Phonograph Monthly Review, Vol. 6, No. 4 (1932-01)

70 The Phonograph Monthly Review PHONOGRAPHIC ECHOES Radio-Phonograph Merger A joint statement was issued today by Mr. B. J. Grigsby, President of the Grigsby-Grunow Company, Chicago, and Mr. H. C. Cox, President of Columbia Phonograph Company, Inc., New York, regarding a mer- ger of the two Companies. It was stated that negotia- tions has been practically completed whereby the Grigs- by-Grunow Company would acquire control of Colum- bia Phonograph Company, Inc. Columbia controls valuable patents and trade mark rights to the well-known Columbia name in North and South America and manufactures Columbia phonographs and records with a wide distribution of these products as well as radios and refrigerators. The Grigsby-Grunow Company manufactures and dis- tributes radios and refrigerators and it is anticipated that a very substantial demand will be created for these prod- ucts in all territories under the Columbia name, which will be of material benefit to both Companies and give a substantial increase in production to the Grigsby- Grunow Company. Brunswick Record Corporation Announcement has been made to the trade that the Brunswick Radio Corp. has turned over to the new Brunswick Record Corp. the manufacturing and sales rights to Brunswick, Vocalion and Melotone records for the United States, Canada and certain foreign countries. The Brunswick Record Corp. was formed by Consoli- dated Film Industries Inc. and adds another important unit to the complete circle of service that this company is offering to motion picture and other branches of the amusement industry. The Brunswick Record Corp. has already announced to the trade that the same sales and laboratory manage- ment and, to a large extent, the personnel formerly op- erating for the Brunswick radio will be in charge of these operations for the Brunswick Record Corp., and that policies in general as heretofore practiced in behalf of Brunswick, Vocalion and Melotone Records will be con- tinued. In the past year Brunswick records have come more than ever to the fore through their particularly fine list of outstanding record artists, including some of the big- gest names in the industry, such as Bing Crosby, Bos- well Sisters, Mills Bros., Ben Bernie, Cab Calloway, Casa Loma Orchestra, etc. The new company plans not only to continue the high quality of artists and recording but to become even more aggressive in behalf of the promotion of the sales of Brunswick, Vocalion and Melotone records. Broadcast Twelve Eva Liebenberg, charming contralto of the Berlin State Opera, former Ultraphon star, is now on Broadcast Twelve records. Metropole Records Metropole records are no longer being manufactured, and the Dominion records for the same reason, will as- sume added historical value. Marguerite Perras Marguerite Perras, famed Berlin opera star, is another newcomer to the Broadcast Twelve fold. Dr. Clark Made Adviser Dr. Frances Elliott Clark, head of the RCA Victor educational division, has been appointed to the staff of the Music Supervisors’ Forum, selected by the Etude magazine for the purpose of assisting musical supervisors to secure practical advice and information on musical education. Signora Grandi Buys Records Signora Grandi, wife of the Italian foreign minister who recently visited this country on a diplomatic mis- sion, did considerable shopping during her stay in New York City. One of her stops was the Gramophone Shop, 18 East 48th Street, in which she purchased a number of operatic and classical phonograph recordings. Jacques Renard Looks as if Jacques Renard’s title of “heavyweight dance orchestra director” is in jeopardy, for out of the southland comes the voice of Henry Busse, the rotund MCA maestro, who claims recognition on the basis of poundage as well as musical ability. Henry, who opens an engagement at the Netherland Plaza Hotel, Cincin- nati, January 1 with broadcasts over WLW, once was first trumpeter and assistant director for Paul Whiteman. When Whiteman took to reducing via the diet route, Busse was acclaimed “world’s heavyweikht maestro.” <• Ben Bernie When Ben Bernie, “the ole maestro”, announced the other night that his orchestra would play “Good Night Sweetheart” for “the first time over any radio station,” two tubes blew out in the radio receiving set at the Ed- ward ines, Jr. Memorial Hospital, Maywood, 111. Wayne King W-ayne King’s library of waltz music contains 486 or- chestrations. The famous MCA waltz maestro never throws a waltz away. He has, however, discarded many fox trot tunes. Correspondence The Editor does not accept any responsibility for opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be taken of unsigned letters, but only initials or a pseu- donym will be printed if the writer so desires. Contri- butors of general interest to our readers are welcomed. They should be brief and written on one side of the paper only. Address all letters to CORRESPON- DENCE COLUMN, THE PHONOGRAPH MONTH- LY REVIEW, 69 Marion St., Medford, Mass. Editor, Phonograph Monthly Review : There is, in the announcements concerning the new long playing records and machines a circum- stance which leads one to wonder whether the ques- tion raised by Mr. Franck a few months ago— whether the interests that now have the destinies of the phonograph in hand are not bent upon adroitly dispersing the market for records so that radio may be without competition—may not have been heavily charged with discernment, if not with actual fore- sight. I am moved to this consideration by the reflection that if more inauspicious time for such a debut than