The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1914)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. From Our Chicago Headquarters CONSUMERS' BUILDING, 220 South State Street, E. P. VAN HARLINGEN, MANAGER. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Chicago, III., February 9. — The local talking machine trade was a bit startled recently when the Talking Machine Shops came out in liberal space in certain of the dailies and announced with characteristic enterprise that two of the best professional dancers in Chicago had been secured for the benefit of the patrons and friends of the Shops and that a series of afternoon tangos would be given. The announcement continued as follows : "The dancers are Claude Wickham Kucker, former pupil of Maurice and of Cassell, who is said to be outdancing his teachers, and Miss Buckley, formerly a solo danseuse of the Chicago Grand Opera Ballet. Between the dances the salespeople would canvass each of the audience, inquiring, "Are you enjoying the dancing? Are you interested in dancing yourself? Have you a Victrola? Have you any of the latest dance records? Would you like to be put upon our mailing list?" and so on, depending upon the answers given by the visitor. The dancing of Miss Buckley and Mr. Kucker was most excellent and they received hearty applause from the spectators, who were entertained between the dances with some of the Red Seal records and others of the more "popular" class. The result of the efforts of the salespeople and the favorable impression made by the dancers was made evident when the program had come to an makes his home in Chicago, has made arrangements with talking machine dealers in other cities The Chicago Office of The Talking Machine World has removed to new and larger quarters at 1024 Consumers' Building, 220 So. State Street. Tango Dancing at the They will dance the tango, the maxixe and the hesitation to Victrola accompaniment. The object of these afternoon dances, of course, is to assist the thousands of people who own a Victrola in making use of it as an orchestra for these new steps. And undoubtedly many delightful home parties will be the result of this innovation." Did the scheme work? It certainly did. People came by the scores and the average daily attendance for the week was in the neighborhood of 250 persons, with dozens turned away for lack of space to hold them. Our illustration shows only one corner of the big room. From every side the crowd looked on and also carried chairs into the record rooms, where they could stand on them and look over the heads of those in front. Talking Machine Shops. end, for the crowd lingered for some time and, breaking up into little groups, entered the demonstration booths, there to buy records or perhaps a machine. "While the direct results and sales of machines are alone sufficient to warrant the expense," said G. W. Davidson, "the most pleasing part is the large number of record customers we are making. In a city of this size the general advertising effect is very beneficial and we are making regular patrons of people who before were hardly aware of our location and our facilities for serving them. I am very much pleased with the way things are going and we are re-engaging the dancers for the coming week." The success of the novelty has evidently made itself known in other cities, for Mr. Kucker, who whereby he and his partner will be taken away from their home city for some time. How Mr. Easton Impressed Us. Edward D. Easton, president of the Columbia Graphophone Co., was a recent visitor to Chicago and inspected the fine -new Michigan avenue quarters' of the Chicago branch, which he pronounced very good. Mr. Easton directs the destinies of a big corporation, but he is a man whom it is a distinct pleasure to meet. Courteous and kindly he is, and one feels a warmth in the region of his heart long after having come in contact with him. Somehow one loses any daily newspaper inculcated prejudice against big business when its representatives are men like the Columbia's president. As the above paragraph lay on the desk of The World, a clipping containing a report of an address made by the manager of one of the big State street department stores at a meeting of its buyers, general salesmen and assistants. It seems to work in nicely with a reference to a man of Mr. Easton's ability and personality, vide this : "Devotion to duty leads inevitably to a mastery of all of the intricate demands of any position. The man who is sufficiently engrossed in his duties, to become master of his position, cannot help but compel his employer's consideration for his success, providing the latter is of the right type. The big, broad-minded virile man of the hour, and only such men can succeed to-day." Boss the "Talker" Business, Too? Oh, yes, we escorted our wives and our sweethearts to the registration polls last week, and dreamed dreams of the coming age when the feminine contingent will run politics and Government literature, science and art, boss the trade papers, chase news items and hustle for the festive ad vertisement. Vive la femme ! (Continued on page 40.) The Practical Fibre Needle Cutter— THE WADE The Wade The Wade The WADE embodies the right principle, worked out through long experience. It is simple, durable and accurate. It trims the needle at an angle resulting in the best tone. The WADE cutters are made of the best steel and are absolutely guaranteed. The WADE is the most economical cutter. It has a selfacting stop, which prevents waste and enables one to get from 12 to 15 perfect playing points. No. 1 is a very popular cutter which has given excellent service. 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