The talking machine world (July-Dec 1922)

134 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD LOS A N G E L E~S Business Continues to Move Apace Despite Strikes and V acations — Console Models Continue in Favor — Other News Los Angeles, Cal., August 7. — The past month has proved to be an exceedingly good one for talking machine departments in spite of the fact that vacations are in full swing and many families are out of town enjoying the beaches and mountains. However, this city has grown to such a size and there is such a large influx of settlers arriving all the time that seasons and different months of the year can be practically disregarded. The number of new homes which are being built is very great and, of course, this is having a stimulating effect on business. Console Models Popular Console and period types of talking machines continue to grow in popularity, and dealers arc experiencing difficulties in keeping up with the demand for some of the models. This is particularly true with the Victor line of consoles, which, in the case of several models, are unobtainable throughout this territory; however, relief is promised in the near future and large shipments are expected soon. Cheney Headquarters Well Established The Munson-Rayner Corp., Cheney distributor for the State of California, has fitted up a suite of very attractive offices in the Homer Laughlin Building, and a complete line of de luxe period models is on display. Quite a number of dealers in southern California outside of Los Angeles are now representing the Cheney, and announcement of the names, accompanied by display advertisements in the newspapers, of the city dealers will be made within the next thirty days. Headquarters for the northern California territory will be established in San Francisco in the near future, according to Sales Manager Darvill. H. Jackson With Sherman, Clay & Co. Harold Jackson has been appointed assistant to C. H. Ruggles, manager of the local wholesale Victor branch of Sherman, Clay & Co. Mr. Jackson was until recently manager of the phonograph department of the Wiley B. Allen Co. Columbia Stores to Open in Pasadena The Columbia Stores will open in Pasadena about September 1, under the management of R. L. Tamplin, who has been operating similar stores in San Diego and San Bernardino. Mr. Tamplin started his first Columbia exclusive store in San Diego last October and made a great success of it from the beginning. He followed this up by a second store in San Bernardino and will operate in Pasadena with his third after September. Originally from England, Mr. Tamplin operated a phonograph store, carrying the Columbia line exclusively, in Windsor, Canada, and built up a very fine business, which he eventually sold out and then came down to southern California. R. W. Moon Back From Gotham R. W. Moon, general manager of the Swanson Portable Phonograph Co., returned to this city last week after an extended trip to Chicago and New York. Mr. Moon has established the Munson-Raynor Corp. as distributor for California of the new Swanson portable phonograph, but will retain his offices here, as well as those in Chicago and New York. He will remain in Los Angeles for about ten days and will then leave for the East and Middle West. New Manager of Phonographs at Wiley B. Allen E. P. Tucker, general manager of the local branch of the Wiley B. Allen Co., has appointed W. Bell sales manager of the talking machine department. J. J. Grimsey Returns After Long Absence After an absence of seventeen to eighteen years, J. J. Grimsey — or Joe, as he is known by his friends — has returned to Los Angeles. Joe Grimsey established the first Columbia headquarters here in 1904 and left soon afterwards for Seattle, where he managed the Columbia branch in that city for a number of years. He afterwards obtained the Dictaphone agency for Seattle and conducted it for some time. He has now returned to manage the southern California branch of the Walter S. Gray Co., talking machine accessory distributor and Pacific Coast jobber of the Strand phonograph and Strand Consolette, and is very welcome. Music Trades Association Meets The July meeting, of the Music Trades Association was attended by over fifty members, the occasion being the return of those members who had attended the National Jubilee Convention in New York. Speeches were made by all the delegates and' satisfaction expressed by them at the benefits derived by all who were there. President Boothe announced that a banner had been August 15, 1922 awarded to the Southern California Association for the best organized effort and that it had been anticipated that the formal presentation would be made at the present meeting, but that the banner, with its suitable inscription, had not yet arrived. Members of Paul Whiteman's Orchestra Here Several members of the celebrated Paul Whiteman's 'orchestra visited this city during July, including Donald E. Clark, M. Pingatore, Harold McDonald and Paul Whiteman himself. Practically all of the members of this orchestra claim this city as their home town and long before they went to New York and recorded for the Victor Talking Machine Co. they were famous in this part of the country as the Hotel Alexandria Dance Orchestra. Piatt Music Co. Enjoys Outing On July 19 the entire Piatt Music Co. organization were guests of their president, Ben Piatt, at a unique outing. One hundred and twenty employes of the store journeyed down to San Pedro, twenty-five miles away, where they were received on board the Marco Hellmann houseboat. A sumptuous banquet was enjoyed. A cabaret show, composed of members of the Piatt organization, was given. Speeches were afterwards made by Marco Hellmann, president of Hellmann's Bank; E. Cohen, vice-president, and by the celebrated actor, George Beban. A trip was also taken by the ladies around the harbor in Mr. Hellmann's steam yacht. E. D. Sloat at Wurlitzer's The new branch of the Rudolph Wurlitzer Co., which was recently opened in this city and occupies the quarters formerly leased by the Bartlett Music Co., has E. D. Sloat as manager of the Victrola department. Barker Bros. Close San Diego Store The Barker Bros, branch in San Diego has been closed after having been established in that city for over two years. Earl S. Dible, former manager, after disposing of the lease, has joined the sales department of the Los Angeles music department of Barker Bros. Some Columbia News A rousing welcome was extended to Duci De Kerekjarto, famous Hungarian violinist and exclusive Columbia artist, on the occasion of his appearance at the Orpheum Theatre in this city recently. Columbia dealers all tied up very strongly with this appearance through the use of appropriate window displays and they all report an active demand for Kerekjarto records. A unique feature of the publicity was a large replica of a Columbia record twelve feet in diameter mounted on a truck with appropriate banners which paraded the downtown streets every day during the artist's appearance and which attracted considerable interest everywhere. A new addition to the long list of Columbia dealers in this territory is that of Smith Brothers at Van Nuys, Cal. This concern was formerly a Columbia dealer at Maricopa, Cal., but two years ago moved to San Pedro, where it engaged in another line of business. Owing to the ill health of one of the partners the San Pedro business was closed out some time ago and the concern moved to Van Nuys, where it made application immediately for the Columbia franchise. Among other Columbia dealers recently established by the Los Angeles branch are Rosenblatt Bros., 2501 Central avenue, and M. Chernoff, 2101 East First street. Both of these dealers cater to extensive Hebrew-Jewish clientele, and carry complete stocks of these records of all kinds. The Los Angeles branch recently appointed a new exclusive Japanese dealer in Los Angeles, K. Okasawa, at 124 South San Pedro street, where it placed an order for a complete stock of Grafonolas and a representative record library. G. C. Vasquez, 11 South Meyer street, Tucson, Ariz., has recently been appointed a Columbia dealer, and with this appointment the Columbia Co. has three exclusive dealers in Tucson. The other two Columbia representatives in this city are R. R. Floras and the Morrison Music Co. THE P0RTABL00P Size 24x27 inches over all The next big seller in radio. Opening an entirely new field for the radio dealer. Don't hesitate, order a sample now. List Price $10-00 210 Central Avenue