Bruce that is absolutely amazing that they turned their noses up at the possibility of a wonderful show & tell for the kids and also the Display at the Historical Society. As you know, non-collectors are really drawn to and fascinated by the sight and sounds of these historical old phonographs, and it really makes no sense that anyone would turn down your offer, but it happens far to often, and I suspect it is out of shear ignorance as to what you really have. I also recently did a couple of weddings, one for was for a small wedding in an elegant room at a 19th Century Sea Captains House in Boston. I had two external horn Victors set up on top of the Grand Piano, and played period 1920's jazz age music as the guests were being seated. Then I played the music for the entrance of the wedding Party, and an original Columbia 1909 band version of the Wedding March from Lohengrin by Wagner, for the entrance of the bride, at the conclusion of the wedding ceremony the Bride & Groom chose "Your the Cream in My Coffee" by Ted Weems & his Orchestra, rather then the traditional Mendolsohn's Wedding March for their exit.. I also played more 20's music during the cocktail hour. It was one of the finest times I have had entertaining with my phonographs and record collection. ----- Original Message ----- From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2009 2:43:55 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: [Phono-L] This Memorial Day in my home Town
Congratulations Bruce on successfully organizing the memorial day concert. I have small children and have offered more than one time to do a similar "show and tell" type thing for the children but the school administrators don't seem terribly interested. In my home town in Minnesota, the Historical Society built a large, very expensive exhibit building at the fairgrounds and stocked it with old a few old steamer trunks, some circa 1900 farm implements and the most beat up mahogany victrola XVI you've ever seen in your life. They also have a pioneer village with a Drug store there from ~circa 1905-1910. I've offered to set up a broad display in the large building of up to 50 machines or a more targeted display in the drug store,(could be for example only Edison machines of ~1906, 07, 10, 14, 18, etcetera). No interest. Closest I've come to your success is about 15 years ago for a friend's wedding I was requested to provide the music. That was pretty cool. I set up a victor V with petaled horn and an electic microphone in front of the horn and provided the music for ~ 100 people for a good part of evening. Cheers, The other Bruce Bruce Johnson Pod Valem II, 870 252 43 Pruhonice Czech Republic ________________________________ _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org From [email protected] Thu May 21 17:01:00 2009 From: [email protected] ([email protected]) Date: Thu May 21 17:01:12 2009 Subject: [Phono-L] This Memorial Day in my home Town Message-ID: <[email protected]> Hats off to all of you collectors that enjoy displaying and playing your collection! People, however amaze me. I sometimes cannot believe how people fail show any interest at all in phonographs. I guess I am so passionate about them that I feel that everyone should be also. I have a Victor V, Victor R, Victor II, Victor 0, Victor III, and an Edison 75 displayed in our living room. With the exception of a few, our friends and guests will come right in, glance around, and comment on a rose that my wife has in a vase. They never say one word about the amazing machines! The phonographs have no impact on them what so ever! I do get a thrill at friends and guests that do have an interest, again very few, and I take full advantage of playing the machines and sharing the history of them, the records, and the artists, etc. We have a local museum that has a Collector's Day Show each August. My 8 year old daughter and I have a blast setting up a booth with 6 or so machines and some advertisements, and records. Fellow collectors (comic book collectors, doll collectors, etc.) enjoy the phonographs. In fact, our local newspaper ran an article last year featuring us and the hobby of phonograph collecting. The curator of the museum invited me several years ago to play the Victor V at the Veteran's Day Program. I had a blast playing the Victor Military Band's rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. I capped it off with Billy Murray singing the Grand Old Rag!! The Vets really loved it. What disheartens me is the lack of interest that the next generation has in this wonderful hobby. My two daughters like the phonographs and cherish the memories of us dancing in the living room to Billy Murray and Aileen Stanley singing You Gotta See Mama Every Night or You Can't See Mama At All, but as far as having a passion for them...afraid not. It's sad, but we may be all that is left in the hobby. I was born in 1958 and just love thinking about what it was like when my grandparents were born. They were born in the early 1900s and I can't help but think of them and the wonderful time that they lived in. As Harvey has said, "This is history, reall history!" I would like to take the time to wish each of you a wonderful Memorial Day and say thanks to all of you that have been or are in the Military. Thanks to all of you that have family in the service as well. We are so blessed to live in this great land of ours. Now, if you would excuse me, I think that I will go play the Stars and Stripes Forever on a cute little Victor I. God bless to all! Keep the speed limit at 78....rmps that is! Brantley From [email protected] Thu May 21 18:58:00 2009 From: [email protected] (Ken and Brenda Brekke) Date: Thu May 21 19:19:41 2009 Subject: [Phono-L] Phonograph appreciation In-Reply-To: <252891611.7482871242942697850.javamail.r...@sz0019a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <[email protected]> The previous email threads regarding the public appreciating phonographs reminds me of one of my experiences. I have taken some of my phonographs to nursing homes and played records for everyone there. The first time I went, there were only a few that showed up. On all the subsequent visits, the activity room was filled. There was one particular lady that I will never forget. She was always by herself on the side of all the activity. She didn't associate with anyone. I asked one of the aides about her. The aide said "Oh, that's Georgia. She is usually pretty mean to everyone." I took that statement as a challenge. I used a cart and took my Concert Roller Organ over to her. I put my arm on her shoulder and asked if she wanted to play it. She looked up to me and in a very gruff and defiant voice said "YES!" She needed to use both hands to crank it but she played the whole cobb. When it ended she looked up at me again and had a huge smile on her face and said "Thank you very much!" It still brings a little tear to my eyes yet today. After that visit, Georgia always came up to me and requested to play either a phonograph or the Roller Organ. Many of the residents would dig through my boxes of records I brought. The look on their faces when they found a particular record that brought back memories from their younger days was priceless. They would eagerly play the record and talk about what it meant to them. I never needed to explain to them how to play the phonographs. It has been a while since I have visited a nursing home with some phonographs. It is something I miss doing and should start again. You can be sure that everyone there appreciates phonographs. More recently, I have started something similar with our Model A Ford club. We have put on mini car shows at nursing homes and give the residents rides. The appreciation of these events is also great. Ken Brekke
