Music Trade Review
Issue: 1922 Vol. 74 N. 16 - Page 9
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APRIL 22,
THE
1922
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
9
TRADE NEWS FROM THE TWIN CITIES GRAND OPERA SEASON IN PORTLAND
Trade Conditions Slowly Improving, Though
Good Business Will Be Dependent Upon Agri-
cultural Conditions—News of the Week
MINNEAPOLIS and
ST. PAUL, MINN., April
17.—
In the annual contest between music and flowers
for supremacy in Easter week flowers won again.
Naturally, there was a great abundance of excel-
lent music, but as far as the music merchants
were directly interested they derived nowhere
near the benefits that came to the flower mer-
chants. In fact, the week, from a financial con-
sideration, amounted to nothing. And no more
was expected.
There is some question as to whether or not a
music merchant should expect any real business
until next Fall, and then only if the yield of farm
products should prove to be large and the prices
should be remunerative. It is not easy to ex-
plain why there should be a revival of business
this Spring in view of the light yield of grain and
low prices, coupled with the closing down of the
iron mines. The contention that the motion pic-
ture theatres are jammed every night may indi-
cate that some people are spending money, but
it does not bring any appreciable business to the
piano merchants.
It may be stated, however, in spite of the
somewhat gloomy experiences of the past eight-
een months that the legitimate music merchants
have gotten by very nicely and that they can
weather the difficulties until next Fall, as there
is enough trade to keep the business pot boiling,
anyway.
W. J. Dyer returned last week from a four
months' sojourn in Southern California, mostly
near Los Angeles. It was with some pride in
his capacity for organization to find on his re-
turn that all departments could turn in a fairly
satisfactory report. Just before he got back the
house had an extensive display of mechanical
players at the annual convention of the motion
picture theatre owners. Most of those in at-
tendance visited the warerooms of the company
and several invested in Fotoplayers, pipe organs
and such like instruments.
W. L. Guylee, vice-president of the Cable Com-
pany, drifted into the Twin Cities last week to
see what the Cable Piano Co. was doing. He
ascertained that W. S. Collins and the local man-
agers were doing the best that they could, but
that the best, while highly encouraging, was not
highly flattering to the Northwest.
J. L. Pofahl, head of the music department of
the Golden Rule department store, has been
under the weather for a week, but is not supposed
to be seriously ill. Business is reported as quite
satisfactory, and particularly so in the Victrola
branch.
SHONINQER BRANCH IN NEWBURGH
NKWBURGH, N, Y., April 17.—The B. Shoningcr
Co., manufacturer of Shoninger pianos, which is
opening a chain of retail stores throughout the
country, has secured quarters in this city at
61 Broadway. The store is being remodeled to
meet the needs of the business and it is ex-
pected that it will be ready for business early
in May.
Mason & Hamlin Piano Holds Prominent Place
During Visit of Chicago Opera Co.—Other
Prominent Stars Appear in Concert
PORTLAND, ORE., April 14.—The Mason & Hamlin
piano, which is the official instrument of the Chi-
cago Grand Opera Company, which appeared in
Portland March 22 to 25 for five performances,
was brought prominently to the front during the
opera week by Frank M. Case, manager of
Wilty B. Allen Co., who are the exclusive Port-
land dealers for that instrument. Several Mason
& Hamlins were furnished for the use of the
company and in addition for the hotel suites of
Mary Garden, Rosa Raisa and Edith Mason, as
well as Miss Garden's dressing room at the audi-
torium. Since leaving the city Mr. Case has
received letters of thanks and appreciation from
the stars for the courtesies extended them.
Galli-Curci, the famous soprano, who appeared
in concert in Portland's auditorium, had the larg-
est audience ever assembled there, more than
6,DOO persons passing the doors. A Steinway
grand piano was used for the concerts by the
singer and her assistants, Manuel Berenguer,
flutist, and Homer Samuels, pianist and accom-
panist.
A Knabe concert grand was used by Sophie
Biaslau, contralto of the Metropolitan Grand
Opera Company, who appeared in Portland as
the soloist of the Portland Symphony Orchestra
March 29. The Knabe was furnished by the
courtesy of the piano department of the Meier &
Frank Co. Miss Braslau visited "Symphony
Hall" and presented Mr. Morris, manager of the
department, with an autographed picture of her-
self, which Mr.,Morris has had framed and placed
in the beautiful piano department of the firm.
Across the face of the picture was written
"Knabe Always."
The Meier & Frank Co. in its piano depart-
ment is giving weekly concerts with the Ampico
in the Knabe for the delectation of its friends
and patrons. At the concert last week 300 seats
were provided. These were filled and over 100
stood throughout the entire concert. Mr. Morris
had the assistance of local artists at these con-
certs.
McKean, Darby & Baldwin, of Roseburg, Ore.,
have purchased the music store of A. J. Lilburn,
of that place. The new firm anticipate a good
spring business.
H. G. Reed, president of the Reed-French
Piano Co., says that the demand for high-grade
instruments is increasing, but that there is a
greater demand at the present time for player-
pianos than for the straight piano. He said that
the business for March was greater than that
of both January and February combined.
The Sherman, Clay & Co. line of pianos has
been added by the L. E. Heynes music store, oi
Lebenon, Ore., and also by the Laraway Music
House, of Eugene, Ore. Mr. Laraway, of the
latter firm, says that their business this yeai
shows so lar an increase of 75 per cent over 1921.
MURATORE ANDJHE BALDWIN
Baldwin Co. Issues Some Attractive Publicity in
Connection With Famous Tenor
The Baldwin Piano Co. has been emphasizing
most strongly the fact that Lucien Muratore, the
great French tenor, has selected that instru-
ment with which to accompany his voice and
has strongly endorsed the tone of the Baldwin
piano. In this connection the company has just
issued an attractive display sheet for the ust
ot dealers, featuring Muratore and the Bald-
win in a wav that must attract attention.
Awarded first prize in many world compe-
titions during the past sixty years, the
Schomacker Piano is now daily receiving
first prizes of preference won by its superb
tone, wonderful breadth of expression and
structural beauty.
SCHOMACKER PIANO CO.
23d and Chestnut Sts.
Philadelphia, Pa.
€1
The first touch tells"
This is the age of the
small grand piano and
The
Christman
Studio Grand
has the distinction of
having been the first
5-foot grand on the
market.
f
From its inception this
instrument won marked
popularity owing to its
remarkable quality and
volume of tone.
Dealers find it a profit-
able i n s t r u m e n t to
handle owing to the
many years it has been
giving satisfaction.
"The first touch tells"
(Regltttred
U. 8.
Pat. Off.)
NEW CONCERN BUY^BELL PIANO CO.
The Bell Bros. Piano Co., of Muncie, Ind.,
which has been in the hands of a receiver for
the past year, has been taken over by the Bell
Music Co. The new concern is completing the
unfinished instruments, but announces that it
will not continue to make pianos.
Christman Piano Co.
597 East 137th St., New York
APRIL 22,
THE
1922
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
9
TRADE NEWS FROM THE TWIN CITIES GRAND OPERA SEASON IN PORTLAND
Trade Conditions Slowly Improving, Though
Good Business Will Be Dependent Upon Agri-
cultural Conditions—News of the Week
MINNEAPOLIS and
ST. PAUL, MINN., April
17.—
In the annual contest between music and flowers
for supremacy in Easter week flowers won again.
Naturally, there was a great abundance of excel-
lent music, but as far as the music merchants
were directly interested they derived nowhere
near the benefits that came to the flower mer-
chants. In fact, the week, from a financial con-
sideration, amounted to nothing. And no more
was expected.
There is some question as to whether or not a
music merchant should expect any real business
until next Fall, and then only if the yield of farm
products should prove to be large and the prices
should be remunerative. It is not easy to ex-
plain why there should be a revival of business
this Spring in view of the light yield of grain and
low prices, coupled with the closing down of the
iron mines. The contention that the motion pic-
ture theatres are jammed every night may indi-
cate that some people are spending money, but
it does not bring any appreciable business to the
piano merchants.
It may be stated, however, in spite of the
somewhat gloomy experiences of the past eight-
een months that the legitimate music merchants
have gotten by very nicely and that they can
weather the difficulties until next Fall, as there
is enough trade to keep the business pot boiling,
anyway.
W. J. Dyer returned last week from a four
months' sojourn in Southern California, mostly
near Los Angeles. It was with some pride in
his capacity for organization to find on his re-
turn that all departments could turn in a fairly
satisfactory report. Just before he got back the
house had an extensive display of mechanical
players at the annual convention of the motion
picture theatre owners. Most of those in at-
tendance visited the warerooms of the company
and several invested in Fotoplayers, pipe organs
and such like instruments.
W. L. Guylee, vice-president of the Cable Com-
pany, drifted into the Twin Cities last week to
see what the Cable Piano Co. was doing. He
ascertained that W. S. Collins and the local man-
agers were doing the best that they could, but
that the best, while highly encouraging, was not
highly flattering to the Northwest.
J. L. Pofahl, head of the music department of
the Golden Rule department store, has been
under the weather for a week, but is not supposed
to be seriously ill. Business is reported as quite
satisfactory, and particularly so in the Victrola
branch.
SHONINQER BRANCH IN NEWBURGH
NKWBURGH, N, Y., April 17.—The B. Shoningcr
Co., manufacturer of Shoninger pianos, which is
opening a chain of retail stores throughout the
country, has secured quarters in this city at
61 Broadway. The store is being remodeled to
meet the needs of the business and it is ex-
pected that it will be ready for business early
in May.
Mason & Hamlin Piano Holds Prominent Place
During Visit of Chicago Opera Co.—Other
Prominent Stars Appear in Concert
PORTLAND, ORE., April 14.—The Mason & Hamlin
piano, which is the official instrument of the Chi-
cago Grand Opera Company, which appeared in
Portland March 22 to 25 for five performances,
was brought prominently to the front during the
opera week by Frank M. Case, manager of
Wilty B. Allen Co., who are the exclusive Port-
land dealers for that instrument. Several Mason
& Hamlins were furnished for the use of the
company and in addition for the hotel suites of
Mary Garden, Rosa Raisa and Edith Mason, as
well as Miss Garden's dressing room at the audi-
torium. Since leaving the city Mr. Case has
received letters of thanks and appreciation from
the stars for the courtesies extended them.
Galli-Curci, the famous soprano, who appeared
in concert in Portland's auditorium, had the larg-
est audience ever assembled there, more than
6,DOO persons passing the doors. A Steinway
grand piano was used for the concerts by the
singer and her assistants, Manuel Berenguer,
flutist, and Homer Samuels, pianist and accom-
panist.
A Knabe concert grand was used by Sophie
Biaslau, contralto of the Metropolitan Grand
Opera Company, who appeared in Portland as
the soloist of the Portland Symphony Orchestra
March 29. The Knabe was furnished by the
courtesy of the piano department of the Meier &
Frank Co. Miss Braslau visited "Symphony
Hall" and presented Mr. Morris, manager of the
department, with an autographed picture of her-
self, which Mr.,Morris has had framed and placed
in the beautiful piano department of the firm.
Across the face of the picture was written
"Knabe Always."
The Meier & Frank Co. in its piano depart-
ment is giving weekly concerts with the Ampico
in the Knabe for the delectation of its friends
and patrons. At the concert last week 300 seats
were provided. These were filled and over 100
stood throughout the entire concert. Mr. Morris
had the assistance of local artists at these con-
certs.
McKean, Darby & Baldwin, of Roseburg, Ore.,
have purchased the music store of A. J. Lilburn,
of that place. The new firm anticipate a good
spring business.
H. G. Reed, president of the Reed-French
Piano Co., says that the demand for high-grade
instruments is increasing, but that there is a
greater demand at the present time for player-
pianos than for the straight piano. He said that
the business for March was greater than that
of both January and February combined.
The Sherman, Clay & Co. line of pianos has
been added by the L. E. Heynes music store, oi
Lebenon, Ore., and also by the Laraway Music
House, of Eugene, Ore. Mr. Laraway, of the
latter firm, says that their business this yeai
shows so lar an increase of 75 per cent over 1921.
MURATORE ANDJHE BALDWIN
Baldwin Co. Issues Some Attractive Publicity in
Connection With Famous Tenor
The Baldwin Piano Co. has been emphasizing
most strongly the fact that Lucien Muratore, the
great French tenor, has selected that instru-
ment with which to accompany his voice and
has strongly endorsed the tone of the Baldwin
piano. In this connection the company has just
issued an attractive display sheet for the ust
ot dealers, featuring Muratore and the Bald-
win in a wav that must attract attention.
Awarded first prize in many world compe-
titions during the past sixty years, the
Schomacker Piano is now daily receiving
first prizes of preference won by its superb
tone, wonderful breadth of expression and
structural beauty.
SCHOMACKER PIANO CO.
23d and Chestnut Sts.
Philadelphia, Pa.
€1
The first touch tells"
This is the age of the
small grand piano and
The
Christman
Studio Grand
has the distinction of
having been the first
5-foot grand on the
market.
f
From its inception this
instrument won marked
popularity owing to its
remarkable quality and
volume of tone.
Dealers find it a profit-
able i n s t r u m e n t to
handle owing to the
many years it has been
giving satisfaction.
"The first touch tells"
(Regltttred
U. 8.
Pat. Off.)
NEW CONCERN BUY^BELL PIANO CO.
The Bell Bros. Piano Co., of Muncie, Ind.,
which has been in the hands of a receiver for
the past year, has been taken over by the Bell
Music Co. The new concern is completing the
unfinished instruments, but announces that it
will not continue to make pianos.
Christman Piano Co.
597 East 137th St., New York
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