The talking machine world (Jan-June 1919)

February 15, 1919 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 105 CLEVELAND DEALERS HOLD A^UAL DINNER Talking Machine Dealers' Association of Northern Ohio to Gather on February 20 — New Officers to Be Elected — Latest News Cleveland, O., February 5. — The annual meeting and banquet of the Talking Machine Dealers' Association of Northern Ohio will be held February 20, at a place not yet decided by the committee of arrangements. During the meeting new officers recently elected will be installed. Herman Wolfe, head of the Wolfe Music Co., will succeed Charles K. Bennett, manager of the Eclipse Musical Co., as president. E. B. Lyons, sales manager of the same company, will succeed himself as secretary. Efforts are being made to make the banquet and meeting of the dealers, who number over fifty from Cleveland and other cities of northern Ohio, the most important one ever held by the organization. Several prominent out-of-town representatives of talking machine producers will be assigned to speak on trade conditions. "The demand for stock in talking machines still exceeds the supply," Mr. Lyons said. "Of course, we are receiving more machines than we previously got, but the supply is still short. Dealers are looking at the future with optimistic eyes, but are longing for brighter days in the trade." There is considerable speculation in Cleveland over the effects prohibition will have on business after May 27, when the State goes dry, under an amendment to the Constitution, adopted November 5 last by voters. More than 1,000 saloons in Cleveland will cease to exist. Scores of them now occupy valuable premises all over the city. Aside from the effect on realty conditions, business men are wondering what will be the direct effect on trade. Talking machine and piano dealers are disposed to regard the coming of State-wide and national prohibition as a boom for them. They reason that when "booze" is eliminated wage-earners will have more money to spend for musical instruments and music. Charles K. Bennett, president of the Talking Machine Dealers' Association of Northern Ohio, is in New York looking after business. Mr. Bennett visited the Victor Co. factory, for which his firm, the Eclipse Musical Co., is distributor for this section. The Collister & Sayle Co.'s display of Victor machines and records for February is one of the most complete in the city. Dixie Land, the subject for decades of songs VAN VEEN "BED-SET" BOOTHS We have predicted for several months that 1919 will be the greatest talking machine year in history. This prediction has " made good " already, and business is booming. Prepare to get your share of this trade by installing additional record booths. WRITE FOR A COPY OF OUR NEW CATALOG Arthur I Van Vepn &■ Co 34th street, New York r'k.i iiiui V aii ▼ cc^ii KX, V-^v^» telephone greeley 4749 and mirth and melody, is still a favorite of music in Cleveland homes, and the production of phonographic records reproducing these has increased the demand for them. "Pickaninny," "Dixie Melody," "Georgia," and "Peaches" are popular. Among the most popular current records are: Pathe — "You'll Have to Put Him to Sleep With the Marseillaise," by Arthur Fields; "Has Anybody Seen My Corinne," by Ernest Hare; "Jim, Jim, I Always Knew You'd Win," by Louis Winsh. Victor — "Bring Back My Bonnie to Me," by Alma Gluck; "Oh, Frenchy," and "Me-ow," by Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra, and "'Till We Meet Again," by Charles Hart. Columbia — "You'll Find Old Dixieland in France," by Van and Schenck; "Take Me Back to That Rose Covered Shack," by Lewis James, and "The Nightingale" and "A La Soisson," by the Gypsy Orchestra. Starr — -"Famous Variations," and the "Swiss Echo Song," by Mme. Nadina Legal; "Wee, Wee, Marie," by Arthur Hall, and "The Rose of No Man's Land," by Henry Burr. The I^'ischer Co., 25-27 Taylor Arcade, is featuring talking machine records this month and doing considerable newspaper advertising. Herman Wolfe, the new president of the talking machine dealers, is a great believer in progressive, up-to-date methods in obtaining publicity through legitimate channels. Mr. Wolfe ran A. B. Smith, of the A. B. Smith Co., a close second in the recent contest for the presidency of the Cleveland Music Trades Association, and was easily the winner when it came to picking a new president of the talking machine dealers' organization. "We are now doing business in a period where live methods must be the retailer's guide to success," Mr. Wolfe said. "I believe in legitimate advertising." Talking machine records reproducing German songs and orchestral selections produced by orchestras directed by pro-German leaders are still under the ban of thff talking machine dealers. No records of this type are offered for sale. The Starr Piano Co. is offering a large assortment of talking machines which belonged to the stock of the Wamelink establishment, recently purchased by the Starr people. A r The Time to Build for the Future is NOW The Dealer's Cue is to Arrange for the Service That Will Protect His Business Interests We are putting forth every effort to back up our dealers, not only with available stock, but with sales promotion material and exploitation plans that will keep the pep in their business until conditions become fully normal. Our Business Now— and Always— Is to Help as Well as Wholesale ECLIPSE MUSICAL CO. Victor Distributors CLEVELAND, OHIO <