PRESTO-TIMES
(Continued from page 5.)
travelers, saksmen, and others who are coining to
the convention and who wish to put up at the
Stevens to make reservations early.
The Leading Function.
First in importance of the social events of the an-
nual convention of the music trades in Chicago next
week is the annual banquet of the National Associa-
tion of Music Merchants, to be held at the new Hotel
Stevens on the evening of June 9. The event, always
a delightful culmination of a week's enjoyment, will
be held in the grand dining-room of the headquarters
hotel.
The committee in charge urge that reservations be
made at the earliest hour possible. It has been ar-
ranged that favorable reservations will be atloted in
the order of receipt of responses to the invitations.
To insure the best table locations, therefore, it will be
necessary to make early reservations. Communica-
tions should be addressed to Roger O'Connor, treas-
urer and member of the Chicago committee of ar-
rangements, 77 East Jackson boulevard, Chicago.
There will be a rush for seats and tables for the
Monday noon luncheon and entertainment, so get
your reservations in early, and remember that the
ladies will be there. It is a social event insofar as
the invitation to ladies is concerned, although the
occasion is the first meeting of the Music Industries
Chamber of Commerce.
The Entertainers.
At the Monday Piano Club luncheon the members
w r ere given another opportunity of hearing one of the
winners of the Piano Playing Contest, Johanna Sira-
gusa, fourteen years of age who, as was stated, has
been studying the piano between four and five years.
This young girl, perhaps a genius, played a Chopin
nocturne, a Liszt's Campanella and one other selec-
tion, all three numbers surprisingly well done for a
child of her age, and years of study. It seems quite
certain that this candidate will show up well in the
finals at convention, and she surely will pass all inter-
vening elimination contests.
To Hear Radio Favorite.
Considering Lee Sim's activities in the music
trades, and the entertainment he is to furnish visi-
tors to the music trades convention in June, it is
apropos to present herewith a portrait of that versa-
June 4, .1927.
AMPICO TRAVELING SCHOOL
SCHOOL GROUP FN N'EW ORLKAN'S.
Standing l>ft to Right: C. Hartmann, J. E. Connor, <\ Velazquez, F. Ross, A. S. Pileher, F. J. Romano, E.
J. Piquette (Instructor), K. W. Nagel, H. L. Necaud, A. Onner. E. R. Caldwell, O. Malnquist, W. G. Myers.
K. R. Joseph (post-graduate). F. C Holdsworth, H. H. Arho, VVm. North, I,. E. Smith.
The session of the Ampico Traveling School was
held in New Orleans for two weeks beginning April
25. In spite of the flood conditions the school was
well attended. Were it not for the disastrous con-
dition obtaining in that part of the country the num-
ber of enrollments for this course would have been
much larger. The punctual attendance of the men at
every session and their evident interest were most im-
pressive on this occasion, as indeed it has been at all
sessions of the Ampico Traveling School.
Stevens Hotels on Wednesday morning, June 8, at
8:45. This is one of the oldest convention social
events and was originated a* the convention in At-
lantic City. Outside of the words of greeting by
President George J. Dowling there will be no
speaking.
American Piano Co.'s Theater Party.
One of the important social events outside of those
planned by the associations is 'the American Piano
Co.'s theater party, supper and dance on Monday
evening, June 6. The guests will be American Piano
Co. dealers, their families and friends. It will, of
course, be an invitation affair. The supper and dance
will be held at the Blackstone Hotel after the theater.
The Seeburg Dinner.
The fifth annual convention dinner of the J. P.
Seeburg Co., Chicago, will be given June 6 at 7:30
at a place to be announced to invited guests before
the end of this week. The fact also will be posted
on the Hotel Stevens bulletin board. It is, as usual,
a stag affair.
The Gulbransen Breakfast.
A convention breakfast will be given at the Hotel
Stevens on Wednesday morning, June 8, at 8:45, by
the Gulbransen Company, Chicago. It will be one
LEK SIMS.
of the big, enjoyable events, at which the Gulbransen
dealers will meet the officials and sales force of the
tile entertainer and clever gentleman known so well
company under the most enjoyable circumstances.
to radio listeners.
Musical Merchandise Men.
For thirteen months he was one of the broadcast-
ing stars of Station WTAS, at that time conducted by
At 12:30, Tuesday, June 7, the Chicago Chapter of
Charles Erbstein, prominent Chicago attorney. Sims' the National Musical Merchandise Association will
next step forward was to appear before the "mike" give a luncheon to the national body in Private Din-
for a limited engagement at Station KYW. He then ing Room No. 9 at the Stevens. The occasion will
made a number of personal appearances in various be one in which the east will meet the west with
theaters throughout the middle western section of the pleasant results.
country.
The Chamber Luncheon.
Mr. Sims, as already announced, is one of the gal-
The Music Industries Chamber of Commerce will
axy of entertainers who will entertain at the Monday
noon luncheon of the music trades convention, give a luncheon to its delegates in Private Dining
Room No. 3 at the Stevens. The hour is 1:00 p. m.
June 6.
Technicians at Luncheon.
The Travelers' Dinner.
On Tuesday evening, June 7,, the National Piano
"We are preparing a very nice entertainment and
dinner for you at our annual meeting, to be held at Technicians' Association will be the guest of honor
the Drake Hotel on Monday evening, June 6, at 6:30, at a dinner given that body by the Chicago division
and we would like to see a very large atendance, as in the Recital Hall of the American Steel & Wire
matters of considerable importance will be discussed," Co.. starting promptly at 6:30. It will be followed
says Matt Kennedy, president of the National Piano by a playerpiano tournament.
Travelers' Association, in a personal message to every
member. It is the purpose of the association to keep
JACOB BROS. CO. NEW ADDRESS.
up its reputation for joyous entertaining, a fact pleas-
The address of Jacob Bros. Co., New York, has
urably realized by every fortunate recipient of an been changed from 537-43 West 39th street to 306-308
invitation.
E. 133rd street, New York. The old address has so
The Cable Breakfast.
long been familiar that it must require some time for
The Cable Company, Chicago, will hold its annual the trade to become equally familiar with the new
convention breakfast in Banquet Hall No. 2 at the location.
E. J. Piquette conducted the classes and of the
twenty-four registrants there were eleven graduates
and one post graduate. The post graduate was K. R.
Joseph, who in 1924 traveled from New Orleans to
Cleveland, Ohio, to attend the Ampico School and
while he qualified 100 per cent at that time he seized
the opportunity to review the study of the Ampico.
Mr. Joseph never missed a session of the school and
his enthusiasm continued at a high pitch throughout
the entire fortnight.
PHILADELPHIA CALLS FOR
NEXT YEAR'S CONVENTION
One of the First of the Piano Trade Organiza-
tions Is Making a Consistent Effort
to Land Next Meeting.
Philadelphia has a strong music trade association.
It was inaugurated in 1897, the year in which the
national organization was formed. Its officers are as
follows: President, G. C. Ramsdell, 127 So. 12th
street; vice-president, P. J. Cunningham, 1312 Chest-
nut street; secretary, L. H. Moore, 1111 Chestnut
street; treasurer, B. J. Munchweiler, Lit Brothers.
The following communication shows how deeply
the Philadelphia piano men want the National Asso-
ciation to meet in their city, and the proposition seems
to be one not altogether inadvisable:
Philadelphia, Pa., May 28, 1927.
Editor Presto-Times: The unanimous adoption of
a resolution by the Pennsylvania Association of Mu-
sic Merchants to invite the Musical Industries in toto
to hold their conventions in Philadelphia in 1928
prompts this letter. The Philadelphia Piano Trade
Association members are anxiously awaiting the time
when they can extend a welcome, under their own
roof, to their fellow cohorts from forty-eight United
States.
We are now in the throes of the "Melody W r ay
Club Plan." There will be a statewide campaign of
this plan in Pennsylvania, which will lead up to a
final contest in Philadelphia.
Piano playing tournaments are now in full opera-
tion in many parts of the country. This also is being
mothered by the National Association of Music
Merchants.
A national "Melody Way" is moving onward and
upward, broadening into avenues of well paved musi-
cal endeavor, culminating into a National Piano Play-
ing Tournament, not at all unreasonable to anticipate.
All states will send contestants to a' given point
for finals in a new field of conquest. Pennsylvania
boasts of the first chartered association under the
new scheme of things so we want the first National
Tournament in Philadelphia in 1928 with the conven-
tions of the various musical industries.
By meeting in Philadelphia you will increase the
interest in the convention and the attendance of mem-
bers and you will make the conventions of greater
help to the retail trade.
Very truly yours,
G. C. RAMSDELL, President.
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