Music Trade Review
Issue: 1921 Vol. 73 N. 27 - Page 8
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
8
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
J J
DECEMBER 31, 1921
J' J J J J
331
OK, pi ay that 'Song of
In - di - a & - gain,
UZI
There s some-thing so &p - peal- in$ in each strain..-
LAY THAT
SONG or INDIA
AGAIN
PAUL WHITEMANS
LATEST DANCE SENSATION
ROLL BUSINESS_LOOKS GOOD
Gordon Laughead Discourses on Present Con-
ditions and Prospects for Good Business in 1922
CHICAGO, III., December 27.—"While it is a trifle
early to expect that rolls will be sold with
players instead of being given away with them,"
remarked Gordon Laughead to The Review the
other day, "there is hope, although to-day some
enterprising merchants are coaxing the public
with everything from a ten-dollar bill, piano
lamps, music cabinets to sets of dishes and kitchen
utensils. Many of our largest retailers increase
their annual gross sales by thousands of dollars by
selling $25 worth of music with each player, and
adding it to the player contract. Music mer-
chants who give rolls away, however, should
not be too severely criticised, because the 'piano
business' during the present turbulent times has
usually proved to be their 'bread and butter,'
roll, record and phonograph sales being of sec-
ondary importance.
"The same complaint is still heard about the
jazz rolls. To tell the truth the new rolls sound
just about the same as the old ones except that
'Tin Pan Alley' composers are now picking on
the venerable 'Over the Waves' and 'Moonlight
Sonata' for their 'themes' instead of 'What a
Friend We Have in Jesus' and 'Elegie' of a year
ago. I hope I don't lay this esteemed publica-
tion open to a libel suit, but I wonder how many
folks ever noticed the resemblance of 'Margie,'
last year's big hit, with our old acquaintance,
'What a Friend We Have in Jesus,' only dressed
up in modern clothing, the rhythm suggesting
bobbed hair, short dresses and a vampire walk.
"It is said that the writer of one of last year's
hits prior to his success was rather hard pressed
financially. His clothing was particularly in bad
shape. After the public had expressed the ap-
proval of his little hymn he informed his friends
that the inspiration had come from above and
then promptly purchased $500 worth of silk
shirts for his much-depleted wardrobe.
"Several roll companies are running full capac-
ity on song rolls that retail for less than a dollar.
Several of the older companies are still charging
ASK TO
HEAR IT
on a basis of a $1.25 retail price and to some
extent have assisted the dealer by advertising.
"The one real ray of sunshine in the roll busi-
ness during the past twelve months has been the
wonderful improvement in the editing and re-
cording of the rolls used on reproducing pianos.
Dealers and salesmen are generally agreed upon
this. Not that reproducing rolls are by any
means perfect, but certainly great strides have
recently been made in their improvement.
"Dealers who have liquidated stocks, who are
buying carefully and who are selling at honest
prices, securing good terms, should fare well
in the prospective piano business for 1922."
NEW CORPORATION IN LIMA, 0 .
LIMA, O., December 27.—B. S. Porter & Son
Piano Co. was incorporated here for $100,000 by
J. E. Porter, William H. Leete, Edith Shiver-
decker, Anna Owen and Ed Kohler. The store
will be opened in a good downtown location.
The company has been successful in negotiating
for some prominent makes of pianos.
RECENT SPECIAL ROBERT-MORTON INSTALLATIONS FOR USE IN PROMINENT THEATRES
Upper Left—Specially designed organ in Ambassador Hotel Theatre, Los Angeles, Cal., for symphony orchestra effect. Lower Left—Style 75
installed in Palace Theatre, New York City, to meet limited seating capacity. Upper Center—Organ in Howard Theatre, Atlanta, Ga. Upper
Bight—Installation in Power's Broadway Theatre, Boston, Mass. Circle—JScho organ in Mack Sennett's Mission Theatre, Los Angeles, Cal.
8
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
J J
DECEMBER 31, 1921
J' J J J J
331
OK, pi ay that 'Song of
In - di - a & - gain,
UZI
There s some-thing so &p - peal- in$ in each strain..-
LAY THAT
SONG or INDIA
AGAIN
PAUL WHITEMANS
LATEST DANCE SENSATION
ROLL BUSINESS_LOOKS GOOD
Gordon Laughead Discourses on Present Con-
ditions and Prospects for Good Business in 1922
CHICAGO, III., December 27.—"While it is a trifle
early to expect that rolls will be sold with
players instead of being given away with them,"
remarked Gordon Laughead to The Review the
other day, "there is hope, although to-day some
enterprising merchants are coaxing the public
with everything from a ten-dollar bill, piano
lamps, music cabinets to sets of dishes and kitchen
utensils. Many of our largest retailers increase
their annual gross sales by thousands of dollars by
selling $25 worth of music with each player, and
adding it to the player contract. Music mer-
chants who give rolls away, however, should
not be too severely criticised, because the 'piano
business' during the present turbulent times has
usually proved to be their 'bread and butter,'
roll, record and phonograph sales being of sec-
ondary importance.
"The same complaint is still heard about the
jazz rolls. To tell the truth the new rolls sound
just about the same as the old ones except that
'Tin Pan Alley' composers are now picking on
the venerable 'Over the Waves' and 'Moonlight
Sonata' for their 'themes' instead of 'What a
Friend We Have in Jesus' and 'Elegie' of a year
ago. I hope I don't lay this esteemed publica-
tion open to a libel suit, but I wonder how many
folks ever noticed the resemblance of 'Margie,'
last year's big hit, with our old acquaintance,
'What a Friend We Have in Jesus,' only dressed
up in modern clothing, the rhythm suggesting
bobbed hair, short dresses and a vampire walk.
"It is said that the writer of one of last year's
hits prior to his success was rather hard pressed
financially. His clothing was particularly in bad
shape. After the public had expressed the ap-
proval of his little hymn he informed his friends
that the inspiration had come from above and
then promptly purchased $500 worth of silk
shirts for his much-depleted wardrobe.
"Several roll companies are running full capac-
ity on song rolls that retail for less than a dollar.
Several of the older companies are still charging
ASK TO
HEAR IT
on a basis of a $1.25 retail price and to some
extent have assisted the dealer by advertising.
"The one real ray of sunshine in the roll busi-
ness during the past twelve months has been the
wonderful improvement in the editing and re-
cording of the rolls used on reproducing pianos.
Dealers and salesmen are generally agreed upon
this. Not that reproducing rolls are by any
means perfect, but certainly great strides have
recently been made in their improvement.
"Dealers who have liquidated stocks, who are
buying carefully and who are selling at honest
prices, securing good terms, should fare well
in the prospective piano business for 1922."
NEW CORPORATION IN LIMA, 0 .
LIMA, O., December 27.—B. S. Porter & Son
Piano Co. was incorporated here for $100,000 by
J. E. Porter, William H. Leete, Edith Shiver-
decker, Anna Owen and Ed Kohler. The store
will be opened in a good downtown location.
The company has been successful in negotiating
for some prominent makes of pianos.
RECENT SPECIAL ROBERT-MORTON INSTALLATIONS FOR USE IN PROMINENT THEATRES
Upper Left—Specially designed organ in Ambassador Hotel Theatre, Los Angeles, Cal., for symphony orchestra effect. Lower Left—Style 75
installed in Palace Theatre, New York City, to meet limited seating capacity. Upper Center—Organ in Howard Theatre, Atlanta, Ga. Upper
Bight—Installation in Power's Broadway Theatre, Boston, Mass. Circle—JScho organ in Mack Sennett's Mission Theatre, Los Angeles, Cal.
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).