June 25, 1927.
PRESTO-TIMES
methods and aggressive push, were not particularly
welcome, but yet our first year's sales exceeded $50,-
000.
"Myself and my partner, Wm. Ludden, were the
entire working force and we had neither agents nor
salesmen. From that we pushed and expanded until
we had 50 employes under our roof, 10 branch houses Review of the Situation at This Time Shows
James A. Bates, the Middletown, N. Y., Music and an army of agents and travelers, sales of a half
Vast Increase in Public Interest
million dollars annually, and were the undisputed
Dealer, in Interesting Interview, Credits
in the Event.
leaders of Southern music trade.
the Organ with Important Influences
"With the old organ as the earliest means to the
By Frank J. Bayley.
desirable end I helped build the Ludden & Bates
in Advancing Cause of Music.
To the many inquiries as to the outcome of the
Southern Music House on the solid foundation of
Second Annual Greater Detroit Piano Playing Con-
square and absolutely honest dealing. I gave the best
26 years of my life to this end and while this fine test, we wish to reply that all parties interested stamp
business has passed out of my hands and others have it as a complete and unqualified success. Mr. Bitner,
reaped the harvest of my sowing, yet it is a great managing editor of the Detroit Times, after consulta-
Veteran of Trade Is Gratified at His Part in Build- satisfaction to me that my name is still on the sign tion with the various departments of the paper, states
ing Up Great Southern Music Business
and that the prestige I gained for the old house still that the Detroit Times is desirous of making the
piano playing contest an annual event of the paper.
Which Was Begun with Organs.
holds good.
Arthur Dondeneau, assistant superintendent of De-
How
He
Views
It.
A man's knowledge is the sum of his experience
troit schools, the active head in fact, this week assured
"Perhaps I see with the eye of youth when I re- the writer that the full co-operation of the whole
and his ability to voice his knowledge is in equal
ratio to the keenness of his observation at every call my old organ days. Strenuosity and joy were school system can be depended upon for an annual
period of his life. There are veterans in the music synonyms in those days. There was always the Detroit piano playing contest.
business who are "dumb" when called upon to re- human and personal consideration in the organ trans-
The matter of group instruction was taken up. He
action. We dealt with real folks whose ambition to
own an organ was evoked by their instinctive love stated that they would expand the piano teaching as
of music. We didn't voice it at the time, but we all fast as funds will allow. It was suggested that we
felt we were aiding art and thereby increasing the add a new class to the 1928 contest for those taking
culture and bringing the happiness of greater refine- the group instruction in school, to which he replied
that he thought this was quite unnecessary and in-
ment into people's lives.
advisable. "I have talked the contest all over with
"My transition from an organ man into a piano
our music supervisors and music teachers We are
man was gradual, but I clearly recall when I ordered for the piano and know that the piano playing contest
six Emerson pianos and sold them all before they
is exciting an interest in the piano among all the
were landed from the steamer, which sure was good
work for a greenhorn. In 1870 we bought musical children," said Mr, Dondeneau. "Personally, I should
merchandise from C. Bruno & Son, and I am still consider it a calamity for the piano to die out. I hope
the music dealers sell a lot of pianos as a result. You
buying from them.
deserve to be repaid. However, we are merely and
Ups and Downs.
solely interested in the merit of the educational value
"In those 59 years of strenuous business I've had to the child, and since we are thoroughly sold on this,
ups and downs good and plenty. I've weathered yel- we appreciate your co-operation with us."
low fever epidemics, earthquakes, cyclones, fifteen
Champions Multiply.
years of nervous breakdown, and been knocked out
Last year there were a total of 286 school cham-
three times with financial disasters, but I came back pions but the 1927 contest has produced 420, divided
and while I have not achieved prosperity as common- as follows: Elementary schools, 222; intermediate,
ly understood, yet I have the satisfaction of feeling
176; high schools, 22; which comprises all public and
that I have made a good fight and won that respect
parochial schools, not only in Greater Detroit but
and esteem which to me is far better than riches.
several outlying towns up to 18 miles out. The total
.TAMES A. BATES.
"Now, Mr. Presto-Times, you will begin to think enrollment being 16,000 children.
you have encountered a case of inflammatory self-
The Grand Finals.
late startling incidents in their business careers and satisfaction. But I have something to be grateful
to draw the moral which makes every experience in for. To have shuffled along for 85 years without ever
The grand finals will take place in the Belle Isle
life a guide or a deterrent thereafter.
paying any alimony, and to be still on deck and in bowl on the evening of August 15, and the little girl
On the other hand, there are men who have lived the piano ring, is a satisfaction which comes to but adjudged champion will thereby become the queen of
a Detroit city music carnival of two evenings, August
long- lives in the music business who actually few.
"My 85 years' trail has not been altogether an easy 16 and 17, on the four blocks of Washington boule-
radiate wisdom. There is a lesson in every one of
vard, and her court will comprise the 421 school
their experiences to those who can sense it. But jaunt. I've had my full share of trials, griefs, and
champions. The Detroit Times and the Detroit Music
to every listener there is the element of interest in hard knocks, but there have been compensations and
their conversation that makes it important. Such even though my sun is setting, what matters to one Trades Association feel that since the mayor, the
a man is James A. Bates, the Middletown, N. Y., who ever has bright remembrances of the past, lov- common council, the Detroit Retail Merchants Asso-
music dealer the veteran who was so signally hon- ing friends to cheer and a heart still young and re- ciation, the Convention Bureau, the Musicians' Union,
sponsive to youthful emotions. I hope to carry on the Federation of Women's Clubs, the Detroit Radio
ored at the recent national convention.
even to the very end, and when my call comes to Dealers Association, the Board of Commerce and the
Name Still There.
join the other music trade pioneers gone before. I noonday lunch clubs, such as Rotary, Kiwanis, Op-
''It is always a satisfaction to see my name still hope it will find me right on my job.''
timists, Lions, etc., have endorsed this movement and
on the sign of the Ludden & Bates Music House,
the music carnival as a fitting climax, as a publicity
Mr.
Bates
returned
home
to
Middleton
from
the
Savannah, Ga., because it recalls individual efforts
stunt it is an assured success.
convention
Saturday,
June
11.
En
route
he
was
that had an influence in advancing the cause of music
handed a letter from W. B. Price, president of the
in a day when the means to advance it were not as
Schaeffer Piano Manufacturing Company of Chicago,
numerous as they are today," said Mr. Bates to a
saying: "Your response was splendid," and con-
Presto-Times man this week.
gratulating him on the honors he had received.
"Fine pianos, players, reproducing instruments are
powerful at this time in furthering the cause of music,
TALKS ABOUT SLOGAN.
but I have the keenest joy in recalling the part
played in a similar way by the old organ, which is
H. H. Fleer, the president of Lyon & Healy, Inc., Interesting Items from Southern California City
honored as a pioneer in the music goods activities. Chicago, in some of his introductory remarks as toast-
Suggest Activities in Music Houses.
In the thought of helping to place thousands of organs master at the surprise dinner given in connection
in Southern homes I experience an emotion which
The Starr Piano Co., at 630 South Hill street, Los
with the Children's Piano Playing Tournament Com-
only the older men of the music trade can experi- mittee and backers, presented arguments drawn from Angeles, is conducting an extensive sale of phono-
ence. It was, in itself, somewhat creditable while sayings and writings of well known authors to graphs and records from the purchase of the stock of
profitable, but that which gives me far greater satis- strengthen the slogan he suggested, "Sell Music." the Davidson Talking Machine Co., Chicago.
faction is that we were also able to accomplish some- He quoted not only Franz Liszt and other profes-
Los Angeles has the distinction of having the only
thing worth while for the advancement of musical
sional musicians, but read an undeniable argument piano soloist who plays the piano lying on his back.
r
culture, and thus to do our little bit tow ards making from Darwin. On the same occasion Eugene Whalen His name is Arthur Franklin Fuller.
America musical.
read interesting rhymes of reason for the good of the
Ben Platt returned this week after a tour of the
cause of "Selling Music." David Kimball's brief talk
Green but Courageous.
East and immediately his appearance in Los An-
"When in 1869 I established the old Ludden & on fidelity to the best ideals in business were apropos. geles is reflected by new activity in his various enter-
prises.
Bates Southern Music House at Savannah, I was
green as grass in the music business, and as brash
VISITS GEORGE M. SLAWSON
Since favorable termination of the contest of the
as they make 'em, and as I look back at the countless
George J. Dowling, president of The Cable Com-
Fitzgerald Music Co., in which a Knabe grand was
fool mistakes I made not only then but all the way
pany, paid a visit a few days ago to George M. Slaw- first prize, the company has experienced an increased
through, I wonder at the success attained.
son, dean of Cable travelers, at his home in Bangor, trade in both the Knabe grand and the Ampico.
"It is rather interesting to recall that our start was Mich. Mr. Slawson had been sick but is now able
A Ludwig grand has been selected by the owners
to be up and about. Mr. Dowling and The Cable of the steamer Honolulu for her trial trip from Los
made by securing the agency of the Burdett organs
from the Tremaine Brothers, Wm. B., Charles M., Co.'s force of officers and employes are pleasantly Angeles to Honolulu. The piano was selected in
and John, who traveled through the South concert- surprised at the rapidity with which Mr. Slawson is competition with several prominent makes, and the
recovering from his illness.
ing and establishing agencies, and I have often won-
fact that the piano graces the salon of the steamer is
dered if, in their subsequent great successes they ever
a great source of satisfaction to Los Angeles repre-
recalled me and the concerts they gave in Savannah.
AT THE AMPICO STUDIOS.
sentative, the Wiley B. Allen Co.
Old Organ Days.
The following artists called at the Ampico studios.
The Birkel Music Co., Los Angeles, is featuring the
"Those were great organ selling days and in one New York, during the past week and recorded: Tina Conn saxophone and are attracting considerable at-
year we sold over 3,000 Mason & Hamlin, Packards
Lerner and Lee Sims. Also the following artists tention to the fact that Oscar Tatton, the eminent
and Sterlings. It was the Reconstruction period
called to approve their recordings: Hans Barth, soloist, is featuring the Conn in Dave Gould's
too when Yankees, with their newfangled business
Edgar Fairchild and Ralph Rainger.
Revelierrs at the West Coast theaters.
PROUDLY RECALLS
OLD ORGAN DAYS
SUCCESS ASSURED FOR
DETROIT PIANO CONTEST
TELLS HISTORIC INCIDENTS
SOME NEWS NOTES FROM
THE LOS ANGELES FIELD
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