The phonoscope (Nov 1896-Dec 1899)

} ol. IE. No. 9 THE PHONOSCOPE 13 alent Emplo^eb for flliafuno IRecorbs Miss Estella Mann We print above a life-like picture of Miss Estella L. Mann, who, as we have had occasion to say in another issue, stands pre-eminenc as a maker of Ifemale records . ' She is the only lady who has successfully recorded songs and ballads by the old masters. Miss Mann has an extensive catalogue of grand I opera selections, including the difficult Cavatinas / and Arias, which she sings perfectly with sweet' ness of voice and musical precision. This will be readily understood, when it is known that Miss ^ Mann is a graduate of the College of Music of Cincinnati, where she was a pupil of the eminent master, Signor Lino Mattioli. While her voice is \ mezzo-soprano, she has a range of two octaves and /five tones extending into the soprano range. Miss I Mann sings from low F sharp to a high D. This / lady was soloist with the great Sousa for a whole \ season. Miss Mann has great /'chic" in the light Icomic songs of the present day and is now busy /preparing some of the best numbers from "The ^ Runaway Girl." "The Charlatan," and the other {successes of this season. \ Miss Mann's records are being made exclusively \ for the Lyric Phonograph Company, and they are } keeping her busy, as the demand for her work is I continually increasing. # Joseph Weber Mr. Joseph Weber, whose likeness appears above, is a singer of German songs. Mr. Weber, as his name will imply, is of German descent and, being possessed of a remarkably well-trained baritone .-'voice, he is a record-maker of no ordinary ability. ) His records have that full, round tone that is \ always sought after by buyers who want and who { know good records when they hear them. Mr. Weber sang with the ever famous Gilmore at Manhattan Beach for three successive seasons. He has also been with Deuman Thompson, McCaull, Evans and Hoey and a long list of other wellknown managers. Mr. Weber is singing his German songs for the Lyric Phonograph Company exclusively, who have just received a large order for his records. Success to him. Original Lyric Trio As will be seen by comparing the likenesses in the above cut to the others on this page Miss Mann, Mr. Havens and Mr. Hooley are the three soloists who make up the Original Lyric Trio. These people have been wonderfully successful in their record making. Singing, as they do, selections from the concerted numbers from both grand and comic operas, they are beyond the place on the ladder of fame, where they need to fear competition. In fact, the Lyric is the only trio in the market having a lady member, which lends more value to their records. They are busy now, day and night, filling large orders. Jack Simonds We present herewith a character picture of Mr. Jack Simonds. This gentlemen is a new comer in the phonograph world and is making as his picture shows, some very funny and witty stories under the title of "Mulcahey." He writes all his stories and is rapidly coming to the front in his line. He does not confine himself to Irish stories, but tells some in "darkey" dialect. Mr. Simonds, like most of the phonograph artists, is a graduate from the stage. He has been with all kinds of companies; operatic, dramatic and vaudeville. His last engagement was with W. S. Hart, playing in the "Bells," the "Lady of Lyons," "Man in the Iron Mask," etc., where he acquired a liking for "Shakespearean" readings. He has studied in this line and is now a splendid reader. He also reads from Whitcomb Riley's Poems. Mr. Simonds is making records exclusively for the Lyric Phonograph Company. John Havens The accompanying picture is a speaking likeness of Mr. John Havens, a well-known and popular singer of tenor solo records. Mr. Havens has been very busy making a long list of his records for a Western concern and is, as he puts it, "up to his neck'' in business. Mr. Havens' extensive catalogue of comic opera selections, has been made up from those operas in which he has worked. He has been before the public as a comic opera singer for a number of years and has made a good many friends in that time. Many of them are users of the home phonograph and take great pleasure in having his records, so that they can hear Jack, as he is called by his friends, sing his favorite songs. Mr. Havens has a keen conception for comedy and sings comic and coon songs in a very pleasing manner. His friends, however, are not his only customers, for he is kept busy night and day filling orders for his records. Mr. Havens is manager of the Lyric Phonograph Company. Mr. Hooley, bass soloist, has been identified with the Lyric Phonograph Company ever since it went into business. He is too well-known to lovers of good records to need an introduction from us. Mr. Hooley is soloist at St. Francis Xavier's Church, where he has been for years. He has studied under the best teachers the country affords and as a result is possessed of an elegant voice, full and rich in tone. He says that he is greatly in love with the phonograph business and that, no doubt, has a good deal to do with the splendid quality of his records. His catalogue is very long, containing the best numbers of the great masters and selections from grand and comic operas. Mr. Hooley is of Irish parentage and sings Irish songs and ballads as only a singer thus favored can. Early in November Len Spencer's Greater New York Minstrels will open in Orange, N. J., under the management and proprietorship of the genial "Len." The roster of the company embraces many artists prominent in the talking-machine business. Among others are the Diamond Comedy Four, Billy Golden, comedian; Vess L. Ossman, banjoist; Steve Porter, in illustrated songs; Roger Harding, tenor balladist; the Three Murray Brothers, musical experts; the Wizard, Golden; Frederick Rose, descriptive vocalist; the Greater New York Quartette and in conclusion Golden, Spencer and Harding in their great plantation act entitled: "In Front of the Old Cabin Door." We predict crowded houses and a successful trip for the boys.