The New York Clipper (July 1919)

July 9; 1919 IfitJW YORK ClilPPER 17 BIG BOOM ON FOR THE INSTRUMENTAL^ Aftermath of War with Big Regimental Bands Smb in Revival of Interest in The instrumental publication, that type of composition which had - such a tremen- dous vogue during the days in which John Philip Sanaa was writing' his famous march successes and was followed up by a score or more of successful writers, has once more come to the front. ' For years the song, with its great word value, held first place in ■ the hearts of music lovers. So strong did the demand for songs become that few publishers, espe- cially those specializing in the popular brand of publication, would- consider the publication of-an -instrumental composi- tion. " Within the past year or two, however, all has changed and the instrumental number is attracting great attenion. An evidence of the change was seen in the big demand for the "Missouri" waltz and the big suc- cess of this piece soon decided music pub- lishers to again launch the instrumental composition. No less than four of the reigning hits on the market today are of the instrumental type and although in each instance words have been supplied as an ideal attraction as it were, it is the ap- pealing melody ' that has won out. The stirring music of the big war bands, to say nothing of the thousands of orchestras throughout tile country, have done much to awake interest in the instrumenal- num- ber, and returning soldiers are displaying great interest in this style composition. CHAS. K. HARRIS HAS A FIRE A fire broke out in the music publishing offices of Charles K. Harris on toe Fourth of July morning, and prompt action on the part of the building employes was all that saved the Harris offices if not the entire building. The fire was caused by a cigarette care- lessly dropped from an upper window. It lodged in one of the awnings on the Harris floor and the flames spread from the blaz- ing canvass into the bookkeeping depart- ment. The loss, amounting to several hundreds of dollars, is fully covered by insurance. . . WITMARK HAS SIX NOVELTIES When it comes to discovering novelty songs that really possess novelty, the palm must surely go to M. Witmark & Sons, Here.comes their announcement of six brand new ones of this sort, and each and every one of them is not only a novelty song, but a mighty clever one, too. There ought to be a general rush for them all, and, unless signs fail, there sure will be. "If You Dont Stop Making Eyes at Me, I'm Going to Make Eyes at You," by that tuneful, talented trio, Brennan, Rule and Cunningham, is all that its title, im- plies. It's delightful, in fact. Gerber & Silver, a versatile team of writers, who are doing exceptionally good work these days, have three of the six novelties to their credit. One is "There Ought to Be Music in Every Home Except Next Door to Me." That's a long title, out we would not cut a word of it. Ifa too good, but not better than the song itself, which is full of laughs. The second Gerber-Silver number is "Who Discovered Dixie?" a clever and melodious fancy. "Give Me the Sultan's Harem" is a veritable scream, besides being a tuneful, timely ditty. It is quite a notable performance for one song-writing team to evolve three such really excellent novelties at one stroke of the pen, as it were. Then there's "You Enow What I Mean," a rattling good little number by Dubin & Rath, of the Argonne Players and recently of the 77th Division. Finally, Ge org e M. Cohan's new and dash- ing song, "Where Is the Girl I Left Be- hind!" completes this wonderful sextette of winners. The Cohan song is one of the best he has ever done, and there's nothing catchier on the market. All these mem- bers are being featured by headline acts in vaudeville, whose number is rapidly in- creasing. W. C POLLA WRITING AGAIN W. C. (Bill) Polla, the composer whose "Gondolier" hit a high mark in the music world a dozen years or more ago is writ- ing again. Just to show that he has lost none Of hiB old-time ability to hit the taste of music lovers his latest number "Dear Heart," has hit the 400,000 sale figure. SKIDMORE OPENS IN NEW YORK The Skidmore Music Co., formerly of Kansas City, has opened offices in the Gaiety Theatre building. Will E. Skid- more, who had charge of the professional department of the firm when in Kansas City, and later connected with the Chi- cago offices of Jos. W. Stern & Co., is in charge of the professional department of the Skidmore New York office. REFUSES $40,000 FOR SONG Maurice Richmond, selling agent for the song "Tell Me" announced last week that he had refused a $40,000 cash offer for the publication rights of the number. "Tell Me" styled a ballad fox trot is by J. Will Callahan with music by Max Kort- lander and published by Lee S. Roberta of Chicago. Richmond secured the sole gelling rights and has the number well on the way to big popularity. RUTER TO STAY IN NEW YORK Maury Bitter, who will be the Chicago manager for the Irving Berlin, Inc. music house, will remain in New York in the home office of the company during the summer. He will take charge of the Chi- cago office early in the fall, which during the summer will be under the temporary management of Joe: Bennet. WARSHAUER WRITES A NOVELTY Frank Warshauer, whose "Rainy Day Blues" is one of the biggest sellers on the phonograph records has written a new nov- elty which has just been released by the Maurice Richmond Co. It is entitled "My Cuban Dream'' and already is a big feature with all the big Broadway orchestra*. FEIST TRIO SINGS IN DETROIT The Municipal Band concerts opened in Detroit, Mich., last week at Belle Isle. Herman Schmarz's Military Band was the attraction. This is one of the finest musical organizations in the country, and in addition to the orchestral soloists, the "Feist Trio" were featured. MCKINLEY SONG FEATURED The symphony orchestra conducted by Nat W. Finston at the Rialto Theatre dur- ing - the week: of June 24. rendered as a marimbaphone duet the selection "Sweet Hawaiian Moonlight," one of the recent successes in the big McEinley Music Co. catalogue. PUBLISHERS OFFERED STOCK A stock salesman has been calling on local music publishers recently offering them stock in a chain of stores handling merchandise which is retailed at prices ranging from five cents to fifty. GILLHAM WITH STASNY CO. Art. Gillham has joined the A J. SUsny force* and will rep r es en t the house in the West CHURCH TO OPEN 04 NEW YORK C. C. Church & Co. the Hartford, Ot music publishers are planning to open a New York branch sometime this month. M.P.P. A. IN DRIVE FOR NEW MEMBERS New Firms Join Music Man's Assorts Hon Which is Planning Many Reforms During Coming Year The Music Publishers' Protective Asso- ciation, the organization of musio men formed a little over over two years-ago, with, the expressed object of putting an. end to the paying of singers to introduce songs in the vaudeville theatres, is, making a drive for new members and in it is making a decided success. During the past few weeks the following firms have joined: Irving Berlin, Inc., although not yet open for business, has taken out a membership; the Buckeye Music Co., of Columbus, Ohio, has en- rolled, as well as Pave & Handy,, the Mc- Kinley Music Co. of Chicago, Maurice Richmond of New- York . any .Sherman, Clay & Co. of San Francisco. **The mem- bership list of the organization contains the names of twenty-four, of .the repre- sentative houses throughout the country, and the organization plans to still further add to the list ' '. t~ ' During the two years the: organization has been in existence it haa lost, but four members—'Will Rossiter, CvA. Filer, T. B. Harms & Francis, Day & Hunter, and the F. J. A. Forster Co. having resigned.. The organization, which has been*, par- ticularly successful in eliminating the singer payment system, is planning a number of reforms for the betterment of the music publishing business during, the coming year. MUSIC PIRATES IN FRANCE According to Borry Osso, the general manager for Oscar Oaso, American rep- resentative of the French Society of Au- thors, Composers and Publishers, American music has met with such a pronounced success that the- attention of the pirate has been attracted. A number of American publications, according to Mr. Oaso, has been printed in the French capita] and are being offered for sale in the shops and other places where music is handled. MORNY HELMS WITH BERLIN Moray Helms, the arranger, has signed with the Irving Berlin, Inc., home. BORNSTEIN IS ENTHUSIASTIC * Sol Bernstein, manager of the Irving Berlin, Inc., music house is enthusiastic over the new Irving Berlin songs which the young writer has turned in a* his first numbers for publication. "I am confident," said Mr. Bornstein, "that they represent the greatest work of Mr. Berlin, and will, I am confident, not only rival bnt surpass in popularity any of his previous writing." "Enthusiastic? Perhaps," he went on, "but yon see I have heard the numbers." FEIST STARTS. BG: AD. CAMPAIGN' Commencing with a full page advertise- ment', in the rotogravure section of -the Tribune on. Sunday of this week, Leo Feist; Inc. has-started an advertising campaign, national, in scope,' which is to surpass'in sise-any.of the previous efforts of this big. advertising house. . The, Sunday Tribune advertisement was devoted to a single-song, "When You Cook. In the Heart of a Rose," the ballad nit ta» "The-Better Ole" show.. The advertia*-. ' meat, one of the most attr a c t ive in the entire paper, carried.* big. photographic reproduction ot the tenor, John McCor- mack, who unsolicted made the phono- graphic record of the song. Tnis record .'. recently released is one of the- monfh's biggest sellers. Next Sunday's Timm will also carry in ita rotagravur* section a fall'. page display and with the opening of the " season big advertising space in a score of the ■ country's biggest dailies, weeklies and monthlies will be utilized to announce the Feist songs. SCANLON MAKING RECORDS Walter Scanlon, the songwriting tenor,. is making a number of phonograph records during the vacation season.. Scanlon win : open next season in the "Hsmmastaln.'pro--. duction of "Somebody's Sweetheart", a piece in which he'scored a big bit at the' Central theatre. REMICK'S SONG SHOP REMODELED Saw Francisco, Cal.—Remick's Song Shop, which has been entirely remodeled at a coat of over $10,000, with, show win- dows on two streets, was formerly opened this week, and is one of the bright Spots on Market street. The professional de- partment located at present on the third floor will be moved to the second, which is to be entirely refurnished and fitted np with offices and piano rooms. ADELE ROWLAND PUBUSrUNB Adele Rowland, the musical comedy prima donna, is now a music publisher and her first publication is ready for the trade. It is called "Good-bye Pal," and is by L Caesar and Will Donaldson. Maurice- Richmond is the selling agent V NEW MELODY BALLAD RELEASED The Leo Feist Inc., house haa accepted for publication a new American, melody ballad entitled "Each Shining- Hour'.'' Lyrics and music of the new song are by Miss Glad Forster and the number has - been released to the singing profession. MAX WINSLOW5 MOTHER 13 DEAD Max Window's mother died suddenly- sit' her home in Boston on Sunday. Max, who was spending his vacation in the Thousand Islands was reached over the long distance telephone on Monday and went from there direct to Boston. VON TILZER TO OPEN IN FRISCO Harry Yon Tilxer will open a branch professional office in San Francisco early in August Carl Lamont, at present con- nected with the New York office, will be in charge of the western branch. MAXWELL RETURNING TO N. Y. Geo. B. Maxwell, of Ricordi it Co., and president of the American Society of Com- posers, Authors and Publishers, who for several months has been abroad, la on his way to New York and is expected some- time this week. GILBERT AT ATLANTIC CITY Wolfe Gilbert, who played the Keith At- lantic City theatre last week remained at the summer resort until Wednesday on-ac- count of the big Elks* Convention.. Dar- ing the meetings he pat over a number of big popularity stunts in connection, with the Gilbert & Friedland songs. ISRAEL WITH IRVING BERLIN Harry Israel, recently returned from France, where he served with the American Expeditionary Forces,', will be manager of the Band and Orchestra department of the Irving Berlin, Inc. music house. "ALCOHOLIC BLUES" AT PALACE "The Alcoholic Blues" is a big hit with the Four Harmony Kings at the Palace theatre' this week. The clever quartette get the best possible results from the clever novelty number. BURKAN VICTIM OF SUNSTROKE; Nathan Burkan, the theatrical attorney, wen known to local mudc publishers, was overcome by a sunstrike while at Long Beach on Sunday. Ha is convalescing from the attack at Ids home in New York. HARRIS BFIFAflBS BABY SONG Charles K. HarrisyJIrriter of scores of baby song success**, las a new one which looks like a Ug^rfaner. It is called "Sing Me to SleetWKth a Chines* Lnll- ?\ -. v ^;v: