Phonograph Monthly Review, Vol. 1, No. 3 (1926-12)

132 The Phonograph Monthly Review 1IGV bett and some splendid Wagner under Albert Coates, were played. The third fall meeting was held at the Metropolitan Music Company, Thursday, November 4. It was at this concert that the society initiated a series of music-talks by its own members. Stravinsky’s ballet, “Petrouchka,” con- ducted by Eugene Goessens, was played with illuminating program notes given by Alfred Hinton, society treasurer, as the music progressed. It was decided to hold the next meeting on Tuesday, December 7, when Strauss’s tone poem, "‘Also Sprach Zarathustra,” will be played with an ex- planatory talk by A. Ronald Andrews, vice-president of the society. The society is looking forward with high anticipation to the coming visit of Axel B. .Johnson, editor of The Phono- graph Monthly Review, and will doubtless call a special meeting so that members and Mr. Johnson can meet and talk together. Many Minneapolis dealers have awakened to the signifi- cance of the society and have shown their cordiality to the move by throwing open their doors for society meetings. The society has made a marked impression here, and it is expected it will accrue much larger membership with the coming interesting programs that are being planned for the winter. John K. Sherman, Secretary. BOSTON GRAMOPHONE SOCIETY A special meeting of the officers of the Boston Gramo- phone Society with an Advisory Committee consisting of Mr. William S. Parks, Mr. Harry L. Spencer, Mr. James A. Frye, and Mr. George S. Maynard was held Thursday, No- vember 18, in the private office of Mr. Spencer at the New England Branch of the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Com- pany. The meeting was held too late to get a report in this month’s issue. Notices of the next meeting will be sent out to the mem- bers in the usual way and full reports printed in the next issue of The Phonograph Monthly Review. Thanks are extended to the many enthusiasts who have sent in their names or those of their friends as interested in the movement. We are always anxious to obtain the names of record collectors or prospective members of the Society in or around Boston. Robert Donaldson Darrell, Secretary. Suggestions to the Dealer Open Forum M R. EDWARD C. HARROLDS of New York has written in to the Open Forum and offered some excellent advice to the American Phonograph Dealers. We take pleasure in publishing his letter and hope that it will be widely read and acted upon. To the Open Forum, Phonograph Monthly Review: As a Britisher who has recently taken up per- manent residence in New York City, and a record collector of many years’ standing, I am delighted to observe the work The Phonograph Monthly Review is fostering in developing the general demand of good records through the establish- ment of Gramophone Societies, and the encour- agement of enthusiasm for fine recorded music. You are making a most admirable beginning and I believe it is to the credit of your influence al- ready that the manufacturers are coming out with such praiseworthy releases. The work that the Gramophone Societies have done in England is well known and there is no reason why American Societies should not do as well. I have just received a letter from a friend of mine in Philadelphia telling of the initial meet- ing of the new Society there. The spirit shown seems to promise well for the future. One in- cident he mentioned caught my attention. A mem- ber of the Society, on being told by a dealer pres- ent that the popular demand was all for “jazz” records, wisely retorted that the responsibility rested largely upon the dealer himself. “What works do you always play for demonstration pur- poses? Jazz! When the doors of your shop are open, do any of the passers-by stop to listen? Not to the same old stuff they hear over the radio and everywhere! Play some real music, and then watch the passers-by stop and take notice!” I should like to know that gentleman’s name to congratulate him in person for his brave and very true words. Since I have been in this country my enthusiasm as a gramophile has gradually dried up (that is, of course, until very lately). Time and time again I have gone into a record dealer’s shop and had the same unpleasant experiences. The records I wanted were usually not there and the dealer appeared to have absolutely no knowl- edge either of the recording or of the composition and composer themselves. When I asked about the new releases, I was given nothing but so- called popular music. When by chance I did find something worth hearing, I was forced to listen to it in a booth on both sides of which jazz was being blared forth to my own annoyance and dis- turbance. If by chance I was allowed to take records out on approval, it was done with very ill grace. No wonder I was forced to neglect my phonograph. I have no objection to “jazz,” per se. I find it often very clever, usually very amusing. But I do object most strongly to have “jazz” forced down my throat when I go to buy music . The writer who signs himself V. F. in the November issue of The Phonograph Monthly Review is entirely correct in his statement that all dealers who have a considerable trade should employ at least one person musically intelligent . The situation in England was just as acute a few years ago, but now “The Gramophone” and the Gramophone Societies have changed things entirely. The prominent dealers in all the larger cities made a direct appeal to enthusiasts. They advertise in “The Gramophone”; they employ salespeople who know their business; they carry a full stock of first class recordings. Not only this, but one night a week or month is set apart to a demonstration or recital of the new records. The first Wednesday of the month there is a demon- stration of new records at one well-known dealer’s place for which cards of invitation are sent out and a large audience drawn in. The new records are heard under ideal conditions and sales are correspondingly large. Of course, all responsible