August 15, 1929
P R E S T O-T I M E S
PIANO MEN INDIGNANT
OVER WALL ST. SIZE=UP
Des Moines Query About Piano Business
Answered by Man Apparently
Unfamiliar with It.
When making a call upon E. J. Radle, president of
F. Radle. Inc., 609-611 West 36th Street, New York,
last week, a Presto-Times representative was shown
a copy of the "Wall Street Outlook," containing an
inquiry from a correspondent at Des Moines, la.,
about the purchase of stock in a prominent piano
demand. We have turned the corner. W r e are in
the midst of prosperity, but there are millions of
people in this country who have purchased their own
homes in the past few years, and are still paying for
these homes, and who are dreaming of the day when
they can buy their piano.
"The radio, I believe to be a necessity in each and
every home, but if there were no music, there would
be no radio. If there were no pianos in the home,
people would not appreciate music that was being
played for them.
"As Mr. J. S. Gorman said, 'Piano music is so im-
portant in giving children a well-balanced training in
mind, body and soul.' That is a point which all par-
ents should give great consideration to.
"If we were to have canned music only, I believe
that we would soon revert to a nation of savages. I
am surprised to find that the. editor of a Wall Street
paper should take it upon himself to judge things so
foreign to his business, and to express his opinion on
something that he knows nothing of."
"AT THE BALDWIN"
NEXT SUNDAY NIGHT
Lillian and Moissaye Boguslawski, Two Pianists,
Well Known to Radio Enthusiasts, to Be Heard.
E. J. RADLE.
manufacturing industry, and the caustic answer in
the same paper at the bottom of the inquiry. The
answer was of such a character as to belittle the
piano and the music business generally.
Several well-posted piano men in the trade have
expressed their indignation and disgust over the an-
swer written by the "Wall Street Outlook," but Mr.
Radle's expressions of displeasure are a trifle more
vehement than the others, for he said:
"This answer was evidently written by a man who
knows very little of the subject upon which he was
writing. He seems to be under the same impression
that a great many of the public seem to be laboring
under; in other words, he believes that the p : ano is
a dead issue.
"We have heard this same remark before. At the
time the bicycle craze started, the piano was con-
demned; everyone was going to ride a bicycle. At
the time the phonograph first made its appearance,
the piano again was a dead issue, but somehow it re-
vived and grew stronger and healthier than ever.
Now the radio and automobile have come in, and arc
supposedly making an assault on the poor p : ano, but
we know that the general public still appreciate good
music, and that piano playing is as essential to the
education of any child as the three 'R's.' It makes
for refinement. It makes for better home conditions,
and it makes for a better country.
"A person who loves music and can produce music
is a better person in every possible way than one who
cares nothing for it. A musical education certainly
adds to the moral fiber of each and every one of us.
"The jazz craze has gone by, and we are already
feeling the effects in increased business and a better
Lillian and Moissaye Boguslawski, two pianists,
well known to radio audiences, will be heard "at the
Baldwin" on Sunday evening, August 18. The pro-
gram will be broadcast over Station WJZ and the
associated stations of the National Broadcasting
Chain at 9:45 p. m., Eastern daylight saving time.
The Baldwin Singers, that famous male quartet, will,
as usual, assist with the program.
The Boguslawski name is familiar to numerous
radio fans by reason of their frequent appearances on
the air. The discriminating radio editor of the "Chi-
cago Tribune" writes: "Boguslawski has not only
solved the mystery of the inner minds of the great
music masters, but he has solved the mystery of
radio technic."
Of the numerous appearances in two-piano recitals
throughout the country by Lillian and Moissaye
Boguslawski, critics have been unanimous in their
praise of "the perfect co-ordinance between the two
players. . . . They played in unison as perfectly
as though they were using a single instrument, and
yet they were able to attain effects that would have
been impossible on an individual piano."
Moissaye Boguslawski comes from a long line of
music makers. Both grandfathers, on the maternal
and paternal side of the family, were musicians in
Russia. He has been heard with the leading sym-
phony orchestras in this country, and his piano re-
citals have been received with warm interest and
enthusiasm. The late Henry Finck, celebrated New
York critic, wrote of Boguslawski's debut: "All the
secrets of piano playing are known to him. and if this
is the BOGUSIawski. what must the REALlawski
be like." Mr. Boguslawski's activities have not been
limited to concert alone. He has distinguished him-
self in research for adapting music as a therapeutic in
treating mental diseases.
Lillian Boguslawski is an American by birth, and
was a student at the University of Illinois.
Ruth Breton, violinist, and Stell Andersen, pianist,
will be soloists "at the Baldwin" on Sunday eve-
ning, Aug. 25. The program will be broadcast over
Station WJZ and the associated stations of the Na-
tional Broadcasting Chain at 9:45 p. m. Eastern
Daylight Saving Time. The Baldwin Singers will, as
usual, assist with the program. Ruth Breton, well-
known young American violinist, was trained under
RARE OLD VOSE PIANO
AT MAPLEWOOD INN
An Instrument with a History Connected with Early
Wisconsin Pioneering.
At the Maplewood Tnn, a well-known summer
resort for the better class of people, Green Lake,
Wis , Dr. Victor Kutchin, proprietor and landlord, in
one of the parlors, stands an old Vose square piano,
an instrument with a history of unusual interest.
The piano was bought for Hattie Sherwood, daugh-
ter of W. C. Sherwood, who was one of the early
settlers of that part of the beautiful Green Lake sec-
tion. The purchase was made upwards of sixty years
ago, and on the marriage of his daughter Hattie to
Dr. Kutchin, the piano was taken in a lumber wagon
to Waupun. Wis., where he and his wife lived for
some years. Later it was brought back to the Sher-
wood house (or rather "mansion" in those days)
from Waupun across Green Lake on the ice on a
bobsled, where it has remained since and is now an
antique attraction at this beautiful resort.
On occasions it has been used at marriages, at
funerals, at banquets, at merrymakings and dignified
functions, and has helped to entertain Governors.
Senators and many others of political importance, and
stars of the stage. It now stands in a parlor with
other noted pieces of furniture to keep it company—
articles imported and of domestic origin. One of
these pieces—a settee—was once owned by President
Lincoln and used in his home at Springfield, 111.
It was presented to Dr. Kutchin by a friend of the
martyred President, who afterward became a repre-
sentative of this country abroad.
The number of the old piano is 10,492. The name-
plate stamp is "Vose & Sons, Boston."
Dr. Kutchin is prominent nationally, and he is the
author of several books. He is loyal to Wisconsin
and takes delight in telling visitors of its wonders,
past and present.
WISCONSIN NEWS
Mrs. Jane R. Bradford, widow of James B. Brad-
ford of the J. B. Bradford Piano Co., aged 91, died
Friday, July 26, at the Medford Hotel, Milwaukee.
The Norbert J. Beihoff Music Co. has moved
from 811 47th street to its new location at 5121
North avenue, Milwaukee. Gordon Shields has joined
the force as radio service man.
The Waukesha Radio Sales, Inc., Waukesha, Wis.,
store held its formal opening July 9. The firm is the
local authorized Majestic dealer.
TRAVELER SEEKS NEW FIELDS.
Albert Hornoff, who has been active for the past
few years in San Francisco, Los Angeles and other
West Coast towns in special sales work, has estab-
lished temporary headquarters in Chicago at 108
North Hoyne avenue. Mr. Hornoff has a wide
acquaintance among the trade in Chicago, where he
was employed for many years by Lyon & Healy.
For the past week Mr. Hornoff's activities have re-
quired his presence in Fargo, North Dakota.
the mighty line of Franz Kneisel and Leopold Auer,
and is unquestionably in the front rank of the players
of her instrument today. Stell Andersen, the Amer-
ican pianist, is what is commonly known as a "self-
made" artist. She was born in Linn Grove, Iowa,
a Norwegian settlement, her parents having emi-
grated from Norway.
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