The phonoscope (Nov 1896-Dec 1899)

THE PHONOSCOPE. November, 1896. Mr. Leonard Spencer The subject of the above illustration, Mr. Leonard Spencer, better known among his friends as "Len," was born in Washington. D. C, January 12, 1S67. His father was the famous Henry C. Spencer, of the Spencerian Business College of Washington, and joint author of the Spencerian system of penman ship. From his eighteenth to his twenty-first year Mr. Spencer taught in his father's college. He then accepted an offer of the Columbia Phonograph Company, of Washington, D. C, to sing to their Phonographs. This is a fine art, and few make a success of it, but Mr. Spencer's remarkable powei-s gave a big impetus to the business of the company. First one company, then another outdid each other for his services. Finally he was secured, at a fat salary, by the U. S. Phonograph Company, with whom he has now been for more than 6 years. Mr. Spencer has an original way of singing the best negro songs that makes his records of splendid merit in that line. His sympathetic, well-cultivated voice also enables him to render familiar ballads with great sentiment and feeling. The gifts of comedian and vocalist he combines in an unusual degree. He is the originator of the darky shout in Phonograph work. His efforts are always original and his resources seemingly without limit. He has a repertoire of fully COO songs, of which more than 300 are being catalogued at the present time, and the total records he has made exceeds 62,000. Some of his great hits are: "Nigger and the Bee," "Little Liza Loves You," "Little Alabama Coon," etc. "The New Bully" he has sung ten times a week for 6 months with great success. May Irwin having complimented him especially on his rendering of this song.. Mr. Spencer is one of the few successful imitators of Chevalier's coster-songs, where he seems not only to have caught the spirit of the original singer, but also to have entirely donned the character of the East end Cockney. In the descriptive selections played by Issler's Orchestra. Mr. Spencer manipulates the Castagnettes, Clogs, Tamborines, etc., making also the necessary announcements and the remarks that cause so much laughter by those who have listened to these popular selections. Gifted with a powerful voice he utilizes it to great advantage in announcing for band and other records where a number of machines are used, necessitating great vocal power to fill the horns of the several machines which are running at the same time. He has lately formed a co-partnership with the popular artist, Mr. John 1'. Hogan, for the production of a sketch called: "Our Sunny Southern I Ionic," a true character delineation n|' the Southern Negro, with all his wit. humor and pathos. This sketch has been produced at a number of the leading theatres in and around New York, meeting with the approval of critical audiences. Mr. Spencer is a universal favorite as is shown by the many songs that have been defeated to him by such popular composers as Monroe H. Boeenfejd, Addison Kent, Will Carlton and others. ©ur Gorresponbents FRESNO, CAL.— California is noted for having more Phonographs than any other Western State. At the present time, many Phonographs are lying idle, the owners of them not being able to make their support exhibiting, and not even taking enough interest in them to keep them in running condition for their own enjoyment and that of their friends and families. The Phonograph business in San Francisco is very good, but in the smaller towns where a Phonograph is exhibited, and where a person is asked to hear it, he invariably says: Oh, I heard that in "Frisco" (they seem to think they are better in the larger cities); this is due to so many "green hands" trying to travel with a Phonograph, and not knowing how to take care of their machines, and because they have poor records. Duplicate records have hurt the Phonograph business in this section of the country a great deal. There are a large number of official court reporters in California who use the Phonograph in their business with marked success. It has been my experience that "Comic Songs," such as "Casey's," take the best. I have had a great amount of trouble in getting good records, the later ones not being nearly so good as those made three and four years ago. It would be a great help to me to find some company which I could depend upon to buy first-class "Original Records" from. It is my belief, that if the companies still continue to make "Duplicate Records," the Phonograph will not advance very much in California. It is not the quantity and cheapness we want, but the quality; give me one good original record in preference to two dozen duplicates. The material used in making the blanks (white ones) does not give good satisfaction, they are too soft and will wear out much faster than those used two or three years ago. All the companies here of late have sent me duplicate records, when I invariably state to them in my order that I do not want them, still they send them and think I will not know the difference (I mean by this, all whom I have been dealing with, of course I cannot say all the companies use duplicates, as I do not deal with all,). Attractions, such as Dime Shows and Operas, are so numerous in California, that it injures the Phonograph business. Machines are not used in California in private residences, and there is seldom, if ever, a private concert given with a Phonograph. (Fresno is located exactly in the centre of California, in the great San Joaquin Valley.) LEONARD. LAFAYETTE, INDIANA. — Less than five years ago the various sound machines were practically unknown in this part of "Hoosierdom." Not so to-day. The people of La Fayette — the second richest city, per capita, in the United States— take a lively interest in Phonographs, picture projecting machines, and up-to-date musical inventions. In exhibiting — as in every other enterprise — the man or woman wishing to succeed, must not be a cheap peddler of cheap "Phones," etc., but a person proud of the business; one who is willing to give the best to the best. I am thoroughly interested in sound producing machines, and have awakened a deep interest in every contrivance calculated, when rightly handled to please. The establishment of "Musical Parlors" in cities is to be an enterprise of the period. I will look for the "Phonoscope," as such a paper will be of great interest, and will undoubtedly fill a place in journalisln now unoccupied. CLARK. BANGOR, ME.— The Phonograph Exhibition business in this location has been very fair this tall, especially with those who are carrying a good quality record; cheap records are criticized keenly. Most of the exhibitors find it to their advantage to buy the best only. Spring Motor talking machines are being put into residences to quite an extent, and that trade demauds only the best of records, 1 find the class of records made by Mr. Myers are very much sought after by people who have machines in their homes, although the Gaskin and Quiuu records meet with popular favor here. I find that there are more Issler orchestra records sold than any other instrumental records in that line. The "Casey" records are now, and always have been, in good demand here; their execution and original idea of fun and humor insures their permanent popularity by all users of the 'Phone. Kinetoscopes do not seem to do a very thriving business in Maine. The Yitascope and several other scopes are making tom-s of this State; crowds are attending these wonderful exhibitions. Illustrated songs by stereopticon are making quite a hit East; some of the illustrations are very clever, and produce great amusement in a decidedly interesting manner. The X-Ray outfits have been exhibited here and are being practically used by several physicians and dentists with good results. Illusion X-Ray exhibitors stood around the fair grounds in all parts of Maine this fall and sighed for the dollar that never came. GREENACRE. Memphis, Teun., Oct. 24, 1&9G. 'i he Editor of "The Phonoscope," N. Y. City. Dear Sir.— I am real glad you are to put forth such a journal, as we need one that is not merely an advertising medium for some particular firm. I shall be glad to give you a few thoughts from time to time on matters that may happen to come under my notice in the course of business. There is one thing we should look to immediately, and that is the tax or license nuisance here in this city. We are classed with gambling and skin game machines, and the tax almost amounts to prohibition. I think Congress or the U. S. Supreme Court should interfere in behalf of right and justice. BROOKS. SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.— The Slot Machine business is splendid here on the Coast. Phonographs, Kinetoscopes, Card Machines and all kinds of vending machines are licensed at $1 per month, payable quarterly in advance. There is a large number of traveling exhibitors on this coast, and they all seem to do well, and to them, I feel sure, the Phonoscope will prove a great boon. The Chicago Recording Scale is a great taker here. BACIGALUPI. MILWAUKEE. WIS.— Mr. J. B. Shaw, business manager of the American Travesty Company, during his visit here last month entertained a number of his friends with a Gramophone, which he carries with him on the road. This little machine is a gem. and is a great novelty. The records that are used with it are discs about the size of breakfast plates and are made of rubber. The selections are r produced through a horn, and are audible to all in the room. Mr. Shaw is very much interested in the machine and has a number of interesting records by popular artists. ROCKLAND. ME. — Edison's wonderful Vitascope, as seen he:e at the Farwell Opera House, has eclipsed all expectations. What the Phonograph is to the ear, the Yitascope is to the eye. The camera records the view, the Phonograph bottles up the sound, and the Yitascope preserves the action for future use. Surely, science is progressing wonderfully— what next? PORTLAND. ORE. — The Camera Club recently gave an entertainment here in aid of the woman's auxiliary. The chief attraction was a Stereopticon exposition of a picked co'leetion of views of California scenery, which were projected on a 24-foot screen, by a powerful calcium light, every detail of the pictures showed clearly and distinctly. Several moonlight effects were especially good, and their appearance upon the screen was almost too brief to suit Ihe spectators. The announcement of each subject was made by Mr. T. E. Shields, who kept the audience in laughter and good humor by his flow of remarks and sallies, especially those touching on the political parties.