The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Does anyone know what happened to the store in Boonton,NJ called The Olde Tyme Music Scene?I bought my Amberola 30 from them back in the 1980s.edisonplayer

I remember visiting the shop in 1982 or '83. It was a nice place.

When I visited, the shop was run by the recently-widowed woman whose husband had been the more knowledgeable of the two.

Don and Lou Donahue ran the Olde Tyme Music Scene in Boonton, NY. I used to make a point of stopping in before the New Jersey shows, because they didn't seem particularly knowledgeable of very early discs. I bought a number of nice discs over the years, in ones and twos, that they'd have hanging on the wall. The shop must have closed around 25 years ago.

George P.

I stopped in that Boonton store one time and picked up some Tommy Dorsey records. Time passed; the next visit to Boonton the shop was gone! Bummer. Similar experience closer to home: there was a shop on Main Street in Kutztown with phonographs in the window. Didn't go in the first time, and there was no second time---the shop was gone. Both of these experiences would have occurred in the 1980s.

I believe I heard that the couple got divorced. That's what Jerry Donnell told me. edisonplayer

As long as we're reminscing about old stores devoted to our hobby, my formative years as a collector centered around Mooncursor Antiques on City Island off the coast of the Bronx. The store was stocked floor to ceiling with shelves of 78 records. Little narrow aisles. Roger Roberge, the proprietor there looked a bit like Santa Claus. But wow, he was knowledgable about old music! He used to let me play records on his turntable in the shop, and we used to talk about the music--his knowledge and enthusiasm, particularly for old jazz music was a key factor fostering my own interest in the hobby. He even sold me my first Victrola (late '80's). Roger also turned me on to Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks, arguably the best Roaring '20's band around---they still do a regular weekly gig in Manhattan (a "must see" if you visit Manhattan). About 5-10 years ago, my wife and I went out to City Island to see the site of the shop which I had heard had been closed. One of the new tenants in the space told me Roger had passed--but I should go to the alley along side the shop. Sure enough, on the wall in the alley was a mounted memorial with a wreath, flowers, and a lovely picture of Roger. A truly special man who gave me a nice place to visit when I had free time in my bachelor days!

I visited Roger's shop on City Island a few times in the '90s. He kept his records in file folders so one had to be extra careful when removing them from the shelves.

Roger Roberge's gentle eccentricity added to the magical Bohemian atmosphere of City Island in those days. I do miss the guy! City Island still has a quaint seaside town atmosphere just off the coast of the Bronx.

I was there once or twice and also checked out the old train cars and the antique automobile restoration shop. I was not there though when Paul the famous guy from the Beetles visited it.

In response to Henry above-- I also remember the shop in Kutztown... The proprietor's name was Trexler (can't remember his first name) There was the Trexler Record Shop and adjoining it was a large room with numerous phonographs. I visited there in the mid to late 70's. I was a beginning collector so everything I saw looked wonderful-- I suspect there were lots of what I would now call "common machines", but I didn't know enough to know what I didn't know !

Back in those days, I didn't have much cash to put into my new hobby. I would go on a "buying trip" with $75 in my pocket and thought I was rich! I bought up every Victrola/Victor magazine ad I could find!

Anyway-- Mr Trexler seemed very knowledgeable-- Sadly, I didn't visit more than 2 or 3 times.

I also remember the Boonton shop-- Also as a new collector-- more magazine ads!

Brad Abell