MUSICAL
TIMES
PRESTO
Established
1881
Established
1884
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
10 Cents a Copy
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 1927
FIRST PIANO=PLAYING TEST IN CHICAGO
In opening the business
session of the Chicago
Piano Club last Monday
noon President Laughead
brought up a matter which,
he said, was the most im-
portant thing the club has
had in hand for many a
day—"something more im-
portant to us locally, I con-
sider, than 'the Music Mer-
chants' c o n v e n t i o n in
June," he said.
The matter to which Mr.
Laughead drew attention
is that the Piano Playing
Tournament needs men to
direct the preliminary tests
now going on at different
places in Chicago and to
continue during the next
two or three weeks.
The first of these pre-
liminary tests took place
last week Saturday at
THE FIRST TEST IN CHICAGO CONTEST.
three public school audi-
toriums. This week's tests end this (Saturday)
until the time her promised piano would arrive. There
morning at the Shields School, 4250 South Rockwell were several piano sale prospects at this meeting and,
street, the Hirsch Jr. High, 78th and Drexel avenue, in all the gatherings scheduled at the twenty-one
and the Tuley High, 1313 North Claremont avenue.
schools, and there must be 'prospects galone,' " was
the interesting message brought by the speaker.
Call for Volunteers.
After Mr. Whalen's talk the complement for the
Volunteers are needed—three men for each school— week's test committee was easily made up and will,
to take charge of each event. The complement for
undoubtedly, be as easily supplied for this coming
this week's series was quickly made up from among week and the week following.
the members present at the Monday noon luncheon,
Promises Great Event.
and a good start was made for next week and, in fact
Thus the Annual Greater Chicago Piano Playing
for the week following. These allotments required
Tournament, now upon us, is the big thing of the
some sixty-three men for each week, and the present
week's quota was filled, as already stated, within hour. It is destined to grow in momentum and be
the great single event at the music merchants and in-
the noon hour, while 'the luncheon was going on and
immediately following Eugene Whalen's interesting dustries convention in June—not far away, only
month after next, and early in that month.
and inspirational talk.
The picture which accompanies this article was
Before the members were assigned to their respec-
taken at the first of the Chicago children's piano
tive test classes, Mr. Whalen told of his experience at
one of the test gatherings at the Hyde Park High playing tests, at the Hyde Park High School. It
School -test, last Saturday. Mr. Whalen aroused en- shows the members of the committee, reporters and
pupils, with the little chap at the piano bravely
thusiasm in the Piano Playing Contest movement.
going through the rather difficult piece by Bach
Enthusiastic Children.
which had been selected to prove his abilities. The
Mr. Whalen told of the thirty or so children who face of Eugene Whalen—third in second row, seated,
came there to go • through the performance for the will be readily recognized by members of the Chi-
benefit of the committee and the visitors assembled. cago trade, and many others, and the handsome gen-
These children were filled with enthusiasm and all tleman who shows up finst in the front row at the
left is G. R. Brownell of the house of Lyon & Healy.
played the pieces which had been their study and
practice, creditably; some were notable performances. It's an interesting picture and indicates the interest
that is taken in 'the Piano Playing Contest, which
"One little girl," said Mr. Whalen, "had been
walking three blocks each day to practice on a neigh- interest is certain to spread until it has hold of every
community in the land.
bor's piano; another was using her aunt's instrument
POPULAR MUSIC SCHOOL HEAD
COMMENDS KRANICH & BACH
taneously—light, yet most masterful, it enables one
to play continuously for hours without tiring. Yes,
indeed! I do like my Kranich & Bach.
Cordially yours,
Axel W. Christensen Tells Plainly of His Delight in
Famous New York Piano.
Mr. Christensen is so great a favorite in Chicago's
musical life, and so popular with the Chicago Piano
Club, that his commendation is valuable to the fa-
mous New York piano and its local branch house.
AXEL W. CHRISTENSEN.
Axel W. Christensen, president of Christensen
School of Popular Music, Chicago, has written the
following highly complimentary letter to Roger
O'Connor, manager Kranich & Bach, Chicago house:
Dear Sir: The final touch in the furnishings of
my new home in River Forest is my new Kranich
& Bach piano.
On rehearsal mornings when I walk into a theater
the name on the down-board of the stage piano is
what interests me most; because some names mean
a week of irritation, or despair, while other names
mean a week of content and satisfaction in being
able to play an efficient engagement.
After about twenty-five years of professional work
I have chosen for my home—where I do my practic-
ing—the Kranich & Bach.
The feel of its keyboard under my fingers is so
dependable, its action is easy and responds instan-
WRITES GOOD AD COPY
Rarer, much rarer, than "a day in June" is the
good adv. writer. There is a page adv. of the Jesse
French & Sons Piano Co. on another page this week
that illustrates the thought. It is new in thought and
is well expressed to accomplish the purpose of all
advertising. The adv. was written by a mighty busy
man, also—General Manager H. Edgar French, of
the big New Castle industry. The adv. bears every
evidence of being the kind that is literally "dashed
off" under pressure. That kind of "copy" is usually
•the best. We doubt if a day's thought and rewriting
could have produced the Jesse French & Son Piano
Co. page to which this item draws attention.
$2 The Year
INDIANAPOLIS REMOVAL TO
AVOID TRAFFIC TURMOIL
Desire to Get Away from the Down-Town
Annoyances Prompts Piano House to
Seek More Quiet Quarters.
The Rapp & Lennox Piano Company of Indian-
apolis, have decided to move their business out of the
business center of the city. In commenting on the
move, George Lennox said: "For some time past we
have contemplated moving to a location where
patrons would not be disturbed, when looking over our
line, by watching the time for fear of a police sticker on
account of violation of the parking laws and regula-
tions. No prospect can come and be comfortable or
have their mind on the purchase of an instrument,
when they live in fear and trembling of the traffic
rules. Patrons have refused to be annoyed and con-
sequently have refused to come in on that account.
We have several uptown locations in view but have
not fully decided which one to accept. However, we
expect to decide in a very few days on one or the
other."
The Christena-Teague Co. has been busy during the
past week and has sold one Ampico in the Chicker-
ing, Style I, and another Ampico in the Haines,
Style G. 5. The company also reports an increasing
demand for Gulbransen grands and uprights.
The F. J. Rembush Enterprises, operators of the
Colonial Theater, have purchased one of the Style
S. G. Jesse French & Sons' reproducing grand pianos.
The sale was made on the strength of one of the
instruments in a. straight grand being in constant use
for six years in one of the Enterprises houses at
Shelbyville, Indiana. According to the management
that instrument is still in excellent condition, being
played constantly every day for seven days a week.
This record sold the reproducing instrument.
Manager H. Edgar French and Frank Fields, of the
Jesse French & Sons Piano Co. enterprise, spent Sat-
urday in Indianapolis. Cyril Farny, of the House of
Wurlitzer, was visitor at the Wilking Music Com-
pany last week.
The Indianapolis Music Merchants' Association is
making elaborate preparations for Music Week. The
program is about completed with all members work-
ing faithfully to make the event the best ever.
AMERICAN PIANO COMPANY
REELECTS ITS OFFICERS
President and Vice-Presidents of Houses Affiliated
with Great Concern Continued in Office.
The re-election of officers of the different houses
affiliated with the American Piano Co., New York,
were important incidents in the recent annual meet-
ing. The following are the results:
Ampico Corporation: President, George C. Fos-
ter; vice-presidents, W. B. Armstrong, Frank E.
Wade and George L. Eaton.
Chickering & Sons: President, C. Alfred Wag-
ner; vice-presidents, B. C. Edmands, Clifford C.
Chickering and George L. Eaton.
William Knabe & Co.: President, R. K. Paynter;
vice-presidents, W. B. Armstrong and George L.
Eaton.
Mason & Hamlin Co.: President, Henry L. Mason;
vice-presidents, W. P. Marsh, Paul L. Taylor and
George L. Eaton.
Foster-Armstrong Co.: President, C. C. Kavanagh;
vice-president, George L. Eaton.
Amphion Piano Co.: President, Frank E. Wade;
vice-presidents, George L. Eaton, Boyd Dudley, Jr.,
and E. L. Atherton.
LUMBER BUYERS INTERESTED.
Buyers of lumber for piano manufacturers, and
other musical instrument makers, will be interested in
the card of the Crossman Lumber Company which
appears in this issue of Presto-Times. The company,;
with headquarters in Grand Rapids, is one of the
large hardwood specialists and is prepared to meet
the requirements of any users of fine lumber, in any
quantities.
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