Music and Musicians

A machinery photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Although this real photo postcard shows what looks like a complicated Rube Goldberg contraption , it actually appears to be some sort of elaborate one-man music machine. The postcard dealer who sold this to me described the scene simply as a "pipe organ player at keyboard," but upon closer inspection I was able to identify a number of other musical instruments--a guitar, string bass, and bell, for instance--among the pulleys, belts, tubes, and pipes (mouse over the image to see my tentative identifications of some of the instruments). Although this unique machine seems to be related to the fairground organ , orchestrion , or some other type of mechanical musical instrument , I haven't been able to uncover any specific information about it or the man playing it. Has anyone else ever seen anything like it? Update: See The Mighty Nelsonian (One-Man Music Machine Mystery Solved) .

It's probably not the Cavern Club , but the venue does look like it's in a cellar somewhere. Anyone ever hear of the Royal Dukes? (There's an unrelated Texas-based Royal Dukes Band , too.)

St. Roch's Carnival, Weona Park, Pen Argyl, Pa., August 10 to 15, 1942 Free attractions. Fleetwood Jack and His Nevada Ranch Barn Dance Gang. Flo Irwin's Society Circus. Servais Sylvester the Magician. Doc Hudspeth and Mme. Iris. Rides and concessions. War stamps awarded nightly. Queen contest. Patriotic pageants. Amateur contests.

Flier announcing James Brown's appearance at the State Theatre in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on October 28, 1966. The Big Show of the Year The Fabulous James Brown, Mr. Dynamite. "Man's, Man's, Man's World." "Is It Yes, or Is It No?" "I Got You." The Famous Flames. The Jewels, "My Song," "This Is My Story." Butterbeans & Dixie. Go-go dancing girls. James Crawford, "Honest I Do." Bobby Byrd, "Oh! What a Night." Extra added attraction, Swanee Quintette, "That's the Spirit," "Try Me, Father." James Brown's Big 18-Piece Band. Halloween Show, State Theatre, Harrisburg, Pa., Fri., Oct. 28. Two shows, 7:00 & 10 p.m.

In recognition of National Doughnut Day , June 7, 2013. From Wikipedia: "National Doughnut Day is on the first Friday of June each year, succeeding the Doughnut Day event created by The Salvation Army in 1938 to honor the women who served doughnuts to soldiers during World War I. The holiday celebrates the doughnut (a.k.a. 'donut') – an edible, torus-shaped piece of dough which is deep-fried and sweetened. Many American doughnut stores offer free doughnuts on National Doughnut Day." Don't Forget the Salvation Army (My Doughnut Girl) "Words by Elmore Leffingwell and James Luca. Music by Robert Brown and William Frisch. This song officially endorsed and adopted by the Salvation Army (official seal). Broadway Music Corporation, Will von Tilzer, president, 145 West 45th St., New York. E. E. Walton." Chorus: Don't forget the Salvation Army, Always remember my doughnut girl. She brought them doughnuts and coffee Just like an Angel, she was their best pal As brave as a lion but meek as a lamb, She carried on beside the sons of Uncle Sam. So don't forget the Salvation Army, Remember my doughnut girl.

"Herb Shriner's New Easy Method to Harmonica Playing. Herb Shriner, Hoosier Boy. 35¢." Cover of a 1955 instructional booklet by comedian Herb Shriner (1918-1970).

"C. Lloyd Major and His Orchestra. C. Lloyd Major, Bell 3-4109. 1944 Chestnut Street, Harrisburg, Pa." C. Lloyd Major was active as a musician in Pennsylvania during the 1920s and 1930s. His musical group went by various names, including C. Lloyd Major and His Victor Recording Orchestra, C. Lloyd Major and His Merry Musicians, and C. Lloyd Major and His Tallo-Ho Ten.

A folded die-cut Valentine's Day greeting card with an inside message of "Be my valentine."

A small calling card-sized, Victorian-era valentine, circa 1870s-1880s.

Perhaps this is where the idea for installing car stereo systems came from. "Zon-O-Phone Records, February 1907, 10 inch, 50¢. The Universal Talking Machine Mfg. Co., Newark, N.J."

"Scotch 'n Soda presents Molecule Man: An Atomic-Zany Musical Satire, 1949, 7th annual production." Cover of a wonderfully illustrated program for a college musical staged in 1949 by the Scotch 'n Soda Club , a student theatrical organization that's still in existence at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The ticket order form (see below) for the show described the production as "a witty satire on comic book writers, [set] against a background of sparkling music."

Ticket order form for a college musical staged in 1949 by the Scotch 'n Soda Club , a student theatrical organization that's still in existence today at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. See below for the illustration from the cover of the program for Molecule Man. Excerpts from the text of the order form: Molecule Man, written by Bill Putch and Dick Riebling, directed by Talbot Pearson. * Scotch 'n Soda Club invites you to attend its 1949 stage production, Molecule Man--an exciting change of pace in college musicals. * A cast of over 100 presents a witty satire on comic book writers, against a background of sparkling music. * It's something new--and different! Don't miss it!

"The Living Hope Evang. Fdtn. presents the Central Pa. Gospel Band and Rev. John L. Rosenberry, Sunday, June 23rd, 1957, 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Bring your lunch. Services will be held at the Roxbury Camp Grounds, Roxbury, Penna. Everyone is welcome! Bulletin, Mt. Joy, Pa."

This Victorian-era advertising trade card for the Estey Organ Company features a parade of Brownies , the popular creatures created by author and illustrator Palmer Cox (1840–1924). For other Brownie sightings, see Don't Walk! Ride a Bicycle and What Have You Found Now, Christopher Columbus?

"Compliments of Lancaster Music Co., O. F. Brinkman, manager, pianos and organs, sheet music and musical merchandise, 21 East Orange Street, Lancaster, Pa."

"My Wife's Up in an Airship. Words by Arthur Longbrake. Music by Ed. Edwards. Published by Longbrake & Edwards, 50 N. 8th St., Phila., Pa. Miss Camp." Handwritten: "Jane H. Banks. J.H.N., 7-22, 1911." An amusing sheet music cover featuring an early airplane (" airship " referred to any type of flying machine in 1911 when this was published, but today the term is used only for dirigibles). It's disappointing, however, to discover that the lyrics of the song (see below) express the "henpecked" husband's spiteful wish that the airplane will take his wife away permanently because "It's my one chance you see / To live here happily." For York University's copy of the sheet music, which includes a PDF version of the inside pages, see My Wife's Up in an Airship (the Web address is an alias that takes you to YorkSpace, York University's digital repository). My Wife's Up in an Airship Words by Arthur Longbrake. Music by Ed. Edwards. Jonesy was a henpecked man For him life was a joke, His wife made him give up his dough She always kept him broke; One day she said I'm going up In an airship for a ride, Then Jones pretended to be scared But he smiled on the side. And when she sailed away Some friends heard Jonesy say, Chorus: My wife's up in an airship Hooray! hip, hip, hooray! I hope she likes the trial trip So much she'll want to stay; For should she stay up in the air Ye ho! my lads, ye ho! With her up there most anywhere I'd have some peace below. Jonesy said I wished her luck When she left mother earth, But if that airship would get stuck I'd give all I am worth; I hope the lad who drives the ship Will attempt a spiral glide, Or land her in the middle of A river three miles wide. It's my one chance you see To live here happily. Chorus

Try Again. 'Tis a lesson you should heed, Try again, try again; If at first you don't succeed, Try again; Then your courage should appear, If you will but perservere, You will conquer, never fear, Try again, try again. Handwritten on the back of the card: "Loren & Persnelia Wright."

A rather blurry and discolored cyanotype real photo postcard.