The Edison phonograph monthly (Jan-Dec 1913)

10 EDISON PHONOGRAPH MONTHLY, NOVEMBER, 1913 WHAT MR. EDISON IS DOING AND SAYING By a strange coincidence Mr. Edison happened to be in Claremont, N. H., this summer the same night that his moving pictures were being exhibited there for the first time. Mr. Edison is reported to have said to some townspeople who discovered his presence at the hotel: "You must not judge the talking pictures from what you have seen here because we have only taken a flyer at them as yet. We will get it down fine in a little while and I hope to be able to get it out in colors. The talking machine as it is today is considered very wonderful but wait until we have finished with it and see how great will be the improvement." Mr. Edison said he would resume work on the talking picture machine when he reached home. "I am going to give the five-cent fellow a little grand opera," he added. "There is something you won't see in the street fifteen years hence," said Mr. Edison, as he pointed to a team passing. "Those wagons will be run by electricity and the work will be done forty per cent, cheaper than it is costing at the present time." Mr. Edison was on his way home after an automobile trip to Maine, "If any one wants to get cooled off," he remarked, "he should go to Maine." "I got up at five o'clock, and it was like wintef." Mrs. Thomas A. Edison surprised her husband, one evening recently by having a dinner party awaiting him when he returned from the Edison Laboratory. The most distinguished of the guests was the Right Rev. Francis Alden Gasquet, Abbot General of the English Benedictines, one of the foremost men of letters of the Roman Catholic Church. The Abbot is revising the Vulgate, or Latin Bible. Mr. Edison also had a surprise for the Abbot — the new Disc Phonograph. During the supper the company heard "II Trovatore" and many other fine selections. The Abbot was so delighted with the clear and beautiful rendition, that when the dinner was over he lingered a long time to hear several more selections. The Abbot celebrated the eve of his birthday in the Edison home, the next day being his sixty-ninth anniversary. "Well," said Edison, "I am three years younger than you. I have three more years in which to catch up with you, haven't I?" "You have long since surpassed me," replied the Abbot. Mr. Edison was greatly interested in the restoration of ancient manuscripts and the processes used that were explained to him by his guest. A new invention which enables the Benedictine scholars to decipher palimsests deeply impressed him. Acids and galls were used in deciphering the original or first writings until a Benedictine scholar at Beuron perfected a photographic process which has simplified matters wonderfully. This process permits the reading of the first writing in the negative taken. Mr. Edison heard of this process and of the other labors that the 400 Benedictines are performing to get the Bible back to its original writing. The Abbot said that more than 5,000 photographs had been taken of original manuscripts and copies which will be embraced in the collection now being prepared under the auspices of his order. TIMELY BLUE AMBEROL SPECIALS In Sales Department Bulletin 93 we have already informed the trade of these ten specials, nine of which represent the principal song "hits" in current New York theatrical successes and which are now being prepared so they may be offered to the buying public while the demand is greatest, due to the general publicity the songs are receiving through program and newspaper advertising. The other is a new dance. THE RECORDS 2066 Come on Over Here— The Doll Girl Elizabeth Spencer and Billy Murray 2068 When Dreams Come True Thomas Chalmers 2070 Adele — from comic Opera Adele Elizabeth Spencer 2071 Ragtime in the Air — America (N. Y. Hippodrome; : B. Murray and Chorus 2076 The Horse Trot (For Dancing) National Promenade Band 2077 If We Were on Oar Honeymoon— The Doll Girl Elsie Baker and R. Fish 2084 Aisha— Intermezzo— Weber & Fields "All Aboard" Edison Concert Band 2085 Lieber Au^ustin — Miss Caprice Elizabeth Spencer 2086 Look in Her Eyes — Miss Caprice Vernon Archibald 2088 The Girl in the Gingham Gown— America (N. Y. Hippodrome) H. Hindermeyer and Chorus These selections are fully described in the folder enclosed. These records are either now in the hands of Jobbers or en route to them, so that there need be no delay in filling orders of Dealers. They may be placed on sale as soon as received. These ten records will also appear in the December Supplement. AGAIN, THE WINDOW DISPLAY IN some lines of trade, a window display is of little or no use, but in the phonograph line it is of vital importance. It is a Dealer's ever available asset, and works day and night for him, without charge for overtime. He may get his commercial rating from Dun or Bradstreet, but he gets his commercial rating in the eyes of the public, by a well arranged and frequently changed window display. It's sort of a barometer known and read by all passers-by, indicating at a glance a Dealer's sluggishness or enterprise. We have puzzled over the reason why some Dealers are so indifferent about their windows, but confess we are at a loss to understand it.