Presto

PRESTO-TIMES
class performances. And in connection with the large
number, the names of the pianos used were included
in fifty-two of the advertisements. It is interesting
to note the names of the artists in connection with
the instruments upon which they play. In the
following list the names of the pianos, in parentheses,
Competent Judge of Pianos Tells of Superb follow that of the artist. The list follows:
Friends of Music, Arthur Bodzanzky, conductor
Tonal Quality, Action and Workman-
(Steinway); Povla Frijsh (Mason and Hamlin); Lucie
ship of Studio Grand.
Stern, only New York appearance (Steinway); J.
Rosamond Johnson (Knabe); Holland Vocal Trio
The following letter was recently received by (Mason & Hamlin); Emanuel Zetlin (Mason & Ham-
Christman Sons, of New York, commenting upon the lin); Clarita Sanchez (Mason & Hamlin); Berumen
famous Studio Grand Piano. It is typical of many
(Steinway); Francis McMillen (Baldwin); Robert
Goldsand (Knabe); John Corigliano (Baldwin);
others:
Donna Russell (Steinway); Joseff Hoffman (Stein-
New York City, February 3, 1927.
way); Margery Maxwell (Kranich & Bach); Creigh-
Christman Sons.
ton Allen (Knabe); Gigli (Hardman); John Charles
Attention Mr. H. Christman.
My dear Mr. Christman: Ever since purchasing" Thomas (Knabe); Casals (Mason & Hamlin); Wade-
my Chrisiman Studio Grand Piano from you in Octo- Smith (Steinway); Elschuco Trio (Steinway); Do-
ber, 1926, I have wanted to write and tell you how hanyi (Chickering); Geni Sadero (Baldwin); New-
York Chamber Music Association (Steinway); Gorn
greatly pleased I am with it.
(Knabe); Willem Durieux (Mason & Hamlin); Adele
It is superb in tonal quality, workmanship and
action, and all my friends, both vocalists and instru- Bliss (Steinway); Vera Ward (Steinway); Philhar-
mentalists, declare it one of the finest pianos they monic (Steinway); Beethoven Symphony Orchestra
(Knabe); Katherine Bacon (Steinway); Temple
have ever played on.
Emanu-El Choir (Knabe); Cincinnati Symphony
Most sincerclv.
Orchestra (Steinway); Max Kaplick (Baldwin);
ALEXIS SANDERSON.
Horszowski (Steinway); Germaine Schnitzer (Chick-
A perfect Hood of commendatory notices of Mr. ering);
Ulysses Lappas (Baldwin); Alfredo San Malo
Sanderson's art have appeared in the newspapers
(Steinway); Jerome Swinford (Mason & Hamlin);
Alexander Bralowsky (Steinway); Beatrice Pink-
ham (Chickering); Nobu Suzki (Steinway); Martha
Graham (Steinway); Irene Scharrer (Steinway);
Artomon Moskalensky (Steinway); Rachmaninoff
(Steinway); Elizabeth Topping (Chickering); Laura
Stroud (Steinway).
The foregoing is probably the longest list of artistic
performances ever announced in a single issue of any
daily newspaper. And the plan of naming the pianos
used by the artists is, of course, the most illuminating
that has ever appeared in this connection.
COMMENDATORY LETTER
TO CHRISTMAN SONS
February 19, 1927.
MINNEAPOLIS HAS
PALATIAL STORE
New Foster & Waldo Building, Now Com-
pleted, Is One of the Most Imposing Struc-
tures Devoted to Every Branch
of the Music Trade.
A ROMANCE OF COMMERCE
The Story of the Splendid Music House, as Told in
Full Pages in the Daily Newspapers,
Makes Good Reading.
The house of Foster & Waldo, Minneapolis, Minn.,
now has all departments of its business under one
roof, at 818-820 Nicollet avenue. It marks the begin-
ning of a new era of prosperous musical instrument
HAPPENINGS IN THE
INDIANAPOLIS TRADE
Masonic Temple Buys a Chickering; Muncie
Church Buys a Kurtzmann; Many Man-
ufacturers' Representatives in Town.
On Monday evening the House of Baldwin broad-
casted a special valentine program from the Baldwin
Weke-Mignon studio, which was unusually appre-
ciated by the listeners indicated by the large amount
of letters, and phone calls of appreciation received
by the company.
The new Masonic Temple at Muncie, Ind., pur-
chased one of the style " E " Chickering & Sons
straight grand pianos.
G. C. Kavanagh, president of the Foster Armstrong
ALEXIS SANDERSON.
division of the American Piano Company, stopped
of recent date, and some of them follow and off at Indianapolis on his way to the coast last week.
serve to show that he is a competent judge of music
The First Presbyterian Church at Bloomfield, Ind.,
and 'the instruments that make it:
has purchased a style "B" Kurtzmann grand from the
Alexis Sanderson, tenor, is a newcomer to Wash-
Pearson Piano Company.
ington. His voice has a vigorous quality that is
The Shelbyville store of the Pearson Piano Com-
pleasing and yet there is a lyric sweetness that forms pany will be closed, as it was found that the town
a delightful contrast.—Washington Star
Mr. Sanderson's program consisted of numbers by is too close to Indianapolis, with bus and traction
Heidel, Godard, Tosti, Burleigh and Lohr. His dic- facilities every hour.
Mr. Carlson, of the Everett Piano Company, of
tion and interpretation of all the numbers was given
in a masterful manner. He seemed to catch the South Haven, Mich.; J. S. Sayward, of the Aeolian
composer's thought in all the different numbers. His Company; Paul Schmidt, of Steinway & Sons; R. E.
singing- at all times was with ease. Mr. Sanderson Wells, of the Steinway house at Cincinnati, and Carl
has a very clear tenor voice, possessing a wide range
M. Purcell, of H. C. Bay & Co., were visitors at the
and a quality that v:, beautiful.—Reading Herald.
Pearson store during the past week.
Seldom has Alexis Sanderson's voice been heard to
On Wednesday, February 16, the executive board
better advantage. It had a beautiful roundness of
tone, coupled with a mellowness that elicited the of the Indiana Music Merchants held a meeting
admiration of the auditors. The attacks were well at the Indianapolis Athletic Club.
executed, and the high notes were sung with accuracy
Two Apollo grand pianos were used at Mayor
and precision.—Washington Times.
Duvall's municipal valentine party at Tomlinson Hall
Alexis Sanderson, former tenor with the Washing- on Monday evening, furnished by the Wilking
ton Opera Company, sang with wonderful style. He Music Co.
has a beautiful quality of voice and a wide range.
All who heard this tenor were given a rare treat by
A GREAT MERCHANT'S START.
his beautiful singing.—Syracuse Herald.
The great house of Bamberger, of Newark, N. J..
has one of the largest piano departments associated
with the trade. The h : story of its founder should be
?n inspiration to others. Years ago a boy named
Bamberger took a job at $4 a week to run errands;
glad to get the job, glad to run. It was a start. Now,
to his $22,000,000 dry goods plant in Newark he
Remarkable Array of Entertainments An- builds
a $10,000,000 addition. And men from bigger
nounced by New York Newspaper, with
cities go to Newark to study his ways of running a
business. E. Paul Hamilton is the Bamberger piano
Favorite Instruments of Performers.
department manager, and he fits perfectly in.to the
What may seem, in a large sense, a new feature scheme of Newark's "merchant prince."
in high-class concert announcements was given em-
phasis in last Sunday's New York Times. It is the
NEW SALEM, ORE., FIRM.
introduction, almost without exception, of the names
A. W. Whitley and P. D. Sproule are partners in
of the pianos used by the artists. This custom has
always been employed in connection with appear- the new Whitley-Sproule Music Co., recently opened
ances of the greatest pianists, but it has not been in Salem, Ore. Mr. Whitley is an experienced piano
the rule in any such degree as to make it seem a salesman and Mr. Sproule is widely known through-
out the territory, through which he formerly worked
part of the publicity plan.
In last Sunday's Times the local concert page con- as piano repairman and tuner for the Tallman Piano
tained the displayed announcements of fifty-nine high- Co. of Salem.
ILLUMINATING LIST OF
THE ARTISTS' PIANOS
FOSTER & WALDO STORE IN MINNEAPOLIS.
sales for the company. The accompanying cut shows
the great building in which ample space is assured
for the proper presentation of the large and varied
line of a complete music house.
A Special Event
In a special display in the newspapers last week
celebrating the occupation of the new store, Foster
& Waldo quoted a historic parallel—Baron Roths-
child's purchases of block after block of Paris real
estate during the Revolution. "People thought he
had lost his senses, but France righted herself and
the Rothschild holding materialized into one of the
largest fortunes in the world," was the statement.
Forehanded Action
"Likewise, the after-the-war reconstruction period
from which America has just emerged presented a
golden opportunity for one music merchant who had
the vision to see the need and the courage to do the
deed. Foster & Waldo sensed it long in advance.
We trebled our floor space by retaining one store and
having another new five-story store built for us.
"Soon, factory after factory began to liquidate.
Costs were forgotten. We bought and bought and
bought an almost appalling amount of merchandise—
entirely for spot cash and at practically our own
prices. Some of our closest friends thought we had
taken leave of our senses. But, at the right time,
we began to sell, sell, sell! in what is perhaps the
largest, longest, most successful musical campaign
known. A twelve years' volume of business was done
in two years. Every instrument offered in the sale
was sold. Normal times pursue the even tenor of
their ways. The stock at our new store is all new—
as new as though we had begun business but yester-
day."
KNABE IN INDIANAPOLIS.
Fred Cobler, Ampico artist for the "Knabe." spent
several days in Indianapolis during which time daily
recitals were given at the warerooms of Rapp & Len-
nox, which were well attended. The Knabe piano
was used during a week by Marx Brothers in a musi-
cal comedy at the English Opera House.
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