The talking machine world (Oct-Dec 1921)

104 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD December IS, 1921 INSTANTLY POPULAR. IN VAUDEVILLE and for DANCING BUSIER TIMES IN THE TWIN CITIES Northwestern Trade Shows Expansion — Machines May Be Scarce, Owing to the Demand — Dealers Doing Much Holiday Publicity Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn., December S. — Talking machines almost are as popular as they ever have been throughout the Northwest. A most decided bulge in the volume of sales is noted by the majority of the distributing houses in this territory, indicating that the people are bound to observe the gift-giving traditions of the holidays regardless of threatening economic and labor troubles. The bulge was noted about the middle of November and the trade has assumed highly satisfactory proportions. St. Paul and Minneapolis retailers also have noted a most gn'atifying revival of interest in talking machines and believe that they will come into their own for a time at least. Complaint is made by George A. Mairs, head of the Victrola department of W. J. Dyer & Bro., that it is impossible to obtain enough instruments to satisfy his customers. Such a complaint is most unusual in 1921, and Mr. Mairs bluntly admits he has no explanation to offer. Everyone in his department is bus}' all the time and every Victrola obtainable has a customer at once. What more blissful conditions could any department manager suggest? Pathe machines and records have been in a steady demand all the Fall, according to Samuel Levinson, of G. Sommers & Co., and of late there has been a spirited revival; so much so that Mr. Levinson was surprised, as he had not expected much in view of the croaking heard from various peoples and places. New accounts are being opened right along, which is an assurance that the business is going forward instead of backward. The record demand has been running strong. The St. Paul Boy Scouts have been using a Pathe Actuelle in their wireless concerts and have been much pleased with the results. Marshal Foch's address and organ solo records have been the particular favorites at these concerts. "Our November returns showed up $2,600 better than our best previous November, which was last year's, so you can thus make an inference as to what we are doing," remarked Milton Lowj', of the Minnesota Phonograph Co., retail Edison dealer in Minneapolis. While the local retail results have been phenomenally good, the jobbing end in the Northwest also has enjoyed exceptional business. The Aeolian-Vocalion line continues to make way according to J. E. Gerlick, manager of the Stone Piano Co., Northwestern distributor. Business has livened a great deal during the past three weeks. The road men are turning in some pretty fair orders from certain localities, while in others there is very little business to be had. Wherever there was little or nothing to harvest there is now no money and hence no chance to sell phonographs. Mr. Gerlick complains that there has been a shortage in certain models, which has caused some dissatisfaction, but ex ^0 0m jfrienbs m tfje jHusk Zvaiit Wt txUtits a'xntsrs anb Ijpartg mtaljf a for a iSnry Xmaa attii a l|appy, ^rnapprnua Nrro ^tnr VLi)t Jfreb. (gretgtfj JHtg. Co. What About 1922? Here's a New Year's resolution worth making: To resolve that in 1922 you mil give your Small Goods Department the attention it deserves. For 1921 proved the selling strength and profit possibilities of Small Goods. Many a Piano or Phonograph dealer, fortified by a modest assortment of Brass, Reed and Stringed Instruments and Accessories, fovmd 1921 a good year — a big year! Forgetting for a minute the good sales and generous profits that Small Goods yield, just think of the customers they bring into your store — the new friends they make for you — and every one of them a Piano or Phonograph prospect. Write on your own letterliead for our new Confidential Trade Price List. Ifs 0 veritable Buying Guide to Small Goods. And FREE, of course! THE FRED. GRETSCH MFG. COMPANY Musical Instrument Makers Since 1883 60 BROADWAY BROOKLYN, N. Y. pects that the difBculty will be remedied very shortly. Retail dealers in the Twin Cities are pushing their publicity in a fairly lavish manner and apparently look for a full revival of holiday activity. BOOKLET OF EDISON PLAYLET William Maxwell's Playlet Presented During Caravan Convention Issued in Book Form for Use of Dealers and Salesmanship School Orange, N. J., December 7.— Thomas A. Edison, Inc., to-day mailed to Edison dealers throughout the United States a booklet containing in full the playlet, "School for Salesmen," a comedy with music in four acts. This is the play written by William Maxwell, first vice-president of Thomas A. Edison, Inc., which was presented during the 1921 Edison Caravan Convention at the Knickerbocker Theatre, New York; Tulane Theatre, New Orleans; Blackstone Theatre, Chicago; Avenue Theatre, Vancouver, B. C. There is an introduction by Iden Payne, general stage director for Charles Frohman, Inc., entitled "If Salesmen Were Actors." This v^'as delivered in the form of an address by Mr. Payne during the Caravan Convention, between the third and fourth acts of the play, "School for Salesmen." This play in its printed forin will be used in conjunction with the Salesmanship Schools, which are to be conducted the early part of 1922 by the Edison organization in twenty-two of the large centers throughout the United States. The play booklet is in a very handy form and provides some very interesting material for study in the bright and finished style which has ever characterized the work of Mr. Maxwell, the playwright and author. AN ADVANCE RECORD SHIPMENT Victor Co. Makes Advance Shipment of January Records for Holiday Sale Camden, N. J., December 9. — In order to reach the market at the earliest possible date and enable the trade to offer the latest popular selections to the holiday buyers, the Victor Co. is arranging to make separate shipment of the following records, so that they may be placed on sale Saturday, December 17: "I Want My Mammy," Peerless , Quartet, "Mandy 'N' Me," American Quartet: "Weep No More, My Mammy," fox-trot, "April Showers," fox-trot, Whiteman and his orchestra: "Everybody Step," fox-trot, "Ka-lu-a— Blue Danube Blues," fox-trot. Whiteman and his orchestra: and "Birds of a Feather," fox-trot, "Leave Me with a Smile," fox-trot. All Star Trio and orchestra. A window streamer, announcing these numbers, will be shipped with the records. The Kaplan Bros, talking machine establishment at Fall River, Mass., was considerably damaged by a fire which broke out in the building which it occupied recently.