Music Trade Review
Issue: 1925 Vol. 80 N. 17 - Page 49
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APRIL 25,
1925
THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
49
IN THE WORLD OF MUSIC PUBLISHING
Conducted By V. D. Walsh
Conditions in the Sheet Music
Trade of Atlanta and Savannah
Maurice Richmond, of the Richmond Music Supply Corp., New York, Tells of the Conditions Ex-
isting Among the Retail Merchants There —Written Exclusively for The Review
A TLANTA, Ga., April 20.—Atlanta was incor-
•^^ porated as a city in 1847. In 1865 it was de-
stroyed by General Sherman's Army and left a
hopeless wreck. Today the estimated population
of Atlanta is 250,000. It
has often been called
the "Chicago" of the
South. Its wholesale
houses claim to have
90,000 dealers whom
they are doing busi-
ness with in seven
Southeastern States. It
is recognized as the
financial center of that
territory. Greater At-
lanta is truly a marvel-
Maurice Richmond
ous city, with its many
inter-woven railroads reaching all parts of the
United States.
The Cable Piano Co.
The Cable Piano Co. is the center of every-
thing musical in Atlanta, and is placed in the
very heart of the shopping and hotel section of
the city. It lias occupied the same location for
almost sixteen years. A great deal of energy is
used by this firm in promoting the American
Piano Co. products, particularly the Ampico and
the well-known Mason & Hamlin. It carries the
Victor, Brunswick and Columbia phonograph
lines. A complete player-roll department with
demonstrating rooms is nicely arranged.
The vice-president and general manager is
"Chief" A. E. Foster. That has been his official
title since his connection with this institution
three years ago. He is called "Chief" because
o'f his ability to guide. From the porter to the
high executive in the organization, without ex-
ception, they are loyal to the rituals and policy
laid out by this noble "Chief."
The day I appeared on the scene w : as a very
busy one for "Chief" Foster, so I made my ap-
pointment for the following morning, long be-
fore nine bells. Through the courtesy of Mr.
Foster, we toured the entire Cable Building,
consisting of four floors, the approximate space
of each being fifty by one hundred feet. The
piano demonstration rooms are very attractively
and nicely fitted. The street floor is occupied
principally by displays of phonographs and rec-
ords, and a well-stocked musical instrument de-
partment—as well as the sheet music section
The mezzanine floor is devoted to the executive
offices and clerical forces.
The true Indian Chief says very little but
does "heap" much. So it is with "Chief Foster."
Nevertheless, he did say-that he w r as pleased
with the results since having come with the
company inasmuch as every department is mak-
ing gains. "We are out to make a record in
each department for this year, applying modem
and progressive methods to get results," he said.
"Chief Foster" is the type that you cannot help
SONGS THAT SELL
—
When You and I Were Seventeen
Yearning
Oh, How I Miss You Tonight
Ukulele Lady
Oh, Mabel
All Alone
Listening
Show Me the Way
All Aboard for Heaven
Please Be Good to My Old Girl
Hot Tamale Molly
Can't Your Friend Get a Friend for Me?
I Ain't Got Nobody to Love
Marie, Marie, Marie
What'll I Do?
Suite Sixteen
The Whole World Is Dreaming of Love
but admire. He is a true believer in brotherly
love, just as the old prophet, who said, "Despise
not any man and do not spurn anything, for
there is no man that has not his hour, nor is
there anything that has not its place." He ap-
peared to me a true scholar of philosophy, so
cheerful in his make-up, and evidently he is
thankful for being alive and active with both
feet on the ground. "When we understand that
we are a necessary part but not an imperative
essential to the scheme of life, we usually forget
our petty, peevish plaint about routine, fate and
restrictions, and get down to the business of do-
ing our part and doing it cheerfully, gratefully,"
he said. "If we would only understand that we
are but a puny, infinitesimal part of the universe,
that we alone count for something only as we
successfully fit ourselves into the great scheme.
The wise are more thankful for the things they
have escaped than being regretful for what they
must endure. Co-operation, not competition, is
the life of trade. If you have knowledge, let
others light their candles by it." Real high-
brow philosophy, I call it.
The manager of the musical instrument de-
partment, as well as sheet music, is Wm. H.
Shrader, a young Southerner with a long stride
and a big range and reach for prospects. He
has an active and alert mind, not forgetting his
"eagle" eye. Under his personal guidance the
musical instrument and sheet music departments
have been very successful. The Martin band
line is featured, as well as the Gibson and Par-
amount banjos, and Ludwig drums.
The meaning of success to Mr. Shrader is
first: "Loyalty to his superior and to his house."
"The personal gain and reward are bound to
come along if we do our part," he said. Mr.
Shrader is much pleased with his association
and reports splendid gains in his department.
He claims it is partly due to the musical prog-
ress in this glorious city and the fact that the
house is selling the idea of music in every phase
to the public and he repeats what our old
friend Darwin said: "If I had my life to live
over again, I would have made it a rule to play
or listen to music. The loss of this taste is a
loss of happiness, injurious to the intellect and
moral character." Mr. Shrader is a splendid
musician. He knows all there is to know about
a saxophone and there are many efficient
"moaners" and "tooters" through his schooling.
The sheet music department is handled by
two particularly clever people, and my admira-
tion goes out to them. Mrs. Laura Phillips, who
is thoroughly familiar with every angle of the
retailing of music, as well as the mail order bus-
iness, is one. Most of the ladies, the Lord bless
them, like to get a little of their beauty sleep in
the morning. That is not the case with Laura.
I can vouch for that. During the many visits
1 have had to Atlanta, she was always on the
front doorstep, waiting for the doorkeeper to
BOOKS THAT SELL
T1DDLE DE UKES — Comic Songs for
the Ukulele
X Universal Dance Folio No. 9 (New)
—
Peterson's Ukulele Method
World's Favorite Songs
4th MUSIC BOX REVUE, 1925
In the Shade of a Sheltering Tree
Tell Her in the Springtime
Tokio Blues
DIXIE TO BROADWAY
Mandy, Make Up Your Mind
Dixie Dreams
Hits from TOPSY and EVA
Rememb'ring
I Never Had a Mammy
IRVING BERLIN, Inc.
1607 Broadway, New York
open up. I have been told that Laura lives
quite a way out in the country among the Geor-
gia pines.
The young man associated with her is Wil-
liam Munn, always on the run, mixing work witli
fun. He is a professional musician, doing con-
siderable work with a local orchestra, playing
the saxophone and the clarinet. He knows his
customers well. Whether it is sister Flo or
brother Joe, Tim or Jim, young or old, to him
they are all the same, for he knows them by
their given name. They all admire his pcrson-
(Continucd on payc 51 )
For Twenty Years Without a Peer
MOST POPULAR MUSIC BOOKS
Write for descriptive catalog—Order from jobber or direct from publisher
Hinds, Hayden & Eldredge, Inc., Publishers, New York City
APRIL 25,
1925
THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
49
IN THE WORLD OF MUSIC PUBLISHING
Conducted By V. D. Walsh
Conditions in the Sheet Music
Trade of Atlanta and Savannah
Maurice Richmond, of the Richmond Music Supply Corp., New York, Tells of the Conditions Ex-
isting Among the Retail Merchants There —Written Exclusively for The Review
A TLANTA, Ga., April 20.—Atlanta was incor-
•^^ porated as a city in 1847. In 1865 it was de-
stroyed by General Sherman's Army and left a
hopeless wreck. Today the estimated population
of Atlanta is 250,000. It
has often been called
the "Chicago" of the
South. Its wholesale
houses claim to have
90,000 dealers whom
they are doing busi-
ness with in seven
Southeastern States. It
is recognized as the
financial center of that
territory. Greater At-
lanta is truly a marvel-
Maurice Richmond
ous city, with its many
inter-woven railroads reaching all parts of the
United States.
The Cable Piano Co.
The Cable Piano Co. is the center of every-
thing musical in Atlanta, and is placed in the
very heart of the shopping and hotel section of
the city. It lias occupied the same location for
almost sixteen years. A great deal of energy is
used by this firm in promoting the American
Piano Co. products, particularly the Ampico and
the well-known Mason & Hamlin. It carries the
Victor, Brunswick and Columbia phonograph
lines. A complete player-roll department with
demonstrating rooms is nicely arranged.
The vice-president and general manager is
"Chief" A. E. Foster. That has been his official
title since his connection with this institution
three years ago. He is called "Chief" because
o'f his ability to guide. From the porter to the
high executive in the organization, without ex-
ception, they are loyal to the rituals and policy
laid out by this noble "Chief."
The day I appeared on the scene w : as a very
busy one for "Chief" Foster, so I made my ap-
pointment for the following morning, long be-
fore nine bells. Through the courtesy of Mr.
Foster, we toured the entire Cable Building,
consisting of four floors, the approximate space
of each being fifty by one hundred feet. The
piano demonstration rooms are very attractively
and nicely fitted. The street floor is occupied
principally by displays of phonographs and rec-
ords, and a well-stocked musical instrument de-
partment—as well as the sheet music section
The mezzanine floor is devoted to the executive
offices and clerical forces.
The true Indian Chief says very little but
does "heap" much. So it is with "Chief Foster."
Nevertheless, he did say-that he w r as pleased
with the results since having come with the
company inasmuch as every department is mak-
ing gains. "We are out to make a record in
each department for this year, applying modem
and progressive methods to get results," he said.
"Chief Foster" is the type that you cannot help
SONGS THAT SELL
—
When You and I Were Seventeen
Yearning
Oh, How I Miss You Tonight
Ukulele Lady
Oh, Mabel
All Alone
Listening
Show Me the Way
All Aboard for Heaven
Please Be Good to My Old Girl
Hot Tamale Molly
Can't Your Friend Get a Friend for Me?
I Ain't Got Nobody to Love
Marie, Marie, Marie
What'll I Do?
Suite Sixteen
The Whole World Is Dreaming of Love
but admire. He is a true believer in brotherly
love, just as the old prophet, who said, "Despise
not any man and do not spurn anything, for
there is no man that has not his hour, nor is
there anything that has not its place." He ap-
peared to me a true scholar of philosophy, so
cheerful in his make-up, and evidently he is
thankful for being alive and active with both
feet on the ground. "When we understand that
we are a necessary part but not an imperative
essential to the scheme of life, we usually forget
our petty, peevish plaint about routine, fate and
restrictions, and get down to the business of do-
ing our part and doing it cheerfully, gratefully,"
he said. "If we would only understand that we
are but a puny, infinitesimal part of the universe,
that we alone count for something only as we
successfully fit ourselves into the great scheme.
The wise are more thankful for the things they
have escaped than being regretful for what they
must endure. Co-operation, not competition, is
the life of trade. If you have knowledge, let
others light their candles by it." Real high-
brow philosophy, I call it.
The manager of the musical instrument de-
partment, as well as sheet music, is Wm. H.
Shrader, a young Southerner with a long stride
and a big range and reach for prospects. He
has an active and alert mind, not forgetting his
"eagle" eye. Under his personal guidance the
musical instrument and sheet music departments
have been very successful. The Martin band
line is featured, as well as the Gibson and Par-
amount banjos, and Ludwig drums.
The meaning of success to Mr. Shrader is
first: "Loyalty to his superior and to his house."
"The personal gain and reward are bound to
come along if we do our part," he said. Mr.
Shrader is much pleased with his association
and reports splendid gains in his department.
He claims it is partly due to the musical prog-
ress in this glorious city and the fact that the
house is selling the idea of music in every phase
to the public and he repeats what our old
friend Darwin said: "If I had my life to live
over again, I would have made it a rule to play
or listen to music. The loss of this taste is a
loss of happiness, injurious to the intellect and
moral character." Mr. Shrader is a splendid
musician. He knows all there is to know about
a saxophone and there are many efficient
"moaners" and "tooters" through his schooling.
The sheet music department is handled by
two particularly clever people, and my admira-
tion goes out to them. Mrs. Laura Phillips, who
is thoroughly familiar with every angle of the
retailing of music, as well as the mail order bus-
iness, is one. Most of the ladies, the Lord bless
them, like to get a little of their beauty sleep in
the morning. That is not the case with Laura.
I can vouch for that. During the many visits
1 have had to Atlanta, she was always on the
front doorstep, waiting for the doorkeeper to
BOOKS THAT SELL
T1DDLE DE UKES — Comic Songs for
the Ukulele
X Universal Dance Folio No. 9 (New)
—
Peterson's Ukulele Method
World's Favorite Songs
4th MUSIC BOX REVUE, 1925
In the Shade of a Sheltering Tree
Tell Her in the Springtime
Tokio Blues
DIXIE TO BROADWAY
Mandy, Make Up Your Mind
Dixie Dreams
Hits from TOPSY and EVA
Rememb'ring
I Never Had a Mammy
IRVING BERLIN, Inc.
1607 Broadway, New York
open up. I have been told that Laura lives
quite a way out in the country among the Geor-
gia pines.
The young man associated with her is Wil-
liam Munn, always on the run, mixing work witli
fun. He is a professional musician, doing con-
siderable work with a local orchestra, playing
the saxophone and the clarinet. He knows his
customers well. Whether it is sister Flo or
brother Joe, Tim or Jim, young or old, to him
they are all the same, for he knows them by
their given name. They all admire his pcrson-
(Continucd on payc 51 )
For Twenty Years Without a Peer
MOST POPULAR MUSIC BOOKS
Write for descriptive catalog—Order from jobber or direct from publisher
Hinds, Hayden & Eldredge, Inc., Publishers, New York City
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).