The talking machine world (July-Dec 1923)

40 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD December 15, 1923 National Figures Extend Christmas Greetings Prominent Men and Women in Political and Amusement World Make Gennett Christmas Records — Something New in Recording — Countrywide Pre-holiday Publicity Campaign Under Way A radical departure from the usual run of Christmas and holiday records has been conceived by the Starr Piano Co., of Richmond, Ind., manufacturer of Gennett records and Starr phonographs. A series of ten ten-inch doublesided records containing Christmas greetings from prominent personages has been made and a most extensive distribution and advertising campaign is now well under way. The numbers include "My Christmas Wish," by Mitzi Hajos; "Christmas and Father," by "Abe Martin," the well-known cartoon character conceived by Kin Hubbard; "Christmas Greetings," by Bebe Daniels, famous movie star; "Christmas in Hollywood," by Shirley Mason, another well-known movie star; "The Lord's Prayer," by William Jennings Bryan, and "The Twentythird Selection," also by Mr. Bryan; "Always Christmas," recitation by William D. Nesbit, and "God Bless Us All," another recitation by Mr. Nesbit; "Andy Gump's Holiday Greeting," by Andy Himself (Sidney Smith); "The Dream of the World," by Merideth Nicholson, novelist. The reverse side of each record also contains an appropriate Christmas selection. Special containers, in green, gold and red, with the words "Christmas Greetings" on the cover, together with holly decorations, have been prepared for these recordings. On the back of the cover page of some of the containers appears a photograph of the artists who made the records and others contain the text of the greeting. Also, some of the records are autographed by the artists. The special pre-holiday advertising campaign which has been inaugurated by the Starr Piano Co. in behalf of these records is probably the most extensive ever undertaken by the company for such a brief period. Newspapers throughout the country tell the story directly to the public; special folders and dealer advertising have been placed at the service of retailers desiring to make use of it, and some excellent and timely window display material, including large photographs of the artists, hangers, special record supplements, etc., has been prepared. Although all Starr dealers are being supplied, only one department store in each city has been permitted to place the records on sale. In these establishments special departments have been installed on the main floors and window displays and publicity are being utilized. It is the opinion of Starr Co. executives that the manner in which these records are going over indicates that a new idea launched at the proper time can be made a tremendous source of revenue, both for the retail trade and the distributor. Largely responsible for this innovation in records is C. R. Moores, of the Starr Co., who made arrangements with the various artists and personally supervised every detail of the planning and execution of the project, spending many months exclusively at this task. Mr. Moores, by the way, has been prominently connected with the talking machine business for a number of years and, prior to his connection with the Starr Co., he was associated with jobbing interests in the Middle West, where he is well known to the retail trade. First Vocalion European Records Announced Arrangements Made by O. W. Ray While in Europe Makes Available to Americans Through Vocalion Records 12,000 Recordings by Noted European Artists The results of the European tour made last Spring by Oscar W. Ray, general manager of the Vocalion record division of the Aeolian Co., have been strongly evidenced in the recent announcement of the first listing of a number of European recordings on Vocalion records, these initial listings to be followed by others in regular order. The first of the new foreign records were released late last month, and included selections from the catalogs of the Polyphon Co. and of the Milano Laboratories in Italy, two of the most noted European concerns who have placed at the service of the Vocalion recordings of artists of prominence both in Europe and the LTnited States. While Mr. Ray was abroad he made definite and important agreements with both the Poly phon and Milano laboratories and also with the Vocalion Recording Laboratory in London for the use of their recordings which will tend to make available to the dealers and the public in the United States some 12,000 new numbers, including a special list of German Christmas records that have been forwarded to Vocalion distributors with appropriate advertising matter for the holiday season. The Vocalion Laboratories are now busily engaged in producing records to be added to the foreign list, these to be offered in conjunction with the regular Vocalion catalog. The new records are ofTered in a number of foreign languages, including Polish, Russian, German, Italian and Hebrew, and are expected to open up a most profitable sales field for Vocalion record dealers. "JEP" BISBEE MAKES EDISON RECORDS Country Fiddler Discovered by Thomas A. Edison and Henry Ford During Camping Trip Makes Records of Old-time Jigs and Reels "Jep" Bisbee, the eighty-eight-year-old fiddler, whom Thomas A. Edison and Henry Ford discovered while on their camping trip in Michigan last Summer, has made records of many of the old-time selections and dance numbers which have brought him fame during a halfcentury of fiddling at the country dances in and around Paris, Mich., and is again back home. Edison records of jigs, reels and square dances have been made by the old fiddler, who, accompanied by hi? family, was brought to the Edison laboratories in Henry Ford's private car. While in Orange he was the guest of Mr. Edison. The records, it is understood, will be presented to Mr. Ford, who will distribute them among friends. The aged fiddler was presented with a Ford automobile by Mr. Ford. Mr. and Mrs. Bisbee will be asked to dance an old-time jig before the motion-picture camera for Mr. Ford's especial benefit. M. I. S. CO.'S PRACTICAL ORDER BLANK Victor Jobber Uses New Typ>e of Order Blank to Advantage — Plus Record Sales Suggestions Receive the Attention of Dealers "Needle Points" No. 2 General Phonograph Corporation OTTO HEINEMAN, President 25 West 45th Street New York The only part of a phonograph that touches the playing surface is the needle. Upon this tiny part, following the grooves, depends the clearness of tone and the life of the record. Perfect reproduction and record longevity are assured by the highest grade carbon steel, uniform points, and uniform tone-sizes of QUALITY NEEDLES The Musical Instrument Sales Co., New York, Victor wholesaler, has received many letters of praise from its dealers regarding the order blank which the company is using in connection with the Victor weekly record releases. This order blank gives a list of each week's releases, with the bottom section devoted to a postcard order form, which can be used by the dealer in placing orders for the records released that particular week. Opposite the order blank is a "plus record sale" suggestion relative to that particular week as, for example, in the November 30 bulletin it was suggested that record No. 959, featuring "Kiss Me Again" and "A Kiss in the Dark" by Galli Curci was a record worthy of energetic sales effort. These suggestions are being afforded careful consideration by 'the dealers, as they are timely and practical. OTTO HEINEMAN VISITS CHICAGO Otto Heineman, president and founder of the General Phonograph Corp., manufacturer of Okeh and Odeon records, spent a week in Chicago the latter part of November, visiting the offices of the General Phonograph Corp. of Illinois and conferring with S. A. Ribolla, general manager of this company. Mr. Heineman also visited E. A. Fearn, president of the Consolidated Talking Machine Co., Okeh and Odeon jobber, and he was delighted to learn that this enterprising wholesaler is closing the most successful year in its history, an indication of the growing popularity of these records.