MUSICAL
TIMES
PRESTO
Established
1881
Established
1884
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
10 Cents a Copy
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1929.
$2 The Yea*
ADOPT SLOGAN FOR MUSIC INDUSTRY
Phrase Submitted by Mrs. Linnie Lewis Wilson, Hamilton, Mont. Is Unanimous Choice
of Judges in Thousand Dollar Prize Contest Promoted by Music
Industries Chamber of Commerce
Here is the music industry's new slogan: " T H E
RICHEST CHILD IS POOR W I T H O U T MUSI-
CAL TRAINING!"
Unanimous choice of the
judges in the Thousand Dollar Prize Contest con-
ducted by the Music Industries Chamber of Com-
merce last fall, the slogan is now the property of
every manufacturer, jobber, dealer and organization
connected with the industry, and steps soon will be
taken for its nation-wide exploitation.
Mrs. Linnie Lewis Wilson, of 247 State street,
Hamilton, Montana, mother of two grown daughters
and a teacher of piano, is the creator of the slogan
and winner of the prize money. The winning slogan
was picked from approximately 120,000 entries which
came from every state in the union, from people in
all walks of life and in nearly a score of languages.
The judges were: Frank Presbrey, head of the ad-
vertising agency bearing his name and an interna-
tional authority on advertising slogans; Prof. George
R. Agnew, head of the Department of Marketing of
New York University, and S. L. Rothafel ("Roxy"),
nationally known motion picture impresario and
authority on music. Prof, Agnew indicates the con-
sensus of the judges in his statement concerning the
award of the prize money to Mrs. Wilson.
Judge's Opinion.
"There is one thing to be said as to why I prefer,
'The Richest Child Is Poor Without Musical Train-
ing,' " he wrote to the Slogan Contest Committee. "In
order to appreciate the beauty of the stars, a little
knowledge of astronomy is necessary; a little study
of botany greatly increases the appreciation of one
who loves flowers: So with music. I believe real
appreciation of music can come only to those who
know something of the technique by which it is pro-
duced. And, the man or woman who is not able to
appreciate music in its true sense is shut out of life's
richest pleasures. It seems to me that this slogan
embodies that idea better than any other submitted."
Human Interest Feature.
Real drama enters the awarding of the prize to
Mrs. Wilson. The check for $1,00,0 reached her in
time to care for a mortgage on her home, and part of
the money will be used to continue the education of
her daughters. Mrs. Wilson's storyvpf her struggles
to bring up her family and to teach good music in
her neighborhood is clearly told in her letter acknowl-
edging the good news. She writes:
"I am just a struggling teacher of piano and an
artist who almost mortgaged her soul for art and as
I really had hardly expected to win a contest where
so many would compete I was amazed and delighted
when I was. given the telegram that announced the
fact that I am winner of the National Music Slogan
Contest.
"I thank those who offered it with all my heart.
T had thirteen years' training in music from the best
teachers in our home town finishing at Carleton Col-
lege, Northfield, Minn., where I took piano lessons
and studied harmony. I have been organist in the
Congregational, Presbyterian and Episcopal Churches
and certainly love the church work.
"I have taught in the public schools and have
learned the value of musical training there and teach-
ing my own daughters and many others.
"I have music classes here and in Darby, Cowallis
and Stevensville, so am doing my bit in my small
corner to help the good work.
"My pupils' recital programs, I think, prove my
zeal for the best class of music. In solo work they
have included The Erl King by Schubert, Ballade
op. 47 by Chopin, Rustle of Spring by Linding, Whis-
pering Winds by Wollenhaupt, William Tell, Hun-
garian Rhapsody No. 2 and many others. The ren-
dering of these programs has been approved by good
musicians. My own daughters have appeared in these
recitals here from 1916 until 1928 inclusive. My hus-
band has held public positions of trust and been in
a milling and commission business but lost heavily
during the war, hence the struggle.
"This amount will help my daughter with her
studies, also will relieve a mortgage on our home.
"Again thanking you sincerely,
" L I N N I E LEWIS WILSON."
History of the Contest
The music industry has long sought a slogan, gen-
eral use of which by all branches of the business
would stir public consciousness and tend to further
the interest of the country in the playing of musical
instruments as a popular pastime.
Details of a national slogan contest were worked
out by a committee consisting of C. M. Tremaine,
director of the National Bureau for the Advancement
of Music; Alfred L. Smith, general manager of the
Music Industries Chamber of Commerce; Max J.
deRochemont, Edward C. Boykin, executive secretary
of the National Piano Manufacturers Association;
William J. Haussler, president of the National Musi-
cal Merchandise Association, and Henry C. Lomb,
president of the Musical Instrument and Accessories
Manufacturers. Dewey M. Dixon, assistant to the
general manager of the Chamber, was in active
charge of carrying out the programme.
The contest was first announced through national
newspaper publicity in September, with the closing
date fixed for December 1, 1928. Music dealers, job-
bers, manufacturers, as well as musical clubs, women's
clubs, civic clubs, teachers' organizations and other
groups, were circularized, with the request that they
obtain the widest possible distribution of the small
contest leaflet, giving the rules and containing a blank
for entry of a slogan. Window cards and advertising
accessories were also provided for the use of dealers
throughout the country.
Well Advertised.
Approximately 440,000 leaflets were ordered by the
above groups for distribution to the public. Thou-
sands of direct inquiries were received by the Cham-
ber, as a result of newspaper and magazine publicity.
The rule giving permission to send more than one
slogan was thoroughly taken advantage of, some en-
trants submitting a score of variations.
Of the 120,000 slogans entered, by far the greater
number came from women, many of whom obviously
were teachers of music. Radio announcements of the
contest by various stations throughout the country
were also an incentive to competition, many direct
inquiries having reached the Chamber as a result of
them.
Comparatively few of the entrants took advantage
of the privilege of combining words with symbols or
designs.
To Feature Siogan.
Important uses are to be made of the new slogan
of the music trade and the Music Industries Chamber
of Commerce will point the way in distributing activ-
ities of its own. The slogan is to be made into
stickers for use by dealers and electrotypes of the
phrase will be an encouragement to dealers to make
frequent use of it.
In the printed publicity for the national conven-
tions of the various trade associations in June, copious
use of the slogan will be made. Everybody asso-
ciated with any phase of the music industry will be
requested to make use of the stimulating phrase and
music dealers especially will be asked to use it as a
stimulating influence both in their printed matter and
in poster form.
The dealers will be encouraged to have the slogan
printed in an attractive form in their local papers
and electrotypes will be furnished by the Music In-
dustries Chamber of Commerce. Posters and stick-
ers for advertising purposes will feature the slogan
in an impressive way.
Dealers throughout the country who have cex-
pressed an opinion about the possibilities of a sug-
gestive phrase to impress the importance of music
study for the young, were enthusiastic about the
potency of an excellent slogan which has been ac-
corded the first prize in the slogan contest. The
sentence particularly appeals to ambitious parents
was the general opinion, and thus is of greater force
in an appeal. The great and widespread interest in
the contest, too, is certain to have an excellent stim-
ulative effect on piano sales. In the smaller towns it
was learned the interest in the slogan was most
marked.
LYON & HEALY ABSORBS
BISSELL-WEISERT CO.
Organization of Big Retail House Consider-
ably Strengthened by Addition of Messrs.
Bissell and Weisert as Officers.
Lyon & Healy, Chicago, this week announce the
absorption of the Bissell-Weisert Piano Company of
26 South Michigan avenue. Chicago. Arthur Bissell
and Henry E. Weisert will immediately become as-
sociated with Lyon & Healy as vice-presidents in
charge of the piano division.
In commenting on this latest move, Raymond E.
Durham, president, said that Lyon & Healy will
absorb the Bissell-Weisert Piano Company through
consolidation, effective February 1, 1929.
Inasmuch as the policies and standards of the Bis-
sell-Weisert Piano Company have closely paralleled
those of Lyon & Healy, the transfer of the Bissell-
Weisert interests in a natural development and will
further establish Lyon & Healy as the music center
of Chicago.
The Bissell-Weisert Piano Company has occupied
a distinguished position in Chicago since 1912, and
in that time has built up an extensive and valuable
clientele among Chicago's leading citizens.
Arthur Bissell is a member of an old Chicago fam-
ily. He, therefore, has an unusually extensive ac-
quaintance among the more prominent people iden-
tified with the development and growth of Chicago.
He has been interested in all movements affecting the
musical, artistic and cultural growth of the city.
Henry E. Weisert, a former president of the Music
Merchants' Association of the United States, has long
been recognized as one of the leaders in the music
industry.
The Lyon & Healy organization will be greatly
strengthened by the addition of these men to its
official staff.
ALEX. MCDONALD BACK FROM CHICAGO.
Alex. McDonald, advertising manager and whole-
sale representative for Sohmer & Co., 31 West 57th
street. New York, recovered from his bad cold and
took a trip to Chicago in thhe latter part of last
week. He is now back at his office at New York and
digging into his correspondence.
TO ATTEND CONFERENCE.
Delbert L. Loomis has left for Chicago to attend
the mid-winter conference with reference to the com-
ing national conventions in Chicago in June. The
Music Industries Chamber of Commerce held a meet-
ing this week.
Wilrath, Inc., has opened a new phonograph store
at 212-14 South 17th street, Philadelphia, Pa.
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