The talking machine world (Jan-June 1928)

The Talking Machine World, New York, January, 1928 91 Radio and Talking Machine Trade in Kansas City Reports Big December Volume Volume of Business for Month Showed Increase Over Same Period of Last Year — Brunswick Dealers Tie Up With Appearance of Nick Lucas — Columbia Record Broadcast — Other News Kansas City, Mo., January 7. — Talking maihine and radio business for the month of December was most satisfactory to the retail and wholesale trade here. The volume of business compared favorably with that of last year and showed a good increase in most cases. Radio continues to increase in favor here, and both distributors and retailers report the best activity they have ever experienced in this line. Nick Lucas, "The Crooning Troubadour," exclusive Brunswick artist, is now in the midst of one of the most successful tours of the vaudeville circuit that a recording artist ever Theatre Tie-Up With Nick Lucas had. That is, it is successful for the dealer from the standpoint of record sales. Typical examples of successful tie-ups are the recent appearances of Lucas in Kansas City and Des Moines, where the branch in the first-named city and Harger & Blish, Brunswick distributors, in the latter, co-operated with dealers, the theatre and with Lucas when he appeared in those cities. Dealers in these two cities left no stone unturned to develop the possibilities of an appearance of this artist to the utmost. Newspapers carried large ads throughout the time of the appearance; window displays were devoted successfully to Lucas material, and the theatre lobby itself, through the co-operation of the local manager on the Orpheum circuit, had all the earmarks of a Brunswick display room, because of the evidence of Brunswick material. A Panatrope playing Lucas records was in the lobby during the week prior to each appearance. Business in records for Christmas exceeded all previous experience of the music houses here. Popular and classical recordings were both in good demand, and the dealers were ably assisted in presenting their higher-class selections by the Kansas City Star, which published an article on December 11, entitled "For a Record Christmas," and calling attention to the large number of recordings of music in the larger forms, which before the development of the electro-microphonic process was largely denied to the great majority of the public. The article then listed many of the outstanding symphonic and operatic numbers released during the year by Victor, Columbia and Brunswick. The Chickering Ampico Studio, of this city, one of the outlying music shops, reports that Christmas business in Victor machines from $335 to $1,150 had been excellent with them. Demand for combinations has been exceptionally good. The Chickering Ampico Studio finds that the Automatic Orthophonic has developed a very nice demand for Red Seal records in sets of twelve, providing an evening's entertainment of the best that music has to offer. The Paul Music Shop had a very fine Christmas business, according to Mrs. M. M. Paul. Especially interesting to Mrs. Paul has been the success which they have had with their radio lines, which they added only last Fall. The new Columbia-Kolster is reported as going over exceedingly well, according to the Sterling Radio Co., local distributors for the Columbia in this territory. The entire Columbia line is meeting with fine success throughout the territory, C. M. Willis, sales manager of the company, reports. Zenith radios have been experiencing excellent demand, according to the Sterling Co. They announce two new Zenith dealers. Harris Goar's, of Topeka, Kans., and the Archer Elec tric Co. of Great Bend, Kans. Kolster radio also is in strong demand. As a special advertisement feature the Sterling Radio Co. has inaugurated a regular Columbia-Kolster radio broadcasting hour from 9 to 10 daily except Sunday on KMBC. A Kolster Dealer Club has been organized here with W. E. Miller of the Butler Music Co., as president; H. A. Spokesfield, of the radio and Brunswick department of the Kansas City Power & Light Co., vice-president, and C. M. Willis, sales manager of the Sterling Radio Co., secretary. The meetings are held as dinner meetings at the Hotel President. H. H. Southgate, of the Kolster Co., will address the next meeting. Will of Albert M. Steinert The will of Albert M. Steinert, who died recently, gives practically all his property to his wife, with the proviso that upon her death it will go to charity. Attachment No. 2 KENT ATTACHMENTS EXCELS IN Value Quality Material Workmanship Simplicity Durability Practicability 'WIN THEIR WAY BY THEIR PLAY." Reg. U. S. Pa*. Off. 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