The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

The documentary, "Florence Foster Jenkins: a world of her own", produced by Donald Collup is a very good look into the real life FFJ and her world, with recorded interviews with quite a few people who had known her / heard her first-hand.

It is on You-tube.

FYI...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/78-RPM-Florence ... Swxg5XxONZ

James

A link at the bottom of James's FYI above brings up this item:

http://www.bookdepository.com/Florence- ... er-Jenkins

...and its woefully misinformed blurb. FFJ did not play to "packed out theatres around the United States." I hope that the book doesn't contain that statement!

What the heck is a "packed out theatre" anyway? Sounds like one that's ready for shipping.

I'd rank FFJ up there with Mrs.Miller.Anyone remember her? She had a couple LP's on Capitol in the late '60s.edisonplayer

edisonplayer wrote:I'd rank FFJ up there with Mrs.Miller.Anyone remember her? She had a couple LP's on Capitol in the late '60s.edisonplayer

Never heard of Miller. But after viewing the documentary (see link that Frank posted), seeing the brilliant movie, and reading up on Jenkins a bit more, I will never, ever, laugh at her again.

Mrs. Miller....classic stuff. She actually made at least four LPs because I've got that many...

For those who dare:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw07CDid0JM[/youtube]

Sean

edisonplayer wrote:I'd rank FFJ up there with Mrs.Miller.Anyone remember her? She had a couple LP's on Capitol in the late '60s.edisonplayer

She should be familiar to anyone who combs rummage store LP bins, along with Al Martino, Streisand, Jim Nabors, et al.

Unless the ironic "hipsters" have glommed on to her. Wouldn't surprise me.

Anyone think Ms. Jenkins would be a good candidate for release on new resin cylinder records?

I think she is aweful. From what I gather she seemed kind of narcissist. I think she should have approached Edison and had a couple of recordings made on Diamond Disc, but again, Freida Hempel was alot better.

Victrolacollector wrote: I think she is aweful. From what I gather she seemed kind of narcissist.... Freida Hempel was alot better.

It's much more complex than that. See the movie, follow the links in the postings on this thread, and then see whether you still hold that opinion. I did, and I don't. (Oh yes, she doesn't sing well at all, but that really wasn't the point. Hempel's version is very fine.)

I think you have to have lived in the 60's to remember Mrs. Miller. She was laughed at then for her renditions of popular songs. She didn't sing opera though like FFJ. She was on some popular TV shows as a kind of gag. I haven't thought about her since the 60s.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWoWH8W3sVo