the lamp industry is ahead, Lyon &
Healy, Chicago, is offering a selection of lamps that
is of particular interest to the piano merchant. This
is a very profitable source of new business, although
overlooked by many. The piano merchant is in a
position to receive a considerable portion of the enor-
Cleveland, Ohio
NATURELLE
Reg. U. S. Pat.
Off.
The now famous reproducer, will help you increase your
sales of Phonographs and Records. Keep it on your dem-
onstrating machine. Every phonograph owner in your
neighborhood is a prospective buyer.
Dealer's Price $2.50—Send for Sample.
THE SPECIALTY PHONO. & ACCESS. CO.
210-212 East 113th St.
NEW YORK
INDISPENSABLE TO PIANO DEALERS AND SALESMEN
We are now making shipments of our latest model, which is Foolproof and indestructible.
Price reduced to $95.00 including extra good moving cover.
Shipped to responsible dealers on approval.
Try one. If you don't like it send it back.
BOWEN PIANO LOADER CO.,
Winston-Salem, N. C.
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