The Billboard 1924-01-05: Vol 36 Iss 1 (1924-01-05)

Zand His The Bi liboard JANUARY 6, 1924 sCh MILLS, INC., has taken the jnitiative J on a move that has troubled the minds of many publishers and raised the price of its orchestrations to thirty-five cents. The concern does not consider this amount too much to pay for ten or twelve parts necessary for the average hit song, especially when the arrangement is one of the best obtainable and equal to what passed formerly as a ‘“‘special’’. The raise from twenty-five cents is also defended on the ground that some 200 special editions of orchestrations are in the catalog in which there is no sheet music to exploit. Band and orchestra departments, insofar as actual returns on orchestrations are concerned, are rarely, if ever, on a paying basis. In fact, the wide-spread practice of sending out a dozen parts to small orchestras that use but half of them has been blamed for eating up the excess profits of such departments. The ‘‘orchestra clubs” run by most of the publishers result in at least twenty-four numbers a year being mailed for $2, and are mérely a gamble in the hope that the various orchestras will help popularize a tune. One concern that is a factor in the irdustry has cut out the ‘“‘club’ department altogether, and is holding out for twenty-five cents each for orchestra parts. ‘‘What is the use of getting out erchestrations to fill out the club quota when the songs mean nothing and the parts are sold at a loss?’ is the attitude of this eoncern. Other firms, however, failed to follow suit, but still consider cutting out the ciub department, the membership of which is said to be largely composed of amateurs. Other concerns are expected now to follow the Mills’ example and boost the price of orchestrations in hopes of putting the B. and O. departments on something like a paying basis. —_—J The Hearst Music Company, with Fred K Steele managing the New York office, is planning extensive exploitation of its catalog for the coming year. Mr. Steele, who for several years was connected with the Broadway Music Corporation in various capacities, including that of professional manager, has gathered a strong staff around him, all of them well known to the trade. Leo Jacobs, formerly with Stark & Cowan, is manager of the professional department in New York and Jimmy Moore is head of the band and orchestra activities. In Chicago Tom Quigiey, for a number of years with Witmark, is now munager of the local Hearst office and is located in the Garrick Theater Building, with a competent staff. Several new songs have been added to the catalog for 1924. Byron Gay has placed several new numbers with various New York publishers, including a high-class ballad with Boosey & Co. entitled “Song of My Dreams’’. With Richmond-Robbins, Inc., he recently signed contracts for five numbers. One of these, *‘Keep A-Goin’”’, a fox-trot novelty, is the plug song of the house; two are in the Gold Seal Series and two others will be brought out as popular tunes shortly. Another tune by Gay, incidentally the first song written in collaboration with another writer, Sidney Clare, has been placed with a big concern that sent the song to press before contracts were signed, so enthusiastic did the general manager become over it. It is called “The Ritz’’ and is a fox-trot novelty. Vincent Lopez, orchestra leader and vaudeville artiste, has signed a new contract with the Okeh Record Company, which means that he will continue to record for that firm for some time to come. The January issue of the Okeh Company's house organ carries a cut showing Lopez seated with Otto Heineman, president of the General Phonograph Corporation, while the general sales manager and musical director are hard by anxiously waiting for the papers to be completed. This is hoped to yut to sleep cil rumors to the effect that Lopez Pennsylvania Hotel Orchestra’ will cease to be exclusive Okeh artists. The E. B. Marks Music Company is looking forward with great expectations to the New York premiere of ‘‘Moonlight’’, new musical comedy, the book of which is by William LeBaron, with lyrics and music by Wm. B. Friedlander and Con Conrad. The show opened recently in Detroit and looked so good to its sponsors that it will be brought into the Longacre, New York, January 7, instead of touring the Middle West. According to E. B. Marks, the score of the show has no less than eight hits. As a money-maker the score will rival ‘Sari’, “Chu Chin Chow” and othera of that type, believes Mr. Marks. The James S. White Company, of Boston, announces the release of a .ew number entitled “If You Love Me as I Love You'’, which is just off the press. The lyric is by Nellie Peters and the music by James S. White. A new Baltimore office, in charge of George Turner, has been opened by the All-Star Music Corporation at 3304 McEllery street. well-known in Baltimore music former!y represented one there. ‘“‘Not Yet, and J. Fred Cootes, All-Star Company. Turner is circles, having of the big concerns Suzette’, by Sam Coslow is the plug number of the Paul Specht, orchestra leader, has booked thru the Consolidated Orchestras Booking Exchange his London band of twelve pieces at what is considered a record-breaking holiday price of $60 per man. This is said to top all other figures asked by leaders by about ten dollars. The London band plays New Year's Eve at the Garment Center Club. » head of the musie com. pany that bears her name, sailed last week from New York on the 8. 8. Aquitania for the purpose of supervising a big campaign in England in the interest of the Winn Ragtime Mrs. A. J. Stasny — a specialty of publishing the scores of musical ormedies The new song, which will be sung by Jolyon, may not be released for some time. N. Y. TIMES “KIDS” ARTISTES New York, Dec. 29.—The New York Times, which has quite a reputation for ‘“‘getting things right’’, appears to be no better tha other members of the lay press when it con to vaudeville. Commenting in e recent is on the routing of vaudeville acts, it says among other things: “The booking fee paid by the actors is 10 per cent on their gross salary... + The com mission is really paid by the theaters, as the actors in fixing their salaries are permitted to add to their net income the amount of their commission, their railroad fares and transfer charges. Vaudeville actors are thus paid a sum which includes what they ask as net salary, their commissions and their traveling expenses, “Performers may book direct thru the exchanges. . . . The agent is a distinct asset, however, when the act is on the road and thra some disaster or public calamity o: for any other reason whatever a week or more time is lost for an act—at such time the representative on the floor of the exchange can fill in the time and can save the act as much as the agent’s commission for a season!’’ INSURED BEAUMONT’S AUTO Chicago, Dec. 28.—Sam Roberts, independent agent, this week presented Harry Beaumont, chief booker for the Ascher houses, with two years’ insurance on Mr. Beaumont’s automobile. RAY STILLWELL AND HIS ORCHESTRA Eee: This popular dance combination is meeting 3 ee with marked success in Keith Vaudeville. Bouks, for which the Stasny Company recently took over the European rights. This catalog consists. of six beoks. said to be large sellers in the United States and Canada. The titles are: ‘‘Winn'’s How To Play Popular Music’, *‘How To Py Ragtime’’, “‘How To Play Jazz and Blues “Piano Technique Made Easy”, “Chord and Jazz Book’’ and “‘How To Rag and Jazz on the Saxophone’. All are attractively unusually bound. Following on the heels of Whiteman and Specht, two American leaders who played successful London engagements, the Winn books are expected to become popular in England. Leading English trade and orchestra papers are carrying Stasny ads in con nection with the ragtime beoks A. J. Stasny Music Co., Inc., bas taken over the English rights of ‘I’m Drifting Back to Dreamland”, published by the Ted Browne Music Company, of Chicago. The ong made a hit, especially in the Middle West, thru the aid of the raide and has been released 100 per cent mechanically. In addition to the above mentioned song the rest of the ecnatalog of the Company has been taken over by Stasny for Knglish exploitation thru ite Other catalogs of Ted Browne London branch. whieh the Eng right have been secured inelude three Dixon-Lane songs, entitled When All the World Forgets You’, I'm taoking for the Merry Sunshine’? and Iauisiane Waltz’ Stasny, LAd., also had the right “Call Me Back, to the Ticon Lane number, Pal o° Mine’ ———. Al Jolson and Bud ds new song with MI Sylva have Witmork & Hone Coming to You Thi is about the first time that a De away from avother music placed a entitled “California, Um Hylva lyric got house that makes BILLIE SHAW’S NEW REVUE New York, Dec, 29.—Billie Shaw is vpening Jannary 7 in a new musical revue with a cast of five people, which will be something along the lines of her former act, “Billie Shaw's Revue", In addition to a sister team, Josephine LeVoie and Lester Lane constitute Bile e’s support. Frank Robb, formerly of wil Morrissey’s ‘‘Newcomer is producing the turn, and the chances are it will have its tryout in one of the Loew houses, booking being done thru the Irving Yates office. CIRCUS CONTRACT FORBIDS MAY WIRTH ACT AT HIPP, New York, Dec. 20.—The May W act which was proposed for the vill not play that house, due to an rth riding poodrome irrange ment between the Keith people and the Rings lings, whieh forbid the appearance of the equestrienne in New Yor) The Wirth act will be the featured riding turn with the Kingling Cirens thi eneon The Hannefords tave been ked for the Hip show instead. They will en in March NITA NALDI ON ORPHEUM yew York, Der 20 Nita Noli creen star, who made her vaudeville debut two weoeke ozo at Mount Vernon in “The Famous \ sop on Vagar Allon Woolf wkit, tow te on hooked for a tour of the Orpheum Tine M Naldi'a voudeville tour im limited, " het ‘ignated 'o the filme by © contrnet whieh reaqnires her 'o appear in a pleture ae soon ae i ise ady “The Famous Vamp" tae five people in’ the cast, Including Mies Nata The UTILITY $27.50 POSITIVELY THE GREATEST DRUM VALUE ON EARTH. FREE—New 1924 Catalog “M”. new Novelties. Now ready. Many Leedy Manu facturing (0, mtr’ bite Ind. SAXONETT A GOOD SAXOPHONE IMITATION Pat. => Apr. 22, 1919. MADE OF POLISHED BRASS Cornet, $3.50. Trombone, $4.50. Baritone or Eu phonium, $6.50 MAGIN-MAYER CO., Belleville, tll. ZEZ CONFREYS | NO RN COURSE PIA PIANO xO PLATING E | | |e: PIANISTS. ao Bulletins JACK MILLS, Inc. darn cells Building. Music Publishers New York. Y. Rook naw ready Contains 50 pages of explanations of 100 “figures” and breaks” used by Zez Confrey in recording of Victor Records and Q. BR. § Rolls BP dorsed by lee S. Roberts, Pete Wendling, Max Kortlander, Victor Arden, Phil Ohman, ete, Price, $1.50 Net. Send for FREE BACON & DAY SUPERBANJOS New Catalogue Just Out. BACON BANJO COMPANY, Groton, Conn. By Note or Bae. Self-Instru 67 «styles of Mase fony, Oriental, Pidings, Clever Breaks Triple Rass With or without music. Short Course Adult beginners taught by mail No teachers required tion Course for Advanced Pianists. Learn 180 Syncopated > Blue Har. Chime, Movie and C afe Jaza, — Space Fillers, Sax ure, Wicked ~ sng 4 Blue Deltas” ro Dar 247 other Subjects including Aa 110 pages of UBAL Jazz, 25,000 wor is tal be brings our FRED Special Offer WATERMAN 1ANO SCHOOL. 258 Superba Theatre Bldo.. Los Angeles, Calif. REAL JA Pianolessons Lat * its Plain The Same F Chord-Hé J eed TAUGHT witnour DRUDGERY TN YOUR HOME. for Free Leseo UNITED SCHOOLS OF POPULAR. music 30 Huntington Avenue, 5 im Seston, 37, ass. ACTOR AND LAWYER BATTLE Chicago, Dee, Palace last 26.—Jack Rose, week, and H who played the F. Heckhelmer, a New York attorney, ave said to have staged a fist fight In the lobby of the loet night, in whieh Mr. Hotel Sherman Rove is claimed to have taken most of the bonors of war. CHANGE IN BOOKINGS Chicago, 1 has taken vin 21.—The vaudeville Ont., formerty handled by the Chicago representative ond Lichter, « local agency, vaudeville bookings at Chatham, Ont, Chicago Keith office bookings tn Sarnia, Jack Hubb, who is of Gus Sun. Gould hae taken the : : ' :