Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
EDISON'S NEW EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
VICTOR VS. WANAMAKER
D. E. Wheeler Is a Firm Believer in the Fact
That America Is Musical
Arguments to Be Heard in U. S. District Court
in New York on Monday, May 17
Leaving magazine fiction for phonograph
music is not such a radical change for D. E.
Wheeler, the recently appointed editorial di-
rector of Thomas A. Edison, Inc., as the casual
The hearing of the suit brought by the Victor
Talking Machine Co. against John Wanamaker
for alleged infringement of the Johnson patent
and on other claims, is scheduled for a hearing
in the U. S. District Court before Judge Hand
on Monday, May 17. The hearing, after several
postponements, owing to illness of counsel, was
*set for April 26, but all parties not being ready,
it was postponed until May 17 as stated.
MAY
1, 1920
How You Can
Safely Increase
Your Income
CHANGES AT EDISON LABORATORIES
H. R. Holmes, M. M. Kuhn and L. R. Geissen-
hainer to Assist in 1920 Sales Promotion Plans
Announcement has just been made of several
interesting and important changes in the sales
organization of Edison Laboratories. H. R.
Holmes, M. M. Kuihn and L. R. Geissenhainer,
formerly territorial supervisors, will assist in
directing the execution of the 1920 sales pro-
motion plans from the laboratories at Orange,
N. J. Each will concentrate his efforts upon
one of three groups, into which the jobbing
points in the United States and Canada have
been divided. As territorial supervisors these
men gained a practical knowledge of the prob-
lems dealers have to meet and the experience
thus acquired will be a valuable asset in their
new positions.
D. E. Wheeler
observer might think. Though Mr. Wheeler has
moved and has had his being in the New
York literary world, from boyhood the art of
music has exercised a dominant influence over
him.
For a long time Mr. Wheeler has contended
that America is musical and that the country
is developing its own particular musical cul-
ture, even as it has grown along native literary
lines. Our music is not, nor will it be, neces-
sarily the classic European variety, but some-
thing more individual and expressive of the
American idea. It is his opinion that superior
persons may smile at our popular songs, at our
rag-time, at our jazz, but in doing so they fail
to see deeper than the surface. He points out
that if such critics would only stop to compare
the quality of our home-made music of twenty
years ago, and take into consideration the
astonishing multiplication of our orchestras and
musical organizations and performers, they
would not miss the obvious object lesson of
our swift cultural development.
"Everything begins with the home," says Mr.
Wheeler, "and the fact that even the humblest
and poorest may have its music in the form
of a phonograph is profoundly significant of the
future of America as a musical factor in the
world, for it is the constant hearing of music
which develops appreciation, discrimination and
creation.
"The truth is that we Americans have been
so thoroughly prejudiced against ourselves as
creators of music that it has been taken for
granted that it was beyond our powers, meekly
accepting the theory of Europe that a country
without folk song had not the foundation for
composition or even true appreciation, which is
nonsense. This ignores the fact that a score
of nationalities have brought their melodic
idioms to this land and that in the fusion of
common life a cosmopolitan music might evolve,
just as social or political customs can merge
into a composite that is veritably a new order."
In taking up his duties with the Edison Co. it
is Mr. Wheeler's intention to spread the gospel
of American music and stimulate appreciation
of the marvelous art in general through every
channel of publicity that is possible to use.
Al Waltamath, overseas for fourteen months
with Uncle Sam's fighting forces, has returned
to Canton, O., and is again identified with the
phonograph department of the J. W. Brown
Piano Co., of that city.
THE VICTROLA IN AMERICANIZATION
An Elaborate Booklet on This Particularly
Timely Subject Just. Issued . by the Victor
Talking Machine Co;—Of Great Value
There has just been issued by the Victor
Talking Machine Co: a carefully compiled and
most valuable booklet covering the question of
"The Victrola in Americanization," a subject
that is of such vital and widespread interest
just now. The booklet, with a foreword by
Mrs. Frances E. Clark, director of the Educa-
tional Department of the Victor Co., was de-
signed especially for the guidance of those en-
gaged in Americanization work in community
centers, night schools, continuation schools,
Y. M. C. A.'s, Y. W. C. A.'s, social service, etc.,
and wherever the attempt is being made to
mold the foreign born into good citizens.
The booklet is divided into various sections,
the first being "The Victrola and Americaniza-
tion," wherein the subject is discussed at con-
siderable length, and the national and folk songs
of a score or more of the foreign nations listed.
Next comes "Community Singing in American-
ization," with special reference paid to what
may be described as the folk songs of America,
including "My Old Kentucky Home," "Old
Black Joe," "Battle Hymn of the Republic," etc.,
and then "Folk Dancing in Americanization."
A particularly interesting section is that de-
voted to "The Victrola in the Study of Amer-
ican History," with special reference to music
representative of the various stages of the coun-
try's development, from the landing of the
Norse about 900 years ago to the period of the
great World War, which is represented by the
two wonderfully popular numbers, "Keep the
Home Fires. Burning" and "There's a Long,
Long Trail."
This interesting booklet is copiously illus-
trated and should be in tremendous demand
with educators generally as soon as brought to
their attention by the Victor dealers.
Piano merchants, who have
not investigated the talking
machine field, will find that
the subject is one of deep
interest to them and they
will also learn that talking
machines constitute a line
which can be admirably
blended with piano selling.
The advance that has been
made in this special field
has been phenomenal and
every dealer who desires
specific information con-
cerning talking machines
should receive The Talking
Machine World regularly.
This is the oldest publica-
tion in America devoted
exclusively to the interests
of the talking machine, and
each issue contains a vast
fund of valuable informa-
tion which the talking
machine jobbers and dealers
say is worth ten times the
cost of the paper to them.
You can receive the paper
regularly at a cost of $2.00
a year and we know of no
manner in which $2.00 can
be expended which will
supply as much valuable
information.
QEO. W. HOPKINS RENOMINATED
Geo. W. Hopkins, general sales manager of
the Columbia Graphophone Co., has been nomi-
nated for the presidency of the New York Ad-
vertising Club. Mr. Hopkins is now president
of the club, and if re-elected, will hold office
for one year. The annual meeting of the club
will be held on May 11.
EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Inc.
Publiaher
373 Fourth Ave.
NEW YORK