Life, 1919-12-04 · page 63 of 80
Life — December 4, 1919 — page 63: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising disguised as editorial content**—a common early 20th-century marketing tactic. The centerpiece is a endorsement letter from **John Philip Sousa**, the famous "March King" conductor, praising Conn band instruments. Below, the magazine showcases photographs of military and civic bands (Jackie Band at Great Lakes Naval Station, Denver Boy Scouts, Detroit and San Francisco fire departments) that supposedly used Conn instruments with great success. The satire or critique here isn't obvious to modern eyes because **there isn't one**—this is genuine promotional material. However, the implicit message is aspirational: if prestigious organizations like the Navy and civic institutions equipped their bands with Conn instruments, ordinary organizations should too. The page conflates product quality with organizational success, suggesting that purchasing the "right" instruments (rather than musician skill or training) explains the bands' achievements. This represents early 20th-century commercial culture's faith in branded goods as solutions to institutional problems.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ce son tae 0h I take this occasion to tell you of the genuine pleasure satisfaction your New Wonder Model Instruments, used 1 of my Band, have given me. In our extended engagement at the New York Hippodrome your instruments have had a splendid opportunity to display their merits. They have fully demon. strated their worthiness of the Grand Prize and Gold Medal of Honor given them by the Jury of Awards at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. During our pleasant engagements at the Exposition I had occasion to note the various bands and orchestras there engaged, and the Conn Instruments seemed to be in evidence everywhere. Particularly was this the case where high-grade musicians were engaged. I still maintain that the new model Conn Instruments enhance the musical value of any organization to a marked degree, and the members of my organization fully accord with me. The Conn, Ltd., has created a high standard of excellence for Band Instruments, standard worthy of emulation, if possible, by other makers. Very sincerely, JOHN PHILIP SOUSA THE FAMOUS JACKIE BAND, U. S. NAVAL TRAINING STATION, GREAT LAKES, Lr, Joun Puirir Sousa, Conductor, The organization and successful training of the “Jackie Band” is one of the most remarkable of Lieut. Sousa’s achievements, Its members were recruited from all walks of life—many of them wholly unfamiliar with music and musical instruments—and yet in a few short months Lieut. Sousa was able to develop them into a world-renowned organization. = a =r joun Paitir Sousa The Jackie Band of over 1200 members was equipped ‘rom a recent photo throughout with Conn Instruments—a most significant fact when one remembers the success achieved. And yet good music is no mystery, it is the expression of skill in both the artist and the maker of the instrument. Music in Other Organizations The power of music to inspire and bind together was well illustrated E in the Jackie Band, Hundreds of organizations and institutions are THE INNES BOY SCOUT BAND OF DENVER recognizing the same fact, and are using it to the mutual advantage This Band was personally Frederick Neil Innes, and the profit of their members. the celebrated Band Jer of New York. Ina nal letter Large manufacturing industries, Fire and Police Departments, Boy Mr. Innes writes: “The Band is the talk of the town. The Scout Organizations, Schools, Colleges, Lodges, Churches, etc., are all beys--63, in all—are wildly enthusiastic in the perfect Tuning beneficiaries of the bond of music. Many ‘remarkable Bands and 2nd Prilliancy of Tone of their Conn Instruments. | Almost all Orchestras have been developed among the members of such organiza- "life 1 have recognized the superiority, of Coan Tnstruments tions with the aid of Conn Instruments. entire outfit of Conn Instruments, ‘The results have vindicated Unusual benefits of no small proportions await other similar organiza- ny enthusiastic endorsement,” ° tions who are interested in the creation and development of a spirit of harmony in thought and action within their organization. Essential Tonal Qualities A Characteristic of Conn Instruments The test of an instrument is its tonal qualities—its perfect intonation—its symmetry of proportion—its proper balance—its embodiment of Art and Science as expressed in appearance and performance. Conn Instr ments are the product of a patented method im - je of attainment elsewhere. An intimate, scientific know! 5 Of requirements, plus a mechanical skill in production DODGE BROS. DETROIT BAND—A. Linee approaches the 1 Ideal, gives a guarantee There is no one element in Indusirial Relations that begins to uality’ and uniformity in pay dividends in proportion to investment as that realized froin nal’ elements that is unsur lustrial Bands. Sig. A. Liberati is extremely paused, The. universal recog chievements with the Dodge Brothers Bar hition of this superiority of Dodge Brothers Company are equ Conn Instruments by all great bers of the, Hand they are 1 Leaders of International ments. Isn't is the best possible guide and assurance ‘or the beginner or the veteran purchaser of band instrument. information band in your organization, If you are a player or beginner, ask for information concerning the instrument in which you are interested, YourBestGuarantee SAN FRANCISCO FIRE DEPARTMENT RAND Your best guarantee of a ¢ folks think that Firemen can only fight fire. That this 92 Conn Bldg. good Band or Orchestra In- is not true is shown by the above. But best of all is the satis ELKHART, IND. strument is to see that it faction felt by the members of this Band for the unusual service bears this mark— realized from their complete equipment of Co nts, comicbooks.com