The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1912)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 39 PICKED UP ON THE BOARDWALK (Special to The lalking Machine World.) Atlantic City, N. J., July 5, 1912. Although the proportion of ladies present at the convention was much smaller this year than on previous occasions and despite the fact that time officially allotted to the convention was limited, those in attendance did not neglect the social side and made up in strenuousness what was lacking in quantity and put every idle minute to advantage. A majority of the members arrived at the seashore on Saturday and Sunday and spent the time before the sessions strolling on the Boardwalk, riding in chairs, sailing and bathing. Tuesday morning saw a great number of jobbers in the ocean, the chance to "flirt with the briny" being especially appreciated by those from the interior and who' do not have the opportunity of getting to the ocean-side very frequently. In the evening large parties made the rounds of the piers and cafes enjoying the music and letting loose generally in a thorough! y pleasant manner. Ideal weather, not too cool nor too warm, and a full The Convention Mascot, moon at night, George Marigold, of Los offered the necesAngeles. s.ary foundation for an enjoyable time during the convention. Oliver K. Jones, who had general charge of the Victor Co.'s entertainment, offeied by the Victor Co. both at Atlantic City and in Philadelphia, and with Henry C. Brown, advertising manager, was very much in evidence and had little difficulty in gathering a crowd together for a session on the balcony in Old Vienna or at any other of the many places where good fellows meet — and what is more, he received all the courtesies. One of the really amusing and thoroughly enjoyable features of the convention was the work of Burton J. Pierce and his "Angel Chorus," which took every opportunity to make itself heard. The favorite stunt was to pick out some prominent and popular member of the association and sing : They say that John Smith he ain't got no style, But he's style all the while, he's style all the while ; They say that John Smith he ain't got no style, But he's style all the while, all the while. Amen. The effect of that song rendered by thirty or forty voices with little or no training had better be imagined than heard. Incidentally, it may be mentioned that Mr. Pierce brought all the way from Kansas City his well-known laugh, which he had packed carefully and which reached the seashore without a break. The Pierce laugh is of the volume and timbre that makes the hee-haw of the famous mule Maud sound like a girlish giggle. It can be heard for two miles on a clear day. One of the younger members of the convention aggregation was George Marigold, son of G. S. Marigold, of the Southern California Music Co., Los Angeles, Cal. This was Master Marigold's first trip to the Atlantic and he saw much to wonder at, though he stated frankly that the water of the Pacific and Atlantic were much the same from the bather's point of view. George is a manly and self-possessed little chap and is thinking strongly of following in his father's footsteps in the talking machine trade, so he can get to the annual conventions of the jobbers. The Lone Star State was represented by two of. her worthy sons, H. T. Walz, of the W. G. Walz Co., El Paso and J. M. Swanson of the Houston Phonograph Co., Houston. Mr. Walz was accompanied by his wife, a charming young lady, and combined an extended trip through the North with his visit to the convention. Both Texans were keenly alive to the perils arising out of the trouble in Mexico and felt that something should be done to protect Americans. Mr. Walz had a number of photographs showing the actual conditions over the border, and was of the opinion that the military should prevent further danger to the citizens of El Paso by mounting field guns back of the city and commanding Juarez by that means. Mr. Swanson, who is a member of that famous organization, the Texas Rangers, was keenly interested in the threat of the governor of that state to take matters in his own hands and clean out the "Greasers" without further parley. It is the opinion of the talking machine man that it would only take a couple of regiments of Texans to do the work. Max Landay, of Landay Bros., the prominent distributors of New York, was early on the job with a Bangkok hat of wondrous shape and a human cane, the head of which he declared was made of the foot of a dwarf found petrified in a Buddhist temple in Thibet by the first expedition of British troops to enter that country some years ago. Whatever its origin, it was "some" cane and incidentally "some" hat. Max was also all there in other ways and at the Old Vienna persuaded Maurice Levi's orchestra to play what he termed the "Simplex Rag." While the fact that Mr. Landay is acting as sales agent for the Simplex start and stop' device for talking machines and that the "rag" had a familiar sound seemed rather suspicious, he got away with the stunt in great shape. The members of the large party which made the round of the prominent cafes on Monday night will not soon forget the "Keencutter Kid" from Cleveland, who, despite an over indulgence Mr. and Mrs. Harry T. Walz. in the brew, displayed a wit that brought him through with flying colors. More than one talking machine man tried to cross swords with him only to come out second best in the encounter of wits. What would a jobber's convention be without Victor Rapke? Sure he was there — all there. Arrived with a supply of New York deptuy sheriff's badges which he distributed to gentlemen and ladies alike and some of which he never recovered. O. K. Houck looked so impressive with the gold badge on his coat that he got onto the Steeplechase pier for nothing, which is some stunt. J. M. Swanson also found a badge useful in carrying out his duties as doorkeeper of the* meeting room. Following out custom is all right in some cases, but it can be overdone. As has been the rule, newspaper men were excluded from the meetings of the assoc i a t i o n, but secured detailed information of what had occurred from the members after the meeting had ended. Why the mystery? James F. Bowers makes an ideal toastmaster. He is witty, clear spoken and has perfect control of himself, but he is so well read and quotes from so many passages during his talks that it takes his hearers hours to look up the quotations to which he refers. He might well adopt the practice of the churches in displaying book, chapter and verse number for the guidance of his audience. Max Landay and Human Cane. His Elsewhere appears a snapshot showing Louis Buehn, fully accoutered for a dip in the briny. Some of the visitors wanted to know if he was going to enter a bicycle race, judging from the cap. It isn't so. Of course, he wears a cap when bathing, but there's a reason. Those who were assigned to car number thirteen on the Victor Co. outing, entered the vehicle with a bravado that was absolutely touching, but fate was against them. Number 13 was one of the first cars to get lest, and had to travel to Valley Forge all alone. The talking machine men are getting an excellent reputation as spenders at Atlantic City, to judge from the interest shown in them by the various resort managers. As soon as the crowd entered a cafe the big mogul looked after them himself, and to judge from some of the checks, ordered that prices raised to meet the situation. The Old Vienna showed a proper regard for the importance of the convention by securing as an added attraction Maurice Levi and his band, who were more than obliging. If L. C. Wiswell can sell talking machines with the facility with which he can dispose of banquet tickets his future income is assured. He was so successful in disposing of the tickets that he had to visit the treasurer at intervals and disgorge so that he could travel comfortably. Very few of the jobbers succeeded in getting away from him, once he got on their trail. One feature of the jobbers' convention that is bound to impress the casual observer is the many sections of the country represented at the gathering. There are men from the Pacific Coast, from Texas, from the Rockies, from Chicago, from New {Continued on page 42.)