Music Trade Review
Issue: 1954 Vol. 113 N. 4 - Page 22
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
Jenkins Music Co. Presents 7 5 Pianos
to Institutions at 75th Anniversary Party
The Jenkins Music Co.. Kansas City
recently held its 'diamond birthday"
party which proved a great success.
The big independent music store sys-
tem, still in the hands of the family
which launched it 75 years ago in a
back, room in Kansas City staged a
birthday party unique in conception—
and tremendous in fulfillment. It gave
away seventy-five Everett and Story &
Clark pianos and it let the public in
its dozen store cities select the church-
,es, hospitals, nonprofit organizations
and schools to receive them.
It was probably one of the biggest
birthday celebrations in the history of
the music retailing business. When
Jenkins celebrated their fiftieth anni-
versary they gave away more than
$78,000 worth of pianos and Victrolas.
The company last May X started
accepting—in sealed ballot boxes—
votes from every purchaser in its store.
One vote was allowed for each dime
of the purchase. The buyer selected
the institution he preferred to gel
credit for the votes.
On December 31. the boxes were
shipped to Arthur Young & Co.. cer-
tified public accountants of Kansas
City. There the results were tabulated
and the winners of pianos allocated
PAUL W. JENKINS, Pres.
previously to each store were an-
nounced. More than 26.H00.000 were
cast.
More than 2500 churches, schools
or nonprofit institutions were named
in the voting. Seventy-five were suc-
cessful and to them, in a series of
"'birthday parties" in February, Jen-
kins executives presented pianos.
Jenkins bought the pianos, with a
retail value of $61,450. With each
went a matching bench.
WILLIAM T. SUTHERLAND, Piano Mgr.
The birthday idea was a strong
business builder, at a time when there
was some tightening of the economy
1
i
TOP-
L to R.—FRED JENKINS PRESENTS TITLE TO PIANO FOR THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH; A STORY & CLARK PIANO FOR
BIG BROTHERS INC., JOPLIN, MO.; A NEW PIANO FOR MONTE CASSINO SCHOOL FOR GIRLS, TULSA, OKLA.; PLAYING ON
THE NEW PIANO FOR THE SALVATION ARMY; BOTTOM: L. to R.—A STUDIO UPRIGHT FOR KANSAS WESLEYAN UNIVERS-
ITY SALIN KANSAS; THE NEGRO YOUTH CENTER OF SPRINGFIELD WAS GIVEN A STORY & CLARK STUDIO PIANO; PRESI-
DENT JENKINS PLAYS A FEW CHORDS ON PIANO PRESENTED TO THE CRIPPLED CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, OKLAHOMA CITY,
OKLAHOMA.
22
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, APRIL, 19-Z4
Jenkins Music Co. Presents 7 5 Pianos
to Institutions at 75th Anniversary Party
The Jenkins Music Co.. Kansas City
recently held its 'diamond birthday"
party which proved a great success.
The big independent music store sys-
tem, still in the hands of the family
which launched it 75 years ago in a
back, room in Kansas City staged a
birthday party unique in conception—
and tremendous in fulfillment. It gave
away seventy-five Everett and Story &
Clark pianos and it let the public in
its dozen store cities select the church-
,es, hospitals, nonprofit organizations
and schools to receive them.
It was probably one of the biggest
birthday celebrations in the history of
the music retailing business. When
Jenkins celebrated their fiftieth anni-
versary they gave away more than
$78,000 worth of pianos and Victrolas.
The company last May X started
accepting—in sealed ballot boxes—
votes from every purchaser in its store.
One vote was allowed for each dime
of the purchase. The buyer selected
the institution he preferred to gel
credit for the votes.
On December 31. the boxes were
shipped to Arthur Young & Co.. cer-
tified public accountants of Kansas
City. There the results were tabulated
and the winners of pianos allocated
PAUL W. JENKINS, Pres.
previously to each store were an-
nounced. More than 26.H00.000 were
cast.
More than 2500 churches, schools
or nonprofit institutions were named
in the voting. Seventy-five were suc-
cessful and to them, in a series of
"'birthday parties" in February, Jen-
kins executives presented pianos.
Jenkins bought the pianos, with a
retail value of $61,450. With each
went a matching bench.
WILLIAM T. SUTHERLAND, Piano Mgr.
The birthday idea was a strong
business builder, at a time when there
was some tightening of the economy
1
i
TOP-
L to R.—FRED JENKINS PRESENTS TITLE TO PIANO FOR THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH; A STORY & CLARK PIANO FOR
BIG BROTHERS INC., JOPLIN, MO.; A NEW PIANO FOR MONTE CASSINO SCHOOL FOR GIRLS, TULSA, OKLA.; PLAYING ON
THE NEW PIANO FOR THE SALVATION ARMY; BOTTOM: L. to R.—A STUDIO UPRIGHT FOR KANSAS WESLEYAN UNIVERS-
ITY SALIN KANSAS; THE NEGRO YOUTH CENTER OF SPRINGFIELD WAS GIVEN A STORY & CLARK STUDIO PIANO; PRESI-
DENT JENKINS PLAYS A FEW CHORDS ON PIANO PRESENTED TO THE CRIPPLED CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, OKLAHOMA CITY,
OKLAHOMA.
22
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, APRIL, 19-Z4
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