Variety (May 1926)

VARIETY MUSIC Wednesday. Mar M, It* SHEET MUSIC-BAND INSTRUMENTS SHOWING INCREASED SALES Instrument Makers Seem in for Good Year—Sheet Music in Chain Stores Up Over 7% for March, This Year . ... Washington, May 18. Sale* of band instrument* In- reaped 10.4 per cent, when compar- ing March of this year with that month in 1925. Total sale* in March, 1926, reached $662,000, as against *5«S.0OO in March, 1925. This Increase when coupled with the report in Variety last week of a corresponding Increase tn exports Indicates, according to officials of the Bureau of the Census, under whose direction the figures are com- piled; that musical Instrument manufacturers are set for banner year. Of the figures for March, 1926, cup mouthpiece instruments sales totaled $214,500; saxophones, $385,- 000, and wood whid instruments, $22,500. The largest Increase over March, 1925, Is recorded on the cap mouthpiece Instruments-. Sales of sheet music in the chain stores also registered an Increase* totaling In this respect 7.1 per cent. ■>ver March of 1925. Taking the first hree months of 1926, and comparing them with those months In 1921, a 8.7 per cent, increase in sales la recorded. March, 1926, sales totaled $1,011,- OOP, as against $946,009 la March, 1925, while for the three months' * period In the current year the ac- cumulated sales reached $2,856,000. against $6,372,000 in the same period last year. The number of such stores In operation had Increased from the 84 in March of last year, to 69 In the current year. _ Early Slump Passes The slump in thejnusic busi- ness whloh camo about four weeks earlier than usual this year (starting May 1) gave way to a spurt last week. Ordinarily the seasonal de- cline does not happon until Juno 15, duo to general condi- tions, but the drop was prema- ture the current season. GUSTAV HEM'S TWIN LEGAL TROUBLES Divorce and Prohibition En- gaging Orchestra Man in Two Courts Rumford, Me., May 25. Troubles never come singly for Gustav P. Helm, formerly a mem- ber of the Boston Symphony Or- chestra, now a member of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. First, his wife, Edna M. Helm of Boston and Lov 11. Me., filed a suit for divorce, in which she charges Helm #ith Infidelity daring the summers of 1924 and 1926, at Lov- ell, la Rumford county, this State, and names Helen and Marie as the other women in the case. Neither Is further identified. Testimony of a sensational na- ture was expected when the case came before the court, but Instead -i continuance was asked and granted. The case will be heard in October. Meanwhile, Helm had pending a charge of violating the prohibition law by making mash of an alcoholic content greater than that permit- ted by Mr. VolsUad. On the charge of unlawful possession he was brought before the court, fined $500 and sentenced to serve four months In Jail, with an additional 60 days for default of payment. Tne offense, it was alleged, was committed at Helm's summer home at Lovell. He had pleaded guilty to the charge at the October term of court. HERE AND THERE Billy Burton's band returns to Feltman's Maple Gardens, Coney Island.N. Y., this summer, opening Saturday. Bid Hall and his Play Boys are Aim house touring under William Morris' direction. Owrs Roosf is the name to the Hotel Peabody, Ttnju roof garden which opens June 1 with the seven Aces as the band attraction. "Hop" Kelly and his Blue Boys, popular Orand Mound orchestra augmented by the addition of Jos Hart, formerly of Clinton, DL, and of recent years a director for the John B. Rogers Producing Co., and J. I*. Sutton, announcer from radiophone station KAFD, Port Huron, Mich*, gave a farewell dancing party under the auspices of St Edward's Council, Knights of Columbus, In the club quarters. The orchestra win summer at a Michigan lake resort. Ernie Andrews and his Broad- way Troubadours have closed their Boston engagement The Plttsneld, Mass., members of the aggregation will play during the summer at Lake Champlaln. Charles Dornberger and his Vic- tor recording band open June 8 at the new Signal Mountain Inn. Look- out Mountain, Chattanooga, Tenn. Dave Bernle, a Ben Bernle band, opens May 27 at the Blossom Heath Inn, Lynbrook, L. L Another road- house attraction Is Al Lentz and his band at the Hunter Island Inn, Pel- ham Bay Park, N. Y. Jack Denny switches from the Club Frivolity. New York, Saturday, to the BabcosR Lake Casino, N. Y. A Denny band unit remains at the New York night club. Hal Hixcn, Kalama's Hawaiians and a dance team join Denny up-state. RADIO RAMBUNGS A pioneer radio broadcaster, Man- rice Besley, com poser-pianist, was Introduced Sunday night as accom- panist for Godfrey LodloWs usual Sunday night violin recital from WJZ, closing the show from that station. Besley is of the ILO (Brit- ish Broadcasting Corp.) station of London, and a number of his com- positions, chief among which were "A Tune With Disguises," the open- ing selection; "Portrait of a Dancer in Red" and 'The Girt With the Slashing Eyes." were rendered by Mr. Ludlow. The com posit iena are unusually colorful and beautiful tone-poems. The recital was very worth while. INSIDE STUFF On Music Henry Tobias Composed "Kstinks" Henry Tobias, the 18-year-old composer of Feist s Russian novelty son* "Katlnka," corrects the full-page advertisement on the song in last week's "Variety." While given credit for composition on the lead sheet the other advertising matter mentioned Harry Tobias. Henry's older brother, Harry, is a proved songwriter, but a lyricist, unlike Henry "Katlnka." marking the fetter's Initial "big" song, the youngster Is anxious to have his Identity th erewith kept clear. Henry ts also taking- out the "Reckless Evt>' act on a Poll tour, for Joe Sullivan. FRED RICH Dlreoter of his Hetol Art or. Now York, orehoatm. and WJZ radio fa- Torit©, aa well aa a premlor record- ing artist, fa a regular booster of Robblna-Staffer a danco catalog. Mr. WJmh hlaaaelf la aim an oxelaalvo Dao-Art piano roll rocordlnc artist. His brand of ultra 'ayncupatTon la a trlbato to Robblns-Bngel'M catalog; when oar selections are rendered. "WHO'S WHO ARE YOUf* "JIO WALK" "CAMILLE" "ONLY YOU AND LONELY ME" Published by Robbins-Engel, Inc. 7M Bowls Ave.. Now York City Harold Stern, for the past poason musical director at the Mark Strand, Brooklyn, N. Y., terminates his en- gagement, there May 28. Eugene Plotnlckoff, Russian pianist and director, has been sup- plied with a concert orchestra and booked into the Shoreland Hotel, Chicago, on a year's contract by the Walter Ford Agency, Inc. WiUard Robison and his band open next week for the summer at Eggett's Harbor Inn. Far Rock- away. The new $500,000 Island Tark bullroom, outside of Newport, R. I., opens May 29 with the Miner-Doyle orchestra as the feuture attraction. The band returns to Roseland ball- room, New York, for a repeat en- gagement on Labor Day. Axt Re-Signs With Publishers Dr. "Rilly" Axt of the Capitol, New York, has renewed his contract for two more years with Rnbblns- Engel, Inc., his present publishers. Dr. Axt is one of tho greatest au- thorities on motion picture music and the loading composer of picture musical themes. Victor Herbert Week was herald- ed almost simultaneously Sunday evening with the Capitol Family, under Major Bowes' direction, broadcasting their overture from the Capitol theatre. At the same time Olcott Vall's string ensemble via WMCA from the Hotel McAIpin also paid instrumental tribute to the great American composer. On behalf of the Snider ketchup people, the Snider Jubilees are a corking dance band from WJZ, a regular Friday night advertising feature. To prove their penchant for nuance, the band decided to go without Broadway for a production song hit. and introduced "Castles In the Air" from "High Jinks." a Phil- adelphia musical comedy which seems likely. Judging from this dance tune. They closed with a Scotch medley, 'Thistle and Heather." Coon-Sanders orchestra members, an M. C. A. attraction, are sitting pretty lor suits and shirts. In consideration of their wearing and endorsing Society brand suits and Kingsley shirts they are clothed free of charge. The real punch, however, comes in when the orchestra hits towns on its circuit tour. The clothing companies tie up with a local dealer In their products for a window display showing the boys handsomely clothed and also advertising the fact that the orchestra is appearing at a cer- tain theatre or ballroom. Charles Strickland's musical plug on behalf of Palisades Park is a new ditty. "Over the River to Jolney and Under the River Back Home," a frank lyric plug for the amusement park. Not a new broadcaster, but a now band—or. rather a renewed band— for WHN from the Roseland ball- room. New York, Is Phil Romano's Victor orchestra. A half hour with Romano and his style of syncopa- tion explains why this band was so popular upstate when bro a d ca s tin g from the New Kenmoro hotel, Al- bany. Their Instrumentation Is ex- cellently balanced and well adapted for broadcasting. Romano has jnnt returned to the Roseland for another summer season. v Feist's "Horses" the Rsgs Every so often one "big" song steps out and Feist's "Horses" Is the seasonal rage. With the contemporary publishers offering nothing really startling, this equine song is upholding the prestige of the music busi- ness. It is developing into a "Bananas" lr. that the humorous publica- tions, like "Judge,** »t al are offering cartoon strips playing on the song's super- popularity. Next A F. of M. Annusl Meet, Baltimore Joseph N. Weber, of New York, was chosen to serve his 27th term as president; W. L. Mayer was retained as international vice-president; William Kerngood. as secretary; A. T. Brlnton, as treasurer. David A. Carry, of Toronto, was named executive officer of the federation. The next convention will be held in Baltimore in May, 1927. Reducing a Name John C. D'Allessandro, formerly tenor with Irving Aaronson's Com- manders, has been rechristened, professionally, by Joe Moss, as Dallas Sandro. The singer opened at Moss' Beaux Arts, Atlantis City, with the new revue, but is slated for the picture houses. The Treasureland Kntertalners are satisfactory, but when thev start plugging their Treasureland Homos, naively heralded by the "Love Nesf* rendition. It's a cinch few listen to their spiel about free bus rides to their Long Island property. If George Olsen's plugging means something, "You Need Someone ts Love" should be a hit. It's a home product and should click as big as "Horses," which became a nation's "neigh song" following Olsen's ex- ploitation. None the less, they're still "requesting/* K. Will Tlley. Scotch comedian, clocked from WEBJ, with Margaret Fellowes at the piano. Morse A Rogers plug their products via the Sundial Serenad- ers and the Bonnie Laddies, the lat- ter being a Juvenile shoe trade- mark. These regular Friday night features from WJZ ars consistently good entertainment, with- nothing about the announcements to offend because of overstressipg. The banjo and xylo stand out and the sax had its solo innings with "The Burning of Rome," well done. The Snider Jubileers, under a Mr. Haenschen's direction (presum- ably Walter Huenschen, the Bruns- wick recording laboratory expert), showed .some ultra syncopation, in- cluding the continental rage, "Va- lencia." "Lollipops" was an effect- ive banjo solo. Unusual Buy An unusual* musical torn- over, effected by Eugene West,' now a New Orleans music publisher, with Jack Yellen (Ager. Yellen ft Bernstein. Inc.) had the latter firm taking over a West song before actually published. As a general thing a larger house acquires a number from a lesser contemporary's cat- alog When a song begins to "show up." West had Just received the plates and was about to havo the number printed when Yel- len camo in from Chicago, where ho had heard of the West song. The number is titled "If They .Would Baby Me Now Like They Babied Me Then (I'd Love to Be a Baby again)" Chicago Cafes Fighting liquor Restrictions - From WOBS, the Shell Beach Trio of strings camo through nicely with pop songs. The Strand Roof has a "hot" band In Billie Fowler's or- chestra and the Lorrain* hotel's grill room band,-as ever. Is a pl< lng entry. Sunday night marked Levi tow's next-to-last broadcasting poriod for the season, this coming Sunday to be his last. Levltow's concert music Is a consistent fa- vorite and among the standbys of radio. The Capitol hour Introduced Rudy Wiedoeft for his farewell recital be- fore going abroad. Yascha Bun- chuk, the cellist star of the family, also scored. If yen dont adrertse in VARIETY don't advertise Chicago, May 26. The Friars* Inn, Town Club and Moulin Rouge cafes here were tem- porarily enJo!ned, making them li- able for guests who brought liquor on the premises. The cafe man- agers were enjoined under the nuis- ance clause of the Volstead act but have announced their inten- tion of uniting to test the right of Federal Judge Adam C. CI iff e to act against these places without proof that liquor had been pur- chased on the premises. It was announced that while a temporary order does not directly affect the conduct of the places, the new arrangement. If upheld, will make the management subject to contempt of court proceedings. STAGE HAND FOR RADIO STATION MAY COME UP Kansas City, May 25. The stagehands' union of Omaha has announced it will present to tho national convention a proposition to place a stagehand in every radio station, on the grounds that every station furnishes amusement. It is along the line of a sugges- tion made in a Jocular manner by a Kansas City theatre manager that he was thinking of suggesting to tho Managers' Association that they recommend a stagehand be assigned to the churqhes, as they were going Into the show business with their pictures, special orchestras, readers and other attractions. W. LORIS LYONS KILLED Warren After Royalty Clarke & Leslie Songs, Inc., was examined yesterday (Tuesday) bo- fore trial by Harry Warren, song- writer, who is suing for $13,00* ac- crued royalties alleged due on "Home In Pasadena/' "So This Is Venice" and "Oh, Eva, Ain't You Coming Out Tonight." The first two songs were hits. Warren, who has since become a Shapiro-Bernstein staff writer, claims he was not fully paid for his royalty interest. Through Abner Greenburg, at- torneT (and also songwriter), who Is defending the music publisher. Clarke ft Leslls So. ts, Inc^ was unsuccessful in vacating the order for examination of their books. Berlin Asks for Loos Title Irving Berlin this week cabled Edgar Selwyn from London for per- mission to make "Oontlomen Prefer PJnrH]"V the title of his new sonfr. It )< i:;i<iprstoo«l tli.it Selwyn has given him permission. San Francisco, May 25. W. Loris Lyons, musician, mem- ber of the orchestra in the State, Oakland (Cal.), was shot and killed here when he was held up by two bandits as he was escorting homo his fiancee, Leanna Hlnes, dancer. The holdup took place in a thickly populated residential district. It was first believed Lyons was killed by one of the thugs, but sub- sequent investigation brought a charge that the bullet which ended tho musician's life was fired from the 'revolver of Policeman John Doyle, who surprised the bandits at work. Doyle captured one of the thugs and claimed he had wounded the other who escaped. As Doyle startled tho bandits they opened fire on him and he re- turned their shots promptly. It is alleged that one of the shots fired at the criminals hit Lyons instead. GILL SUING SELZNICK Cleveland, May 25. Emerson Oill and his Okeh re- cording orchestra return to Bamboo Gardens here June 1, following itin- erant engagements, including the Castle of Paris, Cleveland, and Sil- ver Slipper, Detroit. Phil Selznick owns the castle of Paris and the Silver Slipper. Gill is suing the cabaret owner for his last week's salary at the Detroit cafe. SILVER BELL BANJOS Sen Catalog — Jur.t Out THb BACON BANJO CO . lac GROTON, CONN.