South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-15
ANNOUNCEMENT OF
NEW CUT SURPRISE
TO DODGE DEALERS
l,500 Hear Official Announce
ment of Price Cut at Eighth
Annual Meeting.

Fifteen hundred Dodge Brothers
dealers were surprised TO learn last
Tuesday that the prices Of Dodge
Brothers motor cars were reduced.
in effect. on Jan. 1. Official an
nouncement OF the reduction. the
form and nature OF which caused a
sensation in automobile circles, was
made by r. J. Haynes. president and
general manager Of Dodge Brothers.
at the eighth annual meeting and
luncheon Of Dodge Brothers dealers
in the Pennsylvania hotel that day.
Henry O. Grieger, the local Dodge
dealer attended the dinner and
meeting.
The reduction made by Dodge
Brothers is decidedly unusual. in
that Il Is both retroactive and in
definite that is. according to the
announcement, the new prices Of
Dodge Brothers cars will not be
made public until Feb. !, but will
apply on all cars sold after Jan. /.
This means, of course, that persons
who have bought Dodge Brothers
cars since the first of the year will
be entitled 70 a rebate, the amount of
which is still unknown 10 the public.
The official form of the Dodge
Brothers announcement was as fol-
lows:
Announcement on Feb. 1.
Dodge Brothers will announce on
Feb. 1. 1922, a substantial reduction
in prices OF their cars, effective Jan.
II. 1922"
In view OF the many other definite
~ announced reductions by various
automobile manufacturers, IL was in
stantly conceded in all quarters that
Dodge Brothers had made "a shrewd
manoeuvre. All officials OF the com
pany. including Mr.. Haynes, how
ever. refused point blank 20 make
any comment in addition 10 what was
formerly announced
The dealers meeting was one of
the largest and most pretentious
gatherings OF it's kind on record The
large ballroom of the Pennsylvania
I hotel accommodated only about two
thirds Of the diners. while the others
were placed in the foyer and ada
cent rooms At the conclusion Of
the luncheon tables were withdrawn
10 make room for all guests. where
upon another big surprise, the first
of the day, was revealed. II was a
play. Present Company Excepted.
written by Montague Glass especially
for this occasion, and produced by an
all-star cast. including such prOmin-
ent Broadway celebrates as Barney
Bernard, Julius Tanner, Edwin Nor
dant and Jennie Moscowitz. The play
portrayed Abe Potash and Morris
lPerlmutter, for the creation of which
Mr.. Glass has long been famous. as
Dodge Brothers, dealers at Cyprus,
l.. 1. Mr.. Bernard played Abe and
Mr.. Tanner was Morris.
The production of such a play,
which was Of standard theatrical
/, length, equipment, etc, was not only
tainment, but was a decided novelty
TO the actors. Ordinarily when they
open a new production they do not
expect things 70 go smoothly the first
, night. or even the first week. Shows
are seldom opened cold" on Broad
way for this reason. The ironing out
process on the road or in adjacent
towns precedes the big showing. In
this play everything was conferred on
one performance. There was no sec
ond town or even a second night to
fall back on. Consequently, a long
series of diligent rehearsals was ne
cessary. 1t was apparent throughout
the performance that no details had
been overlooked and no pains spared
TO give il the appearance of a well sea-
sOned production.
Diners Get Copies OF Play.
Every guest at the luncheon was
presented with a handsome leather
bound book of the play. many Of
them containing the autograph of
Mr.. Glass. the author Owing 10 the
unusual success of the performance.
it is entirely probable that Mr.. Glass
will have the show produced for gen
eraI release, as his contract with
Dodge Brothers provides for only
the one performance.
The address of the president. Mr..
Haynes, who was introduced by c..
W. Matheson. general sales manager.
followed the show. Mr.. Haynes re-
viewed the success of the last year.
I'm which Dodge Brothers were con
spicuous as one of the leaders and
emphasized the greater possibilities
. of 1922. He supplemented his talk
with motion picture showing some
OF the more important methods by
which the factory had cooperated
with dealers in enabling them to
meet the unusual heavy demand for
ears IN the spring. The picture
closed with a reproduction OF tn
newspaper in which appeared the
announcement of the price reduc-
tionLthe first intimation that such a
move was even contemplated by
Dodge Brothers. II was an extremely
dramatic final touch TO an excep-
tiOnal program.