LEVINSON MUSIC
97 years and no more
After 97 years in business, a store that has brought music to generations in Medicine Hat will close its doors.
“It is the oldest retail music store in Canada,” said Ken Chisholm, 71, owner of Levinson Music on South Railway Street.
Joe Levinson established the store in 1920 and sold the business to Chisholm and Howie Millan 50 years ago. A couple years later, Chisholm bought Millan out.
People in search of music and musical instruments have come from far and wide to shop here. When Hatton’s Music store closed in Regina, Chisholm bought all the remaining stock. Since then a Regina piano teacher has made the journey to Levinson Music every fall to buy all the music books she needs, said Chisholm.
Chisholm’s history with Levinson goes back even further though. Born and raised in Fox Valley where the family farmed, Ken was playing the guitar and banjo at small halls and weddings from the age of 9. They frequently shopped at Levinson Music and the owner predicted Chisholm would one day own the store.
“My mom played, my uncle played and my grandfather on my mother’s side,” said Chisholm, who began working Saturdays at the store. He still remembers some of the customers that frequented.
The late Alex Walmart, a steel guitar player, was one. Billy Jones who was part of the Stompin’ Tom Connors band was another. Jones actually worked part time in the store for 20 years. Walmart told the News in 2011 that he believed Levinson Music was the oldest music store on this continent.
Levinson Music has been a gathering place for many musicians.
“People come to Levinson ‘coffee house’ in the mornings to talk music,” said Chisholm.
Levinson Music and the building are so much a part of Medicine Hat it seemed as though it would go on forever. Last December though, Chisholm, who had always been so healthy, got really sick with a kidney problem and was in hospital for a couple weeks. Chisholm’s wife Sheila has also been experiencing health problems.
“My kids said, ‘That’s enough dad, it is time to take mom on holiday,’” said Chisholm, acknowledging it was time to turn the page.
Ideally it would be great if someone wanted to buy the store but Chisholm is not waiting for that to happen. He plans to hold sales of his stock from March on to wind the business down.
“I still love it. I love the music business,” said Chisholm. “It’s made a terrific living for us.”
Peter Mueller, who used to own the former United Conservatory of Music, says Levinson Music and Chisholm will be “sorely missed.” In most cities with several music stores there would be considerable rivalry, but that has never been the case with Chisholm, said Mueller.
Maj. Murray Jaster, a musician, called Chisholm a “great man” who always had an open door.
The closing of Levinson Music will also close a chapter of nostalgia. Chisholm still has a rotary dial telephone on his desk and refuses to part with it. There are also solid wood filing drawers with little brass plates to hold labels.
After eating and breathing the music store for five decades, it’s hard to imagine how Chisholm will fill in his time. He says he will work on the family farm and if he gets bored he will simply find a music store where he can work.