The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1908)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 11 "TALKER" PUTS THIEF TO FLIGHT. Young Inventor's Burglar Catcher Rouses Household and Telephones "Central" — Wired Phonograph Does the Trick. Harold Greenthal, a High School boy, who lives with his father, a lawyer, at 229 East 88th street, New York, is the inventor of a novel burglar alarm, which he conceived owing to the fact that recently the block where he lives has been visited nightly by burglars. Adjusting his mother's phonograph so that the mouthpiece of this instrument faced that of the telephone, he contrived a wire arrangement which removed the telephone receiver and started the phonograph operating at the same time. Registered on a record were these words: "Central, central, tell Police Headquarters burglars are murdering and plundering the Greenthal family, No. 229 East Eighty-eighth street! Central, central," etc. The I'ecord repeated this sentence seventeen times just distinctly enough to be heard in the telephone. Harold was satisfied. A test showed that the device worked perfectly. Then came an injunction from the inventor not to discuss the device with any one for fear burglars would "get next" and spoil the robber catcher. Wires were so fixed to each window and door that the slightest opening would set the machinery working and call out the police. After Saturday's football game, Harold was very tired and went to bed early. He told his sister, Irene, to adjust the mechanism when the family had locked the doors for the night. The apparatus was located in Harold's room on the second fioor. Miss Irene was not forgetful and cautiously arranged the device, as instructed, or as she thought proper. But she made a mistake. Instead of placing in the burglar call to central, she adjusted a record of "The Merry Widow" waltz and retired. It was 2 o'clock next morning when the football star was aroused by the familiar strains. He rubbed his eyes, looked at the child of his brain. saw it revolving and sprang from his bed. The receiver was off and the record rang out plain and distinct whereas his record was almost inaudible except to the telephone. Before he was half way across his room his mother, father and two sisters were screaming: "Harold, stop that noise!" The youth, however, paid no attention and darted down the hallway. He was just in time to see a dark figure crawling out of a broken basement window. The fellow got away so fast that the agile gridiron back couldn't get anywhere near him. Then came explanations. Central was ringing and pleading with the Greenthals to shut off the "Widow" and several voices were trying to explain. The family was gathered in the dining-room' when the pajamaclad inventor got back upstairs. Then the blushing little Irene told her big brother that she placed the wrong record In the machir.e. AN UNIQUE AND PLEASING RECITAL Given by Loeser & Co., Brooklyn, N. Y., in Which the Victor Auxetophone and a Piano Player Were Operated in Conjunction — Audience Enthusiastic Over Rendering of Excellent Program. No greater proof of the artistic value of the talking machine is needed than the constantly growing use of the Auxetophone in concert halls, hotels and other public places where bands or orchestras are generally employed. Only last month we referred at some length to the use of the Auxetophone in conjunction with Pryor's Band at the Exposition Music Hall in Pittsburg, as well as its employment in many of the leading hotels and restaurants throughout the country in connection with the regular orchestras. Another development is the use of the Victor Auxetophone in recital assisted 'by the piano player. This demonstration occurred recently in the music hall of the piano warerooms of Frederick Loeser & Co. in Brooklyn. This, it is believed, is the first time that the piano player has been used in public to reinforce and enrich the accompaniment of songs or instrumental solos as rendered by a talking machine. The program, one of unusual excellence by the way, we print herewith for the guidance of those who desire to give a similar performance: 1. Meistersingpr March Wagner 31427 Sousa's Band 2. Quartet (from Rigoletto) (in Italian) Verdi 96000 Caruso, Abbott, Homer and Scotti 3. Songs, with piano accompaniment — 88108 a. The Rosary (in English) Nevln IMme. Ernestine Schumann-Heink (Accompanied by the Loeser Piano-player.) 88103 b. Who is Sylvia? (in English) .. Schubert IVIme. Emma Eames (Accompanied by the Loeser Piano-player.) 4. Peer Gynt, Suite No 1, op. 46 Grieg 31391 a. Daybrealc in the Mountains 31392 b. Aase's Death 31393 c. Anitra's Dance 4351 d. In the Hall of the Mountain King Pryor's Band 3. The Two Grenadiers (in German) Schumann 74031 Robert Blass (Accompanied by the Loe.«er Piano-player.) 6 Trio (from Paust), Act V (in French) Gounod 95300 Eames, Plancon and Dalmores 7. 'Cello Solo (Berceuse from Jocelyn) Godard 31582 Rosario Bourdon (Accompanied by the Loeser Piano-player.) 8. Coronation March (from Le Prophete) ... Meyerbeer 31503 Pryor's Band 9. Star Spangled Banner 41256 Garde Republicaine Band. The AuxetO'phone-Piano-Player concerts were largely attended and aroused the greatest enthusiasm. Williaim B. White presided at the piano player, and by his artistic reading of the various numbers developed an ensemble that was an artistic delight. The value of such concerts is obvious. They elevate the talking machine from mere commercial to artistic standards, and force its consideration on those critical personages who consider the talking machine merely an amusement factor or a toy. By means of such concerts the general public is educated to a proper comprehension and appreciation of the functions of the talking machine, and in this way the entire industry is benefited. Dealers who desire to succeed in the talking machine business must be constantly developing new ideas in order to attract the attention of the public, and there is no better way than by the giving of concerts — concei'ts that will be interesting, dignified, and educational. It would be wise to rent a small hall and send out invitations or else charge a small fee of admission, or better still, arrange your warerooms so as to enable say from fifty to one hundred people to hear the latest records by the great artists and thus develop a scheme of publicity that will give most satisfactory results. It has been proved by experience that no better plan exists of developing "prospects" than through recitals. WHITBECK RADIATES OPTIMISM. The Southern Ambassador of the Universal Talking Machine Co. Makes Quite an Impression in Houston, Texas. A World subscriber in Houston, Texas — one of the enterprising talking machine dealers in that city — writes The World under recent date as follows: "The general southwestern representative of the Universal Talking Machine Co., Mr. Whitbeck, spent several days in this city last week in the interest of his company. In commenting on Mr. Whitbeck's being so stout and inquiring the cause of his looking so well, his recipe was the general improvement of the country and condition of his order book, which, from general appearances, gave evidence of extensive use. Texas friends are always glad to come in contact with a jovial knight of the grip, and especially our friend 'Whit,' and we hope the remainder of his trip will bring equally good results." FEATUEING THE "STAR" LINE. Ben Reynolds & Co., of Washington, Pa., who recently opened a branch store at 102 Smithfield street, Pittsburg, Pa., have entered the talking machine field in the latter city, being jobbers of the Hawthorne & Sheble Mfg. Co.'s line of "Star" talking machines and records. Their territory includes all cities and towns within a 200-mile radius of Pittsburg. They are building up a big business for these specialties. It's So Easy Yes, it is not only easy to learn a foreign language by the I. C. S. system — the easiest and most perfect way in the world — but it is also easy to sell I. C. S. language outfits. It is easy to sell them to people who are tired of their machines as an amusement device and will be glad to turn them into a source of profit. It is easy to sell them to persons going abroad and who otherwise desire to learn a language for the sake of the knowledge of it alone. It is easy to sell it to men and women who desire to qualify for positions as translators and foreign correspondents. It is easy to sell it to foreigners, in order that they may learn to speak English. In fact there are a great many sound reasons why it is easy to sell the I.C.S. LANGUAGE SYSTEM PHONOGRAPH Do you sell I. C. S. Language outfits? If not, why are you thus neglecting such an important and profitable field of your work? Why are you thus absolutely throwing away at least one-third of your business? The Phonograph system of language instruction is now recognized as an educational factor of great importance and the demand for this sort of language instruction is growing by leaps and bounds. The I. C. S. system is undoubtedly the one of the greatest merit obtainable today. Write us a postal now for further particulars. International Correspondence Schools Box 918, SCRANTON. PA.