Music Trade Review
Issue: 1904 Vol. 39 N. 25 - Page 47
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
47
In the World of Music Publishing
ooooooooooooooooooooooooocxxooo
REVIEW OF TRADE CONDITIONS.
Julius Steger, Harry Fischer, Joseph Carroll and
Frank O'Neill. I t may be truthfully said that
Lew Fields is a star of the first magnitude, and
is certainly to be congratulated on his successful
venture.
Mr. Herbert's music and Mr. MacDonough's
book are not only worthy, but have received the
highest praise, all agreeing that "It Happened
in Nordland" is a bright and most pleasing mu-
sical play.
Buying of a Conservative Nature in the Pub-
lishing Field, Although Some Houses Report
a Very Active Demand—Trade in the West
Much Better Than in the New England
States—A Leading Jobber Summarizes the
Situation for The Review.
In spite of the usual highly colored reports
handed to the earnest newspaper seeker after
truth, business with publishers, jobbers and deal-
ers is a conservative proposition. The buying is
from hand to mouth, as there is no desire to stock
up before the new year's arrival, when deals
of magnitude are expected to eventuate. Never-
theless the volume of sales is keeping up fairly
well, and in some instances trade is quite smart;
but quarters responsible for these pleasing re-
ports represent concerns that are sturdy believ-
ers in every form of advertising, and metaphori-
cally leave no stone unturned nor any avenue in
the line of publicity unexplored, which is really
the only royal road to success in the marketing
of their output. This applies to every publishing
house, no matter what may be their classifica-
tion or how they are specialized. It is an old
sermon this, to be sure, and the only scoffers at
the burden of the discourse are the has-beens
and those minus the price.
In the West trade is more satisfactory than in
eastern territory. In New England the experi-
ence of New York with price cutting has reached
a stage where the old established concerns are
greatly perturbed. The situation, however, is
not so binding, especially in Boston, as in the
metropolis, where, it is solemnly averred, mat-
ters are slowly improving, though no official
declaration of peace has as yet appeared.
Reviewing conditions on Monday, a jobber
confided the following information to The Re-
view: "Well, business is not altogether to the
bad by a long shot. As you see our force is as
busy as they can be, but November fell behind
the October sales about $900. This we consider a
pretty good showing. December promises to
keep up the same ratio, and as we sell only to
dealers, from this a fairly correct idea of retail
trade may be deduced. The only real trouble
we are having is with collections; but no more
than is usual at this time of the year. As regu-
lar as the period arrives the payment of monthly
accounts slows up. Possibly the dealer is figuring
on the Christmas presents, which seem to be as
inevitable as 'death and taxes'; but we strongly
object to being made a party of convenience. As
an expression of 'peace on earth and good will
to good men,' as it is expressed in the original
Greek, we cordially approve of the beautiful cus-
tom; it is to be commended on every ground but
one, and that is a man's just obligations should
not be sidetracked to gratify this indulgence. It is
keeping our typewriters warm grinding out
vigorous protests, and dealers prone to procrasti-
nate too long are receiving a line of missives
in which the compliments of the season are con-
spicuous by their absence. With this drawback
eliminated we should say business could be a
trifle more brisk without overtaxing the capacity
of the publisher or keeping the jobber working
overtime to fill orders."
The opening of Lew Fields' all-star stock com-
pany at his new theatre on 42d street, introduced
a song hit by Clare Kummer, the author of
"Egypt." It was sung by Miss Marie Cahill, and
is spoken of as one of the biggest successes
of the show. "Dingle Dongle Dell" is the odd
title of Miss Kummer's latest.
Fay Templeton, Virginia Earle and Pete
Dailey, will be the stars in a new musical
comedy, "Life in Newport," which Bob Cole and
the Johnson Bros, are writing for Klaw & Er-
langer. This will have a New York production.
CUTTING PRICES IN BOSTON.
Leading Dealers and Publishers Much Per-
turbed Over the Situation—G. W. Setchell
Chats of Conditions in the "Hub"—New
York Publishers Accused of Being Back of
the
Movement—The Advertising
of Low
Prices in New York Is Having Its Effect in
Boston and Other Cities.
LEW FIELDS.
The gentleman pictured above needs no formal
introduction to the public, for he is probably as
well known as any other person on the American
stage to-day. His long partnership with Joe
Weber, in the little house, corner of Broadway
and 29th street, will not soon be forgotten by
New Yorkers and hundreds of visitors to the
metropolis. It was there that Weber & Fields
made their famous record-breaking success and
where they gathered about them their large
circle of friends. These friends they still retain,
notwithstanding that they are working separ-
ately, and only the best of wishes go out to each
of them in their respective playhouses. When
the firm of Weber & Fields dissolved—which, by
the way, was with the best of feeling—it is but
natural that each should strike out for pastures
new and scenes where fresh conquests, as it were,
could be made.
As soon as the necessary arrangements were
effected Mr. Fields organized a strong stock com-
pany and secured a most delightful and access-
ible house on 42d street near Broadway. It is
known as the Lew Fields' Theatre, and a pret-
tier and more commodious playhouse it would
be hard to find. It is complete in every respect
and is sure to become one of the most popular
in New York. Mr. Fields' new house was opened
Monday week with "It Happened in Nordland,"
written expressly for him by Victor Herbert and
Glen MacDonough, on which occasion the the-
atre was packed. Lew Fields himself received
a genuine ovation and was recalled so often that
he felt somewhat embarrassed. Mr. Fields is not
only a great favorite for his genial personality
but for the real art he displays in his stage work.
TJie supporting company includes Marie Cahill,
May Robson, Bessie Clayton, Rosemary Glosz,
Marion Graughm, "Billie" Norton, Pauline Fred-
erick, Harry Davenport, Joseph W. Herbert,
Boston is now in the debilitating throes of the
rapacious price-cutter, and the leading publish-
ers and dealers are greatly disturbed over the
situation. G. W. Setchell, who was in New York
Monday, where he maintains a branch office,
incidental to conditions of the sheet music busi-
ness in the New England capital expressed his
views and feelings tersely and emphatically to
The Review as follows: "For the past four
months prices have been slashed in a manner to
upset all precedents. It is sheer nonsense, for
the public will always pay for what they want,
and the cost is secondary. We wero getting 19
and 20 cents until Henry Krey & Co. started a 15-
cent raid. They have been advertising the re-
duction freely, and the result is we have all
been compelled to meet the figure to hold our
trade.
"I control solely the sheet music department
in one of Boston's largest dry goods establish-
ments, and I was the first man to demonstrate
music in a store with a piano. For years the
trade has been working together on a satisfac-
tory basis until Krey started his crusade, and
now we are up in the air. The fight will be to a
standstill, and we are prepared to meet any cut
announced. I am satisfied, in fact know, that a
New York publisher, one of the concerns respon-
sible for the turmoil here, is behind the house in
question, which is advertising at 15 cents and
postage prepaid on mail orders. These tactics
are making inroads on the business of everyone
in Boston.
"Do we feel the influence of the senseless cut-
ting of prices in New York? Well, I guess. The
New York daily papers have a large circulation
in Boston, and who wouldn't save from 6 to
8 cents on each piece of music by sending
for it here in preference to paying double the
price with us? It hits us hard, but let me tell
you Sol. Bloom is not so black as he is painted
by the New York publishers and others. He is
HITS! HITS! HITS!
VOCAL
Goodbye, Little Girl, Goodbye
50 You're the Flower of My Heart, Sweet
Goodnight, Beloved, Goodnight
50
Adeline • •
50
Girl Who Cares for Me
50 Lucy Lindy Lady
50
Because You Were an Old Sweetheart of
Listen to the Big Brass Band
50
Mine
50 My Little Love-Bird
50
There's Nothing New to Say
50 In Dreamland, In Dreamland
• • 50
M. WITMARK & SONS, New Yo*k
CHICAGO
LONDON
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
47
In the World of Music Publishing
ooooooooooooooooooooooooocxxooo
REVIEW OF TRADE CONDITIONS.
Julius Steger, Harry Fischer, Joseph Carroll and
Frank O'Neill. I t may be truthfully said that
Lew Fields is a star of the first magnitude, and
is certainly to be congratulated on his successful
venture.
Mr. Herbert's music and Mr. MacDonough's
book are not only worthy, but have received the
highest praise, all agreeing that "It Happened
in Nordland" is a bright and most pleasing mu-
sical play.
Buying of a Conservative Nature in the Pub-
lishing Field, Although Some Houses Report
a Very Active Demand—Trade in the West
Much Better Than in the New England
States—A Leading Jobber Summarizes the
Situation for The Review.
In spite of the usual highly colored reports
handed to the earnest newspaper seeker after
truth, business with publishers, jobbers and deal-
ers is a conservative proposition. The buying is
from hand to mouth, as there is no desire to stock
up before the new year's arrival, when deals
of magnitude are expected to eventuate. Never-
theless the volume of sales is keeping up fairly
well, and in some instances trade is quite smart;
but quarters responsible for these pleasing re-
ports represent concerns that are sturdy believ-
ers in every form of advertising, and metaphori-
cally leave no stone unturned nor any avenue in
the line of publicity unexplored, which is really
the only royal road to success in the marketing
of their output. This applies to every publishing
house, no matter what may be their classifica-
tion or how they are specialized. It is an old
sermon this, to be sure, and the only scoffers at
the burden of the discourse are the has-beens
and those minus the price.
In the West trade is more satisfactory than in
eastern territory. In New England the experi-
ence of New York with price cutting has reached
a stage where the old established concerns are
greatly perturbed. The situation, however, is
not so binding, especially in Boston, as in the
metropolis, where, it is solemnly averred, mat-
ters are slowly improving, though no official
declaration of peace has as yet appeared.
Reviewing conditions on Monday, a jobber
confided the following information to The Re-
view: "Well, business is not altogether to the
bad by a long shot. As you see our force is as
busy as they can be, but November fell behind
the October sales about $900. This we consider a
pretty good showing. December promises to
keep up the same ratio, and as we sell only to
dealers, from this a fairly correct idea of retail
trade may be deduced. The only real trouble
we are having is with collections; but no more
than is usual at this time of the year. As regu-
lar as the period arrives the payment of monthly
accounts slows up. Possibly the dealer is figuring
on the Christmas presents, which seem to be as
inevitable as 'death and taxes'; but we strongly
object to being made a party of convenience. As
an expression of 'peace on earth and good will
to good men,' as it is expressed in the original
Greek, we cordially approve of the beautiful cus-
tom; it is to be commended on every ground but
one, and that is a man's just obligations should
not be sidetracked to gratify this indulgence. It is
keeping our typewriters warm grinding out
vigorous protests, and dealers prone to procrasti-
nate too long are receiving a line of missives
in which the compliments of the season are con-
spicuous by their absence. With this drawback
eliminated we should say business could be a
trifle more brisk without overtaxing the capacity
of the publisher or keeping the jobber working
overtime to fill orders."
The opening of Lew Fields' all-star stock com-
pany at his new theatre on 42d street, introduced
a song hit by Clare Kummer, the author of
"Egypt." It was sung by Miss Marie Cahill, and
is spoken of as one of the biggest successes
of the show. "Dingle Dongle Dell" is the odd
title of Miss Kummer's latest.
Fay Templeton, Virginia Earle and Pete
Dailey, will be the stars in a new musical
comedy, "Life in Newport," which Bob Cole and
the Johnson Bros, are writing for Klaw & Er-
langer. This will have a New York production.
CUTTING PRICES IN BOSTON.
Leading Dealers and Publishers Much Per-
turbed Over the Situation—G. W. Setchell
Chats of Conditions in the "Hub"—New
York Publishers Accused of Being Back of
the
Movement—The Advertising
of Low
Prices in New York Is Having Its Effect in
Boston and Other Cities.
LEW FIELDS.
The gentleman pictured above needs no formal
introduction to the public, for he is probably as
well known as any other person on the American
stage to-day. His long partnership with Joe
Weber, in the little house, corner of Broadway
and 29th street, will not soon be forgotten by
New Yorkers and hundreds of visitors to the
metropolis. It was there that Weber & Fields
made their famous record-breaking success and
where they gathered about them their large
circle of friends. These friends they still retain,
notwithstanding that they are working separ-
ately, and only the best of wishes go out to each
of them in their respective playhouses. When
the firm of Weber & Fields dissolved—which, by
the way, was with the best of feeling—it is but
natural that each should strike out for pastures
new and scenes where fresh conquests, as it were,
could be made.
As soon as the necessary arrangements were
effected Mr. Fields organized a strong stock com-
pany and secured a most delightful and access-
ible house on 42d street near Broadway. It is
known as the Lew Fields' Theatre, and a pret-
tier and more commodious playhouse it would
be hard to find. It is complete in every respect
and is sure to become one of the most popular
in New York. Mr. Fields' new house was opened
Monday week with "It Happened in Nordland,"
written expressly for him by Victor Herbert and
Glen MacDonough, on which occasion the the-
atre was packed. Lew Fields himself received
a genuine ovation and was recalled so often that
he felt somewhat embarrassed. Mr. Fields is not
only a great favorite for his genial personality
but for the real art he displays in his stage work.
TJie supporting company includes Marie Cahill,
May Robson, Bessie Clayton, Rosemary Glosz,
Marion Graughm, "Billie" Norton, Pauline Fred-
erick, Harry Davenport, Joseph W. Herbert,
Boston is now in the debilitating throes of the
rapacious price-cutter, and the leading publish-
ers and dealers are greatly disturbed over the
situation. G. W. Setchell, who was in New York
Monday, where he maintains a branch office,
incidental to conditions of the sheet music busi-
ness in the New England capital expressed his
views and feelings tersely and emphatically to
The Review as follows: "For the past four
months prices have been slashed in a manner to
upset all precedents. It is sheer nonsense, for
the public will always pay for what they want,
and the cost is secondary. We wero getting 19
and 20 cents until Henry Krey & Co. started a 15-
cent raid. They have been advertising the re-
duction freely, and the result is we have all
been compelled to meet the figure to hold our
trade.
"I control solely the sheet music department
in one of Boston's largest dry goods establish-
ments, and I was the first man to demonstrate
music in a store with a piano. For years the
trade has been working together on a satisfac-
tory basis until Krey started his crusade, and
now we are up in the air. The fight will be to a
standstill, and we are prepared to meet any cut
announced. I am satisfied, in fact know, that a
New York publisher, one of the concerns respon-
sible for the turmoil here, is behind the house in
question, which is advertising at 15 cents and
postage prepaid on mail orders. These tactics
are making inroads on the business of everyone
in Boston.
"Do we feel the influence of the senseless cut-
ting of prices in New York? Well, I guess. The
New York daily papers have a large circulation
in Boston, and who wouldn't save from 6 to
8 cents on each piece of music by sending
for it here in preference to paying double the
price with us? It hits us hard, but let me tell
you Sol. Bloom is not so black as he is painted
by the New York publishers and others. He is
HITS! HITS! HITS!
VOCAL
Goodbye, Little Girl, Goodbye
50 You're the Flower of My Heart, Sweet
Goodnight, Beloved, Goodnight
50
Adeline • •
50
Girl Who Cares for Me
50 Lucy Lindy Lady
50
Because You Were an Old Sweetheart of
Listen to the Big Brass Band
50
Mine
50 My Little Love-Bird
50
There's Nothing New to Say
50 In Dreamland, In Dreamland
• • 50
M. WITMARK & SONS, New Yo*k
CHICAGO
LONDON
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