Presto

15
P R E S T O-T I M E S
May 14, 1927.
SMALL GOODS, MUSIC ROLLS AND SHEET MUSIC
TO SHEET MUSIC TRADE
Notice of Annual Convention Mailed to Deal-
ers Contains Program and Appeal for
a Large Attendance.
The fourteenth annual convention of the National
Association of Sheet Music Dealers will he held at
the Stevens Hotel, Chicago, June 6, 7 and 8, in con-
junction with the convention of the Music Industries
Chamber of Commerce, and other associations of the
music trade. Delegates from a distance, with mem-
bers of their families and employes, will be entitled
to return railroad tickets at one-half the regular
fare, providing they secure certificates when purchas-
ing tickets to Chicago. These certificates will be
issued by the railroads on account of the Music Indus-
tries Convention.
The convention sessions . will begin with singing
by the entire organization under the direction of
Robert T. Stdnton, the vice-president. The out-
standing feature of the convention will be the estab-
lishing of a business ethics committee. This com-
mittee will receive all complaints of unfair competi-
tion. It will start work during the convention and
will continue its activities the whole year. Every
grievance will be investigated. The committee will
attempt to get at the root of the evils of the sheet
music trade and to abolish them.
Topics of Discussion.
Other subjects for consideration are the following:
Overproduction of new publications; high prices of
teaching material; preferential rates given at retail
by publishers; how are the so-called "T" prices work-
ing out? can the retailers educate the teachers to
take a profi-t on music? monthly reports of business
conditions in each section of the country prepared
by the directors will be distributed to all members of
the association; can advertising, the greatest force in
modern business, be used to better advantage in the
stimulating of general public interest in music?
"It is becoming imperative that the sheet music
trade cooperate in a greater measure than it has ever
done before," says the notice signed by J.
Rimer Harvey, president, the vicepresident and
secretary. "Heretofore, competition has been con-
fined pretty much to concerns within the trade.
In the future the entire music trade will be
in direct competition with trades outside of music.
Means must be found to make music and musical
instruments hold their own in the world markets.
Must Stimulate Demand.
"Propaganda is the new weapon in war, also in
trade. The public has to be induced to buy any
article of commerce. General interest in music, like
in anything else, will have to be promoted. The
public has never been educated to the buying of
music. Many people who studied music in their
earlier years have dropped it altogether. Schools,
teachers and music students are becoming bewildered
by the endless changes in the prices and discounts on
music.
"The demand for music is decreasing. The practice
THE FAMOUS
CLARK
ORCHESTRA ROLLS
of De Kalb, Illinois
The Best for Automatic Playing Pianos
Organs and Orchestrions
Whether you sell automatic playing in-
struments or not, it will pay you to
handle and be able to furnish
CLARK ORCHESTRA ROLLS
Monthly bulletins of new records. Write
for lists, folders and FULL PARTICU-
LARS.
Clark Orchestra Roll Company
Manufacturers — Originators — Patentee*
De Kalb, Illinois
of sending out great quantities of music with the
privilege of return at the end of the year is on the
increase. To the sheet music retailer the so-called
"on sale plan 1 ' means slow death. • It would be so
none the less were he able to secure his stock in
trade on a year's time with the privilege of returning
the unsold portion. Progress in business depends
on an increase in the volume of sales, not on the
metamorphosing of a retail establishment into a circu-
lating library."
VIOLIN CASE PATENT GRANTED
No Anticipation Found by Examiners-in-Chief on
Appeal from Earlier Decision.
The application of Theodore H. Stark for patent
on a new violin case was granted April 19, 1927, for
violin cases. Application filed June 18, 1924, was de-
nied because the examiners at Washington were not
satisfied that applicant's claim had not been antici-
pated by older art. Their last decision follows:
This is an appeal from the first decision of the
examiner rejecting the claim on the references and
for the reasons of record. The claim, the invention
denned thereby, the references and the disclosures
therein pertinent to the claims, are sufficiently set
forth in the examiners' statement and appellant's brief.
Opinion: Upon full consideration of the disclosure
in the application and of the subject matter disclosed
in the references of record, and an attempted appli-
cation of the references to the particular claim in
issue we are far from satisfied that said references
can be said to fully anticipate the subject matter
claimed and are impelled to the opinion that invention
has been exercised in providing the specific structure
set forth.
Accordingly the single claim in issue is considered
patentable and may be allowed.
Decision: The decision of the examiner rejecting
the claim is reversed and it is also recommended that
the proposed claim be allowed.
PORTABLE BROADCASTERS.
Following is the general order respecting the port-
ables just issued: "Since 'the exact location of any
radio broadcasting transmitter is an essential feature
of the license, the Federal Radio Commission, as
already announced, will not consider any application
for a broadcasting license, except for a very limited
period of time, in which"' fire permanent location of
the transmitter is not specified. However, for the
purpose of enabling so-called portable stations which
were duly licensed under the law of 1912 to render
service to the public during the spring and summer
months, the Federal Radio Commission will issue
to such stations licenses for not more than 120 days,
to operate with not more than 100 watts power out-
put, and with frequencies of 1,470 and 1,490 kilocycles
only."
KILLING THE SONG HITS
How the Arbitrary Ruling of the Broadcast-
ers Quickly Puts an End to Many
a Promising Song.
The following recently appeared in the "Radio
Program Weekly" of New York. It was headed by
line "Flighty Songs":
It has often amused us to note how quickly a
new song "hit" finds is way into oblivion. In reality
there is no specified time for a song to remain pop-
ular, yet they seem to die a natural death in a very
short time after they reach the peak of popularity.
Odd, too, that when a song shows signs of becoming
popular, almost immediately broadcast stations insti-
tute a rule that the song in question will only be
permitted to be broadcast once a day. This we un-
derstand is a method whereby the broadcast stations
in league with song writers strive to lengthen the
life of the musical selection in question.
From our humble point of view the idea is far
from a successful one. For instance, "Valencia," at
one time on the end of everyone's tongue, was barred
from programs of broadcast stations to the extent
of a single rendition per day to each station. It was
not long after that that the song passed out.
From another point of view, as it were, many songs
that are not popular are heard many times during an
evening's program.
West Orange, N. J.
CARLIN ASKEL.
It has often been cause of wonderment on the part
of radio listeners why their favorite melodies are so
seldom repeated; why the songs they want and ex-
pect to hear seem to be forgotten by the singers
almost directly after they win the ears of the radio
fans.
It is the general idea on the part of both the song
writers and publishers, that radio may spoil a song's
popularity by being too much "on the air."
But this is a mistake. The real song hits are the
ones that are heard "on the air" outside the theaters
and wherever melody lovers gather. The "p°P"
songs will not last a great while anyway, and 'they
must, like waffles and corn cakes, be eaten while
they are hot. An illustration of this fact may be
seen in the revival, by Frank Salerno, of the WGN
station of the Chicago Tribune "on the Drake Hotel,"
of "Rosalie." one of the real "pop" songs. From
the minute Announcer Bill Hay introduces the Sa-
lerno brothers the radio fans fairly thrill with ex-
pectancy, for the song is almost sure to follow, and
it never tires the most critical. To be sure, only
Frank Salerno could sing "Ros-ah-Iee" as he does,
but even so, "Rosalie" would keep on winning 'em.
It could never be sung that way so often as to dull
the delight of WGN listeners.
A popular song is made by being heard. It is killed
by being wanted and not heard.
COLLEGE SONG WANTED.
ORCHESTRA AIDS MUSIC WEEK.
Music Week in Fort Wayne, Intl., this year was
sponsored by several organizations cooperating with
the Fort Wayne Civic Music Association. The Fort
Wayne Symphony Orchestra, which took part, is
composed entirely of non-professional musicians,
whose services as well as that of the director, John
L. Verweire, are entirely gratis. It is less than three
years old, has about eighty members and a complete
instrumentation, and altogether is a very wonderful
organization which Fort Wayne is very proud of.
SCHOOL ORCHESTRAS COMPETE.
Thirteen orchestras comprising 700 players com-
peted in the third annual Chicago High School orches-
tra contest at Orchestra Hall, Friday evening of this
week. Each orchestra played two short numbers,
the test piece of the group, and a number of its own
selection. Adolph Weidig, Ludwig Becker, and Glenn
Dillard Gunn were the judges.
Northwestern University, Evanston, 111., wants a
new song. It wants a soul stirring, Marching
Through Georgia battle hymn sort of a song, one
that will lift and imbue with vigor and patriotism
and school spirit, but in which athletics may not be
stressed. It must be a song fitted for every occasion,
as well for the banquet table as for the football
field. A prize of $200 is offered for the song and
$300 for its musical setting. A committee from the
alumni association invites all who can write song-
poems to participate, sending their contributions to
the Alumni Association office in the Ward Memorial
building on McKinlock campus.
A SAXOPHONE CLUB.
The Harding & Miller Music Company has organ-
ized a Conn Saxophone Club with quite a large mem-
bership. Lessons are given all those who join at the
low sum of $2 a week. The house named is a leading
institution in Evansville, Ind.
C. G. CONN, Ltd., Elkhart, Ind.
C. D. GREENLEAF, Pres.
J. F. BOYER, Sec'y
World's largest manufacturers of High Grade Band and Orchestra Instruments. Employs 1,000
expert workmen.
The most celebrated Artists use and endorse Conn Instruments.
Famous Bandmasters and Orchestra Directors highly endorse and recommend the use of the
Conn Instruments in their organizations.
Conn Instruments are noted for their ease of playing, light and reliable valve or key action;
quick response, rich tonal quality, perfect intonation, tone carrying quality, artisticness of design,
beautiful finish and reliable construction.
Conn Instruments are sent to auy point in the U. S. subject to ten days free trial. Branch stores
or agencies will be found in all large cities. Write for catalogues, prices, etc.
C. G. CONN, Ltd.
DEPT. MS.
ELKHART, IND.
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