With these episodes focusing on the life and work of the mighty Fred Gaisberg, we may have given the impression that he was his own boss. That would be wrong. Working for The Gramophone Company in London, Fred was answerable to a man called William Barry Owen. In this episode we tell Owen’s story. ItContinue reading “New podcast episode in which we tell the tale of the UK recording industry’s Employee #1. William Barry Owen.”
Tag Archives: eldridge johnson
Recording Pioneers- Part 2
Alfred Clark 1873 – 1950 “The fine thread running through the very fabric of HMV history” -Fred Gaisberg Name: Alfred Clark Born: 19 December 1873 Resident: Born in New York, moved to France 1899 aged 26 then resident of the UK, 1909 -1950 Occupation: Gramophone Company Managing Director, Chairman and EMI PresidentContinue reading “Recording Pioneers- Part 2”
“Magic”Johnson’s Aladdin caves: where to find out more about the great music inventor
By Carey Fleiner For a man who is not well-remembered outside of specialist circles, Eldridge Johnson has left behind a lot of physical material and resources. For example, if you’d like to read Johnson’s personal papers, you can visit the American Heritage Center in Laramie, Wyoming, USA; Johnson’s son donated 48 boxes of personal andContinue reading ““Magic”Johnson’s Aladdin caves: where to find out more about the great music inventor”
Trouble in St Louis. How the Victor Company got its name.
This is the third in a series of articles about the great Eldridge Johnson and his Victor companies. By Carey Fleiner Ever tried to think up a name for a fledgeling company? It’s more difficult than you think. You can go literal BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) or abstract such as Google or Yahoo. Why didContinue reading “Trouble in St Louis. How the Victor Company got its name.”
Ladies get the horn with nasty big gramophones & consign them to the closet! Victrola explained
By Carey Fleiner The majority of record buyers at the turn of the twentieth century were women, and the record player, while an interesting, new technology, was also an invader into the tasteful sanctuary, that was, their home. Men’s literature, such as Scientific American or The Gramophone, touted the tech specs of talking machines –Continue reading “Ladies get the horn with nasty big gramophones & consign them to the closet! Victrola explained”
The record business? Its always been about the technology.
Edison, Berliner, Johnson invented the record business. They brought into being the modern music industry. Capturing sounds from the air so that they could be played back in any place and at any time. Imagine the revolution in thinking that brought about. And what do the three fathers of the music business have in common?Continue reading “The record business? Its always been about the technology.”
Victor Ludorum. The Forgotten Man of Music History: Eldridge R.Johnson
By Carey Fleiner Quick – show of hands – tell me everything you know about Eldridge R. Johnson….well, if you’re poking around this website, you probably have heard of him, but many people have not. If you’re one of the ‘nots’ — perhaps you’ve heard of his company The Victor Talking Machine Company which heContinue reading “Victor Ludorum. The Forgotten Man of Music History: Eldridge R.Johnson”
Recorded music sales are growing exponentially. Supply can’t keep up with demand….
….in 1898! We followed how the Gramophone Company and its German sister company had some significant teething problems with the production of discs during the first year of business in 1898. Whilst the English company was dependent upon its discs coming from Germany it had also agreed to source its gramophones from the American manufacturingContinue reading “Recorded music sales are growing exponentially. Supply can’t keep up with demand….”
Memoirs of a Musical Dog – Edison to The Beatles
As part of their Omnibus series, The BBC made a documentary about the history of recording in the late 1980’s which was called Memoirs of a Musical Dog. It aired on Friday May 27, 1988. It’s very good and thanks to the power of youtube, you can see it here: Part One Early years ofContinue reading “Memoirs of a Musical Dog – Edison to The Beatles”
Setting up a new record company #7 Sell your product!
This week we aimed to tell the story of how Emile Berliner and Fred Gaisberg set up their record company in America in the late 19th Century. Seven blog entries on seven days. This is day #7. The final day; we made it! Its 1896. The new Philadelphian investors have decided that the United StatesContinue reading “Setting up a new record company #7 Sell your product!”
Sound Of The Hound 