The talking machine world (Apr-June 1921)

126 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD April 15, 1921 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DEALERS SEE IMPROVED TREND Leading Members of Trade Tell of Conditions — Richardson to Open in Hotel Ambassador — E. N. Burns' Visit — Delegates to National Convention — Tetrazzini Autographs — Columbia Publicity Los Angeles, Cal., April 6. — Talking machine sales for the month of March, according to reports from the various managers of departments, were very satisfactory. There were many who declared that the month's business was very good, while others, characteristically conservatiA-e, remarked that they had "held their own"; none was pessimistic or admitted a decrease. Delegates for N. T. M. A. At the general meeting of the Music Trades Association of Southern California Messrs. J. W. Boothe, general manager of the music department of Barker Bros., and B. Piatt, president of the Piatt Music Co., were unanimously elected to be delegates and representatives for Los Angeles to the new National Retail Phonograph and Talking Machine Men's Association which it is proposed shall be formed, under the auspices of the National Association of Music Merchants in Chicago at the convention to be held there in May by the National Association of Music Merchants. Music Store at Ambassador W. H. Richardson, president of Richardson's, Inc., has announced that Richardson's, Inc., has secured a lease at the magnificent new Ambassador Hotel, where a music store will be opened. A \''ictrola agency has been obtained and other musical merchandise will be carried. The interior decorations are in the hands of a firm famous for unique and artistic designs and it is expected that the new store will even "out-Richardson" Richardson's on West Seventh street. Columbia Vice-president Here E. N. Burns, the popular vice-president of the Columbia Graphophone Co., spent several days at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Mr. Burns arrived here from San Francisco, where he had been directing a special recording outfit which had been brought out to the Pacific Coast specially to record dance selections by the famous Art Hickman Orchestra. Mr. Burns, v;ho seems to have always had the faculty of spreading friendship and pleasure wherever he goes, appeared to be combining a great deal of pleasure with business during his brief sojourn in Los Angeles and in the Hollywood section, where movjie stars of great and small magnitude scintillate on the streets and in exclusive cafes. Charlie Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks made a record under Mr. Burns' supervision; it is for their own use only and the original matrix was destroyed. It is expected that another record will be made later by these two for public sale. Local Composition Makes Hit Among the ever-increasing number of song hits emanating from Los Angeles, written and composed by "Angels," "Do You Ever Think of Me?", music by Earl Burtnett and words by Harry D. Kerr and John Cooper, has proved to be one of the most popular. The Vocalion record of this number was hailed with great joy, as Vocalion dealers had many thousands of customers on the waiting list impatient to obtain Red records for their machines. H. M. Hull, Pacific Coast Vocalion manager, and E. R. Darvill, Los Angeles and Southern California representative, obtained a large number of the Vocalion record "Do You Ever Think of Me?" by express. Secretary Farquharson in Sacramento A. G. Farquharson, secretary of the Music Trades Association of Soutbern California, left early in the month for Sacramento in order that he might attend Senate and Assembly committee meetings at the Capitol in the interests of the trade. On Alarch IS he proceeded to San FranCisco and was present and spoke at the organization meeting of the Music Trades Association of Northern California. Mr. Farquharson was again in Sacramento the last week of March. Novel Act in Theatre John Cooper, who has recently secured a Columbia agency for his "Melody Shop" on Broadway, featured a novel act at Grauman's Million Dollar Theatre. A Columbia period Grafonola played Columbia record "Do You Ever Think of Me?" and Mr. Cooper, who is one of the composers of the song, played on a piano in unison at the same time. Another of his compositions, "Be a Little Sweeter to Me," published by Jeromei H. Remick, is becoming quite popular and will doubtless make its appearance soon on a record. Diva Autographs Records Luisa Tetrazzini, world-famous coloratura, appeared in concert in Los Angeles last week. Her favorite piano is the Hardman and she visited the Wiley B. Allen Co.'s store on Broadway. Harold Jackson, manager of the talking machine department, took advantage of her visit and obtained a number of autographed signatures on her Red Seal Victrola records, which will be prized by those who secure them. Flies Over Los Angeles Charles Mack, city salesman for the Columbia Co., started from the de Mille aviation field and flew in a biplane all over his territory, distributing certificates to people below which entitled the finders to Columbia fifty-nine-cent records, obtainable from the nearest Columbia dealer. Mr. Mack flew low, in many cases just above some of the tall buildings of Broadway. Wonderful Collection of Antiques Perhaps one of the oldest collections of historic and prehistoric Indian wares is to be found at J. F. Collins Co.'s store in Santa Fe, the oldest of American cities. The store itself, however, is modern in every respect and a very complete talking machine department is maintained, as reported by E. R. Darvill, special representative of the Aeolian Vocalion Co. Canadian Dealer in Los Angeles It is a far cry from Windsor, Canada, to Los Angeles. Six hundred feet, more or less, separate Detroit from Windsor and some of Los Angeles' people feel a little envious of Detroit. No one could accuse a town so close to Windsor of being even semi-arid. R. H. Tamplin, of the Columbia stores, Windsor, spent a number of days here and expressed his intense admiration of everything which he had seen, heard and eaten — well, he couldn't rave about Coca-Cola. Mr. Manufacturer— Mr. Jobber— Mr. Dealer YOU KNOW that the TREND OF THE MARKET is toward THE CONSOLE TYPE. We sensed this tendency long ago and concentrated our efforts on the building of CONSOLES. Therefore: We are in a position to offer you Period Type Models in Consoles at prices that will enable you to cash in on the consumers' desire for a medium priced Console. Well constructed and well finished. Write for full and complete information on Console Cabinets either alone or equipped; or you furnish the equipment and our experts will install. SINGER TALKING MACHINE CO. 575-9 Market Street Milwaukee, Wis.