It is February 28, 2015. This blog entry concludes the Black History Month observance for this year. In this final episode I have for you a recording by the Bethel Jubilee Quartet. The song is a Negro Spiritual titled "Golden Slippers". The song was recorded in 1923 for the Victor Talking Machine Company (Catalog number: 16453-B) and I am going to play this record on a gramophone that was introduced to the public in 1923. It is a Brunswick Portable Model 101. I acquired this gramophone yesterday. It came with a package of medium tone steel needles. I am going to world premier the machine and I am going to world premier a medium tone needle in honor of the Bethel Jubilee Quartet and the overall Black History Month observance. At 1:02 into this song, you can hear a noise that I believe is someone clearing his throat in the studio (at the part where the vocalist sings "What kind of robe you going to wear") and at 1:41 into this song, you can hear the same kind of noise (at the part where the vocalist sings "What kind of crown you going to wear"). I recorded the song twice. There was some distortion in the first recording so I tried again ... and still got the distortion. In any event, this is a great song and I am very happy to bring it to you today.
The line-up included A.C. Brogdon (tenor vocal), H.S. Allen (tenor vocal), J.C. Eubanks (bass vocal) and T.H. Wiseman (bass vocal and choral director).
The url for the above video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyR9Jny2YBg Photographs ...
It is February 24, 2015 and the Black History Month observance continues. Today I have for you a selection from the Fisk University Jubilee Quartette ... also known as the Fisk University Singers and the Fisk Jubilee Singers. The song is a Negro Spiritual titled "All Over This World". This record was pressed on Thomas Edison's Blue Amberol label in 1920 (Catalog number: 4045). This is the second pressing. The first pressing was in 1912 on Edison's Amberol label using black wax as opposed to blue celluloid. The song was recorded in December of 1911. I am going to play this cylinder record on an Edison Amberola Phonograph Model #VI-B or BVI. This machine was manufactured in 1913 and 1914.
The line-up included John W. Work (first tenor), Roland W. Hayes (second tenor), Leon P. O'Hara (first bass) and Charles Wesley (second bass).
The url for the above video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCQv0WLlHOU
It is February 22, 2015. Today, in honor of Black History Month, I have for you a recording by the Tuskegee Institute Singers. The song is a Negro Spiritual titled "Nobody Knows The Trouble I See". This song was recorded 99 years ago on Valentines Day in 1916, and was released in April of 1917. The record was pressed on the Victor label (Catalog number: 18237-B) and I am going to play this record on a Victor Victrola Model #4 (VV-IV). This machine was manufactured in 1915. I am going to play the record using a loud tone steel needle and as for the sound control, the doors open to increase the volume.
The line-up included Leroy Brown (tenor vocal), Charles Edward Clayton (tenor vocal), Alvin J. Neely (tenor vocal), William P. Smith (baritone vocal) , Alfred Taylor (bass vocal), William Wiley (bass vocal), and William J. Williams (tenor vocal).
The url for the above video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuGf_GJWQLE Photographs ...
Today is February 19, 2015. As all of you know, February is Black History Month and I have a piece of that History for you today. This blog entry will showcase an issue of The Charleston Courier from Charleston, South Carolina. It was published on this day in 1836. The 179-year-old newspaper includes a number of slave ads (sales of "Negroes" and even a reward for a Runaway) and an article pertaining to the debate on Abolition. You will note the markings on the newspaper. This is the original file copy of the editor. He used some kind of a number system to keep track of the advertisements. Here are some photographs of the paper ... I am currently working on a video for this newspaper. I did not finish it on February 19 as I had hoped. This blog entry will be updated on February 20.
Update (February 22, 2015): This project took longer than expected. Here are some more photographs of the newspaper ... Here you see a specific group of Negroes "consisting of 3 Fellows, 3 Wenches and a little Boy": The video:
The url for the above video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brRo7Q6U41E
This blog entry is posted as part of the "Eat Ice Cream For Breakfast Day" campaign in honor of children with cancer. The Day was named after Malia Grace who passed away in 2010. The Day began as an international event last year and this followed what was a more private observance by people who were close to Malia. From what I have read, Malia enjoyed eating ice cream for breakfast and she was born on February 18 ... those two facts were combined into "Eat Ice Cream For Breakfast Day". If anyone asks you why you are eating ice cream for breakfast, you can tell him or her that you are doing it in honor of Malia and to raise awareness of children who are currently battling cancer. Here is my tribute video: The url for the above video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pANz-x8JmWg Additional information can be found at these links: http://eaticecreamforbreakfast.com http://wn.ktvu.com/story/28132448/support
I have a lively one for you this evening ... Van Ep's Banjo Orchestra with a One-Step number titled "Daly's Reel". The Orchestra features the incredible Fred Van Eps. This song was recorded in 1917 and was pressed on Thomas Edison's Blue Amberol label (Catalog number: 3236). The record is played on an Edison Amberola Phonograph VI-B or BVI. The Amberola was manufactured in 1913 into 1914.
The url for the above video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae6tq9_VsGE
Here is an amazing story about Fred being the only person in town with a Phonograph in the 1890s and making his money back for it within a week by demonstrating it to interested people: http://www.gracyk.com/fredvaneps.shtml
Today I have for you a pair of World War II era ice creepers or crampons. Some of you will remember a blog entry that I posted in December of 2013 that showcased an ice creeper from the 1700s. This pair was manufactured in the 1940s for the United States Army. The spikes on the bottom were utilized for treading on the ice and snow. I purchased these at the Fort Indiantown Gap Battle Of The Bulge World War II Reenactment on January 31 of this year. A Militaria flea market was on the premises. I highly recommend going to that event.
I filmed part of the video outside. It was freezing out ... 16 degrees with a -9 wind chill and it was quite windy. In addition to dealing with the cold and the wind and the airplanes flying overhead, I had trouble fitting these over my sneakers. I wanted to give a demonstration. I went back inside after that disaster of an effort. The url for the above video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udCopRd_q8c Photographs ...
It is February 14, 2015, Valentines Day, and today I have for you a copy of the St. Louis Globe Democrat: Magazine Section from February 1905. This special Valentines Day edition is 110 years of age, and is falling apart. It was made using wood pulp and is highly acidic. It is a lot worse than the more durable linen-based, cotton-based and rag fiber-based paper that was used up until the 1800s. The url for the above video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_1B58OuhvA By the way, I did not mention that typeset error in
"Governmental Problem in Both Hemispheres" ... the m in Problem is
upside down (a photograph is below). Watch those p's, q's, b's, d's
and, in this case, m's!
It is Valentines Eve and I am going way back to 1913 with Manuel Romain performing "Daddy Has A Sweetheart And Mother Is Her Name". It is pressed on a Thomas Edison Blue Amberol Cylinder Record (Catalog number: 1845). The record is played on an Edison Amberola Phonograph VI-B or BVI. The Amberola was manufactured in 1913 into 1914 so the record and the phonograph are over 100 years of age. I think this recording sounds great especially while using headphones. I set up a red table cover and a couple of Valentine cards for Manuel's "Sweetheart".
The url for the above video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zOS68UTgug Photographs ...
Today, February 12, 2015, is the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's final birthday as a living person. He was 56 years of age. Born in 1809, this year marks Lincoln's 206th birth anniversary. Here I am with a 19th century engraving of Abe.
I am taking you back to 1931 with this one - Don Voorhees' Orchestra with "I Found A Million Dollar Baby". This is a romantic number for you as we approach Valentines Day. The record was pressed on the Hit Of The Week label, and issued by the Durium Products Corporation (Catalog number: J-2). This was available on newsstands on September 10, 1931 (Source: http://durium.opweb.nl/how11.htm). Behold how amazing this record sounds considering that it was made with paper and resin during The Great Depression. This record even has an advertisement at the end that I am sure will fascinate and delight you!
The url for the above video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5qlKXb2I_s The turntable in the video is an Audiotronics Model 304E from the 1970s.
These flash photographs show wear and damage that I did not notice when preparing this record for the turntable.
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