Music Trade Review

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CHICAGO AND THE MIDDLE WEST
Frank W. Kirk, Manager, 333 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago
Flint Grinnell and Corley Gibson
Speakers at Illinois Dealers' Meeting
Director of Chicago Better Business Bureau and President of the Autopiano Co., New
York, to Address Merchants at the Chicago Meeting
' T H E one-day convention of the Illinois State
•*" Music Merchants, to be held September 19
at the Palmer House, Chicago, will include
many important subjects of vital interest to
retail merchants. A great deal of ground will
be covered pertaining to merchandising prob-
lems which will not only be of interest to the
Illinois merchants, but the entire trade.
One of the principal speakers will be Flint
Grinnell, manager of the Chicago Better Busi-
ness Bureau, who will address the merchants
upon "The Public's Impression of Piano and
Musical Merchandise Advertising."
The Bureau has been operating since Octo-
ber, 1926, investigating advertising and selling
practices in Chicago and conducting research
for the purpose of discovering and eliminating
any reasons there might be for a lack of con-
fidence in advertising and in Chicago business.
It has co-operated with reputable business in
exposing and bringing to justice fraudulent
merchandising methods. Over 13,500 people
have asked the Bureau for information or com-
plained of fraudulent or unsatisfactory dealing.
With a background of two years spent in ele-
vating business standards, Mr. Grinnell has
secured a great deal of valuable information in
regard to the public's attitude toward the adver-
tising of retail music houses which he will pre-
sent at the Illinois convention.
In making the announcement in regard to
the program for the one-day session, H. H.
Fleer, president of the Association and chair-
man of the Arrangement Committee, who is
credited with originating the one-day idea,
stated: "I am very happy to announce that Mr.
Grinnell will address the meeting, as he is one
of the best-fitted men in the country to tell u's,
as an industry, what the public thinks of our
advertising, especially since those with whom
his office has come in contact bring to the
attention of the Better Business Bureau the
amount of misleading advertising that has been
going on in our industry.
"Mr. Grinnell's talk will not only be enlight-
ening to the members of the Illinois Music
Merchants' Association who will hear him in
person, but also to the entire trade to whom
the message will be carried by the trade papers.
"The second speaker will be Corley Gibson,
president of the Autopiano Co., who will talk
on 'The Promotion of the Player-Piano.' Mr.
Gibson, who has made a special study of this
problem, will no doubt bring to us a message
that will give us an idea of how to increase our
player-piano sales. The balance of the day will
be required in taking up Association matters of
great importance.
"There isn't any doubt in my mind that the
dealers in attendance will be greatly benefited
and get real food for thought from the con-
vention of the Illinois Association."
Chicago Theatres' and
Musicians' Agreement
forty weeks a year, and the other twelve for
thirty-five weeks.
Stipulation was also made that any new the-
atre seating 1,000 patrons or more opened dur-
ing the coming year should employ four musi-
cians. James C. Petrillo, president of the union,
waived claims on six houses, permitting them
to employ only organists.
All But Twenty-four Theatres Arrive at Agree-
ment With Musicians' Union Regarding Em-
ployment, or Orchestras
Musicians in 250 neighborhood movie houses
in Chicago resumed their posts again after re-
newal of contract between the musicians' union
and the exhibitors, which evolved the question
of the installation of Movietone and Vitaphone
in the motion picture theatres, and the elimina-
tion of musicians in the smaller houses.
The Chicago condition is of interest to the
trade in general in connection with the question
of how the Movietone affects musicians and
musical instruments.
Although concessions were made by the
members of the Musicians' Union as well as
the exhibitors, the final settlement includes a
repfesentative number of musicians in the
smaller theatres known as class six, for the
large houses were not affected by the contro-
versy. Agreements were reached with all but
twenty-four theatres, ten of which are not mem-
bers of the Exhibitors' Association, and twelve
of which are in the hands of receivers.
Twenty-four of the fifty-two theatres in class
six, named in the first union demands, are to
employ at least four musicians each, twelve for
New Kimball Organ
Shipped to Memphis
The new $100,000 Kimball double-pipe organ
for the Memphis Municipal Auditorium, after be-
ing set up and played at the large Chicago fac-
tory, is being shipped in carloads for installa-
tion in the Memphis Auditorium. This organ
has 8,000 pipes, ranging from the smaller di-
mensions to as long as thirty-two feet. The
installation will include a main organ for the
north hall, the supplemental organ in the con-
cert hall, the echo organ in the extreme north
end and a concert grand piano feature.
month by Geo. P. Bent. Mr. Bent is known
throughout the musical world and many of
the contributors are outstanding figures in the
industry to-day. During his forty years in the
music business Mr. Bent built up the well-
known Geo. P. Bent Co., and his instruments
were sold not only in this country but in for-
eign lands as well. This is not Mr. Bent's first,
venture as an author and publisher, as several
years ago he issued a gift book to his friends,
entitled "Tales of Travel, Life and Love,"
which is regarded as one of the best contribu-
tions to music trade history.
Raisa and Gieseking
Now Brunswick Artists
Famous Dramatic Soprano and Pianist Latest
to Be Listed in Brunswick Library List
CHICAGO, 111., September 10.—Rosa Raisa, dra-
matic soprano of the Chicago Civic Opera, has
joined the Brunswick "Hall of Fame" list of
artists. She is one of the world's most famous
dramatic sopranos and one of the outstanding
artists of the operatic stage at the present time.
Her first Brunswick record is a duet with Gia-
como Rimini, the "La Dove Prendc," from the
"Magic Flute," and on the reverse another
duet, a scene from the first act of "Don Gio-
vanni," with the same artist.
Another famous artist added to the Brunswick
list is Walter Gieseking, the pianist, who has
scored a great success in this country since his
American debut in January, 1926. His first
record includes recordings of "Le Plus que
Lente," Debussy, and "Die Silberne Cascade"
from Nieman's suite, "The Magic Book."
Gulbransen Go. Announces
Lower Radio Prices
Success of New Line With Dealers Permits
Economies in Production Which Have Been
Passed on
The Gulbransen Co., having received a large
volume of radio business from its dealers which
has produced substantial savings in production,
announces lower prices on its radio line. As
part of the announcement, it is stated that there
has been no change in the quality of the
product. On the other hand, the latest models
of Gulbransen radio being turned out are more
attractive and more appealing to the eye than
any heretofore produced.
This month the company is showing for the
first time an interior view of the Gulbransen
radio with the doors opened and the instrument
ready to use. The doors fold back but have a
device which stops them from bumping against
the sides of the case. The outside case of the
console model has also been improved over the
first product.
New Book by Bent
Shortly to Be Issued Bush & Lane Grand
for Gadillac Hotel
"Fourscore
and
More," an
interesting
biographical, historical book that will appeal
especially to the trade, will be issued this
A Bush & Lane walnut grand is a feature
(Continued on page 24)
(Continued from page 22)
the characteristic modern mass method to the service of the in-
dividualistic, reaction which is always going on and of which we
can always, if we will, take advantage. Music, the great disci-
pline of self-expression, comes to-day as a cooling draught in the
desert of mechanism. We have in our hands a sovereign remedy
for our trade ills. We have but to emblazon on our banners the
words "Self-expression is the age's need and desire. The piano
fills both. Teach the children to preserve individuality. Teach
them music. Teach them to play the piano."
—W. B. W.
23