Presto

February 4, 1928
PRESTO-TIMES
the National Association of Music Merchants and the
National Bureau for the Advancement of music, was
made at the opening session Thursday morning.
Much interest was manifested by the members in the
report, and it was the expressed desire of several of
the members that this work should be pushed as
aggressively as possible.
Work of Music Supervisors
W. Otto Miessner, who is a member of the re-
cently created Committee of Music Supervisors, was
asked to inform the board of the activities of the
committee. This committee is known as the Piano
Section of the Committee on Instrumental Affairs of
the National Conference of Music Supervisors. This
committee met two days this week to perfect plans
for interesting boards of education and superintend-
ents to the end that piano class instruction may be
included in a much larger number of public schools
than at present.
Locating Convention
Considerable discussion took place regarding place
of holding conventions. E. H. Uhl stressed what he
believed to be the great importance of developing
closer contact with dealers in various localities and
he believed this could be done most advantageously
by holding the conventions in various cities, breaking
away entirely from the present plan of alternating
between New York and Chicago. Alex. McDonald
spoke strongly in favor of holding the convention at
some resort. Mr. Uhl favored Colorado Springs.
The Open Choice
The board voted to reaffirm the action taken at the
meeting in Cleveland last September to the effect
that after the 1928 convention in New York the
association would meet in other cities. President
Roberts appointed a committee consisting of Jay
Grinnell, M. V. De Forreest, E. H. Uhl and Alex.
McDonald to investigate the facilities and advan-
tages of various resorts and to report to the associa-
tion at the June convention.
Travelers Active
A report was made by the executive secretary of
the progress of various activities designed to increase
membership and special mention was made of the co-
operation extended by the National Piano Travelers'
Association.
W. C. Hamilton Resigns
President Roberts announced the resignation of
William C. Hamilton of Pittsburgh as a member of
the executive board on account of serious illness in
his family and duties which required his attention
in such a manner that he felt he could not devote
the time necessary to the association work in which
he has been so active for many years. The resigna-
tion was accepted with regret. It was voted to make
Mr. Hamilton an honorary member of the advisory
board, and also to recommend at the June conven-
tion that he be elected an honorary member of the
association.
Elect Successor
The board acted favorably on Mr. Hamilton's sug-
gestion that W. Barry Hamilton of the C. C. Mellor
Co. of Pittsburgh be voted to succeed him as a mem-
ber of the executive board. He was elected to fill
Wm. C. Hamilton's unexpired term.
E. H. Uhl presented interesting information re-
garding an International Pageant of Music and Ex-
position, to be held in Los Angeles in the auditorium
of the Ambassador Hotel, June 18 to 30. Mr. Uhl
stated that already much more than 50 per cent of
the exhibit space had been sold. The Western Music
Trades Association will hold its annual convention
in Los Angeles during the exposition, with headquar-
ters in the Ambassador Hotel.
The Afternoon Session
At the opening of the afternoon session, President
Roberts read telegrams of regret from Parham Wer-
lein of New Orleans and Shirley Walker of San
Francisco.
President Roberts read a communication from
R. M. Grunewald, president of L. Grunewald Co.,
Ltd., of New Orleans on the subject of control of the
waters of the Mississippi River, presenting a state-
ment issued by Hon. Frank R. Reid of Illinois, chair-
man of the House Committee on Flood Control.
The Advertising Display
The executive secretary was instructed to com-
municate with the members of the association to de-
termine whether it is the wish of the association
to hold an advertising exhibit or display of Music
Week windows in connection with the convention in
June.
Upon suggestion of Charles H. Yahrling, it was
voted that a prize or prizes be offered for the best
plan for conducting group piano classes by dealers
and to appropriate $200 to cover the cost of such a
contest, the result to be announced at the convention
in June.
It was voted to place in the hands of President Rob-
erts all arrangements for the annual banquet to be
held at the next convention and he was given full
power to engage the services of someone he con-
sidered competent to handle the banquet.
It was voted to place in the hands of President
Roberts all arrangements for the annual banquet
to be held at the next convention and he was given
full power to engage the services of someone he con-
sidered competent to handle the banquet.
The executive secretary reported the hearty co-
operation which has been received from the piano
manufacturers in placing in operation the new pro-
motion stamp.
The Dinner
The $5 dinner at the Hotel Commodore Thursday
night presented a galaxy of nationally known piano
men, stars in the musical world, entertainers, etc.,
with good speakers who were witty as well as wise,
and music such as New York is capable of giving.
Visited Steinway Plant
The dealers adjourned at 11:30 a. m. on Friday
to visit the Steinway plant on Long Island, and spent
several hours there, much to their instruction.
The Baker Piano Co., Seattle, has moved from the
McDermott Building, to 401 Home Savings Building.
OLD DECATUR, ILL,
FIRM IN NEW HANDS
Harry I. Spayd Sells His Interest in Business
to W. Curtis Busher and John
F. McDermott.
W. Curtis Busher and John F. McDermott have
purchased the interest of Harry I. Spayd in the
Emerson Piano House, Decatur, 111. The date of the
transaction is to be Jan. 1, 1928, although Mr. Spayd
has been connected with the management of the
business until now.
There will be no change in the policy or personnel
of the business, the lines carried, manner of operating,
or the appearance of the store. It was fitted up at
the time the Lincoln Square Theater building was
erected, that part of the building occupied by the
Emerson Piano House being specially arranged for
it, more complete and handsome than any music
house in Illinois outside of Chicago.
Mr. Busher has been with the house for fourteen
years, beginning as a salesman, Mr. McDermott for
eleven years, beginning in the office and handling
of accounts. They have had much to do with build-
ing up the business to its present notable success and
will carry it on just as it has been operated.
Mr. Spayd entered the business almost exactly
thirty years ago, going into it when he left high school
at the age of 17. At that time it was the S. M. Lutz
Music House. The present firm was organized in
August, 1920. It has been known as the Emerson
Piano House some years before that.
Mr. Spayd is making the change to join his fam-
ily in Chicago. His wife, Ida Adele Spayd, has made
a notable success as a dramatic art instructor with
the Dorothe Roberts School of the Dance. His
daughters, Helen Marie and Alice Virginia, have been
successful in vaudeville.
"These young men have grown up in this business
with me and I haven't any doubt that they will
carry the business on just the same as if I were
here," said Mr. Spayd, speaking of the change.
'"There are no more capable young men any-
where. I shall always have a definite personal inter-
est in their success, but there is no uncertainty in
my mind about it. Of course, they have had the
experience while I have been here, but the main
thing in business success is ability to meet new
conditions as they come up and I know these young
men have that."
AMPICO HOUR IS WINDOW MOTIF
SHOW WINDOW AT CHICKERING HALL.
The illustration shows the very effective window soloist at the initial program, and who now records
display at Chickering Hall, New York City, in con- exclusively for the Ampico.
The display was especially effective in the evening,
nection with the Ampico Hour of Music now being due to the fact that the lighting arrangements were
broadcasted regularly every Thursday evening so arranged as to leave the entire window dark with
through station WJZ, New York, and eleven other the exception of flood lights thrown upon the figure
powerful stations extending as far west as Minne- of Lhevinne at the piano and upon the gilded an-
nouncement held aloft by the wires between the
apolis.
two miniature broadcasting towers.
Two gilded miniature broadcasting towers were
L. Schoenewald, manager of Chickering Hall, re-
used to support small wires to which were affixed in ports that people are dropping in to the Chickering
gilded letters the announcement "AMPICO HOUR
W'arerooms every day from all parts of the metropoli-
WJZ JANUARY 1 7:15 to 8:15." A cut-out tan district with requests for Ampico Hour program
figure of Josef Lhevinne seated at the Chickering cards: The Ampico Hour of Music is broadcasted
Grand directed attention in a very striking manner every Thursday evening from 8:30 p. m. to 9:00 p. m.
to the world-famous pianist, who was the featured Eastern Standard time.
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