78-80 rpm Recordings

The Scope of the Museum's Holdings

Some of the Topics for Victrola Nights at the Museum

• Audio Recordings and Jewish Culture in America
  • Fanny Brice
  • Eddie Cantor
  • Amateur Recordings
  • Al Jolson
  • Ted Lewis
  • Sophie Tucker
  • Civilization Exotica and the "Other" as depicted in Popular Song, 1893–1945
• Oriental Fox Trots
• Novelty Songs
  • Freddie "Schnickelfritz" Fisher
  • Hoosier Hot Shots
  • Spike Jones
• Paul Whiteman

Early Sound Recordings

Dear Mr. Edison, if my friend Edmund Yates has been a little incoherent it is in consequence of the excellent dinner and good wines that he has drunk. Therefore I think you will excuse him. He has his lucid intervals. For myself, I can only say that I am astonished and somewhat terrified at the result of this evening's experiments: astonished at the wonderful power you have developed, and terrified at the thought that so much hideous and bad music may be put on record for ever. But all the same I think it is the most wonderful thing that I have ever experienced, and I congratulate you with all my heart on this wonderful discovery. —Arthur Sullivan.