Phonograph Monthly Review, Vol. 2, No. 2 (1927-11)

The Phonograph Monthly Review November, 1927 65 PRIZE CONTEST HAVE YOU SACRIFICED ANYTHING TO OBTAIN GOOD RECORDS? Don’t forget our contest for the prizes of fifteen, ten, and five dollars’ worth of records to be awarded to the best letters describing sacrifices made to obtain good records. December 15th is the closing date, but don’t wait for the last moment—send your letter in now, to be printed under a pseudonym if you desire. Literary considerations count for nothing; sincerity and sacrifice are the points for which the prizes will be awarded by the contest committee. Tell the story in your own way of what your record library large or small, has meant to you and send it in to us, marked “Contest” on the envelope. “The Sacrifices I Have Made To Obtain Good Records” A promised in the last issue we are now ready to announce the names of the names of the judges for this contest, for which another month still remains for those who have not yet entered a letter for the prizes of fifteen, ten, and five dollars’ worth of records. Mr. Vories Fisher, Chairman of the Contest Committee, remains, of course, the court of final decision, but the manufacturing companies at our request have kindly appointed representatives to serve as Judges. The Dean of the phonograph trade in Boston has kindly consented to serve as Chairman,—Mr. Harry L. Spencer, Manager of the Boston Branch of the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company. From the Columbia Company we have Mr. Wil- liam S. Parks, Manager of the Boston Branch, and from Victor, Mr. James A. Frye, the Bos- ton Representatives,—all old friends of the magazine, to which they have given so much gen- erous and helpful co-operation. The fourth mem- ber of the committee is a new friend, Mr. W. E. Titus, who has just been appointed to represent the Okeh Phonograph Corporation in New Eng- land. Thanks are due to all'four for the valu- able assistance of their advice and opinions. The Contest does not close until December 15th, so there is still time to write the story of your sacrifice, and of what your records have meant to you. Editor, Sacrifice Contest: My sacrifice was the one of exchanging 40 miles an hour for 78 and 80 revolutions a minute, meaning that I traded in my old car for a new phonograph and a library of classical records. Till that time I had thought record music to be nothing but a good fox-trot and a lot of bad ones, with per- haps a scree'chy soprano now and then. But when I got play- ing some of the overtures and songs I found in my newly acquired possessions, I changed my mind about trading them off again. I haven’t got the car I was planning to get, but to tell the truth I never miss it now that I can sity down and hear music that really makes one feel happier and con- tented, more than a dozen limousines ever could do. J. McO. Editor, Sacrifice Contest: Naturally, I suppose, sacrifice from a pecuniary standpoint, to wit: harrowing tales of near death by starvation in order to obtain records; walking a mile, or perhaps twenty, to work, and saving up for that concerto; und so weiter! I can qualify along with the other honest martyrs since my habitual insolvency is due in no small degree to my wholly unreasonable commitment of good recordings. Indeed the situation grows most acute when just after I have come within a few cents of overdrawing my account by drawing my monthly check for phonograph records, I came to the painful realization, by the discovery of a hole in my trousers, that my wardrobe is in desperate need of replenishment. However, as a contestant who takes the thing seriously, I wish to be judged upon even a greater sacrifice. Sacrifice, however, is hardly the word; assininity is far better. So here goes!! Just before Christmas I ran amuck, the urge was uncon- trollable. At the time I was busy at work, and what spare time I could find was to be devoted to preparation for ja very important examination upon which successful out-come my future more or less depended. But there were records I was determined to get or at least hear, so I neglected my work and spent those precious hours in a stuffy booth in a record department. A friend, who swept along in the Christmas rush, spied me one noon trying to distinguish a recording of the “Fire Bird” out of a concentrated din of jazz releases, Christmas carols, and sundry noises, opened the door of the booth and shouted at me “You ought to be spending the time studying.” I agreed with him and asked him kindly to shut the door as the competition from neighboring booths was too keen. The next day he burst in on me again, and almost'bodily pried me loose. But Euterpre increased her demands. On the pretext of doing a little shopping, I took off a whole day just before Christmas. What a splendid chance to do some real studying! Nothing doing. I was in the thick of the mob all day and arrived home in triumph with seven new records all intact. Then I realized for the first time that those intimate acquaintances who might have reason to expect substantial presents from me would be disap- pointed. My money was all spent. True I could present them with the phonograph records, only I could not wait. In the evenings my books and papers were untouched, but the phonograph was going gloriously. Well, to put an end to this sordid tale, the result was in- evitable. I flunked the examination and lost my position in consequence. I was thrown, as the boys say, for a loss of one year, but I have twelve records to show for my foolish- ness, all twelve of which I would never think of playing now. Boston, Mass. Adam Pfuhl. Editor, Sacrifice Contest: Financial sacrifices are of course the most common, yet that fact doesn’t make them any easier. I am working my way through a business college and have about all I can do to make both ends meet, but I keep on trying to get a record once in a while. Most of my records I have managed to get are second-hand, especially at the end of the college year, when students are willing to sell their disks for a song— which is what I buy them for at that! Unfortunately, it is very seldom that there is anything really good that is avail- able this way. The few records that I buy are usually from album sets, and my big sacrifice comes when I reach the end of a record that is continued on another disk—which I haven’t got. I fooled this demon however in the Brahms First, of which I bought the record containing the last half of the second movement and the entire third. Then I get two real endings and no sense of incompleteness. (But I don’t dare let myself thing of the rest of the symphony; anyway, what I have gives perhaps as much pleasure as I really can take in at once!) Student. Editor, Sacrifice Contest: I wonder how many people have ever looked at their record libraries and thought, “What pieces would I pick out if I had to give everything up but just a few records?” I had a collection of several thousand records when I was forced