Presto Buyers' Guide
Presto Year Book
Analyzes and Classifies
All American P i a n o s
and in Detail Tells of
Fheir Makers.
The Only Complete
Annual Review of the
American Music In-
dustries and Trades.
. THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
to < w . ; 92.00 « Y~.
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 1925
CONVENTION EVENTS
LOOK PROMISING
Program of Annual Meeting of Music Trade
Organizations at Drake Hotel, Chicago,
Beginning June 8, Filled with Allure-
ments for Members and Friends.
GREAT SELLING FEATURE
Main Purpose Is to Make Affair Beneficial to Manu-
facturer and Dealer by Means of Comprehensive
Range of Exhibits.
Beginning June 8, the annual conventions of the
national associations in the music trades will take
place in the Drake Hotel, Chicago. An attractive fea-
ture will be the showing of music goods. Almost one
hundred exhibits of the finest piano, playerpiano and
reproducing piano products will be shown. A com-
prehensive character will be imparted by the displays
Business meetings 10 a. m. to 12 noon. 2 p. m. to
4 p. m.—all exhibits closed during these hours.
Luncheon 12 noon, Richard W. Lawrence, presiding.
Evening, private theater parties and dinners by sev-
eral manufacturers for their representatives. Ex-
hibits also open in the evening.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10.
Business meetings 10 a. m. to 12 noon, 2 p. m. to 4
p. m. All exhibits closed during these hours.
Luncheon 12 noon, Richard W. Lawrence, pre-
siding.
Evening Dinner Banquet of Music Merchants of the
United States. President W. W. Smith, presiding.
Speaker of National repute to be announced later.
THURSDAY, J U N E 11.
Business meetings 10 a. m. to 12 noon. 2 p. m. to
4 p. m.—All exhibits closed during these hours.
Luncheon 12 noon, Pres. R. W. Lawrence, presid-
ing.
Dinner for members of National Piano Travelers
Association only, 7 p. m.
11 p. m.—Third Annual Piano Club Frolic.
FRIDAY, JUNE 12.
Exhibits open all day.
Convention Golf Tournament under personal direc-
55
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IV
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In Addition to Moves and Improvements,
Other Transformations Are Openly Dis-
cussed in the Lane of Progress.
In addition to the changes already made, or an-
nounced, as affecting Chicago's famous piano row, on
Wabash avenue, there are more to follow. The new
shopping district on North Michigan avenue prom-
ises to take a number of the foremost piano houses,
those of Story & Clark, and the Ampico Studios
breaking the way to the elegant business neighbor-
hood on the way to.the New North Side.
Other changes already made are those of the Starr
Piano Co., Kranich & Bach, and the John Church
Co.. though the latter has wended its way in the
opposite direction and is settled south of Van Buren
street, on Wabash avenue, near the old Starr site.
And if the riotous rumors prove to have substan-
tial foundation at least two of the good-sized piano
houses will merge into one and possibly other similar
moves may be made, with a view to conservation of
overhead by consolidation. That seems to be the
order of the times and, while it has not yet centered
in the retail music trade, there is no reason why it
should not do so.
And that fact, perhaps, may be about all there is
to the talk which has been adding to the always active
life of Chicago's piano row for the past few weeks.
ORGAN COMPANY INCORPORATED.
EF ^
n
CHANGES IN CHICAGO'S
OLD PIANO CENTER
It
• •
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"a
THE DRAKE HOTEL, CHICAGO.
of violins, harps, combination radio-phonographs, tion of Kenneth W. Curtis at Olympia Fields Golf
radio, band instruments and in fact every intrument of
Club. Forty wonderful prizes.
music.
CLUB'S BIG PURPOSE.
The slogan of this convention is "Make America
The members of the Piano Club of Chicago are en-
Musical" which inaugurates a drive to inspire the en- thusiastic over the thought of making this a selling
tire nation with a further love and appreciation of this convention. The music industry is constantly chang-
wonderful art.
ing and the enterprising music man will be on hand to
Interesting addresses will be given, by prominent find out just how he can better his business. Dis-
men of the trade and special programs of both high plays of merchandise that he can sell will result in
class and popular music will be played on occasion sales. Dealers will see the most wonderful exhibit of
during the week.
pianos, phonograph and other musical instruments
A special entertainment will be given by the fem- ever displayed at a music trades convention. Experts
inine visitors at the great store of Marshall Field & on these instruments will be there to impart informa-
Co., Tuesday, June 9. A program of sports, includ- tion upon request.
ing golf, for the men will take place Friday, June 11.
Hotel Accommodations.
The following is a day-to-day program of social and
Chicago has ample hotel reservations for all that
business events during convention week:
desire to attend. Henry W. Hewitt, chairman of the
Hotel Committee, 711 Milwaukee avenue, Chicago,
SUNDAY, JUNE 7.
will secure your room for you. Just tell him the
Meeting of special trains from New York and Pa- the price you wish to pay. Hotel lists upon applica-
cific Coast. Escort by reception committee of visitors tion.
from these trains to their respective hotels.
Business Meeting.
MONDAY J U N E 8.
The business meetings of the Musical Industries
Exhibits open all day excepting between hours of
Chamber of Commerce will be under the personal
2 p. m. to 4 p. m.
direction of Alfred L. Smith, secretary and general
Registration for members of all associations in the manager; Richard W. Lawrence will preside.
membership of the Music Industries Chamber of
The meeting of the National Association of Music
Commerce.
Merchants will be under the direction of Matt J. Ken-
Luncheon—12 noon. Music Industries Chamber of
nedy, secretary; President W. W. Smith will preside.
Commerce. Richard W. Lawrence, president, pre-
Henry D. Schoenwald, president of the Piano Club
siding.
of Chicago is chairman of the General Arrangements
Evening—Private entertainments—Exhibits.
Committee for the convention; Gordon Laughead is
the secretary and Joel G. Childs is the treasurer.
TUESDAY, J U N E 9.
Piano Club Frolic.
Ladies will be entertained at the great store of
Marshall Field & Co., by special concert, style revue
This Avill be one of the most colorful events given
and luncheon.
for the convention guests by the Piano Club of Chi-
The Robert Morton Organ Company, a reorganiza-
tion of the old Photo Player Company, has been in-
corporated in California, and will conduct the fac-
tories at West Berkeley and at Van Nuys. The paid-
in capitalization is $500,000. Following are the new
officers of the company: President, L. H. Brown-
stone: vice-president and general manager, J. A. G.
Schiller; secretary and treasurer, William M.
Lockhart.
NEW PORTLAND MANAGER.
J. J. Hammer has been appointed manager of the
piano department of the Portland, Ore., store of
Sherman, Clay & Co., taking the place of Sarg Hal-
man, who came up from San Francisco headquarters
a year and a half ago to take charge of the depart-
ment. Mr. Halman has returned to the San Fran-
cisco headquarters. Mr. Hammer is well known to
the trade in the Pacific Northwest.
cago under the personal direction of Gordon Laughead
and the assisting committee, Axel W. Christensen,
Roy Berry, Wm. Grosvenor, Ben Duval, John Bunte
and Henry Hewitt. Joe G. Childs, treasurer of the
convention will be in charge of the sale of tables.
Orchestras and artists from the leading phonograph
companies will entertain. Dances and parts of the
leading musical shows, now in Chicago, will be seen
and heard. The decorations and special electrical ef-
fects will be by Edward Moore of the Chicago Civic
Opera Association.
The main dining room and the Avenue of Palms
of the Drake Hotel is transformed for the party into
a double theater with two stages and two dance
floors. Dancing and entertainment continuous from
11 p. m. to 3:30 a. m.
Entertainment Features.
Last year many music merchants had the oppor-
tunity for the first time of listening to the artists
and dancing to the music of the orchestras that record
for Victor, Brunswick, Columbia, Okeh, Gennett and
Vocalion records. Not a moment is lost at this party
by utilizing the two stages and the two dance floors.
The stages and dance floors are operated very much
as a large theater. The orchestra and artists all
work on a schedule which is synchronized with the
lights, stages, scenery and properties.
The gathering at the Drake is first of all a busi-
ness convention but this final get-together party is
always the climax of a week's good business and fel-
lowship. It is doubtful whether this entertainment
will be broadcast because of artist contracts. In 1923
the music from the Frolic was heard by a large radio
audience.
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