Linda Amiel Burns, Donald Stubblebine, Sandy Marrone

The April meeting was our yearly reminder of the Society’s beginnings. As the NYSMS’ First Vice President (and second place presenter) Sandy Marrone said, "We're putting the Sheet Music back in the Society!" Our President, Linda Amiel Burns, saluted all the sheet music dealers and collectors who had come out to show their support for Sandy Marrone and Don Stubblebine, especially the society's first president, Dave Jason.

Don Stubblebine was widely and justly praised by many as the author of the essential reference books on sheet music. He proudly displayed his third and newest book, "Broadway Sheet Music: 1843-1918," a prequel of sorts to his previous 1918-1993 tome. "That 150 years of Broadway music" he beamed. The book is divided into three periods, 1843-66, 1866-1900 and 1900-18. There might be some sheet music before 1843, he quipped, "but I haven't found it yet! And I have all but 6 years in that period." The earliest sheet was from an imported British Music Hall production called "Amilie." Sheets then were very plain looking items usually 11"x14" and eventually becoming the familiar 9"x12." The second 1866 period was marked by the first Original American musical, "The Black Crook" which used movable scenery as opposed to painted backdrops. The third period brought us into the 20th century and the familiar pioneering composers like Victor Herbert, Sigmund Romberg and Jerome Kern. It also brought us the infamous Harry B. Smith who wrote 300 shows and 6000 songs, few of them memorable! The city of Chicago, which had been a hotbed of musical activity, lost its place to New York; typically, because of a fire.

Don wrapped up his fascinating presentation with an amusing anecdote about the effects of scandal. The Shubert Brothers’ most successful show at the time was an unmemorable production that happened to take place in THE theater where Harry Thaw shot Sheridan White over showgirl Evelyn Nesbitt. The scandal drove up ticket sales!

When Sandy Marrone took the floor she wondered if she'd be able to keep our interest for the duration of her presentation. Sandy need not have worried, her droll sense of humor was a perfect compliment to the dry pages of history she displayed. "Hi, I'm Sandy and I collect sheet music," she deadpanned as if addressing an A.A. meeting. "Maybe I should have collected postcards, but then again, at least its not pianos!" With a collection of over 200,000 pieces it was wisely decided to concentrate on sheets with a very timely patriotic theme. Even with that restriction, Sandy has a myriad of subcategories. Some are even in multiple categories. Unlike other dealers, she doesn't file alphabetically, but by theme. So, we were treated to examples of: Flag sheets, Uncle Sam, Lady Liberty, Presidents, Armed Forces branches and even women in the military.

The category method of filing makes it easier for Sandy to do research for the many documentary filmmakers and museums that contact her...at any hour of the day or night! Sandy's concession to this intrusion was to acquire a hands free cellphone so that she could multitask while searching through sheets for appraisers and collectors alike.

The Sheet Music confraternity is a very friendly lot, everyone knows and helps each other and that was made obvious to all by the large turnout of fellow dealers who attended the meeting. We were able to put faces to many of the names that we have been sending bids to for years. In the end it is really all about people. Sandy related delightful stories about her worldwide collecting experience that were as interesting about the collectors as they were for the sheets. And Donald’s anecdotes brought life to the pages of his latest book. A truly memorable event.