The talking machine world (July-Sept 1921)

September 15, 1921 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 61 PACIFIC COAST BUSINESS IS RAPIDLY FORGING AHEAD Development of Musical Interest in San Francisco Due to the Talking Machine-Dealers and Jobbers Optirrushc Regarding Fall and Winter Trade-Path6 Shop in Reno-Other News S: Francisco, Cal., September 3.— With. the end of labor troubles in tbc building field in sight the trade looks for a decided toning-up ol the general business situation during September. Talking machine dealers have had a hard Summer for the most part; still, in spite of the business depression, there have been practically nc important failures and there have been a number of new enterprises launched. The field is attractive to capital, large and small, and the talking machine business on the Pacific Coast is going to forge ahead faster than ever as the present-day problems arc solved. The develop ment of musical interest on the Coast is nothing short of marvelous in the last few years. No longer can it be truthfully asserted that San Francisco is the only real music center of the Far West. Now every city is a music center. This development is due principally to the availability of good music in talking machine rcc ords and the high-class musical programs provided by the motion picture theatres. To-day San Francisco alone is paying more for music, in one form or another, than the whole State paid not very many years ago. It is being commented upon frequently these d;iys that the manufacturers of talking machines and records are certainly producing satisfactory merchandise and that the products of the leading producers conform to a general high quality standard. The market for "junk" seems to have been greatly reduced. Sherman, Clay & Co. are having a better demand for talking machines of the larger types this mouth and the call for Caruso records has .increased steadily since the death of the great singer. Billy Morton, manager of the retail talknt of this company, tachine deparln: down the San Joaquir trip at the presi F. P. Corcor. Valley on a business chine department of the Wiley B. Allen Co., of this city, returns this week from his three weeks' vacation in northern California. J. J. Black, treasurer, and Harold Procht, sales manager, of the Wiley B. Allen Co., will leave September 1 to attend the annual "Flight" of the Family Club, which will be held at Family Club Farm, near Woodland, Cal. Upon their return Mr. Black will go to New York with Frank Anrys, vice-president and general manager of the company. The San Francisco music houses this month paid tribute to the genius of Caruso in various ways, but most of the stores had window displays with the singer's portrait prominently displayed. The Wiley B. Allen Co. had a beautiful show window decorated in deep purple. Several of the leading motion picture theatres featured the Victrola playing Caruso records, in company with the orchestra, in their music programs. C. H. Fyfe, formerly one of the proprietors of the Mcnardi Music Co., of Reno, Ncv., has opened the "Pathe Phonograph Shop" in the store of the Baldwin Piano Co., on Sutter street, this city. He has the full Pathe line and is featuring the new Actuelle machines and records. The Baldwin Co. has discontinued its talking machine department. Mr. Fyfe is a progressive business man of high ideals and he reports opening business most satisfactory. The period designs of Pathe machines make a very attractive display in the show rooms and the new Actuelle is attracting special attention. A number of civil suits have been filed against George A. Parker, sales agent for the defunct Mercantile Finance Co., of San Francisco, which is the concern promoted by Frederick Stern, of the Stern Talking Machine Co. also bankrupt, as the result of recent exposures. The complaints allege (hat the defendant falsely and fraudulently represented that the company was a solvent going concern, doing a profitable business and paying large dividends. Frederick Stern, the late president of the defunct concerns, has been indicted by the Grand Jury on two counts, one charging that money was obtained under false pretenses in selling stock in the company and the other that he rendered a false' financial statement of accounts. Irving C. Franklin, Pacific Coast manager for the phonograph department of the BruuswickBalkc-Collcndcr Co , has resigned his position to accept the post of general sales manager for the Buruham Phonograph Corp., with headquarters ir. Los Angeles. Mr. Franklin is a "go-getter" of the progressive type and his many friends in the talking machine fraternity wish him success in his new work. £. E. Graham, phonograph salesman in the wholesale Brunswick department in San Francisco, who is calling on the trade as usual, reports good success with the Stratford model ant also with the new table model Brunswick. The sale of Brunswick records shows a steady increase in this territory. The records of the recently acquired artists, Giuseppe Danise and Florence Easton, are moving well and the demand for the records by Mario Chamlce is bigger than ever. Chamlee will sing in San Francisco the latter part of Septemher with the Scotti Grand Opera Co. H, D. Leopold, California representative of the Victor Talking Machine Co.. is back on the Coast, after a sis weeks' slay in the East, where he attended Victor conferences and spent his annual vacation. He is at present in Los Angeles. R. E. Kane, formerly of the traveling sales force of the wholesale Victor department of Sherman, Clay & Co., has accepted the position of assistant manager of the wholesale department in San Francisco in the place of Otto Rothlin, who has resigned. Mr. Rolhlin is preparing to engage in the retail music business on his own hook at Richmond. Cal. He will carry pianos, players and talking machines. (Continued mi page 62) Sherman Jplay& Go. Pacific Coast Distributors Main Wholesale Depot: 741 Mission Street, San Francisco Branch Wholesale Depots: 444 So. Broadway, Los Angeles, California 45 Fourth St., Portland, Oregon Oceanic Bldg., Cor. University and Post Sts., Seattle, Washington 427 West First Ave., Spokane, Washington Victor Victrolas Victor Records Victor Accessories