The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I recently purchased a Capital Records set called Hark! The Years! from 1951 that has 10 45rpm sides. It is basically a documentary using the actual voices of many historic famous personalities going back to 1890 and up through the 1940s. The narration is done by actor Fredric March. Perhaps a bit corny, the music, by Nathaniel Shilkret, makes for interesting and sometimes fun transitions between topics. The program is from a time when most people did not have televisions and when there were still many radio programs listened to by millions every week. These records are not unlike a 51 minute radio documentary. I joined the full set of records with images of the people that are talking. A bit long, but it is an interesting History of its time. Many of the political topics are not unlike what we experience in our current era. So, I found this interesting if lacking a bit of important historical topics (like the end of WWII). Best watched full screen on YouTube instead of in the small window below.

(Double-click the video above or click this link to watch the video on YouTube in HD.)

https://youtu.be/-CQpuwVMUqc

Enjoyed that! Now the records have a photo album too. Very nice work.
- bill

Nice visuals to go with the recording. Thanks for sharing.

I have a 78 rpm set of Edward R. Murrow's "I Can Hear It Now" which is sort of similar.

Wolfe wrote:Nice visuals to go with the recording. Thanks for sharing.

I have a 78 rpm set of Edward R. Murrow's "I Can Hear It Now" which is sort of similar.

I also have that set! I also have an LP about early recordings of Presidents but I doubt the legitimacy of some of the recordings.


I’m also on the lookout on this LP.

Does anybody know other album compilation sets with 1890s recordings on it?

I bought this one LP set called “Gaslight Memories” but unfortunately it’s was a bunch of cover versions played in the most bland, corny, and Lawerence Welky, way possible. Ugh!!

Interesting album picture. I like how the Opera is a mirror image of an actual Opera. I wonder how that ended up that way.

What a great video Dan! You really have the skills. That must have taken hours to produce. Nice work!

Valecnik wrote:What a great video Dan! You really have the skills. That must have taken hours to produce. Nice work!

Yes, it did take quite a number of hours. I did it over two days. From finding the pictures, recording each side of the records, and then timing the pictures to the sound it did take awhile. I am glad you liked the video.