August 11, 1928
HOW CITIES MAY
ENCOURAGE MUSIC
Achievements of Municipal Director of Music
in Baltimore, Md., Suggest the Extent to
Which Other Municipalities May Go
in Cultural Developments.
By C. J. ROBERTS.
In an important interview with Frederick R. Huber,
municipal director of music of Baltimore, recently
published in the trade press and elsewhere, Mr. Huber
revealed some extraordinarily interesting data regard-
ing the remarkable strides which hive been made in
the development of music and musical activities in
Baltimore in recent years. I am convinced that the
authorities of many cities are only waiting to be
properly approached by those who are interested in
music, to do what they can to promote music as a
municipal benefit.
Some months ago when I had the pleasure of at-
tending the convention of the Pennsylvania Associa-
tion of Music Merchants and in listening to the fine
address of Mayor Harry A. Mackey, I was greatly
impressed by His Honor's actual eagerness to do
something for the cause of music in the name of the
great city of Philadelphia. He was then seeking in-
formation as to the best way to proceed in establish-
ing a city department or bureau for the advancement
of music in all its phases. It is only a question of
time when the city of Philadelphia will promote music
as a city activity in a very prominent way.
Effect in Philadelphia.
I have talked with a number of other mayors and
other officials of cities and I am sure that most pro-
gressive and up-to-date cities are only waiting to
secure the necessary information before proceeding to
do something worthwhile for music. None are better
qualified or have a greater right to approach city gov-
ernments on the behalf of music than music mer-
chants.
The Dealer's Part.
Every music merchant in this country should con-
sult with the authorities of h\s city and urge the
establishment of a department of musr'c. Most en-
lightened city governments would not hesitate to
make a reasonable appropriation for the cause of
music if the matter is properly presented. The most
important thing to be done is to secure the appoint-
ment of the proper man in the city as municipal direc-
tor of music. In the case of Baltimore, the city has
been most fortunate in having Mr. Huber, who has
done more for music in Baltimore than any other
man in the entire history of the city. He has retained
the respect and cooperation of succeeding adminis-
trations and only recently, when he sought to resign,
there was such a volume of protest from the city
government and from Baltimore citizens, that he sim-
ply could not resign. The right man in the position
of municipal director of music in any city will do a
very great deal for the cause of music.
A Suggestion.
I am sure that Mr. Huber would give me any in-
formation that he has as to how best to proceed to
interest municipalities in a department of music and
any members of the trade who are interested in the
subject may communicate with me and I will be
very pleased to forward such information as Mr.
Huber will give me.
A very comprehensive analysis of a survey made
by the National Bureau for the Advancement of
PRESTO-TIMES
Music, entitled "Municipal Aid to Music in America,"
contains a large amount of exceedingly valuable in-
formation and this book may be purchased from the
bureau at a nominal price.
MUSIC FOR BALTIMORE
FIRE FIGHTERS—BUT
Fire Board Will Not Be Responsible for Price
of Anything Purchased by Any
of the Laddies.
QUICK GROWTH OF
PIANO CONTEST IDEA
Future Plans of Dealers' Associations in Many
Cities Will Make the Piano Playing
Tournament Potent Means for
Creating Piano Sales.
The piano contest with its accompanying activities
:n piano lessons will be a more notable feature in the
piano trade for the coming year. The contests
have been so productive of interest in the piano that
it is acknowledged to be the most potent aid to piano
sales. The contest is a creator of business now and
its accompanying methods of including the young
people in its activities are assurance of good sales
in the future.
Spirit Grows.
The contest spirit grows. Now in the quiescent
summer months, the active agene'es for promoting
contests are at work in many cities. The piano play-
ing contests are promised features in the musical
activities in many cities throughout the country and
are stirring up the kind of interest that insures
activity in the industry and trade. Whether or not
many pianos are sold, as an immediate result of the
contests in any community, it is positively true that
eventually the effect must be to stimulate the people
to buy pianos. The seed must be planted before the
harvest can be expected. It may requ : re some wait-
ing, but as sure as the sun shines the crop will
develop.
The First Serious Effort.
And so it is in any special line of business. Until
recently pianos have never been promoted in the
same sense that some other things have been pushed
forward. The real need of pianos has never been
made a part of the public consciousness; never in an
organized way been presented as an active influence
in the cultural training of children and the preserva-
tion of the home feeling. The piano has been per-
mitted to make its appeal through the urge of family
pride, and because of its place in the social attain-
ments, rather than because it is an essential in educa-
New Piano Ventures, Ownership Transfers tion and the mental development of the young. That
it is not only a sign of refinement, but a necessary
and Location Changes Are Items
part of the educational equipment has never until now
of Interest.
been given great emphasis. The contests are doing
The Harmony Music Shop of 376 Grand street, this, and doing it effectively.
Brooklyn, N. Y., has opened a new branch at 1727
The International Contest.
Emmons avenue.
An illustration of the interest in the piano playing
The Geo. A. Cassedy Co., which operates a store contest are the plans for a great international piano
at 466 State street, Schenectady, N. Y., has opened a play'ng tournament as a musical feature of the pro-
branch in Fort Plain, N. Y.
posed World's Fair in Chicago in 1933. It will be
Emanuel Berger has opened a store at 1309-11 Wal- the continuation of a national piano playing tourna-
nut street, Philadelphia, Pa., devoted to the sale of
ment in which American cities will participate and
phonographs, radios, etc.
grand finals be held in Chicago. The winners would
The Kahn & Kahn Piano Co., Pine Bluff, Ark., is compete in the international tournament during the
remodeling its quarters.
World's Fair.
The Sampson Music Co. has opened a new store in
The Growth of Contest.
Emmett, Idaho.
And
the
playing
contest has developed into other
R. M. Rhodes has opened a new music store in
realms than that of the piano. It has taken hold of
Miller, S. D.
The State Music Co., Mansfield, Ohio, recently held the other instruments of music. Bands are now form-
an opening of the new store in the Van Ness Building. ing into classes and meeting in competition. The
The opening'of the Hall M^tsic Co., Inc., Fulton, annual school band contest is now an important fea-
N. Y., took place on July 28 at 10 South First street ture in musical events. Study of the band instru-
in the store formerly occupied by the Metropolitan ments is becoming almost a regular feature in the
music life of many cities and towns. Even the hum-
Chain Stores, Inc.
ble harmonica is coming in for its share of the con-
test plans for spreading music, and prominent men
W. C. HEATON'S ENERGY.
in community life are taking personal interest in the
William C. Heaton, general sales manager of the practical side of music. Which means the spread of
Welte Mignon Corporation, has-recently moved from the demand and sale of musical instruments of all
the second floor of 665 Fifth avenue, New York, to kinds.
suite 914 on the ninth floor of the same building.
It looks like the day of the music store. And there
The display warerooms remain on the second floor, is no place so indifferent to music but that the live
and a very fine display it is.
dealer may help along the playing contest with direct
"Here in 914 Mr. Heaton has the best office facili- profit to his business.
ties and equipment in the world, and he can do his
work undisturbed by callers in the store. When it
BUYS MACON, GA., BUSINESS.
comes to turning out work, Mr. Heaton is a whole
The Custis S. Guttenberger Music Co., 208 Cotton
office force in himself, as any one of his assistants is
willing to affirm," writes Presto-Times correspondent. avenue, Macon, Ga., has been purchased by Cliff
Gordon, who has already taken possession of the new
store, for which he will act as manager. The Custis
WEST VIRGINIA FIRM MOVES.
S. Guttenberger Music Co. is favorably known
The S. A. Phillips Music Co., established in Mor- throughout a wide section of the state and Mr. Gor-
gautown, W. Va., about twenty-two years ago, has don has the ability and experience to successfully
moved to its new store in the Standish Building on continue its activities.
High street. The concern handles Mason & Hamlin,
Chickeriug, Knabe, Baldwin and Gulbransen pianos
EXPORTS IN NASHUA, N. H.
and the Ampico as well as phonographs, sheet music
An important Nashua, N. H., new addition to the
and radios. Samuel A. Phillips is proprietor.
William L. Nutting Music Salon was recently made.
Schillings Music Store, Oswego, N. Y., which was The addition is fifty-five feet long by eighteen feet
closed some time ago due to the illness of John Schil- wide, adjoining the main warerooms. The new dis-
ling, proprietor, has been reopened. Mr. Schilling, play room is furnished to provide a suitable showroom
recovered from his illness, is again back in the har- for the piano line, which includes the full American
Piano Co. line.
ness with his old energy.
The Fire Board of Baltimore, Md., has decreed
there was no particular reason, so far as it was con-
cerned, why members of the fire department should
not have musical instruments, radios, automobiles and
"other luxuries" for members of their families and
themselves on their days off.
"But this board is not a collection agency for deal-
ers who sell these things to firemen," it was asserted.
"Necessities are all that the board requires the mem-
bers of the department to pay for.
"Dealers who sell them musical instruments, radios,
automobiles and other luxuries must assume respon-
sibility for the payment for the bills. This board
will not."
This announcement of the Fire Board was a result
of a claim against a fireman for a musical instru-
ment, and the notice that the board was "not a col-
lection agency" was served on the dealer who pre-
sented the bill and asked that the fireman be ordered
to pay it.
The board said it had been "annoyed of late by
claims against firemen for musical instruments, radios
and automobiles."
A. & J. Oldewurtel, local musical instrument deal-
ers, will relocate on North Howard street, Baltimore,
Md. The brothers, who operate musical instrument
stores on South Broadway and North Gay street,
formerly conducted the Talking Machine Shop at 305
North Howard street for a number of years.
NEW STORETOPENINGS
SHOW TRADE PROGRESS
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