THERE AND EVEHYW
MELVILLE CLARK HOST TO 300
MUSIC EDUCATORS
On Saturday evening, October 19th, Melville Clark, Presi-
dent of the Clark Music Company in Syracuse, and nationally
known music merchant and musician, was host to 300 music
educators at a dinner and reception at the Hotel Syracuse.
The banquet took place at six o'clock in the grand ballroom in
a company of music supervisors, superintendents of schools,
principals of schools and two nationally known speakers. The
program of entertainment following the dinner was under the
chairmanship of Dr. Clayton Rose, Superintendent of Schools
of Penn Yan.
The guest speakers were the eminent music critic, com-
poser and lecturer, Leonard Liebling, and Dr. S. Stephenson
Smith, who represented the American Society of Composers
and Publishers. Dr. Liebling gave an earnest plea for Amer-
ican music, stating that through the radio and the phonograph,
music has at last reached the masses and that "good music" is
brought into every home through these mediums.
Miss Edna Fries, concert pianist, who had been soloist at
the World's Fair, arrived by plane, coming from Providence,
R. I., to make a presentation of the new 1 Storytone, which in-
strument she had been demonstrating at the Fair and to var-
ious Story & Clark dealers in the East.
Prof. Leon H. Coon, Principal of the Grant Junior High
School, Syracuse, was chairman of the principal's reception fol-
lowing the dinner. Frederick Fay Swift, director of music of
Ilion Public Schools and secretary of the New York State
Music Association, was chairman of the music educator's re-
ception.
This annual event is one of the most outstanding means of
bringing together music educators with their interests and
problems and this year's gathering proved to be one of the
most beneficial and enjoyable thus far.
HARMONY COMPANY TO CLOSE FACTORY
"Presto Music Times" received the following announce-
ment from The Harmony Company: "The Harmony Company
of Chicago, manufacturers of stringed musical instruments for
many years, will discontinue operations as of December 31st,
1940. Every effort is being made to locate a purchaser for
the business in order to perpetuate the well known name and
to continue manufacturing the Harmony products.
" The Harmony Company and its employees wish to express
their appreciation to their many customers for their long
standing business and cooperation. It is with great regret
that the pleasant relationships enjoyed for so many years must
be terminated."
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LAURENS HAMMOND IN DEMONSTRATION
LECTURE
Laurens Hammond, noted inventor of electron musical
instruments, gave a demonstration lecture, "Three Electrical
Musical Instruments", before the Acoustical Society of Amer-
ica meeting at the Chicago Towers Club in Chicago on Novem-
ber 15th. Members of other technical societies were invited to
attend this lecture which was the first of its kind ever given
by Mr. Hammond. Mr. Hammond described the technical
features of the Novachord and the Solovox, his two most re-
cent musical inventions, and also discussed new developments
in the Hammond Electric Organ. The three instruments were
played as a trio, using music especially arranged for this
demonstration.
In March 1940, Laurens Hammond received the John Price
Wetherill award made by the Franklin Institute of Pennsyl-
vania in recognition of his research and achievements in the
field of electronic music as exemplified by the Hammond
electric Organ.
DECEMBER, 1940
MEYER'S PIANO CO. PIANO ENSEMBLE
Left to Right Seated: MISS EKMA SIMMONS, English Dept., A & M College;
MISS MAUD CRIMPLER, Head of Music Dept. A & M College. Also Pres. of
Arkansas Federated Music Clubs; MRS. H. A. REID, MRS. HERMAN CHRIS-
TIE, MRS. M. O. ALCORN, MRS. M. L. DIDLEY, MRS. W. L. THOMPSON,
MRS CARL PIPKIN, MRS. C. C. MARTELL, Pres. Loral Music Club; MRS.
1). P. FUTCH. teacher of Music Magnolia High School; MRS. E. B. JONKS,
MRS. J. R. McCUTRKIN; Standing Front: MRS. R. C. GREEN. Ensemble
Director, Teacher of Piano and Voice, Magnolia High School; Standing Rear;
Members of Meyers Piano Co., RICHARD C. MEYERS, MRS. SYLVIA
MEYERS, R. L. MEYERS.
The following interesting letter is from the Meyers Piano
Co., Magnolia, Arkansas: "We spent the first week of Octo-
ber at the Columbia County Fair, having a nice booth in the
Merchants Department, also we put on a fine six piano en-
semble, 12 players on this platform in front of the grand stand,
with an audience of around 2,000 people. Please find enclosed
photos, the "Gulbransen Pianos" on a sign just above the
Meyers Co. sign did not take as it was printed in blue. We
are extremely grateful to the Gulbransen Company for such
fine instruments to thrill the public with."
NEW PIANO BUSINESS IN ASHEVILLE
The Cannon-Hellen Company, Asheville, North Carolina,
opened its new store on North Market Street, opposite the
Asheville-Biltmore Hotel, on October 21st.
Both Fletcher C. Cannon, president, of the Company, and
Thomas W. Hellen, vice president, are piano men of long ex-
perience. Mr. Cannon, a native of Texas, went to Asheville
from Washington where he served with the Homer L. Kitt
Company in a sales capacity for more than eight years. Prior
to that he had been in the piano business in Texas.
Mr. Hellen was connected for years with the Stieff Piano
factory at Baltimore. He has also had years of experience in
tuning pianos. He is a native of Baltimore and has been in
business in Richmond and Washington.
Both officials of the Company said they chose Asheville
as the location of their business on the advice of piano experts
in many cities. The new firm will represent Steinway and
Wurlitzer exclusively in western North Carolina and north
Georgia. The Company expects to keep a complete display of
instruments on hand at all times.
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