Another way for the public to hear the new music was through the Berliner Gramophone. This machine, invented by Emile Berliner of Washington, D. C., played music from flat discs. Berliner first registered the trademark of a dog listening to a horned gramophone, which was later used by the Victor Talking Machine Company. The founder of Victor, Eldridge L. Johnson, had worked for Berliner before starting his own firm. Other recording instruments available were Thomas Edison's Phonograph, and the Bell-Tainter Graphophone. These machines recorded on cylinders rather than disks.
Many
of the artists of the day recorded music for these machines. The popular
band of John Philip Sousa recorded some of his marches on the Berliner
discs, although Sousa would let one of his leading musicians conduct the
band for these sessions because he did not believe in recorded music! It
was during this era that New York's "Tin Pan Alley" evolved. This was an
area in the city where song writers worked. Ragtime, a forefather of Jazz,
was becoming popular in the late '90s. Among the early Ragtime artists
were Vess Ossman and Scott Joplin.
Some of the most popular songs of the era were:
"(There'll be) A Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight" (probably written by Joe Hayden and Theodore A. Metz) - This famous song was actually written for use in minstrel shows, as is obvious from the style. It was very popular during the Spanish American War and was a favorite of Roosevelt's Rough Riders. The Spanish and Cubans heard this song so often some thought it was the American National Anthem!
"After the Ball" (Charles K. Harris, from the 1892 musical extravanga "A Trip to Chinatown") - Sousa played this tune daily at the Chicago Worlds Fair of 1893. It is considered one of the most successful songs of all time.
"El Capitan March" (John Philip Sousa) - This song was played by the USFS OLYMPIA Brass Band as the Asiatic Squadron steamed out of Mirs Bay, headed for Manila Bay and destiny. Click here for a 25 Kb recording.
"The Laughing Song" - The Laughing Song was actually entitled,"I'm Old But I'm Awfully Tough". The popular name evolved because the chorus consisted only of very infectious laughter. Sung by several different artists, probably the most popular version was by George W. Johnson.
"My Wild Irish Rose" (Chaucey Olcott) - Olcott was a matinee idol who introduced this song in his show "A Romance of Athlone." Click here for a 12 Kb recording.
"On the Banks of the Wabash" (Paul Dresser)
"Stars & Stripes Forever" (John Philip Sousa) - Stars and Stripes Forever was first played in concert by the Sousa Band in Philadelphia on May, 14 1897. Click here for a 45 Kb recording.
"Sweet Rosie O'Grady"
"Washington Post March" (John Philip Sousa)- When written by Sousa in 1889, this song started an international dance craze! Click here for a 38 Kb recording.
Listed below are some of the songs known to have been played and\or sung aboard the US Flagship OLYMPIA. The OLYMPIA's Brass Band was under the direction of Band Master Michele Valifuoco.
Agay, Denes, Best Loved Songs of American People. (New York: Doubleday, 1975).
Dewey, Adelbert, "The Life and Letters of Admiral Dewey", New York: The Woolfall Co., 1899.
Gracyk, Tim, "Berliners: The Earliest Discs, 1882-1900"(website)
Holloway, A., "Hero Tales of the American Soldier and Sailor", Philadelphia: Elliott Publishing Co., 1899.
Sternlicht, Sanford, McKinley's Bulldog, the Battleship Oregon. (Chicago: Nelson-Hall, Inc., 1977).
West, Richard S, Jr., Admirals of American empire.., New York: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1948.
Wozniak, Steve A.,"Popular Songs 1895-1939" (website)
Young, Louis Stanley, (editor). "Bounding Billow", August - September 1898 issue. Ship's newspaper, USFS OLYMPIA.
