The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I recently acquired a number of pre-1914 French Odeon records featuring cabaret singers of the period.
I was able to find basic details of most of them, but nothing about Messrs Croidel and Sulbac, not even their Christian names.
The labels do, however, show the venues where they performed.
Any information would be gratefully received.

Here's something about Sulbac (in French, but Google Translate is your friend): https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulbac

drh wrote: Sun Jul 16, 2023 12:41 pm Here's something about Sulbac (in French, but Google Translate is your friend): https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulbac

Many thanks for this. I tried it in French, but got on better with the translation.
It appears that his recordings for Odeon are no later than 1905.

Roger.

epigramophone wrote: Sun Jul 16, 2023 11:05 am I recently acquired a number of pre-1914 French Odeon records featuring cabaret singers of the period.
I was able to find basic details of most of them, but nothing about Messrs Croidel and Sulbac, not even their Christian names.
The labels do, however, show the venues where they performed.
Any information would be gratefully received.

I had a quick look for Croidel and it seems that other people are (sadly) having the same problem.

Part of this web-page says (translated to English):

'It is always surprising to note that history has retained nothing of certain performers, who nevertheless made the heyday and the fortune of certain recording companies. What do we know about Rollini, Boyer, Lack, Croidel, Brabant, Pauline Bert and so many others? We are forced to note that if the phonograph had not existed there would probably be nothing left of all these people!...'

https://phonofolies.jimdofree.com/les-p ... -du-phono/

epigramophone wrote: Sun Jul 16, 2023 2:07 pm

drh wrote: Sun Jul 16, 2023 12:41 pm Here's something about Sulbac (in French, but Google Translate is your friend): https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulbac

Many thanks for this. I tried it in French, but got on better with the translation.
It appears that his recordings for Odeon are no later than 1905.

Roger.

Glad I could help a bit. I'll add a laugh at my own expense anent Sulbac's being attributed to la Scala: not too long back, I bought a Pathé record of someone named Fortuge. As a classical/opera collector, I'm accustomed to Pathé presenting unfamiliar singers on labels reading "M. So-and-so de l'Opera" or "...de l'Opera Comique" or the like, so when I saw "de la Scala" after Fortuge's name I figured it was just an opera singer from Milan in classical or semi-classical songs not known to me. (There are *lots* of "art songs" of the period that are completely forgotten today.) Well, when the record arrived and I played it, the music was obviously French music hall fare, not the sort of thing I collect at all. I did some digging, and come to find out there was a popular venue in Paris called La Scala, and Fortuge was an entertainer noted for performing there. Live and learn!