The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1908)

8 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. MUSIC IN THE HOMES. How the Great Artists of the World Are Available for the Poor as Well as the Rich. The wonderful artistic ixyssibilities of the modern talking machine are still far from being appreciated by the general public altogether too many of whom regard it as not much more than a plaything for grown-ups. The fact that through the medium of the "talker" they may hear their favorite grand opera stars sing their best pieces time without number, or that the classics of music may be heard as they should be rendered, seems never to occur to them. Whiting Allen, however, under the apt heading of "Popular Grand Opera ;Made Possible by Introduction of Phonograph" dwells very cleverly upon the rwssibilities of the talking machine in the following clev^er way: "Madame Melba. greatest of contemporaneous song birds, will sing this evening at the residence of Mrs. John Jones, on Lancaster avenue. Caruso, the costliest tenor in the world, will entertain the guests of Mrs. Horatio Haggerty at her country place, overlooking the AVissahicken drive. The great Nordica will sing selections from "Lohengrin" at the home of the Jacksons, at 41144 North Second street, and Madame Emma Eames will be the guest of the Bidwalders, on Rittenhouse Square, and will have her exquisite voice with her. "Despite the fact that these singers charge anywhere from ?1,000 to |3,000 to sing at any one's home, these same singers will also be heard this evening in thousands of other homes, places of the rich, houses of the poor, in city and country, in every section of this music-loving land of ours. "All this may sound like the vaporings of a music-mad mind. Nevertheless, it is virtually a fact, save as to the fictitious names and addresses, and the further fact that none of these singers will be actually singing in the flesh anywhere in this country. "They may be singing in New York, or in London, but they have left almost imperishable records of their voices with us, and with these records and the perfected machines that reproduce them, scattered by tens of thousands throughout the country, all these and all the other great singers are virtually here, and will remain, so to speak, for all time. "American inventive genius has given this great boon to the world, among the well-nigh countless other miracles it has performed for the pleasure and the betterment of mankind. By these records not only the voices of singers, but the music of great orchestras and military bands, and the voice of man uttering his profoundest or his most trivial thoughts, are all preserved, and may be reproduced at will cenutries after dgath has stilled the strings and hushed the voice of the orator and the artist." THE ILLUMINATED SOUVENIR. A New Use for the Moving Picture Machine as an Accompaniment to the Orchestra and Voices — Something Entirely Novel and Interesting to be Introduced in London. (Special to The Talking Machine Woiid.) London, Eng., Jan. 4, 1908. A new departure in concert work will be witnessed at the Queen's Hall on January 20 and 27. The illuminated symphony is the new art form which will then be presented to the public. Herbert Trench, a poet whose work has not yet received anything like the recognition its very real merits deserve, will present his "Apollo and the Seamen" in novel fashion. The aim is to appeal to the appreciation through the ear and eye at the same time. The symphony which will accompany the poem has been composed by Joseph Holbrooke. Both orchestral and chorai music will be employed. The hall will be dimly lighted, the musicians and chorus will be invisible and the stage itself in complete darkness. On a screen at the back of the stage the words of the poem will be thrown in illuminated letters and will pass slowly before the eyes of the audience to the accompaniment of orchestra and voices. MUSIC IN THE CARS. A New Development Which Will Make Traveling in the Street Car System a Thing of Joy Instead of Torture as It Sometimes Is Now. According from reports from Meriden, Conn., the street car patrons of that city, if the present plans materialize, are to be treated to musical feats by Paderewski, selections from Wagner, or other notables as an eye opener on their way to work in the mornings and to light fantasies from the "Merry Widow," the comic opera or coonshouters to stir their languid senses while returning home at night, is not among the impossibilities according to facts unearthed by an enterprising local newspaper man last week. He says that "A five-mile ride and a first-class concert for a nickel isn't so bad, and it is no idle dream, either."' All this is to be accomplished by means of the Cahill-Telharmonic system, now offered by the New York Electric Co. The reporter further learned that the local street railway management is also negotiating with the oflicers of the New York concern with a view of having the system installed in the cars, and according to him it will only be a short time before street-car riding will have other attractions than resting one's legs after a hard day's work. A HANDSOME CALENDAR. The picture of a Victor talking machine embowered in roses and bearing a calendar is the very appropriate souvenir sent out by L. R. Porter, the talking machine dealer of Brockton. Mass., to his friends and patrons. The machine and horn are most natural in appearance, and being placed in such a beautiful environment are worthy to grace the wall of any store or home. HOLLIDAY OPENS NEW STORE. A. J. Holliday has opened a new talking-machine store in the Geisse building. East Liverpool, Ohio. SAVE YOUR BREAKAGE LOSS THE INDESTRUCTIBLE RECORD WILL DO THIS FOR YOU A FEW POINTERS NON-BREAKABLE NON-WEARABLE LONGER RECORDS SINGLE RECORDS CAN BE SENT BY MAIL LESS PACKING REQUIRED, THEREFORE A SAVING IN FREIGHT AND EXPRESS CHARGES PURE TONE QUALITY ALLTHIS MEANS MORE SALES AND GREATER PROFITS FITS ALL CYLINDER MACHINES npHE manufacturers of this record have spared no expense ^ to make it equal to and better than any cyhnder record on the market to-day. It is the result of long and costly experiments. The list is small at the present time, consisting of about 75 selections, and tiierefore it is within the power of even the smallest dealer to carry a stock on hand. New selections will be added each month and the expense of stocking the new monthly records will be overcome by the profits you will make on the sales ot those ahead}' listed. ORDER A SAMPLE BY MAIL FOR 35c. PREPAID SEND STAMPS OR MONEY ORDER TO THE TRADE 2 I c. IN DEALERS QUANTITIES WRITE FOR CIRCULAR AND FULL INFORMATION AND SEND ORDERS TO AMERICAN TALKING MACHINE CO. 586 FULTON STREET, BROOKLYN, N. Y. CITY