On this Day Factola - July 4

Celebration of American Independence and the Phonograph

"Patriotic Airs," The Edison Phonograph Monthly ad, July 1905.

From 1776 to the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence. Fireworks, parades, political speeches, picnics and family gatherings have marked this day each year throughout the United States. The Phonograph, likewise, has celebrated July 4th with their advertisements of "American patriotic airs from revolutionary days to date."

The Columbia Phonograph Company has an early history of advertising associated with US patriotism as it was "initially a distributor with a local monopoly on sales and service of Edison phonographs and phonograph cylinders in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Delaware." Its Washington, D.C. location gave it access to the US military band members for early band recordings which were a popular selection on early nickel-in-the-slot machines. The company selected Miss Columbia as its logo and used her in its ads and on its cylinder record boxes. Make your "own selections and celebrate the greatest Fourth of July in our history with appropriate patriotic music" said a 1919 Columbia magazine ad still featuring Miss Columbia.

Columbia also used Uncle Sam to promote their phonographs and records, however, Uncle Sam was not limited to Columbia advertisements as seen in Edison Form 392 of a jubiliant 1901 Uncle Sam taking off his hat to the Edison Phonograph.

 

Early examples of The Columbia Phonograph Co. cylinder record boxes (courtesy The Antique Phonograph Society Forum).

 

Miss Columbia Celebrates the Fourth, The Delineator, July 1919 (PM-0864).

 

Edison Advertising Form 392, c.1901 (PM-1357).

 

McClure's magazine, 1901 (PM-0941).

 

Partial from Columbia Records catalog featuring a de-lighted Uncle Sam, 1905.

 

Columbia Graphophone, c. 1906.

 

Uncle Sam Edison Window Display, The Edison Phonograph Monthly, June 1912.

"A neatly colored cutout of Uncle Sam calling attention to the fact that The Celebrated Edison Phonograph is America's Best for American Homes forms the center of attraction. We desire to call all Dealers ' attention to the fact that this particular display requires no fixtures and can be used in a window 3x4 feet." Ibid. p. 5.

 

 

Stars and Stripes Forever by John Philip Sousa, original sheet music 1898 (Source: The Library of Congress).

Sousa and his Band playing the "Stars and Stripes Forever," The National Geographic, 1917.

 

The Fourth of July Celebrated on Records

LISTEN to five examples of descriptive records and patriotic music celebrating the Fourth of July courtesy of David Giovannoni and i78s.org (Register for free account).

"Fourth of July at Pun'kin Center," Cal Stewart, Edison 4-minute Amberol Record No. 2326, released May 1911. For more about Uncle Josh and Pun'kin Center see Phonographia's Uncle Josh's Stories and Records.

"Fourth of July in Jim Town," from the musical comedy "Shuffle Along," Miller & Ayles, Okeh No. 4766, released April 1923 (Disclaimer).

"The McGuires' Fourth of July Celebration," Steve Porter, Columbia 2-minute cylinder Record No. 33285, released c. December 1908. (Disclaimer)

"The Fourth of July patrol - Medley," New York Military Band, Edison 4-minute Amberol cylinder, recorded March 25, 1912.

"Fourth of July in Jayville Centre," Harlan & Stanley with chorus of 'Rubes,' Victor 10" Black Label Record No. 16328, Rural Specialty (Disclaimer). Recorded May 17, 1909 - (Online Discographical Project).

 

America - A Magic Lantern Show Re-Created

View this Magic Lantern presentation America for a glimpse of what an audience could have seen and heard in 1908. The artwork is by Joseph Boggs Beale and the slides are accompanied by The Indestructible Military Band performing The Star Spangled Banner and America, Indestructible Record No. 3943 (1908).