Patrick Feaster talk on Theo Wangemann at Edison Lab, Feb. 4

[Jerry Fabris]

Upcoming program:

On Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 12:00 noon, Thomas Edison National Historical Park welcomes audio historian Patrick Feaster, for his presentation: "Theo Wangemann: The Man Who Made the Phonograph Musical".

Patrick Feaster’s 60-minute illustrated talk will explore the life and career of Theo Wangemann (1855-1906), who was arguably the world’s first professional recording engineer. Entrusted by Thomas Edison with the task of applying the newly developed wax cylinder phonograph to music, Wangemann oversaw the first regular production of pre-recorded cylinders at the Edison Laboratory in West Orange, New Jersey in 1888-1889, ushering in the beginnings of the American musical recording industry. Then, in 1889-90, he played a prominent role in introducing Edison’s invention to continental Europe, generating publicity through the recording of prominent statesmen and musicians—many of whom we can now hear for the first time, thanks to a box of his cylinders preserved at Thomas Edison National Historical Park.

** Reservations are required. Seating is limited. **
Entrance fee is $7, children under 16 free.
Call 973-736-0550, ext. 89 to make a reservation.
For more information: http://www.nps.gov/edis

Thomas Edison National Historical Park
National Park Service
United States Department of the Interior
211 Main Street
West Orange, NJ 07052


Wangemann cylinders on-line:
http://www.nps.gov/edis/photosmultimedi ... rdings.htm