The New York Clipper (September 1919)

September 17, 1919 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER 17 h£EI*ODY LJQME MANY MUSIC HOUSES LOSE TRADE LISTING Retail Syndicate Sla.hc* Trade Circular and Many Publishers Lose Place on Valuable Document. The "list," that mysterious but im- portant trade bulletin Bent out by one of the big retail syndicates to its various stores, and which contains the names of the song publications which the syndicate, buyer believes to be the most salable and from, which the various store' managers are to make up their, orders, got a slash recently which will long be remembered. A number of music publishers variously reported as being all the way from fifteen to twenty-five fell into the discard when the music man had finished with his prun- ing knife. This list, which has been sent out for years to the stores, "is a large and impor- tant document, and a publisher so fortu- nate as to have six or eight of his pub- lications mentioned was assured of a good business from that alone. The hundreds of retail stores owned by the syndicate made up their orders almost exclusively from the songs mentioned on the list, and with no numbers listed the publisher suf- fered a corresponding lack of trade from the section in which the stores were lo- cated. The big music publishers; that is, those who have largo catalogues and vigorously exploited their compositions in the the- atres, naturally had their numbers listed, but there were also a considerable number of the smaller houses, those who main- tained a small or practically no profes- sional department that also either through personality or some other reason got a few numbers listed. These houses did a considerable amount of business from the listing alone, and the fact that their num- bers did appear on the circular was a decided asset to the firm. These are the ones that have suffered the cut, and much speculation as to the cause has arisen. One of the reasons ad- vanced for their elimination is said to be that many of the big publishers have ad- vanced an argument against the smaller houses being listed, claiming that the lit- tle publisher having no big professional expense necessary in popularizing a song success, could sell at a much cheaper rate and Btill make more money, than the big houses. They chum that the' six and a half cent rate which generally prevails for the big publishers' pruts does not show a profit, and c that is one of the reasons which has forced them into the sixty-cent publication business. . They claim that this will increase until either the syndi- cates pay a higher price for the popular prints or greatly increase their orders. It is churned by a number who claim to be in the know that the syndicate has de- cided in future to put its big efforts be- hind the publications of the larger houses and in order to increase business with them has decided to eliminate the cata- logues of a number of the small bouses from the list. JONES MUSIC CO. OPENS The Jones Music Co. has opened offices in the Gaiety Theatre Building. A. G. Jones is president of the company and Anita Owens, the composer, is connected with the company in the capacity of pro- fessional coach. JOE SANTLEY WITH PAT ROONEY Joe Santley, the songwriter and former vaudeville performer, is now in vaudeville with Pat Booney. They are appearing at the Riverside Theatre this week. FRED BELCHER IS DEAD ' Frederick E. Belcher, secretary of the music publishing company of Jerome H. Remick & Co., died on Thursday night at Dr. Stern's sanatorium following an opera- tion for .appendicitis. Mr. Belcher had been ill for several days prior to the operation with a severe cold which he contracted as a result of being caught in a rainstorm while motoring from Boston. The cold did not respond to treatment, and developed into influenza, and while being treated for that malady symptoms of appendicitis appeared. Last Tuesday night he was operated on by Dr. Philip Grausman, who discovered that the ap- pendix had burst. Following the opera- tion his condition was very low, but dur- ing Wednesday he improved so perceptibly that hopes for bis recovery were held. On Thursday, bowever, be suffered a re- lapse, fell into unconsciousness late in the afternoon and passed away at mid- night. (He was fifty-two years old and been connected with the Remick bouse for many years, commencing his work shortly after the Remick publishing business was started in Detroit. Over fifteen years ago he came to.New.York to take charge of the local branch of the house, and has made this city bis home ever since. Mod- est and assuming of manner yet possessing exceptional business ability be attracted innumerable friends in those early days, scores' of whom have been close to him throughout all these years. He was uni- versally liked throughout the theatrical and musical world, and numbered bis friends along Broadway by the hundreds. The funeral was held at Campbell's Sixty-sixth street establishment, and was, attended by many people prominent in theatricals and the music publishing' busi- ness. The chapel was crowded to the doors, and one end of the room was com- pletely filled with floral pieces.- The Episcopal burial service was read, a quar- tet sang and Eddie Miller, with much vocal pathos rendered "Till We Meet Again," Mr.. Belcher's favorite song. Mr. Belcher was married a few weeks ago to Miss Flo Hart,'an actress,;' who survives him. While he for years had been in the best of health. he may. have had some premonition of the end, for bnt two weeks ago he took out a life insurance policy for $28,000. KERRY MILLS HAS A NEW ONE "Floating Down the Old Monongahela" is the title of a recent release by Kerry Mills, who has in the new number a song which, although just off the press, is at- tracting much attention. It is issued both as an instrumental and vocal number, and the orchestras that have been playing it nave already got the tune well established in the minds of those who are on the outlook for new and con- tagious melodies. The song is particularly attractive, and is being featured by many singers. MANY CASTLE SONGS OUT , If there was any doubt as to the neces- sity of a registry bureau for the preven- tion of song; title duplication, the flood of "Castle" songs recently released would have definitely decided the question. No less than a naif a dozen are announced ready for release by the big publishing houses, and there is no telling how many are ready to be sent out by the smaller publishers in other towns and cities. GILBERT RELEASES SONG Gilbert and Friedl&nd 'have released to vaudeville singers the comedy rag song, "Gimme This, Gimme This, Gimmie That?' which was successfully sung by Lew Cooper in, "Oh, What a Girl?' PRINTERS' STRIKE MAY HOLD UP MUSIC PLANS Demand for Bis; Wage lucres so Ex* peeled to Clo.c All Printing Plants in New York. The plans and expectations of all the. music publishers for - a record breaking business this fall are liable to receive a severe setback by the probable strike of all the music printing plants on October 1, The unions have made a demand for a big wage increase, so large that few print- ers feel that it can be met, and the talk of a strike is heard in all quarters. In any event a big boost in the price of music printing is coming, and this is bound to seriously affect the retail price of the popular prints. . Publishers have for months freely stated that the' present wholesale price of the songs which retail for ten cents is so low that the margin of profit to be made upon them has almost reached the vanishing point. Publishers are seriously discussing some way in which the proposed increase can be bandied, bnt up to date no way can be suggested. One that is receiving serious consideration is the raising of prices all along the line, but this method naturally will be met by strong opposition on the part of the big five and ten cent stores. Printers have during the past week sent out notifications to publishers that on and after October 1 a decided increase in "print- ing prices.can be expected. HERBERT SONG STARTS A SUIT In the. Victor Herbert show, "Angel Face," which made all Chicago sit up dur- ing its run in that city, is a song called "I Might Be Your Once In a While/' which is' not only the big bit of the piece, but bids fair to rank in popularity with any of the previous Herbert successes. So much does George W. Lederer, the producer of the piece, think of, the song that as soon as he learned of a proposed production of a play entitled "My Once In a While," by the Scibillia, Inc., concern, he hurried to his attorneys with instruc- tions to immediately commence an action to restrain its presentation, alleging that it is' an infringement on his title. PRINCE KNOWS JOHNNY'S IN TOWN The young Prince of Wales, now on a visit to Canada, knows the popular songs, and at a reception given him at the Country Club in Ottawa requested the or- chestra leader to play a number of bits for dancing. The first question asked the orchestra leader was what dance music be knew. The leader suggested several of the higher class compositions, but the Prince was unfamiliar with them. ""Do you know 'Johnny's In Town'?" inquired the director. "I surely do," replied-the young heir to the English throne, and as the band struck up the tune the Prince, with Lady Dorothy Cavendish as partner, swung out on the floor and proved himself some dancer. JEROMEf H. REMICK IN N. Y. Jerome H. Remick, head of the music publishing house of that name, is in New York for an indefinite stay, due to the sudden death of Fred Belcher. Mr. Rem- ick has many business interests outside of music publishing which for the past few years has kept him almost continually in Detroit, his visits to the New York office having been infrequent during the past year. WENRICH HAS (SHOW READY Percy Wenrieh has a new musical show all ready for production, and the piece, as yet unnamed, will probably be seen within the next few weeks. Wenrieh, in addition to writing the music of the show, found the financial backing necessary for the production, so all that now remains to launch the piece is the engaging of the cast and the completion of rehearsals. HIGH CLASS SONG RELEASED Leo Feist has released a new high-class number entitled "Poppy Blossoms," by Jack Yellen and Abe Olman. Although less than a week old the number is being played by scores of the orchestras In the big Broadway restaurants and other amusement resorts. ENGLISH MUSIC MAN IN N. Y. Dan Lassett, of the English music house of Francis, Day & Hunter, is in New York attending to some business in connection with his house. Q. R. S. BUYS N. Y. PROPERTY The Q. R. 8. Music Roll Co. has pur- chased an entire city block.of New York property located at 134th street and Lo- cust avenue, and will erect a big factory for the manufacture of music rolls. Lee Roberts, the composer, is vice-presi- dent of the company, and be recently pur- chased a home in this city and expects to locate here shortly. The purchase of the New York property, together with Rob- erts' intention to make his home in this city, indicates that the entire Q. R. S. business formerly located in Chicago is to be moved to New York. MURRAY BLOOM IN DETROIT Murray Bloom, 1b professional manager of the Harry Von Tilzer music house in Detroit, where be is meeting with remark, able success placing the new songs from his bouse. While in Detroit he is making his headquarters at the Statler Hotel. GOODWIN IN WEST 46th ST. Harry Goodwin, advertising manager of the Jos. W. Stern St, Co. music publishing company, has moved bis office from the Stern Building on West Thirty-eighth street to the new professional quarters in West Forty-sixth street. HARRIS WRITES TWO BALLADS Ohas. K. Harris has recently completed two ballads which are being sung by a number of well-known artists. They are "Smiling Lips" and 'When the Lotus Flowers Bloom in China Land." SPECIAL SONG BRINGS MONEY Johnny Cantwell purchased the sing rights of a new comedy number ca. "Water Is Dangerous" last week from its writer, Jack Mahoney. Cantwell paid $250 for the exclusive rights to the song. KRONBERG SAILED YESTERDAY C. J. Kronberg, of the Plaza Music Co., sailed for Europe yesterday (Tuesdsj). He will be absent for about ten weeks and will visit England, France and Switzer- land. M1TTENTHAL BACK FROM WEST Joe Mittenthal, manager of the Mc- Carthy & Fisher Co., returned this week from a successful business trip to Chicago and other Middle West cities. HARRIS SCENARIO FOR FIELDS Chas. K. Harris and Adeline Lertxbach have completed a new motion picture scen- ario for Lew Fields, entitled "What Chil- dren Will Do." CHARLES REED WITH STERN Charles Reed, who has been in vaude- ville with the Ms dam Cronin act has Joined the professional department of Jos. W. Stern & Co. STERN RELEASES TWO SONGS Jos. W. Stern & Co. have released two new vocal numbers by S. S. Henry, D. Onivas and Frank H. Warren. They are "Now I Know" and "Good Night, Dearie." HERMAN SCHENCK HAS THE FLU Herman Scbenck, assistant professional manager of the Harry Von Tilzer Co., is ill at home with an attack of the influenza. BERLIN TO TRY VAUDEVILLE Irving Berlin is panning a try at vaude- ville, and will open on Oct. 6 at the River- side. Theatre. FRED BECK WITH FISHER CO. Fred Beck has joined the McCarthy & Fisher staff and will be assistant to Joe Mittenthal, the firm's general manager.