The Edison phonograph monthly (Mar 1903-Feb 1904)

EDISON PHONOGRAPH MONTHLY. PHONOGRAPH TAKES THE PLACE OF AN ORCHESTRA AT A THEATRE. "Immediately on taking charge of this store fortune threw an excellent opportunity in my hands of giving the Triumph Phonograph a hearing by a select audience," writes John E. Finney, successor to The Ray Co., at Savannah, Ga., under date of January 5. "The management of the local theatre have been having considerable trouble with their orchestra, and on Thursday evening last Virginia Harned was booked to present Tris.' One of the largest audiences of the season assembled at the theatre, and it was learned at the last moment that the orchestra was not to put in an appearance. The writer stepped in the breach and supplied the place of the orchestra with the Triumph, and a selection of operatic and popular music, playing before the performance and during the intermission. The innovation caused some amusement at the start, but before the evening the occasion made many new friends for the Edison wonder, judging from the frequent and long applause following our selections. "We made good beyond doubt ; for the management requested that we repeat our 'orchestra' for Roselle Knott, who, with 'When Knighthood Was in Flower/ attracted a large audience at a matinee on Friday and a brilliant audience at night. Our end was a pronounced success, and has been favorably commented on by the papers here. I write this to you because while I have been pretty well posted on the doings of playhouses generally, I have never heard of this being done before. Whole entertainments have been given without doubt; but never as an orchestra that I have heard. "We have been asked to continue this week, which we are doing. The Savannah Press, in commenting on the performance of Tris,' says in part: 'Not the least enjoyable part of the evening was contributed by the Edison Phonomachine. With this device Mr. Lauten has graph, which, in place of the orchestra, supplied the musical end of the evening.' " ADVERTISING PHRASES USED BY SOME PROGRESSIVE DEALERS. Edison Phonographs double the pleasure of living. — Douglass & Co., New York city. Unapproachable in its perfection — the Edison Phonograph. — John E. Finney, Savannah, Ga. Don't be fooled, the Genuine Edison Gold Moulded Record will outlast six of any other style wax records. The Edison Record is, in fact, the only genuine Moulded Record made. — Wells Phonograph Co., Philadelphia. The Great Edison Phonograph sings its own praises and leads the world. — Keller's Music House, Easton, Pa. Edison Gold Moulded Records: Moulded in gold, as good as gold, staple as flour, and are not on the bargain counters of department stores. — The Eastern Talking Machine Company, Boston, Mass. If you use the standard or cylinder Records and want the very best then you simply want the Edison. — C. R. Zacharias, Asbury Park, N.J. A NOVEL WAY OF USING THE PHONO GRAPH FOR A CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENT. The Pardee-Ellenberger Co., of New Haven, Conn., send the following contribution from F. W. Willoughby, of East Haven, a Phonograph enthusiast : There was a family gathering of twenty-four in New Haven. Conn., on Christmas Day and the Phonograph was used as a "Santa Claus." For instance, one of the party had a favorite Record — "The Parrot Said." At the finish of the Record he received a large green parrot. The Record entitled "The Miller's Daughter" was then played, all joining in the .chorus. The Record "Anona" was played for a "two-step" with good success, the music being loud and clear. Another of the party had a favorite Record, "Turkey in the Straw," by Billy Golden, and at the finish of this Record a turkey stuffed with straw was given. The Military Landers was then played for a good old-fashioned square dance, the music and prompting being very distinct. Then the party sang "Won't You Roll Them Eyes," by Arthur Collins. Another of the party is a great lover of Indians. "Hiawatha" was then played and an Indian was presented. A number of two-steps and waltzes were played for dancing and gave excellent satisfaction. Still another of the party who thought "Under the Bamboo Tree" was "about what the Doctor ordered" was given a Bamboo Queen. The owner of the machine played the Record "High Up in a Cocoanut Tree," and was the recipient of five monkeys. "Turkey in the Straw" was then played for a Virginia reel, and so on through the day the Phonograph was brought in as a funmaker. and was a grand success, there being no end to the uses to which a Phonograph can be put. A PHONOGRAPH PARTY. "Enclosed find copy of rather unique invitation, which proved profitable to both Mr. Delahanty and ourselves, as each guest bought from one to three Records. O. J. Junge, 245 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago, 111." The invitation was as follows : WHOA BILL ! WHOA BILL ! STOP! BACK UP! Mr. O. J. Junge, you are respectfully invited to attend an Edison Phonograph Party, to be given by Mr. and Mrs. Edward F. Delahanty, at their Summer home, 311 Illinois street, Saturday evening, August 8, 1903. The leading man of the evening will be Mr. James Hall, and don't forget to bring your Record. As ever, your old-time friends, Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Delahanty. J. H. Snyder, a Dealer at Urichsville, Ohio, on one Sunday recently gave a Phonograph entertainment to about 100 inmates of the county infirmary, i» place of their usual Sunday afternoon preaching service. The inmates declared that the Phonograph entertainment was better than that led by the minister.