Victrola Parties

[snallast]

I tried having an outside horn machine (huge horn, loud no-brand machine) playing all through a party at the opening of a sculpture exhibition (huge room) once, I asked a friend to be DJ and he cranked his way through the evening. People seemed to enjoy it though I also remember one woman saying she thought all the records sounded alike (how can one think that "Happy Feet" by Paul Whiteman sounds the same as "Miss Annabelle Lee" by Whispering Jack Smith...?) but as time moves on maybe she has a point? Anyway guess what I think of what´s being played on the radio most days...

Another time I was going to sell that horngramophone, but ended up being the DJ (same setup) at a period-set party for the 90th anniversary of a boat club... people had dressed for the occasion and came up to me and were very interested, so I agree with Andreas, that period settings seem to work better!
Hakan

[whoopinola]

I often load up our 1954 Chev pick-up with machines and records when going to a car show ....Pictured is a show at a local nursing home ...45 cars and trucks were there ... I brought a Victor III , an Edison Standard 2/4 min ...a VV-50 , and an RCA portable ... The old folks loved it

[startgroove]

This is slightly off the topic since it involves an early jukebox. I was much younger then, having just earned my Masters, and recently married to a great gal who's mom was a realtor. Her real estate company wanted to throw a theme party, with period dress and decorations from the Flapper Era, and through the grapevine they learned of my collecting interest of phonographs and jukeboxes. After much discussion of which to use; either a Victrola, or an early jukebox, we settled on a 1928 Mills Troubadour. I attended the event as a monitor, just in case something went wrong. The machine performed well and was stocked with period music, which everyone seemed to like. Except for one elderly lady, who repeatedly asked me to turn the volume down. When I did, several people would ask me to turn it back up enough to hear it over the dancing and chatting. It turns out that elderly lady had hearing aids and the tonal range of the early electric recordings made her ears ring with distortion. What to do? I found a compromise volume and apologized profusely to the lady, who seemed to understand my dilemma. At the end of the event, I learned she was the mother of the Mayor of Los Angeles! Russie Ofria

[Ampico66]

We have the St Louis Collectors' Club meetings, but we don't tend to really play machines. We are all so accustomed to recorded sound that whether it's a 78 on a machine or a transfer of a 78 on a modern stereo, people are not really that interested. I have played records in public to people interested in vintage things (1920s style skilled jazz musicians, swing dancers, and other groups). They were 99% disinterested every time. I used a Victor III at public venues (people thought it was too loud), a small GE electrola, and a modern Stanton turntable with custom built 78 stylus over a professional DJ sound system. Each time, people don't respond much. At home when friends are over, the Victrolas are too loud for people to talk over and I play just 2 records and quit. A friend of mine who is an expert player piano (reproducing piano) restorer plays his pristine Ampico that is kept in perfect tune, new strings and hammers, and people complain the piano is too loud and talk over it.

Lastly, even if you tried playing records all night, the silent gaps while changing record, needle, cranking, etc. is unusual and not conducive to entertaining. Having to constantly attend to a single play old phonograph also doesn't make you a good or sociable host. A friend of mine does play vinyl records on expertly restored vintage hi-fi equipment, which is nice during parties. A stack of records to make 30 minutes or more of music automatically is sometimes fun.

Damon

[bigshot]

I think there are two types of people... those who are interested in the machines, and those who are interested in the music. I fall in the latter category, but I realize I am in the minority. If you are in it for the music, I think you know how to put on a better show than if you are just showing off the machine. I just use a suitcase Victrola and folks like it.

For volume, all you need is some rolled up socks and soft tone needles. As long as you consider your audience, you have no problems.

[Edisone]

I think there are two types of people... those who are interested in the machines, and those who are interested in the music.

Not so. I am very much interested in both. I don't understand how anyone can truly be interested in the machines without the matching music, but they are certainly out there.

But I've seen HUGE collections of machines with not a single demonstration disc or cylinder to be found. Imagine an Amish light bulb collector.

[Lucius1958]

I think there are two types of people... those who are interested in the machines, and those who are interested in the music.

To quote Robert Benchley (approximately):

"The world may be divided into two classes of people: those who divide the world into two classes of people, and those who don't."

Bill

[FloridaClay]

I am an MBSI member and probably the thing about it I enjoy most is that when we have chapter meetings we go to the homes of other members who live in the area where the meeting is held and enjoy listening to their machines. I have hosted a couple of those over the years.

Clay

[De Soto Frank]

I often load up our 1954 Chev pick-up with machines and records when going to a car show ....Pictured is a show at a local nursing home ...45 cars and trucks were there ... I brought a Victor III , an Edison Standard 2/4 min ...a VV-50 , and an RCA portable ... The old folks loved it

Whoopinola,


I very much enjoyed the pictures of your phonographs displayed with your truck.


I grew-up with my Grandad's very tired 1954 Chevrolet 3600 ¾-ton pick-up, with the five-window cab, and eventually came to own it.

I resurrected it in the early to mid 1980's and it served for several years as my primary transportation, as well as lugging around my Gravely walk-behind for cutting lawns.

It is patiently awaiting it's "third life"...

Regards,

Frank

[winsleydale]

I recently dj'd my friend's graduation party with my 2-55. I had noticed upon arrival that there was no music; I asked him what sort he'd like, he said big band, I went and got the machine and a stack of Glenn Miller and for the rest of the day, I played on. I had some of his older relatives singing along... I remember one guy was talking about Diamond Discs. I should have gotten his name. If you know about Diamond Discs, you're ahead of most of the 'civilian' crowd...