The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1910)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 29 ever-popular opera and both soloist and chorus work is excellent. Harry Anthony and James P. Harrison, who have recently been engaged by the Victor Co., are represented by the first of a series of duets, Campana's "See the Pale Moon" (5,780). Their work as represented in this record is excellent. Twelve numbers are listed under the double-face record list this month, and the list is certainly a good one. There is a wide selection of both popular and classical music covering instrumental and vocal fields. The list in full, which appears in another part of The Review, is well worth studying. The Universal Talking Machine Mfg. Co.'s list of Zonophone double disc records for May and Jane contains some excellent numbers by Thomas Chalmers, Byron G. Harlan, Wm. Wheeler, Frank Howard, duets by Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler, and a number of miscellaneous selections excellently recorded by artists well and favorably known and with a big following in the talking machine trade. There are four instrumental numbers by the Zonophone Concert Band, "The Spirit of Peace March" and "Valse Militaire" (5623) and "Scottish Idyl" and the introduction to the third act of "Lohengrin" (5624), which are given a very excellent reading. These Zonophone numbers, as may be seen from the list published in the regular department elsewhere, cover a wide field — popular, religious, standard songs, as well as vocal quartets and instrumental numbers being represented. TO MAKE PIANO RECORDS. Senor Emilio Murillo, the Famous Mexican Pianist, Is Under Contract with the Columbia Phonograph Co. Senor Emilio Murillo, the renowned composer and pianist of Bogota, Republic of Colombia, S. A., has an exclusive contract with the Columbia Phonograph Co., general, for a series of twenty piano records. It is concededly difficult t) make a piano record, as it requires a sympathy with the purpose and a keenly artistic comprehension to achieve success. In the case of Senor Murillo his playing is so powerfully brilliant and clear-cut that there are no faulty overtones or blurring, hence the arrangement with the Columbia Co. Last week ten of what are considered to be notable examples of recorded piano music were made by Murillo, who plays his own compositions only. As soon as these records are finished and ready for listing they will go in the foreign catalog and be exploited especially in Colombia by the export department of the Columbia Co. On July 9th Senor Murillo, by special invitation, rendered selections from his best known works before an audience of the diplomatic corps stationed in Washington, D. C, in compliment to his own countrymen. The function was attended by President Taft, members of his cabinet, Senators, Representatives, foreign Ambassadors and Ministers and other people prominent in the service and public life of the national capital. TWO MORE NATIONAL RECORD "HITS." "Put On Your Slippers, You're In for the Night," Louise Dresser's big "hit" in the successful musical comedy, "A Matinee Idol," running at the Lyric, New York City, and "I'm the Man They're Looking For," a comic sequel to "Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly?" which it bids fair to rival in popularity, are being shipped out this month as "specials" by the National Phonograph Co., to go on sale as soon as received. The first is sung by Ada Jones, in her usual unapproachable style, and Edward M. Favor, assisted by a very capable chorus, concludes the history of the much-sought-for "Kelly from the Emerald Isle." The usual order of shipments in the case of these "specials" will be reversed, the Eastern jobbers being served first and then, in the order of distance, the Central, Southern and Western jobbers. The advance orders for these records are very heavy. THE TRADE IN INDIANAPOLIS. Strong Demand for High Class Outfits — Campers Buying Machines and Records — Musical Echo Co. to Move — Aeolian Co. Store Takes on Victors — Grafonolas Selling Well. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Indianapolis, Ind., June 8, 1910. The talking machine business has shown some ginger during the last month. The greatest demand with all stores has been for the higherpriced instruments. This applies to the wholesale as well as the retail business. The Edison Amberolas, the Victrolas and the Grafonolas of the Columbia Co. have all met with a nice demand. The camping season will soon be on, and already the campers are getting ready for it. Indianapolis is a great city for summer camps, and usually a summer camp is not regarded as being complete unless it has a talking machine. Last summer White River above Broad Ripple was lined with summer camps, and in the evening about twilight, any number of talking machines might be heard up and down the river. This camping place, together with others, stimulates the sale of machines and records materially, although, of course, it does not bring the business up to the winter standard. The Musical Echo Co., handling the Victor machines exclusively, are. arranging to remove to the Indiana Pythian building. This removal is made because the Grand Opera House block, in which the store is now located, is to be remodeled extensively. After the removal of the Musical Echo Co., this company, the WulschnerStewart Music Co., and the Aeolian Co., all of which will handle Victor machines, will be in the same block. The Aeolian store here is to take on the Victor line in compliance with the change by which this line of talking machines will be put in by all of the Aeolian agencies. The entire third floor of the New Aeolian Hall will be remodeled and devoted to the Victor line. The Aeolian Co. have also opened a branch store at Fort Wayne, which will be in charge of W. P. Chrisler, formerly of New York, and the Victor line will be handled at this store. The Musical Echo Co. reports a good business in the better class of instruments. Marion Dorian, auditor for the Columbia Phonograph Co., was a recent caller on business at the local store of the Columbia Co. The Columbia Co. have had a good business during the month with a nice demand for Grafonolas. One of the purchasers of a Grafonola was C. L. Cummins, a well-known newspaper writer and manufacturer, of Indianapolis. It was a DeLuxe Style B, and sold for $225. Mr. Devine, of the Columbia Co., says that the retail trade, in the higher-priced instruments in particular, has been good. The Cavalieri records have proved to be the best sellers with the Columbia Co. during the last month. E. G. Hereth, the manager of the Indianapolis piano house of the Baldwin Co., was another purchaser of a Grafonola Regent, at the Columbia store. The Musical Echo Co. recently showed an attractive window, consisting of an arch built of records and surrounding a Victor machine. The Kipp-Link Co., who handle Edisons, report a good business in Amberolas, both at wholesale and retail. A number of dealers recently have ordered as many as five or six Amberolas each. STRIKING MAGAZINE ADVERTISING. The magazine advertising of the Victor Talking Machine Co., Camden, N. J., is of so striking a nature as to call for a special word of praise. Not having the space to go into details in this issue of The World, later this interesting topic will be referred to again in more detail. The Columbia Phonograph Co., General, have sent their dealers a new enlarged catalog of complete newspaper advertisements, for their study and selection. EDUCATIONAL POSSIBILITIES Of the Victor Talking Machine Discussed by the Editor of the Voice of the Victor in Interesting Fashion. ( Special to The Talking Machine World. ) Philadelphia, Pa., June 10, 1910. In the last issue of The Voice of the Victor, so ably conducted by H. C. Brown, manager of the advertising department of the Victor Talking Machine Co., Camden, N. J., occur the following sage remarks: "The boards of education, superintendents of public schools, universities and colleges are recognizing in the Victor the only practical method of conveying to scholars and students a true understanding and appreciation of music. We knew this would come, and while we have long realized the immensity of its possibilitie.5, we have never been able to devote the time and proper attention to its development. Even now it is forcing itself upon us and we are as rapidly as possible perfecting arrangements to properly care for this demand for Victor goods. While we are making every preparation as speedily as possible, every dealer in the land can be of great help to us and land many sales by promoting the idea in his home town. "As a well-known music critic recently remarked apropos of this subject: 'T!ie quest'on has been asked, "What is the value of the Victor in the schoolroom?" Until one understands the work in school music of to-day the value of the Victor cannot be fully appreciated. (1) Good records give the children something worth while to think about, feel and live with. (2) It acquaints them with the world's greatest artists, the great composers and their compositions. (3) It trains the ear, makes good listeners, and therefore disciplines both mind and body. (4) It saves time. (5) It lifts children to a sound moral and mental atmosphere.* In the city of Milwaukee seven schools earned Victors by this simple method: they each arranged for a Victor delivered to them on time payments, and gave concerts, charging a small admission of ten or twenty-five cents, and took in enough to pay for machines and a fair assortment of records in quick time. "In conclusion, this suggestively brisk remark is made to the dealer: Promote the idea of a Victor in your city, through the educational institutions of whatever classification, private, public or religious." DISC AND MUSIC SYNCHRONY. Valuable patents have just been granted to Walter M. Davis, retail manager of Hardman. Peck & Co., New York City, covering his invention for playing, together, any talking machine and any player-piano. (See page 48.) Owners of these popular instruments have for years realized the great advantage to be obtained by such a combination and many minds have been concentrated on the problem. The difficulty has been to synchronize the music roll and the disc so that the player-piano might play artistically the accompaniment to the solo on the talking machine. This has now been accomplished by Mr. Davis and it will not be necessary for the owner of both of these separate instruments to exchange them, as they can be played together by merely buying additional music rolls and discs that are made for this purpose. The only connection will be a small wire to automatically start the player-piano at precisely the desired moment. In playing an accompaniment there is a prelude of several bars before the solo begins, and as these machine discs contain only the solo parts it would be impossible to determine the exact place to begin the playerpiano without this automatic starting device. It will at once be recognized that this invention will broaden the trade for both player-pianos and talking machines by adding to the pleasure and interest of the buyer — in fact, it is only logical that these two instruments should be used together.