Variety (August 1925)

w'^-'y^t^"'"'!-' 84 "f^-™", ■:• w ".r-»V'' ■♦^■T'w*"?^' '■.-^^W''^V''^^W!^^-^^ ^' VARIETY MUSICi^ ■ ^TL'^^ ■ . ■ ■ ■ INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE AS U. S. JAZZ BAND ARGUMENT American Dance Orchestras Stimulate Foreign Music Trades—^Treaty of Commerce and Good Will to Eliminate Foreign Labor Difficulties Urged $6^68 SEPARATES SHEKS AND DICK JESS Hoiiie of David Syncopatore File Claim with A. F. M.— Band Union Unit 1^' t m V Washington. Aug. 11. Th« *pp«arance of American Jau %an<l» abroad was recently asserted to be assisting tn the furtherance of the commerce of the United States «n the other side. This was put forth as an argument to Oovernment officials here In an endearor to have forelKn representatives of American band leaders relieved of the foreign labor permit system and place their businesses on an international basis under a treaty of good will and commerce. Support along these lines has already been promised. It is now pointed out that if these •ame officials, as well as members of Congress, will look to the export figures for the fiscal year of the Grivernment, ending June SO, cover- ing the shipments of American man- ufactured musical Instruments abroad, a concrete example of the value of American orchestras abroad will be given. These exports have increased St percent in valu^ Jumping from 912,- 42M71 during the fiscal year IMS- U to tlS.321.7S7 for the 1»S4-S6 period. This increase was general, both in value and in quantity. In all classes of musical merohandise, with the exception of sheet music, phonographs and pianos. The lat- ter, however, show an increase in ~ Quantity. Band Instrument shipments for the current fiscal year totaled |414,TM agalnnt I290.S0S the preced- ing year. Stringed Instruments Jumped from IISS.OSS to |SSI,l»0 this year. The exports of other musical Instruments, parts and ac- cessories run up an additional f 1.4T<,490 against |l,S8*,8t2 the year before. Pianos dropned from |l,t22.4tS to 11,179,186. The South American countries were the greatest import- ers of both classes (players) of piano*. The exports of perforated music rolls increased approximately 60.009 In number. The figure for 19S4-SS being |S»9.S«9 against t88S.49t the preceding year. The makers of phonographs have placed lower valuations on their shipments abroad for the current year though the number exported tuM increased. The value declared Is |S,4S».1G» against |S,749.7ST last yean As in the case of pianos the South American countries were the greatest Importers of phonographs. Begarding phonograph records there Is an increase of about 400,000. Ex- ports of the disks are valued at |1,«87,288 against |1.67«,880 for the ',. jrear preceding. Jazz vs. Ballads ^ -:^ St. Louis, Aug. 11. ' iL debate of "Jass versus senti- mental ballads" was argued in song over WIL, the St touis "Star" sU- tion, last Monday night by Mae Baxter and Bonnie Belt of the JLlb- erty Maids company at the Liberty Muaic Hall. Miss Baxter stood for Jasz, while Bell championed the more ancient ballads. Much divi- sion of public opinion was occa- sioned by the debate, as shown by the volume of letters WIL received, prompting the station to repeat the program Monday evening, Aug. 17. 'indecent Music*' Washington, Aug. 11. Washington, as is to be ex- pected, has a lot of "trick" laws and regulations. Many of these lay dormant, but a reporter on the "Star" caused consternation in the District Building when he dug up a police regulation prohibiting "indecent music" in the Dis- trict of Columbia. The town is now awaiting results as both the Corpora- tion Counsel and the head of the Woman's Bureau of the Police Department believe, now that their attention Jtas l>een brought to it, that the regula- tion is a good one and should be enforced. DISCARDS RADIO Pkture Hews* Deems Broadcasting As Hsrmful San Francisco, Aug. 11. •Loew's Warfleld, the San Fran- cisco "key" house of the West Coast ThMttes, Inc., has gbDo off the air, having cancelled their ' contraot with Hale Bros. (KPO>. No reason is given for the can- cellation, but it Is rumored the local station's programs have became too commercialized and, consequently, have lost prestige for the picture house. The theatre entered into a year's agreement With the radio pjOi>le la February, the contact having a stipulation of SO day^ caacelllng time and this option waa exercised by the theatre peopie. The withdrawal of Loew's War- Held from KPO leave* only the American (picture hous^) in Oak- land in the field and their broad- catlng la oveir KQO. The House of David Synoopators, the long-haired Jasxists from Ben- ton Harbor, Mich., and Dick Jess, their former booking m a n a g er, are in the throes of oontrolrersy over $t,S68.S7, a cUim for which amount the shaveless sheilu have filed against Jess with the American Federation of Musicians. Jess has notified Joseph N. Weber, president of the A F. M., that he will appear whenever necessary to answer the charges. Jess states that In July, 19S0. he became Interested In the House of David cult when he handled the eastern tours of their baseball club, contending his exploitation and pub- licity was instrumental In making the cult nationally known. Francis Thorpe, he states, as an executive member of the team, was In charge of the baseballers. paying each member of the team |1.7S. net. per Jlay. When Jess tank over the House of David Synoopators (not to be eon- fused with the House of David Band, which is another unit), they became unionised members of the Michigan Local No. 678, A. F. M. in order to play In theatres and ballrooms in keeping with union regulation*. This same Mr. Thorpe, Jess says, paid the musicians at the rate of lie.SO each in salary in addition to laundry bills, transportation and hoteL On May 17 Mary Pumell, ruler of the cult, cam* to New York and dethroned Manna Woodworth as leader. sul>8titutlng Laurie Minohlnton. Mr. Woodworth, two weeks later, succeeded Thorpe as manager and treasturer. Jess sutes that the House of David is seeking to spoil his busi- ness career so that be will be un- able to further book union organ- isations, and he will contest that claim. Hotel Impedes Band The Roger Wolf* Kahn or- ch*stra at th* Hot^ Blltmor* could b* th* smartest dano* band In town, bar none. If th* hotel sanctioned a proper In- strumental balano*. Rather than saeriflc* th* beauty of th* caaoad** room atop the hotel the band 1* musically sacrificed In being poorly draped all over a bal- cony instead of being In do** *nsemble on the dano* floor proper. The hotel deems such contact with its patrons out of place despite Roger Wolf* Kahn's association as leader of the organinttlon. The personnel of (he band la probably the highest priced in New York and th* effect even now is brilliant It would ap- proach ultra qualities if the question of balance were ad- Justed. RECORD STATEMENTS , WTTH SILVER UNWGi N. W. RADIO SHOW Traveling Exhibits on Train* Plug 60 D*al*rg to 4 Mlnn*apolis, Aug. 11. An innovation in radio exploita- tion is t>elng carried on la the northwest this week by 50 Mlnne- apols and St. Paul dealers who are staging a railroad radio show. The dealers, members of th* Northwest Radio Trade*' Associ- ation, left her* In spsolal cars for a week's tour of Minnesota and th* Dakotas. They win stop at all prin- cipal cities, stag* a radio show In their cars, and will confer with dealers about the coming season'* ptahis. Th* Northw*st Radio Trade*' As- sociation will stag* a radio exposi- tion in th* St. Paul auditorium during October. Music Publishers May Sefious-^ ly Attempt to Revive Art of Selling She^t Music Th* 'n>ruUIity" of th* "mechaa*^ leal" royalty statements w^^lch cam*] through last week possibly hai their sliver lining. It may finaUr| wak* the musto publisher not rely too strongly on that aourc* Income and exploit hi* wares so that] the public will pay for sheet musl*| more frequently. The revenue an4^ profits are In the sheet music sale* and always has been. E'er the past two years or the mechanicals have been relied too much to carry certain firms. But' with the records an^i rolls showing, incomes of comparatively ridiculo proportions. It may Inspire the mU'j sic men to forget that by-prod« and once more do something make the public buy sheet music. When one considers that a VIcto statement on two big Imported Bon| hits back-to-back sold only 80,000, It brings the situation forcibly attention. A backing like .thi should have gone 400,000 accordin to former standards. A populi "girl" song sold 60,000 oh the VIctd when, even nowadays with condl> tions off and the hot weather con sidered, a SOO.OOO sale would hai been something more In keeplo with expectations. OWEHS WITH TAIIOR Harry Owens, songwriter and trumpet, player for some time with Vihcent Rose, came in town this week to place new material with the publisher*. Owens encountered Jackie Taylor, formerly with Rose's orchestra also, but now heading his own band, and the trumplet player WHITEMiai "AFTER" KSRHEIS Paul Whlteman Is "going after" the Kentucky Kernels, traveling dance band, which ts using the Whlteman name for "present" pur- poses without permission. The band was Ust at Clark's Lake, Mich. The Kentucky Kernels, som* years ago, were Under (he White- man ofllce's direction, but'have not been authorised to use the White- man name for some time since. BIH MEBOFF.FOSTICTOE Ben Meroff and his High-Hatters have made a Victor record test In — Camden. Paul Whlteman inter- ested himself tn the vaudeville band- man, as did Josef Pastemack. the Jackie Taylor's Jasxists open in Mandell & Schwab's "Capt. Jinks" Aug. S4, coming to Broadway Sept. 7. FIAHISI OH RADIO Milton Rettenberg, pianist with Paul Whiteman's concert orchestra, is lAated for a radio recital from WEAF Aug. SL Kaha for Crillon, Chi. Sammy Kahn opens Sept. 3 at the exclusive Crillon cafe, Chicago. Kahn is from New York, coming to attention at the Rosemont ballroom, Brooklyn. N. T., where he reopens next week as a special fortnight's attraction. Victor's musical authority, as well as Sidney Lowenstein, director of the SUnley Theatre, Philadelphia, orchestra, where Meroff played last week. The Jack Mills Music Co. has dis- continued Its Chicago office with a possibility, of reopening la the fait.' Bngel publication. Kreuger's New idea Bennle Kreuger, exclusive Bruns- wick dance orchestra leader, has a new idea in saxophone solos. He is composing the series for Robins- BAND LEADER ELOPES Olcott, N. T,. Aug. 11. Harold Amantrout, director of his Amantrout Blue Hooslers at the lo- cal Olcott Beach hotel, eloped last week with Catherine Nease, Indian- apolis society girl. Rev. Jomes' Bartlett at Newfane performed the cerenumy. Ruasiaii Substitute for Piano in Reports Washington, Aug. 11. American Consular agents and commercial attache*, whose Job it is to watch out for such new crea- tions have not as yet reported to vhe Commerce Department on the now instrument said to have been brought out in Ruasia by a native musician of that country that will replace both .upright und grand pianos. Reports coming through state that the instrument, which has an ordinary keyboard. Is in the form of a box one yard wide and weigh- ing only eight pounds. The jsual strings, it is stated, are replaced by a steel comb,*and the little hammers by tiny pinchers which touch upon the teeth of the comb. Russian musicians who have played upon the instrument In the Moscow Conservatory of Music, it is further stated, pronounce it as having a stronger tone and superior intonations to the ordinary piano.' The new instrument has been called the "Pichetone," according to these same dispatches. Ofllcials of the department have expressed their interest in the In- strument and have asked for re- ports on It Long-^ London Date Ray Miller and' his Brunswick or chestra have been signed for record engagement- at the Klt-1 Club, Londoi^ for IS weeks whh represents the longest single tract for an American band at th* famov* London oaf*. Miller open* He has Just completed an extent slv* dance tour under the Bruns« wick records' direction. Ray Miller and his Brunswksk or-.', chestra pUyed The Willows, Pitta-' burgh, last week at $8,roo a week.- MUler closed at the Marigold Oar*, dCns, Pelham, N. T.. through having his money held back because of poor business at the roadhouse. ORESH AT MATFLOWER Earl Gresh and his orchestra have been signed (or the new Mayfiower hotel. Washington, D. C, to succeed the Vincent Lopes unit. Gresh is a new Columbia record- ing artist, hailing from Florida, cur- rently located at the Frolic cafe. Coney Island. BSRHIE BACK AT HOTEL Ben Bemie and his orchestra r*« turri to the Hotel Roosevelt, New . York, m mid-September. Over th* summer Bemle has been concen- trating on the Rlaito-Rlvoil theatre engagement with a club orchestra substituting at the hoteL With the advent of the fall. Bernle will double the picture houso* and the hotel. SPECIAL RECORDIHO OROAH Chicago, Aug. 11. The Wurlltser Company has con- structed a special organ to be used by Jesse Crawford for his Victor records. The first of the series on the new organ will be reproduced in Sep- tember. • ALDEV SUTSB DVEGAH OIRIS John Alden, songwriter, has taken Judgment for $9SS.9S against Roset- ta and Vivian Duncan, doing busi- ness as the Dunean Sisters, Music Publishers. The Judgment is for royalties. Katxman's Show Band tiouls Katsman has been com- missioned to assemble another band for "Kitty's Kisses," the new William A. Brady show. The band la to parallel tn style Katzman's Ambas- sadors, now in "Mercenary Mary." I SILVER BELL BANJOS New Catalog — Just Out THE BACON BANJO CO . Inc '•,ROTON. CONN &«-^ ,Jt: ;.j;. ,•■.K^i. NOW BOOKING! >. DANCE ORCHESTRAS CHANGED WEEKLY .^.-.jf.. .« EVERYWHERE i^ ' NATIONAL ATTRACTIONS of NEW YORK, Inc. Telephone 9327 Circle ,;, .,»ff if: si .>sf^*i;^rj;i ^ ,.,. ^^n . '^. *. ^. 1650 Broadway, New York