The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1913)

42 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. Two favorite classics by Josef Hofmann in the Columbia list for March— another chance to fill up the credit side of your Big Book. Columbia Graphophone Company Tribune Building, New York ANNUAL BANQUET OF THE EDISON CLUB Held Recently at the Lyceum in Orange, N. J., Attended by Thomas A. Edison and Three Hundred Others — Musical and Prandial Exercises Interesting — Letter to Members from Thomas A. Edison Enthusiastically Received — The Menu a Work of Art. The second annual banquet of the Edison Club, which is composed of employes of the Thos. A. Edison Co., Inc., was held at the Lyceum, East Orange, N. J., the closing week of January. There were about three hundred present, with Thos. A. Edison as the guest of honor. With him on the stage were the Mayors of Orange, East Orange and West Orange. There was an interesting musical program interpreted by the various artists who make records for the Edison Co., and each and all seemed to do their best to make the great inventor realize that they were singing in his honor and for his benefit. This was particularly true in the case of Miss annual banquet is approaching, thus marking a milestone in the progress of your club. "It is a source of much gratification to us to know of your success and to realize that the wholesome fraternal principles under which you organized have been so well observed that your club in the past year has grown from healthy infancy to lusty childhood. "We extend our hearty congratulations, together with good wishes, for your future prosperity and usefulness." The menu, by the way, was a work of art, and consisted of twenty pages of original matter, which was full of "hits" cleverly written and McChesney, in which he spoke of Edison as "the greatest man living." The members of the entertainment committee having charge of the program were: W. F. O'Connor, chairman; Frank E. Evans, E. L. Walker, Fred Pullin and J. E. Sease. Herbert R. Leisk is president of the Edison Club, William Courtney, treasurer, and Daniel J. Laushway, secretary. As may be inferred the Edison Club is composed of the employes of the big corporation which is under the management of Thos. A. Edison, and their annal reunions are always a source of enjoyment that are looked forward to with pleasure by the members. AN ATTRACTIVE WINDOW Arranged in Store of M. W. Waitt & Co., Ltd., Vancouver, to Celebrate Golden Jubilee. M. W. Waitt & Co., Ltd., Vancouver, B. C, in order to celebrate the golden jubilee in business, arranged a special window display that attracted a Great Gathering of Members of the Edison Club at Annual Banquet Held Recently, with Thomas A. Edison as Guest of Honor. Elizabeth Spencer, the well known soprano, whose various numbers were sung with great feeling and were apparently enjoyed by Mr. Edison, for his expression with his hand to his ear taking in the sound, was strikingly like that in which he has been pictured in the now familiar trade mark. The singing of the "Dixie Girls" quartet was also delightful ; and the entire musical program was one of enjoyment. As is customary Mr. Edison made no speech to the "boys," but addressed them through a letter as he did at the last banquet, and a facsimile of which was printed in the menu. This communication, which was received with enthusiasm, also bore the signature of Carl H. Wilson, vice-president and general manager of the works, and was as follows : "As we stand upon the threshold of another year we arc reminded that the time of your second abounding in quips largely of a local flavor. There were also Several illustrations, one in particular, a double-page cartoon by Ray Morris, one of the entertainers, who featured just what happened on January 2d, when Edison assumed control of his various enterprises. It pictured Edison standing in his characteristic attitude, with hands in pocket, listening to the plaint of his chief subordinates, while everybody from the porter to the heads of the departments is hustling under the eye of the new "boss." Thos. J. Leonard was master of ceremonies, and fulfilled his responsibilities most admirably. In addition to announcing the numbers on the program, he read a number of telegrams that were hits on the members of the club. One "real" telegram was that sent from Denver, Col., from the former president of the club, Leonard W. great deal of attention. As the occasion was near Christmas, the window took on much of the holiday spirit and was decorated to represent a snow scene. The foreground showed a large sleigh drawn by a Cariboo elk, loaded with a piano, Edison Opera, and Victor IX, while two sacks filled with records had scattered over the snow on the ground. The sides were, fenced in and tufted with snow, making the display very realistic. The background showed a house with Santa Claus getting down the chimney, with an Edison Gem, and through the window could be seen a little boy and a Victor dog looking into the red fire. The window had extra lights, all told about 720 candle power, and so was very bright and attracted attention even from the crowds across the street. A noticeable result was the number of Edisons and Victors that the display sold during the week.