The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1906)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 5 EDUCATES THE PEOPLE. A Missouri Editor Who Appreciates the Value of the Talking Machine. A good deal of trash has been published editorially by the daily papers throughout the country regarding the Sousa article on "Canned Music," in which he pictured the evils of the talking machine as a deterrent to real musical progress. The writers of these articles evidently have never heard the perfected talking machine of to-day, nor have they heard the wonderful records which are now being made in which the human voice is reproduced with that nuance and quality which is almost lifelike. Apparently these editorial writers have never investigated, but consider there is a great phonographic peril because Bandmaster Sousa says so, and yet Sousa was glad to use this machine as a means of popularizing his music at one time, and assumes the present attitude from a purely selfish viewpoint. There are some exceptions, however, in the matter of the dally papers, and the following editorial in the St. Joseph, Mo., News and Press, was written by a broadminded man, who at least is willing to see the other side: "So far from being a menace, it has done a great deal of good in the way of educating the people to appreciate music. There are many peopie who cannot afford to attend grand opera who have yet enjoyed the work of the greatest opera singers through this invention of Mr. Edison. They have also had an opportunity to listen to the imposing strains of Sousa's band and become familiar with instrumental music. Then, there are the families who cannot afford a piano. For them the phonograph is a means of innocent diversion. It is true that there is a great deal of trashy music extant which is frequently heard emanating from the funnel of the talking machine, but because one man prefers "Waiting at the Church" is no reason why another may not enjoy "Tannhauser." To a certain extent the good or evil that a phonograph may do rests with the man who owns and operates it. He has the opportunity to familiarize himself with classical music, and if he does not choose to do so it cannot be helped. At any rate, it is no worse than hearing him torture a mouth-organ with "Suwanee River" or wring the wailing strain of "After the Ball" from an overworked accordeon." WHITNEY-CURRIER CO. CONCERTS. newly equipped, the Whitney-Currier Co. gave a series of free afternoon talking machine concerts extending throughout the entire week, and which were attended by large crowds. The concerts were offered in the nature of a house warming and were highly successful in calling the attention of the Toledo public to the firm's exceptional facilities for filling their wants in talking machines, records and supplies expeditiously and satisfactorily. HER VOICE PHOTOGRAPHED. Miss Hattie Williams, the Well Known Singer of "Experience" Has Made a Number of Records Which Have Been Sent by Charles Frohman to London for the Benefit of Miss Edna May — Value of Talker in This Role. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Toledo, O., Nov. 8, 1906. Upon the completion of their new talking machine parlors, which were recently refitted and Charles Frohman intends to have Miss Edna May sing "My Irish Rosie" in London, and has sent a "record" of Miss Hattie Williams' rendition of the song as a model for Miss May. That's why Miss Williams went down the other day to have her voice photographed by the record-making people. When she faced this new orchestra, arranged on wooden benches, like the audience at a country circus, the singer of "Experience" grew a little nervous. She remembered that they had played recently for grand opera artists. "We'll leave out the brass the first time," said the conductor to his men. "No; don't do that!" protested Miss Williams. "I feel as if I hadn't any brass." But she faced the tin cornucopia as bravely as if she were not afraid it would explode, while the orchestra faced a larger receiver near her. At the end of three bars there was a sudden stop. "Hermann," said the conductor, "you left out three notes there!" Hermann emerged from the three-ply coil of brass pipes which encircled his neck, and into which he had been puffing, and indignantly produced his score to show that he was innocent. The three notes were inserted. The song was then sung through without further interruption. After it was finished the record was played over. Miss Williams listened to her voice in miniature. "It's very much like the effect you get from watching the stage through reversed opera glasses," she said. Then she turned to read over the score of Gilea's "Adriana Lecouvreur," which Mme. Homer had been singing into the records. "I'm glad it's over!" she said. "It's just begun," said the musical director. "We'd like to have three more records, and select the best." So Miss Williams did it all over again several times, observing certain changes in tempo and dynamics to get all the material in the record. And she tried hard not to look at the queer instruments, lest they should queer her singing. "A violin with the sounding board cut away and a small tin horn in its place is uncanny," said Miss Williams. "Everything here has horns, and they look like the " But the orchestra struck up and drowned the last word. When it was all over, Alf. Hayman, who had arranged the matter for Mr. Frohman, took Miss Williams down to her cab. All the members of the orchestra followed Miss Williams out and started off for Philadelphia. And Herman, he of the three missing notes, looked after Miss Williams' cab. "I tell you what," he said, "I like those chest voices. She made a better record than Mme. Rappold or Herr Knote." And nobody denied the statement. NOW SALES MANAGER FOR "3 IN ONE." Charles E. Hunt, who for several years has been circulating among the jobbers of the country in the interests of the famous "3 in 1," has been appointed sales manager of the G. W. Cole Co., the manufacturers of "3 in 1." Mr. Hunt's appointment as sales manager is a deserved recognition of his abilities and energies. Jobbers and dealers from Maine to Mexico know the genial Mr. "Oilright" Hunt. Even Canada has been covered by Mr. Hunt, so in assuming direction of "3 in 1" sales all over the "3 in 1" business is marvelous to even those in charge of its development. The demand for and the consumption of this oil spreads so rapidly that the "3 in 1" factory is taxed to keep up with the demand and enough surplus stock on hand to ship without delay. Up to date, however, the factory has been able to ship any reasonable quantities on even telegraphic instructions, and with the new additions and improvements now under way expect to keep apace of even Mr. Hunt's most sanguine expectations. PHONOGRAPH AIDS SPIRITUALISTS. "How is the soul of a trance medium dispossessed of its body?" was the question which came up before the convention of the National Spiritualists' Association, which was held in the Y. M. C. A. auditorium, 153 LaSalle street, Chicago, 111., week before last, when, for the first time in the history of the movement, a phonograph was used in the tests. According to the plan of operation all of the words supposed to be spoken by mediums and clairvoyants while they are under the control of spirits were recorded on phonographic records, and the instruments later repeated the sentences to the mediums after they were released from the spell. VICTOR SERVICE WHY WE CAN GIVE YOU THE BEST We are the only Victor distributors in the East who devote an entire store to the Victor line. Wc have the space and facilities for carrying at all times as large and complete a stock of Victor machines and records as that carried by the factory. We can guarantee to ship all orders the day they are received. Our shipping department is located in the very heart of the wholesale district of Boston with its numerous daily express collections covering every point in the United States; it employs a large and efficient force who give their entire time and attention to the filling of Victor orders. We place all records in separate envelopes imrnediately upon receipt from the factory and deliver them in the same envelopes. Thus the retailer receives his records in the best shape to handle and in as perfect condition as when shipped from the factory, ■ DO YOU USE ENVELOPES? Our envelopes are used by 75 per cent, of the largest jobbers. Their superiority is proved by the numbers of duplicate orders we receive. Ten different styles and sizes. Samples and prices on application. IVI. SXEIINJERX & iSOMS COMPANY DISTRIBUTORS OF VICTOR TALKING MACHINES— VICTROIAS, AUXETOPHONES, HERZOG FAMOUS DISC CABINETS 35-3T Apcti Street BOSTON. MASS.