A promotional 78 rpm record for the Ondes Martenot released during The Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne held in Paris in 1937. Transfer by Claude Fihman.
Pathé sleeves from around the world
Here are some (unfortunately empty) 11.5" Pathé sleeves from around the world, including some examples from Morocco, Algeria, India, Siam, Cambodia, China, Russia, Hungary, Spain and Italy. What kind of records were included in these sleeves? Local music? Foreign music? I never came across any Pathé records from Cambodia so far, did they ever exist? … Continue reading Pathé sleeves from around the world
Lecture about early sound recordings in North Africa and the Middle East at Paris Music Library
I was recently invited to make a lecture about early sound recordings in North Africa and the Middle East at Paris Music Library. For those who can understand French, the video of the lecture is now available online. Thanks to all those who helped me preparing my presentation: Jonathan Ward, Mehdi J Blige, Henri Chamoux, Will … Continue reading Lecture about early sound recordings in North Africa and the Middle East at Paris Music Library
New Year’s Eve 1929
Nice Odéon advertisement from 1929. Source: Le Petit journal, December 24th, 1929 - Gallica.
“Sentencing saphir machines to eternal silence…”
"The Court concludes that it is urgent to forbid bad talking machines to deform the public's artistic sense and unanimously sentences saphir machines to eternal silence". Fascinating example of the commercial battle between the Gramophone Company and Pathé in France in the early 20th century! Source: Le Matin, January 26th, 1910 - Gallica.
“L’homme qui a un poète à sa solde ne peut lutter avec l’homme qui a un Phonographe Edison”
An advertisement from 1907 for the French branch of the Edison Company. Source: Le Matin, December 5th, 1907 - Gallica
To each age its legal issues
Interesting story: in 1928, two Opera artists take legal action against the French P.T.T. (Posts, Telegraphs and Telephons). Source: Le Petit Journal, December 24th, 1928 - Gallica.
Grock, 1931
A portrait of Swiss clown Grock in an advertisement from 1931 for Odéon records. Source: L'Intransigeant, June 26th, 1931 - Gallica.
What will be the future of phonograph? A retrofuturistic text from 1929
While browsing Gallica, I came across this fascinating and very visionary text published in 1929 in French newspaper L'Intransigeant. Its author wonders about the future of phonograph and writes about music, cinema, radio, TV and... internet! Source: L'Intransigeant, October 21st, 1929 - Gallica
Talking robots in a French short story from 1885
Here is a very short text by Coquelin cadet I found among the new documents published on the digital library Gallica today morning. It is signed under the pseudonym "Pirouette" and is taken from "Le Livre des convalescents" published in 1885. Coquelin writes about talking mannequins featuring a phonograph that could be placed inside the trains. … Continue reading Talking robots in a French short story from 1885
Ceints de bakélite 