He is Already a Tycoon at a Young Age! - Chapter 25



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Episode 25

Episode 25 – The Great Hitler by FitzGerald

I once read a novel called The Great Gatsby.

A classic novel by Fitzgerald set in the roaring twenties in America.

In the novel, a man named Gatsby throws a lavish feast in his mansion every day.

A grand feast of alcohol, music, and expensive luxury goods.

‘Is this what it feels like?’

Grand Central Hotel.

The largest known hotel in the United States.

The lobby was crowded with people who had come to attend the party.

“Oh, Alf. Morgan will be here soon. Shouldn’t I show you the board game?”

“Show it to me in a separate room. Don’t let other people see it.”

I told Richter.

“Then Morgan won’t be angry either.”

“Why am I feeding the lion…”

“The party host can’t be away for a few dozen minutes.”

“Okay, okay. I’ll give it a try. Don’t complain later.”

Richter smiled and left the room.

By the way, it really feels like a scene from The Great Gatsby.

Who would have thought you could throw such a lavish party.

No, considering the broken money, is this something to be expected?

‘I should meet Fitzgerald sometime later.’

Maybe I can give you some writing ideas.

Hemingway and Picasso would also be very active at the moment.

While I was lost in my thoughts, someone came running.

“Pops! I’ve been looking for you!”

“Louis! Are you ready to play?”

“Thanks to Pops preparing this and that, there are no major problems.”

Louis Armstrong looked around anxiously.

“I thought I was just playing at a pop house. I didn’t know I would be playing in front of such high-ranking people…”

“Just do as you usually do, Louis. That’s good enough.”

Louis was holding a trumpet, not a cornet.

Did you change your instrument as I advised?

“Since you’re all the way to New York, why don’t you play on the radio?”

“If it’s radio…”

“I have a radio station that I run. Your music will be played all over New York. Tens of thousands of people will listen.”

From the beginning, it was Louis Armstrong’s performance. Is the standard for jazz too high?

“I’ll give you a generous appearance fee, so think about it.”

“Rather, I think we should be paying Pops an appearance fee.”

“If you give me money, I will be grateful.”

After some joking chat, Louis returned to the band and began to play.

Passionate music that captures everyone’s attention.

No matter when you hear it, Armstrong’s skills are amazing.

As the atmosphere heated up, the serving staff also started to move busily.

An endless pile of food and drinks.

The most popular was definitely alcohol.

‘Nobody cares about Prohibition.’

In fact, consuming alcohol is not a crime.

Everyone chatted with cocktails in hand.

“Isn’t Hitler Company an example of America’s power? Anyone can do it in such a short period of time…”

Joseph Kennedy was already making friends by going around the party.

Even praising me from time to time.

I’m telling you, he’s a scary guy in many ways.

On one side, the Warner brothers and the actors were also visible.

The Coca-Cola people are here too.

I guess I’ll start joining in too.

The host of the party can’t just sit still.

While I was absentmindedly staring, someone approached me.

“I heard that Mr. Hitler was very interested in music.”

“Yes, I like all kinds of music.”

“My name is Artur Bodantzki, conductor of the Metropolitan Opera. I specialize in German works.”

“My favorite artist is Wagner.”

Actually, it was Hitler who liked Wagner, not me.

Even when he was poor, Hitler regularly enjoyed Wagner’s operas.

I was also trying to watch ‘The Ring of the Nibelung’ while researching materials…

The entire opera took over 14 hours. I ended up giving up halfway through.

“Our Metropolitan also places a lot of emphasis on Wagner’s works. But recently, due to budgetary issues…”

Oh, you were asking for money.

It is common for the rich to sponsor orchestras and operas.

No matter what, it seems a bit of a waste to just throw money away.

for a moment.

It was called the Metropolitan Opera.

“Have you ever thought about collaborating on something related to radio?”

“If it’s radio…”

“We broadcast so that New Yorkers can easily listen to orchestras and operas.”

I said.

It wasn’t just jazz that gained popularity on the radio.

Classical music and opera.

This one also gained a lot of popularity.

“If the public becomes interested in opera, wouldn’t sponsorship increase as well?”

Later, when sound films are developed, I will have to ask them to record musicals as well.

It would be perfect for a Disney animation.

“We will also consider sponsorship separately from the broadcast. Let’s discuss it in more detail later.”

“Yes, yes! I’ll be waiting!”

After exchanging greetings and parting ways, a familiar face approached us.

“Did you hear? I heard your nickname these days is Radio Kaiser.”

Edison said with a mischievous smile.

“The nickname Kaiser just won’t go away.”

It used to be just Kaiser.

Now it’s Radio Kaiser.

That sounds like some club DJ name.

“Mr. Tesla, aren’t you coming? It’s a party to celebrate the radio…”

Actually, Tesla didn’t come.

Did something happen?

“That guy is a commoner?”

Edison answered with a subtle expression.

“It seems like you’re busy running the broadcasting station. You should go and show your face. And check to see if you’re still alive.”

“All right.”

I can’t even come to the party.

Is there that much work?

I guess I’ll have to stop by just like Edison said. A few more minutes later.

When I came to my senses, a man with a blunt expression was standing in front of me.

Calvin Coolidge.

The man who would become President of the United States in a few years.

He took over when Harding died during his term.

He’s now the governor of Massachusetts.

“Boston’s police problems have been solved, but the chaos remains.”

He spoke word by word.

“I think that by using radio, we can quickly inform citizens of the location of a fire or crime.”

“You can quickly find missing people and criminals. Not long ago, there was a woman with dementia who got lost, but she was quickly found thanks to the radio.”

I said.

I was able to find it thanks to the broadcasting station reporting it in real time.

“If the governor gives permission, we will expand radio to Boston.”

“I will review it positively.”

“…”

This is awkward.

Coolidge was originally known as a man of few words.

He was also the president who most actively introduced radio.

“What if the White House also used radio to announce the State of the Union? More people would be able to hear and trust the voice of the government.”

“I think so too.”

“…”

Silence again.

This won’t work.

I said hello appropriately and moved to my seat.

Let’s scan it all at once.

Hundreds of people.

Among them, I saw a familiar face.

‘That person…’

This is fun.

I didn’t know that person would come.

＊＊＊

Soybeans in large size.

Even the charisma that captivates people.

I approached it without hesitation.

“Ah, Mr. Hitler. Welcome. I have heard a lot from you.”

The large man shook his glass and said.

“I didn’t know you liked that kind of pig-snapping music. You really have unique taste in music.”

“Soon that music will represent America.”

I answered in a calm tone and offered to shake hands.

William Randolph Hearst.

America’s newspaper king.

No, not even a king.

A truly emperor-like figure who holds many newspapers in his hands.

The Spanish-American War was also instigated by this gentleman.

Did they control not only newspapers but also newsreels shown in theaters?

“I’m not sure about that. But I think radio is a potential business.”

He said, crossing his arms.

The people around them noticed and slowly left their seats.

“Ten million dollars.”

“yes?”

“I’ll take over the radio business for ten million dollars.”

“That’s an attractive price.”

A snicker came out.

As expected, it comes out like this.

‘By the way, it’s ten million dollars.’

It’s way more than the amount I’ve invested so far.

But that’s not enough.

“If it was a billion dollars, I would have accepted the offer.”

“That joke is a bit too much.”

This time, Hurst chuckled as if he found it ridiculous.

“Edison also invented the projector, but his movie business failed. Radio is ultimately like newspapers. Without proper management, it will fail.”

“I agree with Mr. Hurst.”

What kind of broadcast program are you planning?

Who are we going to recruit, etc.

Radio broadcasting required meticulous coordination and planning.

‘But I have over a hundred years of knowledge.’

From the 1920s when radio was all the rage, to the 21st century when its popularity waned.

All kinds of broadcast programs and ideas,

I knew the advertising concepts.

“But if it’s collaboration, it’s definitely possible.”

“cooperation?”

“Radio broadcasting also needs news. And no place has as much news as newspapers.”

No matter how entertaining the music or opera may be, the core of radio is delivering news.

To do that, we needed journalists and media outlets.

It would be difficult to confront Hearst head-on right now.

Then, rather…

“So you’re saying we should join hands? You want to get news through my newspapers?”

“Then Mr. Hurst, you can use the radio for free, right?”

The media all tend to be supportive.

This paper is conservative, that one is liberal, and this one is centrist.

And the ones who decide on this tendency are the editors and, by extension, the company presidents.

‘Hearst supported the Democratic Party.’

Although he had a brief feud with Roosevelt, he helped him get elected in 1932.

The more news he provides to my radio, the more influential he becomes.

“That’s a convincing argument. Let’s negotiate the detailed cost through the staff.”

“And there’s one more thing I’d like to ask you…”

I took a deep breath.

“I’d like to place an advertisement in the newspaper.”

“Advertising? Talk to your advertising manager about that. I can’t pay attention to every little detail.”

Hurst smiled slyly.

“My newspapers will offer more reasonable prices than any of our competitors.”

“How about free?”

“Free? Are you asking for free advertising?”

Hurst’s face turned bright red.

“Look, Mr. Hitler. Do I look like such a fool? Even though I proposed cooperation, in such a way…”

“Please listen to what I have to say. Then Mr. Hurst will agree.”

I said.

No matter how popular radio is, it’s not as popular as newspapers.

In this era, newspapers were the alpha and omega of advertising.

“I recently acquired a board game.”

“Board game. What exactly do you mean?”

“Unlike existing games, this is an innovative game that actively introduces economic concepts. I heard that universities even offer related classes.”

I said.

“We plan to hold a national competition for that game.”

“You’re trying to sell board games by packaging them as economic education. You’re also trying to attract some attention by holding a national competition. What does that have to do with asking for free advertising?”

That’s very Hurst-like.

You got the gist of what I said the moment you heard it.

“What if instead of charging an entry fee for a contest, you were asked to recruit a certain number of newspaper subscribers?”

“Newspaper subscription instead of contest entry fee? What do you mean?”

Hurst said, furrowing his eyebrows.

Okay, so that piques your interest.

“You need to gather a certain number of subscribers, say five, to enter the contest. So, many kids will enter the contest…”

“I’ll be able to attract my family and acquaintances. That way, my newspaper subscribers will increase.”

“That’s it.”

This is something that actually happened in history.

Yoyo.

A toy that everyone has played with at least once when they were young.

This type of marketing is also how yo-yos became popular in the United States.

Instead of collecting entry fees for the contest, collect newspaper subscribers.

This allowed me to advertise for free.

Hearst also actively embraced this marketing.

“Hmm… interesting. Very interesting. But there’s no guarantee that the contest will be successful.”

“Then I’ll give you an extra gift. I’ll give the Hearst newspapers an exclusive schedule of my radio station.”

“Broadcast schedule?”

“This is a sign that tells you what radio station is on at what time.”

I said.

This was popular before the internet, OTT, and cable TV.

pairing.

TV guide, etc.

If you wanted to know what broadcast was on at what time, you had to look at newspapers or magazines.

“Then everyone who listens to the radio will subscribe to the Hearst papers.”

“That’s a novel suggestion. It sounds plausible.”

Hurst muttered.

“Good. Then I won’t lose anything. Then let’s sign an exclusive contract with only my newspapers…”

at that time.

Someone was walking briskly toward me.

“Hitler!”

When I raised my head, I saw Jack Morgan. His expression was unusually distorted.

“You drew my father’s face in such a funny way on that board game? Are you trying to fight me now?”

“No way.”

I answered in a calm tone.

Capitalism as shown by Richter, ho! Did you see the board game?

“If that were the case, why would I have asked Mr. Morgan for permission in the first place?”

I’m glad you showed it to me before it was released.

I almost got into big trouble.

I took a deep breath and looked at Morgan.

It is necessary to maintain close relations with Morgan House.

Capitalism, ho! is the stepping stone for that.

What does Jack Morgan want most right now?

That’s exactly what’s changing the public image of the Morgan House.

The image of an evil capitalist was the problem.

To change that…

What could be better than an educational and fun capitalist board game?

“Please listen to my explanation first. If you still do not allow it, I will change the cover design.”