The talking machine world (Oct-Dec 1921)

December 15, 1921 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 105 GENERAL ACTIVITY REPORTED IN LOS ANGELES TRADE Increase of Business Evident Immediately After Thanksgiving — New Stores and Departments Opened— Interesting Meeting of Association— Newspaper Record Concerts Help Business Los Angeles, Cal., December 5. — The day after Thanksgiving saw the streets of Los Angeles thronged with more people than ever before. At least, that is how it seemed to an observer on Broadway, and the inside of the stores appeared to be jammed with frenzied shoppers. Music store after music store reported a very busy day — big Thanksgiving turkey dinners seemed to have stimulated buyers; it looked as if it were Christmas Eve. This is very encouraging, and is a hopeful sign of a splendid holiday business. Stocks of machines and records are in good shape, a few models only being scarce and hard to obtain. New Victor Department Admired The new Victor department of the Geo. J. Birkel Co. has been in full swing for some weeks, and A. Graham Cook, manager, reports a marked increase in record sales. It occupies a little more than one-half of the ground floor, and consists of fifteen Victrola and record demonstration rooms with a complete record center, with long handsome counters in a continuous oval surrounding it on all sides; clerks inside the counters hand out records to those who are waiting on customers in the rooms. A mezzanine floor above accommodates extra Victrolas. The entire department harmonizes with the rest of this floor and is furnished in ivory and mahogany. Final Record Contests Interesting The final record contests held by the Los Angeles Evening Express are proving to be of exceptional interest. The first of these concerts was the Columbia, and was held on November 28. The six records played, first prize winners at six previous Columbia concerts, were: "Aida" (O Terro Adio), sung by Ponselle and Hackett; "The Holy City," sung by Louis Graveure; "O Sole Mio," sung by Stracciari; "La Forza Del Destino," sung by Hackett and Stracciari; "Old Black Joe," sung by Barbara Maurel and Stellar Quartet; "Souvenir," violin solo, played by Kerekjarto; "Souvenir" (Drdla), played by Kerekjarto, was adjudged best by the audience and awarded the $50 prize; a consolation $10 prize went to "O Sole Mio," sung by Stracciari. In the Edison final prize concert, held November 29, the following recreations, first prize winners in six previous Edison concerts, were: "La Boheme" (Musetta Waltz), sung by Anna Case; "Pearl of Brazil" (Thou Brilliant Bird), sung by Anna Case; "Ave Maria" (Gounod), sung by Rappold and played by Spaulding; "Thinking of You," sung by the Homestead Trio; "Perfect Day," sung by Metro Records Make Ideal Gifts Every Victor dealer should teach his community to accept this fact. It will sell records the year around as well as in the holidays and it will sell Victrolas as well. politan Quartet; "Souvenir," violin solo, played by Albert Spaulding; a still larger audience awarded the $50 prize to "Souvenir" (Drdla), played by Albert Spaulding. Thus, so, far, Drdla's famous composition has won in two concerts, each being the final choice from sixty chosen records or re-creations. Victor Dealers Plan Concert L. C. Mountcastle, special representative and advance agent, addressed the Victor dealers at a special meeting which was held to discuss plans for the concert, to be given under their auspices, by the eight Victor artists, Henry Burr, Albert Campbell, John Meyer, Frank Croxton, Billy Murray, Monroe Silver, Fred Van Eps and Frank Banta. It was arranged to hold the concert on the evening of January 25 at the Philharmonic Auditorium. Wholesale Man Goes North W. F. Campbell, who is well-known in Los Angeles, where he was connected with Sherman, Clay & Co., Victor distributors, and later with the Columbia Graphophone Co., Los Angeles branch, has taken a position with the wholesale department of Sherman, Clay & Co., San Francisco. Music Trades' Association Meets A well-attended meeting of the Music Trades' Association of Southern California was held on November 9. Interesting talks were made by J. T. Fitzgerald, president of the Fitzgerald Music Co.; J. A. Stitt, Western representative of the Hallet & Davis Piano Co.; A. A. Buening, of the Packard Piano Co.; H. Baxter, of the Baxter-Northup Co., and D. G. Sunderland, of the Blue Bird Talking Machine Co. The meeting was presided over by E. A. Geissler, vicepresident of the Geo. J. Birkel Co. Barker Bros, in Pasadena A new branch music store has been opened by Barker Bros, in Pasadena. General Manager Boothe appointing L. G. Shapney as manager. The new store is very artistically decorated and is unique among the many beautiful stores in Pasadena. Some very choice and exclusive period furniture and interior house decorating articles are being carried in addition to an exclusive line of Sonora phonographs and Sohmer pianos. The record department is in charge of Miss Nona Wilson, who was well known in the Los Angeles store for her exceptional sales ability. Edison Expert in Long Beach H. S. Hutchinson, who made a wonderful record in Okmulgee, Okla., selling Edisons, has been appointed branch manager of the Fitzgerald Music Co.'s Long Beach store. Mr. Hutchinson's sales of Edisons in Oklahoma were the highest of any store in the United States per capita last year, and special mention was made by Edison General Sales Manager Maxwell at the Edison Caravan Convention last year. New Dealer in Burbank ■ W. PflRsterer has purchased the Burbank Music Store and Brunswick Shop. Mr. Pffisterer has been connected with the wholesale phonograph business for many years and is well known in Los Angeles, where he was for some time assistant manager of the Los Angeles branch of the Columbia Graphophone Co. New Bumham Jobber Irving C. Franklin announces the appointment of the E. B. Gunning Co.. El Paso, Tex., as Burnham distributor for West Texas. New Mexico, Eastern Arizona and the extreme northern portion of Mexico. New Victor Store in Long Beach The Southern California Music Co,, which had for some time a branch store for pianos only In Long Beach, has now secured a Victor agency in that city. The new enlarged store was recently formally opened, an elaborate reception being given to the public, which was well attended. The store was gaily decorated and refreshments were given to the guests, BLANDIN REPRODUCTION of the ordinary voice in talking, or the sound of ordinary musical instruments is accomplished by the ordinary phonograph. Perfect reproduction of the piano, violin or the tenor or soprano voice is accompUshed best by the Blandin phonograph, because of its original construction of sound chambers. It allows no distracting, raspy, phonographic sounds to mar the record. Dealers find this a popular feature with all customers. The Blandin sells itself on these points as well as in the splendor of its appearance. Write for complete particulars regarding a dealership. Racine Phonograph Co., Inc. RACINE, WISCONSIN. Hear 'cL Piano^ Rocord oa tR(2 ,51andin> pretty Japanese girls assisting. The Victor department is under the supervision of Irving Westphal, manager of the Los Angeles talking machine department. Last-minute News At to-day's Victor Record Concert at the Los Angeles Evening Express the grand prize was awarded to "Home to Our Mountains," from "II Trovatore," sung by Caruso and Schumann-Heink. The consolation prize was won by "Dear Old Pal of Mine," sung by John McCormack. THE CROAKERS ALWAYS WITH US There are many croakers upon the edges of lakes and creeks; there they sit croaking and croaking; but they are only frogs after all. Doesn't this remind you of something?