September 8, 1928
PRESTO-TIMES
13
CONN DEALERS HOLD ANNUAL MEETING
the saxophone family and also using the alto. M. J.
Webster, formerly solo clarinetist with the famous
Innes Band, demonstrated the real beauty of the
Conn clarinet in a brilliant solo. The drums were
interestingly demonstrated by Andrew V. Scott, a
Varied Schemes for Organizing Bands and member
of the faculty of the Conn National School
Orchestras in Schools and Elsewhere Pro-
of Music, Chicago.
Other features of this unique program of artists
vide Interesting Themes for Addresses
were the Conn factory orchestra, Conn saxophone
and Spontaneous Talks.
quartet, Conn brass quartet and a demonstration on
Hand organizing was the central theme of the a five-cent tin whistle by Hobart A. Davis of the
Fourth Annual Convention of C. G. Conn, Ltd., Conn factory, better known as "Piccolo Pete."
Next Year's Convention Date.
dealers held at Elkhart, Ind., August 27 to 30, re-
ported briefly in Presto-Times of last week.
On the last day of the convention it was voted by
J. F. Boyer, Secretary of C. G. Conn, Ltd., said the dealers to hold next year's convention some time
in June, immediately preceding the National Music
that it was by all odds the most successful dealer
Trades Convention to be held in Chicago.
convention the company has held.
Among the Conn dealers and organizers attending'
Various band organizing plans that have proved suc-
cessful in various sections of the country were out- this convention were the following: Glenn Lyman,
Cedar Rapids, la.; Lee Hiltbrunner, Cedar Rapids,
lined. Among the plans outlined were those of Harry
la.; A. W. Silverstein. Akron, Ohio; Mrs. A. W.
N. Chesebrough of Idaho; N. E. Hager of the Hager
Silverstein, Akron, Ohio; Ralph Troutt, Atlanta, Ga.;
Musical Instrument Company, Grand Rapids, Mich.;
E. A. Hartman of the Conn Chicago Company; Lyle E. Markham, Erie, Pa.; A. R. Scott, Erie, Pa.;
C. R. Miller, Washington, D. C ; George Byerly,
E. G. Uggen, Poppler Piano Company, Grand
Peoria, 111.; Mrs. G. Byerly, Peoria, 111.; E. W.
Forks, North Dakota; Ben L. Loventhal, Louis-
ville Music and Radio Company, Louisville, Teed, New Orleans; Scott C. Dawson, Baltimore;
PLANS DISCUSSED
"MOVIETONE" A TOPIC
Influences of New Motion Picture House
Music on the Employment of Professional
Musicians Discussed at Length at
Conn Dealers' Convention.
The influence of "Movietone" upon the band instru-
ment business was a point discussed by Conn dealers
and organizers assembled at the Fourth Annual C. G.
Conn, Ltd., Dealer Convention held in Elkhart,
August 27 to 30.
A symposium of opinions of those in touch with
the situation all over the country revealed that
"Movietone" is a novelty which may work against
the musicians in smaller orchestras but which cannot
supplant the orchestras in the larger theaters. Some
dealers even hold the opinion that "Movietone" will
eventually raise the standard of music and will culti-
vate a wider appreciation of music much as the
radio has done.
Installed in Small Theaters.
To be more specific, the dealers called attention to
the fact that "Movietone" is being installed in the
smaller theaters where orchestras are not being used
because of expense. In some places, "Movietone" is
supplanting the costly pipe organ. In both instances,
"Movietone" will acquaint people with orchestral
music, the result of which will be a demand for a
real orchestra.
C. D. Greenleaf, president of C. G. Conn, Ltd.,
and for eleven years president of the National Asso-
ciation of Band Instrument Manufacturers, gave as
his opinion that "Movietone" will exert an unfavor-
able influence upon the music business only during
the period of adjustment, such as any innovation
causes in any industry.
Viewpoints taken in various large cities of the
country are summarized:
Baltimore: Study of the attendance at theaters
where "Movietone" has been installed shows that in
every case the attendance has dropped. Admission
charges have also dropped. Many small theaters are
installing "Movietone," a?id when "Movietone" be-
GROUP TAKEN AT BANQUET AT HOTEL ELKHART.
comes common in small theaters, the large theater
T
Henry A. Mulholland, Vancouver, B. C ; H. P. Mul- w ill not have it.
Ky.; A. M. Belsher of the D. L. Whittle Music Com-
Boston: One large theater laid off a forty-five piece
pany, Dallas, Texas; H. B. McClellan of the Mc- holland, Seattle, Wash.; F. D. Streep, Kansas City,
Mo.; Joe Franano, Kansas City, Mo.; Paul Kirby, orchestra for two weeks, but after this trial put the
Cleflan Music House, Buffalo, N. Y.
Detroit; Daniel Miller, San Francisco, Cal.; Harry- orchestra back in. It is the opinion that the salaries
Plans Varied.
r
These plans vary in many of their details but all Meyers, New York; Maxw ell Meyers, Boston, Mass. of musicians will be lowered.
Rochester: In this city ninety-five per cent of all
of them provide for competent instruction of school
John Jenney, Cedar Rapids, la.; Pauline Nickey,
children on the various instruments in the band and Tipton, Ind.; Fred W. Bayers, Bridgeport, Conn.; E. film is produced. The largest of these companies is
orchestra and co-operation of the dealer with the A. Hartman, Chicago; H. B. McClellan, Buffalo; Verl controlled by Eastman, who owns and controls three
school children which would make it easy for the J. Sheffer, Dayton, Ohio; T. W. Bresnahan, New of the largest theaters in Rochester, none of which
children to purchase the necessary instruments.
York; F. J. Nealy, Chicago; G. C. Collum, Dallas, have installed "Movietone."
Chicago: Musicians are quite exercised about
On Wednesday evening the convention was enter- Texas; D. C. Burkholder, Madison, Wis.; N. E.
Hager, Grand Rapids, Mich.; C. V. Kuehn, Schenec- "Movietone," levying a tax of two per cent of their
tained with a banquet held at the Hotel Elkhart at
which the guest of honor was Professor A. R. Mc- tady. N. Y.; W. H. Levis, Rochester, N. Y.; Harry wages upon themselves for the purpose of a general
Allister, director of the Joliet, 111., High School N. Chesebrough, Boise, Idaho; Earl M. Cameron, fight. In a recent agreement between musicians and
Band, for three consecutive years winner of the Na- New York; John L. Luellen, Chicago; James Svehla, theater operators six men will be a minimum number
of musicians in "Movietone" theaters.
Grand Forks, N. D.; M. E. Williams, Bham, Ala.
tional High School Band Contest.
Indianapolis: One of the largest theaters laid off
Artists Entertain.
P. F. Schneider, Vincennes, Ind.; Ben L. Loven-
The dealers were also entertained by an artist con- thal, Louisville, Ky.; Mrs. B. L. Loventhal, Louis- the orchestra for a two-weeks' trial of "Movietone,"
ville, Ky.; E. B. Cawthra, Louisville, Ky.; Mrs. but popular demand made it necessary to bring the
test on representative instruments. Harry Johnson of
M. C. Melville, Memphis, Tenn.; C. W. Collins, Chi- orchestra back.
the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, played two French
Minneapolis: "Movietone" has not yet affected the
horn solos; F. Demange of the Little Symphony Or- cago; Mr. C. I. Shirely, Kokomo, Ind.; L. O. Wer-
chestra, Chicago, demonstrated the euphonium; Justus tenberger, Laketon, Ind.; W. A. L. Gibbs, Bryan, musicians in the theaters of this city.
Seattle: "Movietone" will be used to help reduce
Gelfius, formerly first flutist with the Detroit Sym- Ohio; F. S. Branstrader, Chicago, 111.; K. P. Mac-
phony Orchestra and now professor of Flute at the Naughton, Detroit, Mich.; B. L. Tabor, Davenport, the salaries of orchestra musicians.
Chicago Musical College, Chicago, demonstrated the Ta.; Mrs. E. W. Teed, New Orleans, La.; Andrew
beauties of the flute in two solos; Jaroslav Cimera, V. Scott, Chicago; H. J. Beringer, Chicago; C. M.
W. S. CHENEY RETURNS.
rated by many as the greatest living trombone vir- Ellenbaas, Denver, Colo; Ralph R. Story; Constance
Wallace S. Cheney, head of the Piano & Organ
tuoso, played a trombone solo and a duet with Sawkins, Alma, Mich.; Bernadette Sawkins, Alma, Supply Company, 2132 North Racine avenue, Chicago,
Richard Stross, well-known trumpet soloist. The Mich.
has returned from a vacation trip to New York city
incomparable John Kuhn used the sousaphone as a
Mrs. John Jenney, Cedar Rapids, la.; H. M. Parke, and other points in the East. He was glad to find
solo instrument as only John Kuhn can play the Toledo, Ohio; R. E. Stratman, Indianapolis; R. G. that the trade men in the East were getting better
sousaphone. Duke Rehl, who introduced the mezzo- Landrum, Marion, Ind.; A. J. Niemiec, Milwaukee; orders than they had been securing for some time.
soprano saxophone over KYW this spring, played two A. R. McAllister. Joliet, 111.; Geo. B. Wiswell, Joliet,
of his own compositions, using this new member of
(Continued on page 16)
Nauvoo, 111., is to have a school band.
Coin Operated and Selection Controlled Pianos
MECHANICALLY PERFECT
Music That Pays as It Plays
WESTERN ELECTRIC PIANO CO., 832-850 Blackhawk St., Chicago, III.
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