The talking machine world (Jan-June 1922)

132 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD April 15, 1922 PORTLAND, ORE. Musical Activities Help Trade — Some Notable Visitors — Business Improving — Soule, Starr District Manager — Trade Changes Portland, Ore., April 6. — During the past month Portland music lovers were treated to one continual round of concerts and every week during the month one or more famous artists appeared and plaved to capacity houses. The Chicago Grand Opera Company appeared at the municipal auditorium March 22, 23, 24 and 25 for five performances and drew very large audiences. The company was brought to Portland by W. T. Pangle, with a guarantee of $72,500 by Portland's public-spirited business men. Sherman, Clay & Co., the Wiley B. Allen Co.; the Bush & Lane Piano Co., the G. F. Johnson Piano Co. and the Seiberling & Lucas Music Co., the five music houses that helped back the proposition, are delighted at the artistic and financial success of Opera Week. It is estimated that over 23,000 persons attended the opera and this alone, the dealers say, is bound to stimulate interest in music. Sales of Red Seal records, especially opera selections, have been tremendous and many out-of-town visitors "stocked up" while in the city. The Victrola department of Sherman, Clay & Co.'s store has had numerous noted personages visit it during March, including Edward Johnson, the noted Canadian tenor and Victor artist, who is" a member of the Chicago Grand Opera Company; Sophie Braslau, contralto, of the Metropolitan Opera Company, who was soloist for the Portland Symphony Orchestra, March 29; and Homer Samuels, husband and accompanist to Galli-Curci. They were shown through the store by Arthur W. Stein, manager of the Victrola department. Increased activity in both Victrolas and Victor records for March is the report of Arthur W. Stein, manager of the Victrola department of Sherman, Clay & Co. Mr. Stein says: "Our sales sheets show a big increase over this time last year, and we anticipate more good business ahead. The new Victrola console types Nos. 300, 280 and 260 are going over big and are arousing a great deal of interest among our patrons." George J. Dowling, president of the Cable Company, of Chicago, accompanied by Mr. Hughes, stopped off for several days in Portland. D. C. Peyton, manager of the talking machine department of Meier & Frank, reports greatly improved conditions, and is rejoicing over the acquisition to his department of Miss Ellen L. Tracy, who will act as his assistant, and whom he has placed in complete charge of the record department. Miss Tracy has just returned from the Victor factory at Camden, N. J., where she completed the six weeks' educational course. The cut-out of 519 records from the Columbia stock is being greeted with approval by most dealers, who were ready for a Spring house-cleaning. Carl W. Jones, former district manager of the Columbia Graphophone Co. in Portland, has gone to Los Angeles and is connected with the Remick Song Shop's phonograph department in that city. ; Charles Soule, of Soule Bros. Music Co., has been appointed district manager of the Starr Piano Co. to fill the place of John P. Murphy, who was promoted to the Los Angeles office. John C. Foley, who recently closed out his piano and phonograph business, has been appointed sales manager of Oregon Eilers Music House. L. Lunsford, formerly manager of the Denver Music Co., of Montrose, Col., and at one time active in the phonograph manufacturing business, has been made assistant sales manager of the firm. The G. F. Johnson Piano Co. announces better business in higher-priced machines for March than for several months, with sales of the console models in the Cheney phonographs being excellent. H. G. Reed, of the Reed, French Piano Co., reports splendid business for March, with more sales in Edison and Victrola machines made during the past month than for January and February combined. Wm. Smith, Oregon sales manager of the Columbia Graphophone Co., who expected to return to California, has reconsidered and decided to "carry on" in Oregon. Columbia business has been so lively in Portland that Mr. Smith was unable to make his usual side trips into the outlying districts during the month of March, however. Columbia machine and record business in southern Oregon is booming, according to Mr. Smith, and good reports are received from all towns down the valley. S. H. Short, of the Ashland Drug Co., who is an exclusive Columbia dealer, is building an attractive balcony in his store, on which he will be able to display and demonstrate his machines. The Palmer Piano Co., of Medford, Ore., has made extensive improvements throughout the entire store and has completely remodeled the department for demonstrating the Columbia, Victor and Edison phonographs, which it carries. M. Davis, district manager of the phonograph division of the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co., reports excellent business for March both in the city and throughout the entire State. The new Brunswick console types, which arrived in carload lots, were snapped up, says Mr. Davis, and they moved so fast that they proved to be just a drop in the bucket. L. E. Heynes' music store, of Lebanon, Ore!, which is an exclusive Brunswick dealer, reports good business and a very bright outlook for the coming Spring. 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