Music Trade Review
Issue: 1905 Vol. 41 N. 7 - Page 39
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
COST OF MAKING SONQ SUCCESSES.
put another set of young women through their
stunts preparatory to starting a song that was
The Manager Dwells on Helpful Stage Settings to be a feature of a new extravaganza, "I always
love to read an advertisement that Tuckahoe,'
—Melody a Secondary Consideration.
'Cordelia' or some other ditty is the real success
of the 'India Rubber Girl.' I happen to know
There is so much uncertainty about the merits
of a song before it has been tried that managers how much money and work it costs to get even
sometimes spend thousands of dollars in an at- two recalls for that song. The managers do
tempt to make it a go, not by means of its own more to make successes out of song writers than
their own publishers do."
qualities, but by external elements. "A catching
melody," said a man who expects to prepare half
a dozen musical shows before Christmas, "will
do more to make a musical piece go than all the
incidental business and show girls in creation.
Luck of a Publisher—Sol Bloom's New Enter-
"When a song is accepted for a musical pro-
prise—Popular Songs—Practical Suggestions
duction it is handed to the stage manager. He
—The Mission of a Trade Paper.
takes it home and thinks about it hard. The
music may sound all right to him. He has seen
A couple of publishers in Saratoga last week
so many unexpected successes and failures that, were remarkably succesful in picking winners
he doesn't pay any attention to the melody. He
at the race track, coming back to New York well
merely tries to think out all the incidental busi-
satisfied with themselves and the world at large.
ness he can.
As one of them remarked, "Ed. was as lucky in
"I will give you an example of what it costs
selecting the right horses as he is in choosing
sometimes to make a song composer seem as song hits, at which he is an adept, for he has
clever as he thinks he is. I put on a big spec-
made a fortune at the business."
tacular production last week with four of these
big songs with every incidental aid that I could
Sol. Bloom, considered one of the shrewdest
think of. We had for those four songs forty-
publishers in the country, has entered the talk-
eight girls who could do little else in the show,
ing machine business, and controls the manage-
as they were required to make eight changes of
ment of several prominent stores in the line in
costume as it was. Their salaries added $960
New York and elsewhere. In connection with
to the expenses. For the four songs I made only
Mr. Bloom's "talker" enterprises an expert de-
four changes. I sent on each lot in four sets of
clares he will clear up $20,000 before the close
costumes, sixteen at a time. The first bunch
of the year.
had to appear for the fourth chorus and thus had
two changes. It was arranged that each one of
In speaking the other day of popular songs, a
the sets of sixteen had this double change in one
critic who speaks with authority said they do
of the four songs. The number of costumes
not spring up any more as they used to, but
needed for each change was sixty-four. Each
seem to be worked into popular favor by degrees.
of them cost not a cent less than $100. That
Furthermore, in these days, when such a great
made the dresses for every song $6,400. The
amount of music is published, it is vastly more
four brought up the cost of dressing these four
difficult to secure a popular success than for-
songs to about $25,000.
merly. The public is probably no more exacting
"In view of what this all costs," the manager
now, so far as their favors are concerned, with
said as he mopped his brow and went back to
the lighter music, but the quantity offered is so
great that the merits of a piece have scarcely
time to have its catchiness "catch on," so to
speak, before it is superseded by something else.
SEEN THROUGH REVIEW EYES.
OUR "NEW ISSUE"
PROPOSITION
Is ol Interest to all dealers—we furnish
you with any quantity ol our new
thematic catalogues without charge.
We publish "Blue Bell," "Feelln'for
You," "What the Brass Band Played"
and other big hits.
Let us get In touch with you—write us.
F. B. Haviland Pub. Co.
125 W. 37th Street, New York
THE
SELLING MARCH
SONG OF 1905
"GOOD-BYE DIXIE' DEAR"
Other Hits
Kisses,
Easy Street,
Roses at Twilight,
The Mormon Coon,
A Bit O' Blarney,
Get Happy,
There's a Clock Upon the Mantel
Striking I, 2, 3.
PUBLISHED BY
SOL BLOOM
New Amsterdam Theatre Bldg.,
SURE SELLERS !
Book by Paul West
and W. W. Denslow
N E W YORK
when it is suggested means could be adopted, by
the publishers themselves to abate this nuisance
by the newspapers, then the losers in this pecu-
liar game become sensitive to criticism and de-
sire the facts to be suppressed. Self-respecting
newspapers are not amenable to such rules; they
have a higher mission and their own ideals of
what^ is proper in the premises.
"Twenty-eighth street" is at boiling point over
the charges made in certain publishing houses
and others impending. The past fortnight has
been an epoch-making period, and the "curb"
is having the time of its life.
CONCERNING WITMARK PUBLICATIONS.
Lee & Berger have written M. Witmark & Sons
from East Lake Park, Phoenix, Ariz., advising
them that W. F. Wagner is singing "Tammany*"
"In Dreamland," "Olo Kan Hoon" and "If ,',$'
Should." The Desmond trio are singing "He's"
Me Pal," "Listen to the Big Brass Band'' and
"Sweet Adeline." "All these songs are going with
a rush at the Park," they say.
Sam Bernard and the 100th night of "The Rol- .
licking Girl," with cut-glass and silver souvenirs,
made an irresistible combination for the open-
ing of the fifteenth week of this jolly attraction
at the Herald Square Theatre. The swing song
continues to be a sensational joy, and Miss Will-
iams hits, "Tricks" and "Friends That Are Good
and True," are in as great demand as they were
three months ago. Very melodious and catchy are
all the songs in this big production, and "Won't
You Be My Lovey Dovey?" "My Little Sunbeam
Sue," and many others have only to be heard to
be liked.
Complaint is heard that the music trade press
is in fault by mentioning and commenting upon
the fact that publishers subsidize professional
singers. Every one knows this practice is not
only one of, if not the greatest, drawbacks from
which the publishing business suffers.
It is
scandalous, in fact, how some publishers permit
themselves to be imposed upon. Every man
Jack of them deprecates and denounces the cus-
tom that has fastened itself on the business, yet
SURE SELLERS I
"THE PEARL AND THE PUMPKIN"
Music by
John W. Bratton
Now Playing at the Colonial Theatre, Boston.
VOCAL
Jack o'Lantern Joe
My Party
Honeymoon Hall
Come, My True Love
Hang Together
My Combination Girl
When the Moon is in the Sky
It is the English
Lily White
(Shadow song.)
Sitting on the Starboard Tack
Pol de Iddley Ido
The Daughter of Annie Rooney
Who Makes the Finest Ginger Bread ? On a Desert Island with the
A String o£ Pearls
One You Love
The Innocent Games of Childhood
INSTRUMENTAL
The Squirrel's Picnic
March
Waltzes
Selection
The Phantom Brigade
Score
Order Immediately; They'll surely be called for.
Witmark Building
Schiller Building
]Vf. W i t m a r k & Sons
CHICAGO. ILL.
NEW
Y O R_ K
'
^
;
:
;
••
The Ellery Band, Channing Ellery, manager;-"-' .'
Fz-ancesco Ferullo, director, is playing Victor Her- i
bert's "Pan-Americana" and "American Fantasie"
and Al. Johns' "Araby" intermezzo at the •Coli-
seum Garden, Chicago.
'-'rW '
HAVILAND CO. WELL REPRESENTED. 7
John Nestor, of the Haviland Publishing Co.,
were especially engaged to sing at the bicycle
races at Madison Square Garden with Baynes'
Perhaps should the publishers really and truly
Band this week. He featured "Keep a Little
Cosy Corner in Your Heart for Me."
become a practical organization free from the
trickery and subterfuges of vaudevillism, with
The F. B. Haviland Publishing Co. are well
which they are so closely allied, and hard-headed
represented at all the State of Jersey and State
business sense be a controlling factor in the of New York band concerts, where their song
hits, "Keep a Little Cosy Corner in Your Heart
body, the number of issues of any particular
for Me," "My Yankee-Irish Girl," "The Leader
kind, grade or species of melody may be curtailed
of the German Band," and "Good-Bye, Sis," are
more in keeping with the musical digeslion of
the leading numbers of every programme, being
the public. It is conceded by all concerned that
sung by one of their representatives.
the market is glutted, and that many a splendid
publication has been literally choked to death
by the deluge of stuff. But when and where to
"MOONLIGHT" AND "BRIGHT EYES" IN
apply the brakes is a question which gives every-
DEMAND.
one pause.
From tKe latest operatic rvovelty.
An Emphatic Success.
39
The Musical Bells have recently added to thejr
well-known act "Moonlight," a beautiful sere-
nade, by Neil Moret.
The Three Keatons will feature "Bright Eyes,
Good-Bye," and Mrs. Myra Keaton has included
"Moonlight" serenade for her saxophone solo.
Avery Strakosch, the Five Nosses, the Alli-
sons, and McCue and Cahill have all added the
popular march song hit, "Bright Eyes, Good-
Bye," to their splendid repertoire. Jerome H.
Remick & Co. are the publishers.
POPULAR SONG and INSTRUMENTAL HITS
POLLY PRIM MARCH
SHAME ON YOU
ZEL-ZEL
BIG INDIAN CHIEF
PETER PIPER MARCH
EGYPT
I WANT TO BE A SOLDIER
PEGGY BRADY
NEW
ISLE OF SPICE
SAMBO GIRL
MAMA'S PAPA
LADY TEAZLE
MADCAP PRINCESS
RED FEATHER
Published by
JOS. W. STERN 6 CO.,
CHICAGO
34 East 21st St., New York
LONDON
BAN FRANCISCO
THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
COST OF MAKING SONQ SUCCESSES.
put another set of young women through their
stunts preparatory to starting a song that was
The Manager Dwells on Helpful Stage Settings to be a feature of a new extravaganza, "I always
love to read an advertisement that Tuckahoe,'
—Melody a Secondary Consideration.
'Cordelia' or some other ditty is the real success
of the 'India Rubber Girl.' I happen to know
There is so much uncertainty about the merits
of a song before it has been tried that managers how much money and work it costs to get even
sometimes spend thousands of dollars in an at- two recalls for that song. The managers do
tempt to make it a go, not by means of its own more to make successes out of song writers than
their own publishers do."
qualities, but by external elements. "A catching
melody," said a man who expects to prepare half
a dozen musical shows before Christmas, "will
do more to make a musical piece go than all the
incidental business and show girls in creation.
Luck of a Publisher—Sol Bloom's New Enter-
"When a song is accepted for a musical pro-
prise—Popular Songs—Practical Suggestions
duction it is handed to the stage manager. He
—The Mission of a Trade Paper.
takes it home and thinks about it hard. The
music may sound all right to him. He has seen
A couple of publishers in Saratoga last week
so many unexpected successes and failures that, were remarkably succesful in picking winners
he doesn't pay any attention to the melody. He
at the race track, coming back to New York well
merely tries to think out all the incidental busi-
satisfied with themselves and the world at large.
ness he can.
As one of them remarked, "Ed. was as lucky in
"I will give you an example of what it costs
selecting the right horses as he is in choosing
sometimes to make a song composer seem as song hits, at which he is an adept, for he has
clever as he thinks he is. I put on a big spec-
made a fortune at the business."
tacular production last week with four of these
big songs with every incidental aid that I could
Sol. Bloom, considered one of the shrewdest
think of. We had for those four songs forty-
publishers in the country, has entered the talk-
eight girls who could do little else in the show,
ing machine business, and controls the manage-
as they were required to make eight changes of
ment of several prominent stores in the line in
costume as it was. Their salaries added $960
New York and elsewhere. In connection with
to the expenses. For the four songs I made only
Mr. Bloom's "talker" enterprises an expert de-
four changes. I sent on each lot in four sets of
clares he will clear up $20,000 before the close
costumes, sixteen at a time. The first bunch
of the year.
had to appear for the fourth chorus and thus had
two changes. It was arranged that each one of
In speaking the other day of popular songs, a
the sets of sixteen had this double change in one
critic who speaks with authority said they do
of the four songs. The number of costumes
not spring up any more as they used to, but
needed for each change was sixty-four. Each
seem to be worked into popular favor by degrees.
of them cost not a cent less than $100. That
Furthermore, in these days, when such a great
made the dresses for every song $6,400. The
amount of music is published, it is vastly more
four brought up the cost of dressing these four
difficult to secure a popular success than for-
songs to about $25,000.
merly. The public is probably no more exacting
"In view of what this all costs," the manager
now, so far as their favors are concerned, with
said as he mopped his brow and went back to
the lighter music, but the quantity offered is so
great that the merits of a piece have scarcely
time to have its catchiness "catch on," so to
speak, before it is superseded by something else.
SEEN THROUGH REVIEW EYES.
OUR "NEW ISSUE"
PROPOSITION
Is ol Interest to all dealers—we furnish
you with any quantity ol our new
thematic catalogues without charge.
We publish "Blue Bell," "Feelln'for
You," "What the Brass Band Played"
and other big hits.
Let us get In touch with you—write us.
F. B. Haviland Pub. Co.
125 W. 37th Street, New York
THE
SELLING MARCH
SONG OF 1905
"GOOD-BYE DIXIE' DEAR"
Other Hits
Kisses,
Easy Street,
Roses at Twilight,
The Mormon Coon,
A Bit O' Blarney,
Get Happy,
There's a Clock Upon the Mantel
Striking I, 2, 3.
PUBLISHED BY
SOL BLOOM
New Amsterdam Theatre Bldg.,
SURE SELLERS !
Book by Paul West
and W. W. Denslow
N E W YORK
when it is suggested means could be adopted, by
the publishers themselves to abate this nuisance
by the newspapers, then the losers in this pecu-
liar game become sensitive to criticism and de-
sire the facts to be suppressed. Self-respecting
newspapers are not amenable to such rules; they
have a higher mission and their own ideals of
what^ is proper in the premises.
"Twenty-eighth street" is at boiling point over
the charges made in certain publishing houses
and others impending. The past fortnight has
been an epoch-making period, and the "curb"
is having the time of its life.
CONCERNING WITMARK PUBLICATIONS.
Lee & Berger have written M. Witmark & Sons
from East Lake Park, Phoenix, Ariz., advising
them that W. F. Wagner is singing "Tammany*"
"In Dreamland," "Olo Kan Hoon" and "If ,',$'
Should." The Desmond trio are singing "He's"
Me Pal," "Listen to the Big Brass Band'' and
"Sweet Adeline." "All these songs are going with
a rush at the Park," they say.
Sam Bernard and the 100th night of "The Rol- .
licking Girl," with cut-glass and silver souvenirs,
made an irresistible combination for the open-
ing of the fifteenth week of this jolly attraction
at the Herald Square Theatre. The swing song
continues to be a sensational joy, and Miss Will-
iams hits, "Tricks" and "Friends That Are Good
and True," are in as great demand as they were
three months ago. Very melodious and catchy are
all the songs in this big production, and "Won't
You Be My Lovey Dovey?" "My Little Sunbeam
Sue," and many others have only to be heard to
be liked.
Complaint is heard that the music trade press
is in fault by mentioning and commenting upon
the fact that publishers subsidize professional
singers. Every one knows this practice is not
only one of, if not the greatest, drawbacks from
which the publishing business suffers.
It is
scandalous, in fact, how some publishers permit
themselves to be imposed upon. Every man
Jack of them deprecates and denounces the cus-
tom that has fastened itself on the business, yet
SURE SELLERS I
"THE PEARL AND THE PUMPKIN"
Music by
John W. Bratton
Now Playing at the Colonial Theatre, Boston.
VOCAL
Jack o'Lantern Joe
My Party
Honeymoon Hall
Come, My True Love
Hang Together
My Combination Girl
When the Moon is in the Sky
It is the English
Lily White
(Shadow song.)
Sitting on the Starboard Tack
Pol de Iddley Ido
The Daughter of Annie Rooney
Who Makes the Finest Ginger Bread ? On a Desert Island with the
A String o£ Pearls
One You Love
The Innocent Games of Childhood
INSTRUMENTAL
The Squirrel's Picnic
March
Waltzes
Selection
The Phantom Brigade
Score
Order Immediately; They'll surely be called for.
Witmark Building
Schiller Building
]Vf. W i t m a r k & Sons
CHICAGO. ILL.
NEW
Y O R_ K
'
^
;
:
;
••
The Ellery Band, Channing Ellery, manager;-"-' .'
Fz-ancesco Ferullo, director, is playing Victor Her- i
bert's "Pan-Americana" and "American Fantasie"
and Al. Johns' "Araby" intermezzo at the •Coli-
seum Garden, Chicago.
'-'rW '
HAVILAND CO. WELL REPRESENTED. 7
John Nestor, of the Haviland Publishing Co.,
were especially engaged to sing at the bicycle
races at Madison Square Garden with Baynes'
Perhaps should the publishers really and truly
Band this week. He featured "Keep a Little
Cosy Corner in Your Heart for Me."
become a practical organization free from the
trickery and subterfuges of vaudevillism, with
The F. B. Haviland Publishing Co. are well
which they are so closely allied, and hard-headed
represented at all the State of Jersey and State
business sense be a controlling factor in the of New York band concerts, where their song
hits, "Keep a Little Cosy Corner in Your Heart
body, the number of issues of any particular
for Me," "My Yankee-Irish Girl," "The Leader
kind, grade or species of melody may be curtailed
of the German Band," and "Good-Bye, Sis," are
more in keeping with the musical digeslion of
the leading numbers of every programme, being
the public. It is conceded by all concerned that
sung by one of their representatives.
the market is glutted, and that many a splendid
publication has been literally choked to death
by the deluge of stuff. But when and where to
"MOONLIGHT" AND "BRIGHT EYES" IN
apply the brakes is a question which gives every-
DEMAND.
one pause.
From tKe latest operatic rvovelty.
An Emphatic Success.
39
The Musical Bells have recently added to thejr
well-known act "Moonlight," a beautiful sere-
nade, by Neil Moret.
The Three Keatons will feature "Bright Eyes,
Good-Bye," and Mrs. Myra Keaton has included
"Moonlight" serenade for her saxophone solo.
Avery Strakosch, the Five Nosses, the Alli-
sons, and McCue and Cahill have all added the
popular march song hit, "Bright Eyes, Good-
Bye," to their splendid repertoire. Jerome H.
Remick & Co. are the publishers.
POPULAR SONG and INSTRUMENTAL HITS
POLLY PRIM MARCH
SHAME ON YOU
ZEL-ZEL
BIG INDIAN CHIEF
PETER PIPER MARCH
EGYPT
I WANT TO BE A SOLDIER
PEGGY BRADY
NEW
ISLE OF SPICE
SAMBO GIRL
MAMA'S PAPA
LADY TEAZLE
MADCAP PRINCESS
RED FEATHER
Published by
JOS. W. STERN 6 CO.,
CHICAGO
34 East 21st St., New York
LONDON
BAN FRANCISCO
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).