The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1916)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 49 CONVENTION OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TALKING MACHINE JOBBERS— (Continued from page 48) inspire, the children of every school in America. "I yield to no one in my appreciation of the rural mail service, and of the rural telephone, but I place above either and above both of them in the service for God and humanity the possibilities of the instrument which will ever more thrill country life with the richest music of the greatest masters." World Famous Artists Entertain Jobbers With a galaxy of artists of international fame, declared to be the greatest ever gathered together for any one concert of either public or private character, with a brilliant audience of talking machine men and their ladies that became madly enthusiastic with the appearance of each new artist on the platform, and with a program that was decidedly well balanced and calculated to bring out the selections with which the audience were most familiar as associated with the records made by the various singers and instrumentalists, the Complimentary Concert given by Victor artists to the National Association of Talking Machine Jobbers in the Rose Hall at the Hotel Traymore on Wednesday night was not only the star feature of this, and for that matter, of preceding conventions, but was a musical event of unusual interest and importance. Every artist appeared to be in a joyous frame of mind and each gave the best that was in him or her, the program being so arranged that each artist had two or three numbers, so diversified Reinald Werrenrath as to offer a fairly large range in music, ranging from opera selections to the lighter ballads and folk songs. Neither the brilliant array of musical talent or their generous work will soon be forgotten by those privileged to attend the concert The program opened with the overture "Mignon," played by the Victor Orchestra, under the direction of Walter B. Rogers, with Rosario Bourdon as associate director. The full orchestra was present and played brilliantly. After the overture came the Orpheus Quartet, consisting of J. S. MacDonald, first tenor; Reinald Werrenrath, baritone; Lambert Murphy, second tenor, and William Hooley, bass, four singers who needed no introduction to the jobbers. The quartet sang with the true darky swing intended by the composer, Will Marion Cook's delightful number, "Swing Along," and followed it with a stirring rendition of the famous and popular "Stein Song." Next in order came the Good Night Quartet from "Martha," sung by Miss Olive Kline, soprano; Miss Sophie Braslau, contralto; Lambert Murphy, tenor, and Reinald Werrenrath, baritone, in a manner that aroused the audience to great enthusiasm. The same quartet, augmented with the other singers of the Victor Opera Company, next sang the familiar, but welcome, waltz from "Faust." The appearance of Efrem Zimbalist, the noted violinist, was greeted with a volume of applause that stopped proceedings temporarily, and the applause was renewed after his wonderful playing of the three selections assigned to him John McCormack on the program, namely: "Harlequin's Serenade," the Andantino from the Second Sonata, Op. 42, of Max Reger, and a brilliant Polish dance of his own composition. The next artist was Emilio de Gogorza, the famous baritone, who gave a magnificent rendering of "Oh, Promise of a Joy Divine," from "Le Roi de Lahore"; the old English ballad, "Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes," and the popular Spanish "La Paloma." The enthusiasm of the audience was again aroused with the appearance of Alma Gluck, one of the greatest of our contraltos, who had for her share of the program Handel's "Oh, Sleep! Why Dost Thou Leave Me?" from "Semele"; "Sing Me to Sleep," with violin obligato, by Mr. Zimbalist, and her famous song, especially in Victor record form, "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny," with the support of a male quartet in the chorus. The final, but, not by any means, the least im Efrem Zimbalist portant. of the artists, was the famous Irish tenor, John McCormack, who, after the tremendous ovation had subsided and he was able to proceed, sang the Prize Song from the "Die Meistersinger"; a delightful little Viennese folk song, "The Old Refrain," with music composed by Fritz Kreisler, and lastly, "Larboard Watch," as a duet, with Mr. Werrenrath. The wonderful entertainment of the evening came to a close with the singing of a medley of patriotic airs by the Victor Opera Company, with the "Star Spangled Banner" as the final Emilio de Gogorza selection, bringing the audience to its feet in a last round of applause and cheers. At the conclusion of the program James F. Bowers, in behalf of the association, expressed the deep appreciation of that body of the treat given them by the artists, which expression was backed by a rising vote of thanks. The several artists were, later in the evening, the guests of Louis F. Geissler at dinner at the Hotel Shelburne, at which some members of the audience and Victor officials were present. ACCESSORY MEN AT CONVENTION Makers of Cabinets, Booths and Other Products Mingle with the Jobbers As is usually the case at the convention of the jobbers, the makers of accessories were considerably in evidence, although there were few exhibits at the hotel. Among those seen about the lobbies during the convention were E. H. Lansing, the maker of the khaki covers for talking machines; Ross Douglas, of the National Toy Co., manufacturer of Ragtime Rastus. the "Wireless Pup" and other novelties for the talking machine; Clement Beecroft and Albert E. Long, representing the Long Cabinet Co., who displayed several newer styles of cabinets in their room; S. O. Wade, of Wade & Wade, Chicago, manufacturers of fibre needle cutters, special oils for talking machines and other accessories, Daniel E. Williams, the veteran representative of the Udell Works, Indianapolis, and H. Allen Dalley, sales manager, and Mr. Drum, representing the Unit Construction Co., makers of Unico booths, Philadelphia, Pa. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETS Jobbers' Executives to Confer with Victor Officials— Decide to Affiliate with Chamber of Commerce of U. S. and Appoint Committee At a meeting of the new executive committee it was decided that the committee go to the Victor factory on Friday to confer with the officials of that company regarding a number of matters of mutual interest and importance. Following the suggestion made at the annual banquet by L. F. Geissler that the association become affiliated with the Chamber of of the United States it was decided by the executive committee to take such action and twelve members of the association were appointed to secure individual memberships in the Chamber. The twelve members were: E. C. Rauth, Geo. E. Mickel, W. H. Reynalds, J. C. Roush, Perry B. Whitsit, James E. Bowers, Andrew J. McCarthy, Wm. Schmelzer, J. N. Blackmail, L. C. Wiswell, R. Wurlitzer, H. A. Winkelman.