The New York Clipper (May 1917)

18 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER May 9, 1917 PAYMENT SYSTEM FOR SINGERS IS AT AN END Recently Formed Publisher*' Protective Association Promise* Elimination of Costly Practice On Saturday, May 5, all payments to sincere for the introduction of songs in vaudeville theatres, cabarets, and all other places of amusement ended, and the Music Publishers' Protective Association ss the new publishers' organization is called, has taken charge of the entire song populariza- tion end of the music business, as far as the singing end is concerned. At a meeting held on Friday night, rep- resentatives of practically every popular music publishing house in the United States were present, and the signatures of their principals furnished. All have signed a contract for a term of two years, by the terms of which no singer can be paid in any form or manner, either directly or in- directly for the introduction of a song in his act and any violation of the contract is to be followed by drastic steps in the nature of fines, which in the discretion of the committee which will hear the charges can be as high as $5,000. The new society has the support of the Vaudeville Managers' Association, which has promised that should any singer ap- pearing in any of its houses attempt to introduce a song, published by any person outside of the publishers' organization, and for which be is receiving pay, that num- ber will immediately be eliminated from the singer's repertoire and he will not be allowed to render it in any of the theatres under the jurisdiction of the Vaudeville Managers' Association. The payment of singers, a practice which has been in existence for many years, has grown to enormous proportions recently, so great in fact that publishers state that it has eliminated the greater part of the profits of the music business, and if the new society has succeeded remedying the evil, without cutting into the sales of music, a great good has been accomplished. WOLFE GILBERT'S LARGE LIST L. Wolfe Gilbert has recently produced the largest list of bit numbers tbat it has ever been his good fortune to turn out. A notable one is his novelty song "Lily of the Valley," which has been taken np by such stars as Sophie Tucker, Adele Rowland, Marion Weeks, Katherine Miley and a host of others. Bis charming Irish song "I'm Hearin' from Erin," written in col- laboration with Anatol Friedland, is be- lieved by many people to be one of the finest numbers he has ever written. It is certain that it possesses a charm and de- lightful sentiment that is seldom to be found in the popular songs of modern times. It is predicted that "I'm Hearin' from Erin" will be one of the longest last- ing ballads ever presented to the public. "Love is a Wonderful Thing" is another Gilbert and Friedland number that con- stantly pleases. It is a novelty from every standpoint, and is registering a typical Gilbert success. Wolfe's popularity is constantly on the increase and it is little to be wondered at when the genuine merit of his recent works is considered. He is setting a standard for song writers that will be difficult to reach. GUS EDWARDS AGAIN COMPOSING Gus Edwards, who has temporarily re- tired from the vaudeville stage, where for the past six years he has appeared at the head of numerous acts, is once more de- voting himself to songwriting. During the past few weeks he has writ- ten several new numbers, one in particular a march song entitled "Laddie Boy," is already causing much favorable comment. A HOME FOR SONGWRITERS Karl G. Nelson, a songwriter of Brem- erton, Wash., with the object of promoting the art of song and music writing, has executed a will and testament by the terms of which the Nelson Home for Song- writers, will after his death be transferred to the writer whom a selected jury pro- nounces the most talented and deserving. All except professional music publishers and their writers can compete for the legacy. The contestants must be able to write both words and music and at least one published number must be submitted. From the numbers furnished the jury will select the one which in their opinion is the best and will make the award. The contest closes December 31, 1920, and all who wish to compete must have their songs written and published six months prior to the close of the period. Upon the death of Mr. Nelson, the win- ner can take possession of the home and after his death it is to pass on to the win- ner of another like contest. HITCHCOCK'S NEW REVUE A new musical revue, with the title of "Hitchy Koo" is scheduled for production at the Cohan and Harris Theatre on June 4 next. The bright particular star of the piece is Raymond Hitchcock, but there is no reason to suppose that any hidden meaning lies in the revue's title, despite this fact. Mr. Hitchcock will be supported by a splendid company, some-of the clever people of which include Grace La Rue, Billy Rock and Francis White, Sordini and Leon ErroL The lyrics and music of "Hitchy Koo" are by E. Ray Goetz, who, with Mr. Hitchcock, is responsible for the production which Julian Mitchell will stage. After playing a week at Atlantic City, "Hitchy Koo" will come direct to New York and open as aforesaid. M. Witmark & Sons will publish it. GILBERT'S PATRIOTIC SONG "Let the Flag Fly," by L. Wolfe Gilbert, is one of the most meritorious of the patriotic songs recently produced. It is excellent in every sense of the word and will doubtless outlast many of the other recent patriotic numbers. Its lyric and melody both possess the qualities that ap- peal most strongly to the theatre-going public at this time. HARMS' PROF. MAN BACK IN N. Y. Harold Dellon. professional manager for the T. B. Harms A Francis Day & Hunter Co., is back in New York after a month in Chicago. "Jack" Glogau of the firm's New York office has been temporarily transferred to the Windy City, where the popularity of the Harms's songs are en- joying a great vogue. JEROME'S CLEVER NOVELTY William Jerome's clever novelty song "If I Catch the Guy Who Wrote Poor Butterfly," is being featured by scores of vaudeville singers and the public is receiv- ing it with marked enthusiasm. The en- tire first edition was disposed of almost as soon as it was off the presses. STERN BUYS WESTERN SONG Jos. W. Stern & Co. have purchased the western novelty song success "Shim-Me- Sha-Wabble." This number has registered a strong impression in Chicago and the surrounding territory and promises to be just as big a hit throughout the rest of the United States. RUSSAK WITH THE M1LLEGRAM CO. "Bob" Russak is now connected with the Carl Millegram Pub. Co. in the ca- pacity of professional manager. NORA BAYES SINGS "JOHNNY" Nora Bayes. in her new summer revue is featuring the big Forster Music Co. hit "Oh, Johnny!" and is making of it her feature song. A REVIVAL OF SONG CONTESTS The popular song "contest," a feature of the small time vaudeville houses which was discarded a year or more ago has made its appearance in the motion picture houses and in a new guise promises to become a popular attraction. The Universal Film Manufacturing Co. is responsible for the reappearance of the "popular song nights" which motion pic- ture exhibitors are invited to introduce in their theatres. The Universal is offering a film of the leading popular songs and while the song is being rendered by a singer its story is unfolded on the screen. Prizes are to be offered for the singers and the co-operation of the music dealers is to be obtained, in order that window dis- plays of the numbers to be sung on cer- tain nights may be made and widespread interest aroused. The Universal exchanges are co-operat-. ing with the exhibitors and the music deal- ers and in conjunction with the publishers of the songs selected a campaign of pub- licity has been inaugurated that will give to the ballad and patriotic song a new and added appeal for popular favor. NEW WRITERS' PATRIOTIC SONG Among the score or more patriotic songs p bliBhed since the war began, "Answer Uncle Sammy's Call," the work of two new writers, is attracting attention. Kay S. Dover and C. Martin Eddy, Jr., of Providence, R. I., are responsible for this and several other songs, which will be released in the near future. "Alaska," a novelty number of the better grade is al- ready being featured in many acts. Both songs are published by Kay and Eddy. HARRIS HAS BALLAD HIT The Chas. K. Harris office states tbat "Thou Shalt Not Steal" (A Heart Away) is bringing hundreds of well known singers into their office. Among the acts singing this popular ballad are: Wills Holt Wake- field, Van & Schenck, Dooley and Sales, the Primrose Four, Powell and Brennan, the Mimic World and many others. FEISTS LEADING SELLER "Hawaiian Butterfly," the big Leo Feist song hit, is leading the entire Feist cata- logue in sales and from authentic records compiled by the Feist representatives throughout the country is the biggest seller in a majority of the music centres. Rocco Vocco, who secured the song, writes that he believes himself well fitted for the position of "hit picker." POPULAR VON TILZER SONGS The Harry Von Tilzer catalogue at pres- ent contains many songs which are enjoy- ing country-wide popularity. The best are "Someone's More Lonesome Than You," "On the South Sea Isle," "Just the Kind of a Girl" and "Every Day Is Sunday for Billy." "HONG KONG" WINNING THE EAST "Hong Kong," the western song and in- strumental success, recently purchased by the Leo Feist house, is fast winning favor in the East and judging from the number of headline acts which are featuring it, will soon rival in popularity any of the big successes of the Feist catalogue. RECORD PHONOGRAPH ROYALTIES According' to an estimate furnished by a man prominent in the field of mechancial reproduction of music, all previous records for royalties paid by phonograph and music roll cutters on a single composition will be broken by that of "Poor Butterfly." NEW BERLIN PRODUCTIONS Irving Berlin is writing the lyrics and music of two productions which will be seen early next season. The Selwyns will present one and Cohan & Harris the other. A RECORD FOR STUART BARNES Stuart Barnes, has wired Harry Von Tilzer, that "The Man Behind the Ham- mer and the Plow" has proven a record breaking encore winner for him. LULB H. SMITH PROMOTED Leslie H. Smith, has been promoted to the position of publicity director of the music house of G. Schirmer, Inc., a post made vacant by the transfer of Ernest R. Voight to Boston. OLMAN LEAVES FOR FRISCO Abe Olman, of the Forster house leaves New York to-day for San Francisco, where he expects to remain for the next two months introducing his songs on the Pacific Coast. SHARPS AND FLATS By TEDDY MORSE. We can thank the Kaiser for something. He got the music publishers together. Now tbat everything's nicely arranged and organized, "where do we go from here, boys?" Don't be misled. The herrings that bear the name of Bismarck do not come from Germany. Have you attempted to do yaur little bit for your country? Every little bit helps, but it will take more than songs. Somewhere, somebody has the "Tip- perary" song for the U. S. A. The song- writers are digging long and deep. Joe McCarthy, of the McCarthy-Fischer Co., holds forth daily in their busy little offices. Very optimistic, still reserved. J. H. Remick is very busy with his creamery in Detroit. As a side line ha dabbles occasionally in publishing mimic. Tom Moore (not the poet) has such a keen memory for song sellers he can tell you, nearly, what your statement should be. Frank O. French sends in some kiad words for "Sharps and Flats." Send in some nifties, too, Frank. Yo umust have a lot of 'em. Harry Breen said something. Why rub it in when you've got your man licked? A good winner can be good sportsman as well as a good loser. One music publisher has an efficiency man who has not discovered tbat the vamp in a song takes 5 seconds to play. What good are vamps and second verses anyway? Uncle Sam needs no better ad. for his recruiting than the dandy fitting suits the soldiers wear. That's some tailor Uncle has. But what's a 40 stout going to do with the waist line? In Lancaster the Kresge store has Its front painted green. And how Kresge and Woolworth love each other. They insist upon being side by side in nearly every town. That's real business love. This guy has failed twice in business. Owes everyone he has ever come in con- tact with. When he talks to you he looks at the top button of your vest, and over his desk is the hand-carved, wood-cut motto "Be yourself." Ham and Eggs in the Mitchell House in Morristown, Tenn., consists of 3 (count 'em, 3) beautiful fresh eggs, with a slab of bam an inch thick and 6 inches length- ways. Home cured and delicious. The price for this wonderful dish was 35 cents!