From Stephenson Music Company to ‘The Price is Right’
Stephenson Music Company had a long history of operation in Raleigh. Starting out downtown in 1907, it was a variety store specializing in musical instruments. The postcard above dates from the 1950s when the store was located in Cameron Village.
The sender of the postcard was James T. Stephenson. Was James the owner/proprietor of Stephenson Music Company? Maybe someone out there can solve the mystery.
A 1940s performance by Stan Kenton broadcast over WRAL radio
Like so many businesses during the post-war era, it relocated away from downtown as America moved outward toward the suburbs. The first move was to Cameron Village in the 1950s.
At some point later, Stephenson Music Company was located in Crabtree Valley Mall, according to a 1978 Music Trades magazine.
The addressee is “Christmas Showcase”, The Price is Right. The Christmas Showcase was a special feature of the Home Viewer Showcase, which allowed people to submit postcards guessing the combined total retail price of the featured items. The episode above is from 1957, the year in which the sender submitted his bid to win it all. I can’t locate what the winning bid was, but several YouTube commenters are pretty close to what Mr. Stephenson guessed the actual retail price was.
As interesting as this find is, it leaves me with many questions:
- Was James T. Stephenson the proprietor of Stephenson Music Company?
- When did Stephenson Music leave Cameron Village for Crabtree Valley Mall?
- What was the winning bid for the 1957 Christmas Showcase?
- When did Stephenson Music Company cease operations?
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01/28/2011
They were in Crabtree as the original tenant in the right half of Victoria’s Secret’s space.
01/28/2011
2004 Stone St. is quite a structure. 4,000+ sq. ft. house that’s worth over a million dollars.
Depending on how successful his business was, this address would make sense. Especially considering it’s close proximity to Cameron Village.
01/28/2011
Did they not also have a free-standing building near the corner of Peace and Salisbury Streets (diagonally from Peace College) in the early ’70s? I remember using the recital hall for a piano recital around 1973.
01/28/2011
I delivered the Raleigh Times in that neighborhood in the mid-60′s, and can confirm that old man Stephenson was on my route. Tho I remember him being down the street, at the corner of Cowper & Jarvis, or Holt & Jarvis. Such a long time ago – heh. He didn’t prepay as he liked to have a chat with me when I came to collect. Great guy.
And as for C. H. Stephenson Music in Cameron Village, we all loved that place. Had listening booths in the back. Offered guitar & piano lessons downstairs. I remember when they first offered VOX guitars & amps – life size Beatles & Dave Clark Five freestanding cardboard endorsement cutouts. I could go on & on…
01/29/2011
I can answer one of the questions — When the postcard was sent to The Price Is Right in 1957 James T. Stephenson was the vice president of the company. His mother Annie J. (widow of Charles H. Sr., the founder) was the president. The older son, Chas. H. Jr. was the secretary-treasurer. Annie J. and Jas. T. and family lived in the big house on Stone St. Ian referred to in his comment.
And I love the vid! Doesn’t get any sexier than a beautifully-gowned, gorgeous blonde model in elbow-length white gloves showcasing a Lincoln Sedan and a Continental Convertible!
02/01/2011
The music store on Peace Street was called Poole’s Music. Same family as Poole’s Pies and Poole’s Luncheonette, I believe. The building is still there, across from Sunflowers, and is occupied by the state.
Where did the image of Stan Kenton come from? That’s great!