The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Happy holidays, all.

I live in metro Chicago, which had a pretty wild and crazy "Roaring '20s," as you'll recollect. Early 1924 was especially noteworthy as several married women were put on trial for gunning down their boyfriends. One of them, Beulah Annan, grew angry at her boyfriend when he threatened to leave her; as he turned to leave she took a gun and shot him in the back--then put her favorite record, "Hula Lou," on her phonograph and played it repeatedly while he bled to death on the floor nearby. The Beulah Annan case was subsequently written up by a Chicago reporter, Maurine Watkins, and soon became a Broadway play called "Chicago" (Beulah's name was changed to Roxy Hart). It went through several movie versions before becoming a musical in 1975--and the 2002 movie version incorporates elements of the musical.

In the 2002 movie, after Beulah/Roxy shoots her boyfriend she turns to her upright phonograph and one can clearly see that it is a Sonora.

These are "fun questions" for any out there who might already know some details of this case and how a hand-crank phonograph played such an interesting role in it. First off, some people say that the recording used was Sophie Tucker's version. Is that so? What label was it on? Also, just because the 2002 movie shows a Sonora, that doesn't mean the actual talking machine involved was a Sonora. Does anyone know? Hard telling what happened to Beulah's record and phonograph. She was acquitted but broke up with her husband almost immediately; he probably tossed the items after awhile.

They would be right up there, though, with the piano from "Casablanca" when it comes to market value. Can you imagine?

Below is some coverage of the case, including an article from 1928, when Beulah died of natural causes.

http://unknownmisandry.blogspot.com/201 ... onary.html

All best --

Ralph

Here's a scene from the 1927 film version of CHICAGO. There's a phonograph in the room but the music is provided by a player piano: http://fan.tcm.com/_Phyllis-Haver-From- ... 66470.html

Estott, you're a great example of how one can count on this forum to KNOW practically everything about talking machines. This is a great clip of the 1927 film (which I've never seen) and I'm going to enjoy showing it to family and friends. Ah, the 1920s: where you could have a player piano on one side of the room and a phonograph on the other (as I do in our recreation room).

I'm curious: what brand of phonograph is in Roxie's apartment? Like you say, it's not playing, but is clearly visible. I don't recognize it at all.

Ralph

pughphonos wrote:Estott, you're a great example of how one can count on this forum to KNOW practically everything about talking machines. This is a great clip of the 1927 film (which I've never seen) and I'm going to enjoy showing it to family and friends. Ah, the 1920s: where you could have a player piano on one side of the room and a phonograph on the other (as I do in our recreation room).

I'm curious: what brand of phonograph is in Roxie's apartment? Like you say, it's not playing, but is clearly visible. I don't recognize it at all.

Ralph

More than likely it's a generic off brand- the curved front columns are vaguely Victrola like, but it has a grille. I've got the disc & will see if there are and shots of it open. I do recall that during a fight the table full of records gets knocked over.

As to having both in the same room, it's an indication of her extravagant tastes- the apartment is small, but it has too much in it- her husband has smiled and paid the bills but even his eyes are beginning to open- I think that at one point he opens a bill and mentions that the piano isn't even paid for yet.

I skimmed through the movie- although the machine is in the background frequently it is never played, no clue as to what it is. From the boxy proportions I'd say a fairly cheap one.

Thanks. That whole world of "generic off-brands" is something I've never dealt with before, but obviously a big part of the acoustical phonograph era.

People nowadays (outside of our hobbyist community) tend to think of antique phonographs as stodgy (if they think of them at all). But they are so wrong in this. Those machines helped power a revolution in society, alongside street lights, the automobile, the telephone, etc. They can be found in many, many 1920s Flapper-themed films. They could also, as in the case of Beulah Annan, serve as an accessory to a crime!

Thanks again, Estott.