Hi brudenell,
Thank you for an interesting question.
I have found another source that identified the first tune played, so
please ignore what I said earlier.
The first public demonstration of the jukebox took place on November
23, 1889 at the Palais Royal Saloon in San Francisco (303 Sutter St.).
The inventor, Louis T. Glass, was the general manager of the Pacific
Phonograph company at the time. The Palais Royal Saloon was destroyed
in the 1906 earthquake and fire, thus its current location is still
undetermined.[1]
The first jukebox, called the "nickel-in-the-slot phonograph" became a
big hit. It did not have amplification, thus the listener has to
stand close to it to hear, and it can only play one cylinder, changed
every day or so. It became popularly known as a jukebox because "juke"
was a slang for a brothel.
The Atlanta Journal and Constitution[2], described the jukebox as
having:
"a tin-foil cylinder, a pair of headphones and offered a single
recording, John Phillips Sousa's 'Marine March.'"
Thus it appears that the first recording played on a jukebox was
"Marine March" by Sousa. If you'd like to see other songs that were
played in the early jukeboxes, please read the excellent article
referenced in [1].
I hope that answered your question. If you need clarification, please
ask for it before rating this answer and I will be happy to clarify.
Regards,
secret901-ga
Sources:
[1]http://www.sfweekly.com/issues/1999-12-01/riffraff.html
[2]"Every night's a jukebox night for him" by Bill Banks in the
Atlanta Journal and Constitution, June 1, 2000. (Article can not be
access online unless you pay a fee to search at
http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc)
Search strategy:
"First jukebox" "November 23"
"first jukebox" "Palais Royal Saloon"
"first jukebox" "Louis Glass" |