AllenN71
380 posts
Sep 12, 2012
1:18 AM
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When I was a kid, all us young rockers got our gear from Bernie's Hock Shop, except for "first guitars" which often were those gawdawful Silvertone guitars from Sears (You guys remember, the ones with the strings half a mile high over the frets? My dad got my brother and me Silvertones for our first guitars, reasoning that if we were dedicated enough to put up with the pain, we would eventually be "worthy" of a good guitar. Once I had one, the Silvertone was relegated to open tunings and a bottleneck slide.)
Then there was BHA (Better Home Appliances, Music and Appliance Store, once more, Music and Appliance Store BHA!!) where you could buy a Steinway piano to match the dishwasher or a Hammond organ to go with the water heater.
Straangely other than those two I don;t know where else in Dayton you could purchase a musical instrument back then except of course Sears where in addition to Silvertone guitars and banjos you could get brass and woodwinds "manufactured in famous Elkhart, Indiana". Anybody know any other sources for instruments back in the day?
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PaulH
117 posts
Sep 12, 2012
4:26 AM
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There was the Dayton Institute of Music on E. 2nd Street. That was where I got my trumpets and private lessons. They also did guitars and most other band instruments as well as lessons. I want to say it was either 3 or 4 blocks from Main. It has all changed now, so it is hard for me to really tell the exact location. I do remember there was a Cafe on the corner. They were on the south side of the street. I took my last lessons there in 1965.
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Last Edited by on Sep 12, 2012 4:27 AM
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theWiz
8 posts
Sep 12, 2012
7:01 AM
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There was Michael Hauer Music somewhere downtown and in Kettering on Far Hills. Also there was Ballou Music on Monument and in Kettering on Wilmington Pike.
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bentz
68 posts
Sep 12, 2012
12:25 PM
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Did the Salem Mall have a Piano store? I think they sold Guitars and Horns and stuff, I could be wrong.
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mjr1960
69 posts
Sep 12, 2012
2:33 PM
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Not that I ever remember anywhere in the mall
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blue J
57 posts
Sep 13, 2012
2:53 AM
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Allen, I believe BHA is still there, at the junction of Patterson Blvd. and Perry St.
Hauer is still open downtown, but the Kettering location closed long ago. That was where I got my first (and only) trumpet, when I was in fourth grade.
Heh heh...I don't think Sears sells guitars anymore- but I have a Martin acoustic that I bought in at Absolute Music in Fairborn.
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AllenN71
381 posts
Sep 14, 2012
2:35 PM
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Hauer, yeah,I'd forgotten that place. That's where my Dad got me the accordion he wanted me to learn to play. Sat in a class full of adult squares and learned a few waltzes and of course there was the inevitable ditz who wanted to play "Lady of Spain". My interest in classical and flamenco guitar got my foot in the door with dad, who finally relented, returned the squeeze-box and got me that Silvertone.
A couple years later I got a Gibson ES-335 in cherry sunburst, with a cigarette burn in the varnish just below the pick-guard. I sold it to this kid in my neighborhood in Falls Church, VA in 1979 for $800. Sigh. That thing would be worth between five and ten grand today. Yeah, those were 1979 dollars, but still...
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roge
126 posts
Sep 15, 2012
3:03 AM
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DOtES ANYBODY REMEMBER POPPS MUSIC STORE ON EAST FIFTH? THE SIGN WAS SHAPED LIKE A GUITAR
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AllenN71
382 posts
Sep 15, 2012
3:54 PM
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Wow, I knew there had to be more than just the handful of musical instrument dealers than just what I mentioned. This is really jogging my memories. Yeah, I believe Pop's was where Garrick Alden bought his Ernie Ball "Super Slinky" ultra-thin guitar strings. I tried them once on my guitar but even though you can bend notes like dope with them, at the time they cost an arm and a leg, were only sold in complete sets, and especially the 1st and 2nd strings broke with maddening frequency.
I used Gibson strings on my ES-335 and D'Addario strings on my Yamaha classical nylon-string; both brands of strings I purchased most often at Sam Goody's in Salem Mall (as I remember).
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wolfcreek
66 posts
Sep 24, 2012
7:15 PM
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I think there was a piano store in the Salem Mall, very early on. Didn't last long. It was in the wing near the pet shop (Pets N Such) and the Kroger, cinema, etc.
My favorite was Bernies (got my first electric guitar there, a piece of junk, but wish I still had the Fender Champ amp I bought there). There was also a pawn shop nearby, but can't remember the name.
Also, there was Dayton Band across from Forest Park Shopping Center on Main St. Mostly marching band instruments, but some guitars. I took guitar lessons there for a while; can still remember the smell of the place -- wood, brass.
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bentz
70 posts
Sep 25, 2012
5:34 PM
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I new there was a Piano store in the Salem Mall they had a lot of horns but can't remember if they sold Guitars or not, I was young at the time.
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Floridave
5 posts
Aug 22, 2013
10:24 PM
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For years, I took trumpet lessons from a gentleman named Paul Blagg at Roetter Music on N. Main Street just south of the river and across from the old Rike's Parking Garage on the corner of Main and Monument. He was the Principal Trumpet for the Dayton Phil under Paul Katz and was a former member of John Philip Sousa's Band.
Roetter's closed and was leveled to make room for a new parking garage on N. Main.
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Nile
80 posts
Aug 23, 2013
6:30 PM
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Also Dayton Band Instrument Co. He was on North Main St. Across from Forest Pak Mall. I think before he was on North Main St., he was downtown somewhere on a second floor(?).
Last Edited by Nile on Oct 31, 2013 2:48 PM
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Billd1952
99 posts
Aug 23, 2013
7:32 PM
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My grandfather worked at Hauer Music. He taught guitar, piano, and banjo, at the store downtown on East Second, around the corner from the Victory Theater.
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Ared60
41 posts
Aug 26, 2013
1:05 PM
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AllenN71, thank you for putting BHA in your post. I read that early this morning and since then I can't get their old commercial jingle out of my head.
Since you did it to me I think it's only fair that I do the same to everyone else.
This is sung to the tune; The Old Gray Mare
BHA means better home appliances,
better home appliances, better home appliances,
BHA means better home appliances,
your music and appliance store, once more,
your music and appliance store. BHA!
I hope that brings back memories, fond or otherwise.
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Floridave
7 posts
Aug 26, 2013
7:45 PM
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Ared60 - Emmert Royer(the BHA guy) would be glad to know his song made a lasting impression on you, me, and anyone else who remembers it.
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Ared60
45 posts
Aug 27, 2013
6:25 AM
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Floridave, thank you! For the life of me I couldn't remember Emmet Royer's name to attach to the jingle.
It may be hard to explain but having a memory pop back into your brain like that is a very satisfying experience. I feel like I might have recovered a lost brain cell or two in the process.
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Marck1957
176 posts
Aug 27, 2013
7:44 AM
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For me, it would be impossible to forget it, as I heard it virtually every day for years! Its kinda like the "save big money ar Mennard's" song. Burnt into my memories forever! What was the BHA dog's name?
Last Edited by Marck1957 on Aug 27, 2013 7:45 AM
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Billd1952
101 posts
Aug 27, 2013
1:07 PM
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Driver62, Yep. My aunt sold Toby to the Royer's. She breed malteeses. (sp?)
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joey m
88 posts
Aug 28, 2013
1:55 PM
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Took drum lessons from Charlie Buck at Hauer music . It was in the 100 block of First St. That was in the 50's.
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donm
6 posts
Oct 31, 2013
1:50 PM
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I got my first instrument at Roetters in the old house on N. Main. Lots of nooks and crannies. Took lessons on one of the upper floors in a room that looke out toward the westside. Also remember Popps and walkinh past on my way from Chaminade to catch the #7 Forest Park to go home after school. Popps was much more interesting. That trip usually ended up at the Arcade for some pretzels or carmel marshmalows to eat on the bus on the way home. What memories, what memories.........
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pie8me
140 posts
Nov 03, 2013
9:25 AM
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Don't think anyone has mentioned Americana Music and the Rock Shop on Watervaliet in Belmont. They were doing well for quite a while, not sure why they closed up.
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mpup
13 posts
Nov 08, 2013
9:14 PM
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The Sound Shop was located in Miamisburg at the Plaza Shopping Center from about 1965 - 1970? They sold guitars, drums and gave lessons, but they had a strong connection to the Village in Miamisburg. The Village was a very popular place for a short time to see both local bands and nationally known bands as well. I had the fortunate experience to play there "The Mods" a few times mostly along with other local bands. Great memories and a great time in my young 14 - 15 year old life. Keep the memories alive!!!
Last Edited by mpup on Nov 08, 2013 9:16 PM
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historybuff
22 posts
Nov 08, 2013
9:26 PM
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joey m - I lived in Xenia in the late 40s and early 50s and remember taking the Dayton/Xenia bus to downtown Dayton. I believe the bus station then was on Third street across from the Library where Webster station is. I played the clarinet and came to Hauer music to buy my reeds. I thought that Hauer Music was on the West side of North Main Street across from the Metropolitan at the time. Wonder if anyone can verify those locations, not sure of my memory of that time; I was probably about 12 years old.
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Bigmo
98 posts
Nov 12, 2013
7:35 AM
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My parents bought me a Martin O-15 guitar at Hauer Music on Far Hills in January 1964 where I took lessons for about a year. I still have the guitar. I took more lessons at Band Box in Xenia during the '60s. In '72 I bought a Gibson Les Paul Recording from the downtown Hauer Music store and sold it in the '90s.
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Welder4
3 posts
Nov 18, 2013
7:23 PM
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I got my first electric at Dayton institute of music I was about 15 and Dad paid 129.95 for it and the amp was a Princeton Fender with one 6LB6 out put tube. The electric was Lespaul jr,W/ sunburst wish I still had It and the amp/
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RCOONa
7 posts
Jan 30, 2014
9:32 AM
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Roge, I remember Popps music store. But I think the store was on East Third.(?) I took lessons from Popps. His wife worked in the store also. Seems like they were both old, or was it that I was young at the time ?
Last Edited by RCOONa on Jan 30, 2014 9:34 AM
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dcreep
3 posts
Mar 24, 2014
6:53 PM
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How about Fitzsimmons in the 100 block of E. Second St. for pianos and organs? Frank Reddy gave lessons and played for the dinner crowd at Kenkle's on Linden just west of Smithville. For WOLFCREEK and NILE, yes, the Dayton Band Instrument Co. was on the second floor over the Victory Theater on N. Main St. in the 1950s. My family bought a clarinet for me for $150 from the owner: Bob Daugherty (not sure on the spelling). He had a nice, waxed handlebar mustache. I think that that company did move to N. Main near Forest Park. I took lessons from a Mr. Forberger, who, I believe, was from the Fairview area of Dayton.
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driver62
520 posts
Mar 25, 2014
6:38 AM
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dcreep - Dayton Band was on N. Main directly across from Forest Park. My three kids took music lessons there. Later they moved further north around Randolph Plaza and then they went out of business.
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jack1953
85 posts
Mar 25, 2014
9:03 AM
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I remember taking guitar lessons in Huber from a guy named Gene Shiverdecker. He had a music store but I have no clue of what he did and didn't sell.
My parents bought me my first guitar and amp and I went into the Air Force two months after I graduated from high school, so I never had any dealings with any of the music stores and have no clue.
Played in two different rock bands. One in junior high school and one in high school.
The high school band played at dances at Wayne High School a few times.
Man, those days and my baseball playing days were my best childhood memories!!
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Forgiven, forgotten, set free!!
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LarryW
1 post
Jul 08, 2014
4:58 PM
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I shopped at Hauer downtown, then Far Hills and Patterson. Before that it was at a few stores at Dayton Mall... A piano and horn place upstairs in the 70s, then Moeller's and a tiny shop inside McCrorys. Their stock was pitiful but I bought many sax reeds, sheet music, and a jaw harp.
also Centerville Music on 725 and Ace Music on Watervliet.
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joanofthe60s
33 posts
Jul 23, 2014
11:04 PM
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I remember Bernie's Music store when he was at the old location on the corner of 5th and Jefferson street. I also remember Bernie as a little Italian looking guy that always wore flashy suits. Nice man though and always had something interesting to say.
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aafreddie
1 post
Sep 08, 2014
11:07 PM
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Drumville Guitarland on N.Main..
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luv my dayton
705 posts
Sep 09, 2014
7:54 AM
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Does anyone remember a place at Far hills and Stroop in that plaza near the Bagle Cafe that was a music type store? I used to go there to buy sheet music I believe. Memory is failing me on this one.
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RoyGBiv
6 posts
Sep 09, 2014
6:31 PM
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Luv: Goldenrod had a record and sheet music store in the Castle Hills Shopping Center. It was on the western end and faced Stroop Road.
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luv my dayton
708 posts
Sep 09, 2014
8:07 PM
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Just a silly story but involves a music store and may have been a Hauers. Location was at Far Hills and Rockhill. Guy bought an Alvarez guitar which was beautiful and expensive. Now he was ready for the lesson. Guy takes lessons from instructor and after a time learned nothing. According to the guy instructor knew nothing and shouldn't be teaching. To make this story really short he goes through two other instructors and they were terrible teachers also as he learned nothing. After all the teachers and money for lessons and not learning but a few cords he was left with his beautiful, costly guitar that he couldn't play nor couldn't sell. Finally got half the price back. Never dawned on him he wasn't musically inclined but his friends had a laugh out of it. Sorry folks this thread made me have to tell this story. Think he may have over the years learned to play the kazoo.
Last Edited by luv my dayton on Sep 09, 2014 8:09 PM
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