The talking machine world (Oct-Dec 1921)

140 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD October 15, 1921 GRAND OPERA HELPS RECORD SALES IN SAN FRANCISCO General Business Shows Improvement — F. B. Corcoran Becomes Brunswick Manager — Rothlin Opening in Richmond — Talking Machine Store in Honolulu — ^New Sonora Agent — Other Items San Francisco, Cal., October 5. — For two weeks we have been enjoying grand opera through the delectable medium of the Scotti Grand Opera Co. San Francisco is a city famous for its musical interest and when San Francisco does not accord a high-class opera company the support it deserves there is surely something the matter. Grand opera may be taken as a criterion of general conditions here. If the San Franciscans flock to the performances it is a sure sign that San Francisco is flush; if the people stay at home it is a sign that money is tight. Thus far the opera has been attended approximately upon a 50 per cent basis and this means that the spending power of the citizens is still below normal, though the unusually high prices demanded for opera seats aroused the ire of many music lovers, who consequently boycotted the opera. Three dol lars for the cheapest seat at the feature performances, and a thirty-cent war tax on top of this, is a little too stiff for even the free-and-easy San Franciscan. The music houses of San Francisco featured opera records in show windows the last two weeks and the sale of classics is reported rather heavy with the leading concerns. Business has improved slowly, but steadily, in the last two months and most firms are preparing for a big holiday business with splendid confidence. Public Likes New Machine Styles With the great diversity of styles in talking machines now available it is interesting to note the public interest in new models. Morley Sommers, manager of the Sonora Phonograph Shop, says that the people seem to know the latest styles in phonograph cases just as readily as they do the styles in clothes. He placed three new Sonora models in the show window this week — models with the bulge front — and this bulge feature was not lost on a single person who came into the shop to purchase or make inquiries. Verily, it is little things that count in promoting popularity, but the little things must have a real meaning. New Brunswick Manager Appointed F. B. Corcoran, the handsome, genial and popular manager of the talking machine department of the Wiley B. Allen Co., has resigned bis position to take a new responsibility — that of Pacific Coast manager for the Brunswick phonograph. He succeeds Irving Franklin, who recently accepted the post of general sales manager for the Burnham Co. Mr. Corcoran was with the Wiley B. Allen Co. for twelve years and in that time developed steadily in talking machine wisdom and psychological discernment. Handling the Brunswick phonograph most successfully in a retail way — the Allen Co. has the exclusive retail agency in San Francisco and elsewhere— it is logical that he is qualified to forge ahead along progressive lines in his new Two New Period Models Added to Player-Tone Line Five Wonders of the Age St. Unusually low retail selling price ! 2nd. Big profits to the dealer ! 3rd. Perfect cabinet work and finish! 4th. Exclusive design of latest type ! 5th. Perfect tone and volume unsurpassed! SEVEN UPRIGHT MODELS IN ALL FINISHES BACK TO PRICES BEFORE THE WAR. We also sell cabinets only. Write us for price on large and small quantity. Write us today for Booklet and Discount to Dealers. We have got something good for you. PLAYER-TONE TALKING MACHINE CO 967 LIBERTY AVENUE, PITTSBURGH, PA.