Ghost Music - PUB 072

PUB 072

Do You Ever Think of Me

Media: QRS Word Roll 1336

Year: 1920

Details: Sherman Clay & Co.

So it's been a busy past few months, but with excitement we celebrated the one year anniversary of our first post this past Thursday October 13, 2011! Over 100 posts after our first post I bring you another five posts to celebrate the event! First up is this nearly century old player piano roll with the song "Do You Ever Think of Me." It's a foxtrot with words by Harry D. Kerr and John Cooper with music by Earl Burtnett. You can check out the lyrics and even download for free what the song would sound like on the piano at the link above.

So, for those of you still in confusion, this song isn't ordinary sheet music. It's a roll  to be used in a player piano, those old pianos in the height of popularity during the 1920's that would play by themselves. Using the small punches in the paper the piano would be able to 'read' the music and play the tune without a need for a human player. At one point during the early 1920's half of the pianos being made in the country were player pianos. After the fall of the Roaring Twenties with the stockmarket crash the popularity of the player piano fell into deep decline. 

For those interested this is word roll 1336, and despite the song having lyrics, obviously the piano only played the music itself. Back when it was originally made the song itself cost $1.25, approximately $14.50 in today's economy. 

Morlock & Midnight Men! - PUB 070

PUB 070

Morlock 2001 and the Midnight Men

Media: Comic Books

Year: 1975

Details: Atlas Comics

Wow, it has been awhile since the last update, but here is a very interesting and comic comic. While I haven't collected any comic books before, this one seemed very interesting and obscure. Most of us have heard of the top comic book companies, DC and Marvel, but this is from the lesser known Atlas Comics. Worth only 25 cents when it was issued in July 1975, Morlock 2001 and the Midnight Men is the third issue of the Morlock series. However, Atlas Comics failed to capture enough consumers and was defunct within a year leaving even it's most popular titles with only four issues. 

Since I only have the third (and last) issue, I am unaware of a lot of the background story to the exact premise of Morlock, but I learned enough in this issue. The year is 2002 (!) and all forms of books are banned (similar to the storyline of Fahrenheit 451). Professor Whitlock's secret library  is burned down along with himself (at midnight) by the government for treason, while Morlock is questioning himself about transforming into his monstrous form in order to help the professor. Morlock is a guy who comes from a pod of unknown origin but was betrayed by the government scientists that raised him, and has the ability to transform into a monstrous plant/beast. He has extra arms, is extra big, his flesh is like a slimy mold that liquefies human flesh which he absorbs. 

After 'eating' the guards he fails to save the professor who burns up in the flames. But alas! The professor miraculously survives the inferno, but his entire body is covered in severe third degree burns, yet he feels no pain. He drags Morlock to safety and they go to the underground railroad (under former NYC) where there is an uprising of against the government 'The Tribunal.' The professor renames himself, in new uniform, Midnight Man and requires all those in the rebellion to dress up and be the Midnight Men. He plans to use Morlock and his powers to help fight the Tribunal. However, the government discovers their secret hideout and attack, but Morlock has no control over his powers and doesn't want to become a mindless beast once more. So to save Morlock, Midnight Man shoots and 'kills' Morlock and rushes off to fight the Tribunal forces. 

And that's it. The company did not make anymore issues as they were folded over. It should be noted that this particular issue was nearly a saving grace, as it became one of the more popular issues, yet not enough to save the company. If you want to learn more about Morlock 2001 and the Midnight Men check out this great website on the comics. 

Boardman No More - PUB 067

PUB 067

Cornell's Boardman Hall Postcard

Media: Letters

Year: 1914

Details: From Ithaca to Trumansburg

And now that the summer season is essentially upon us you all should be seeing many new posts churning out of the Sholesonian. Today we have a postcard that was mailed nearly 100 years ago, 97 years this August to be exact. What makes this so interesting and why it was placed into the collection, aside from its age is that it features Boardman Hall from Cornell University in Ithaca New York. While that may not seem to interesting, the building no longer exists. Built in 1892 it was the home of the Law School until 1932 when the department moved to the new Myron Taylor Hall for law. The History and Government departments then moved in until 1959 when the building was torn down to make room for the new Olin Library (which still stands today). It used to be a prominent building on the Arts Quad, but a few of the stone faces built into the building were preserved in the new library building. 

The postcard itself is stamped August 12th, 1914 at 10:30 AM from the Ithaca Post Office. It has only one one cent postage stamp and is addressed to Miss Carrie S. Allen in Trumansburg, New York, Road #32. The format of the letter is interesting when noting the differences between now and then. The message itself reads:

"Dear folks, 

     Mary got a letter from Ruth stating She is feeling very well + doesnt know whether she'll be here or not. Have you hear from her. Marcia expects to come to Tburg + go to Kingtown (?) to morrow. She is like the paddri's (?) flee. Exams are all right but hard.

                              Blanche"

Another interesting piece for the Sholesonian that only confirms that Cornell University tests have always been hard. And you can read more about Boardman Hall and the history of the Cornell Law Department buildings here or check out the book Cornell: Then and Now by Ronald E. Ostman and Harrty Littell. 

50's Style Algebra - PUB 065

PUB 065

College Algebra: Alternate Edition

By: Paul R. Rider, Ph. D.

Media: Textbook

Year: 1947

Details: The Macmillan Company

It's been awhile but we are back to regular posts from the collections. To start off we have this interesting old college mathematics textbook. I obtained this for the Publications Collection as I felt it demonstrated quite clearly the 1950's style, despite it being created a few years before that decade (1947 to be exact). This is "College Algebra: Alternate Edition" by Paul R. Rider, Ph. D. a professor of mathematics at Washington University and was published by the Macmillan Company in New York. While it was copyrighted in 1947 it was actually printed in 1951 during their fourth printing. 

The first part of the book is a review of elementary algebra: addition, division, signs, exponents, polynomials and functions. Chapter II focuses on linear equations (think equations with multiple variables that are of degree 0 or 1 and don't have multiple variables being multiplied together, i.e. 12 = 4x + 3y - 2z). Chapter III is some elementary factoring with Chapter IV going into fractions. It then goes into more detail with exponents and radicals before switching over to quadratic equations (i.e. y = x^2) and then solving equations involving quadratics such as when the lines y=x and y=x^2 intersect. Chapters VIII and IX focus on inequalities, proportions, and variations. The next few chapters go into binomials, progressions, complex and imaginary numbers, general equation theories and logarithms. Chapter XV takes a side step over into economics, teaching about compound interest and annuities but then switches over to permutations, combinations, probability, determinants, partial fractions, series, and finite differences, with answers to odd number problems in the back. 

You need to keep in mind that this is way before calculators and computers so everything needs to be done by hand. This isn't much different than today where students still need to learn how to do the math without the aid of calculators but some of the material is unnecessary today, such as the powers and roots table in the back. Below is a section of the book that covers infinite series. 

Hi! - PUB 052

PUB 052

Bill Black's Combo

Media: 45 RPM Vinyl Record

Year: 1960

Details: #2022

Continuing this stream of daily updates, today's post is a 45 RPM seven inch vinyl record. Unlike the much larger 33 1/3 RPM, these guys hold very few songs. Side A has the song Josephine (Written by Wayne King and Burke Bivens) which has a runtime of only 2 minutes and 22 seconds. Side B is just as short with the song Dry Bones (A traditional song arranged by Bill Black) and runs 2 minutes and 14 seconds. The label is from Hi Records and is distributed by London Records, Inc. The record's catalog number is 2022. 

Apparently Bill Black was one of the pioneers of 'rockabilly' music, the early stage of what would become rock and roll. Black also worked with Elvis Presley in a trio early on in Presley's career, where he played bass. Later on in 1959 he started Bill Black's Combo. The song Josephine on this record was actually one of their most popular, placing number 18 in the US's Top 40. As of 2009 Bill Black is now in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and ex-Beatle Paul McCartney now owns Black's bass. 

You can check out some more about the Bill Black's Combo record here, and more about Bill Black the man and legacy here. 

Alert! Alert! - PUB 051

PUB 051

Air Raid Instructions

Media: Booklets

Year: 1959

Details: 3 booklets in an envelope

Today's Publications post is a very interesting historical piece coming from the heart of the Cold War era. This past summer I picked up this packet at a local yardsale and it now occupies a unique place in the Sholesonian. The packet was originally mailed to a man who lived in Endwell, New York (I have no idea who he was or how it ended up where I live, which isn't even close to Endwell). These packets seem to have been sent out by the State of New York, under governor Nelson A. Rockefeller.

In a time when nuclear disaster seemed an imminent threat, everyone was on edge and stocking up in case such an event did occur. As you can see from these booklets the government gave out, people felt a real danger and many people built their own fallout shelters, just in case. These pamphlets provide a description on a variety of different ways to built a fallout shelter depending on one's living condition. Two of the most common types were one outside (covered with earth) and one in a basement. The third booklet provides information on how to protect yourself from radiation fallout and how to best be prepared. According to dates on the materials they were printed back on July 6, 1959.

You can't see the obverse of the envelope in the photograph, but it essentially has the general postage details on. It also reads: "HOME EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FILE" along with a list of the purposes of the envelope:

1. File all emergency preparedness information in this envelope.
2. Keep it handy for all emergencies.
3. Stay Alert - Keep Posted - It could save your life.

At the bottom is says "FAMILY SURVIVAL depends on home preparedness," with home preparedness boxed in. As air raids drills were common practice in schools across the nation in this uncertain time it should come to no surprise that in addition to all of this information air raid instructions would also be included on the envelope itself to help families in the case of an actual emergency. In any event this is a very nice addition to the museum and provides insight into one of the major portions of the 20th century.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas - PUB 004

PUB 004

Fred Waring and The Pennsylvanians Album

Media: 33 1/3 Vinyl Record

Year: 1955

Details: Decca Records

Well I believe that this post is fitting for the eve of the biggest holiday of the year. Here is another vinyl 33 1/3 RPM record and is perfect for the Christmas season. This album entitled "'Twas the Night Before Christmas' (DL 8171) is a Christmas record from Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians including the Orchestra, Glee Club, and Soloists. This is the 1955 Decca Records version and has famous Norman Rockwell as the cover illustrator. The record has a variety of songs including 'Twas the Night Before Christmas and apparently this version is the 'definitive' version, better than his 40's and his 60's versions.

The songs it features are:

• Jingle Bells
• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
• Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
• 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
• Adeste Fideles (O, Come all Ye Faithful)
• Beautiful Saviour
• [Medley of:] The First Nowell, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Carol of the Bells
• Cantique De Noel (O Holy Night)
• Oh Gathering Clouds
• Silent Night

The back of the cover has an about section which I will copy here. "Fred Waring says, 'It's been a number of years since we got together with the imaginative and talented Ken Darby on a musical setting for Clement Clarke Moore's delightful old-young ballad, but from the first season we sang it ''Twas the Night Before Christmas' has been the 'most requested' selection not only with our listeners and viewers, but with The Pennsylvanians themselves. It is one of the pieces which is great fun to perform as well as to hear. "The other selections included in this Yuletide album, you will note, are of a variety to fit the many moods and occasions of the whole Christmas season - ranging from a very jolly version of 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer' and 'Santa Clause is Comin' to Town' to the majestic 'Adeste Fidelis.'

"Whether the voices and manner of children or the great breadth of the vested choir, Christmas is a time of singing - particularly of group singing. It is quite natural that our own singing organization should have, through the years, gained some traditional recognition for Christmas music. We believe that you will find in this collection - and in its companion album, 'Christmas Time' - the very best of all the Yuletide music we've done - best in selection, in performance and in fidelity of recording."""

Well I think that sums it up quite well. You can learn more about these records at this Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians forum link. And have a happy and safe holiday! To quote the namesake record:

"Merry Christmas to All! And to All a Good Night!"

JFK Vinyl - PUB 003

PUB 003

JFK Original Speeches

Media: 33 1/3 Vinyl Record

Year: 1963

Details: only speech excerpts

I haven't posted anything from the Publications Collections since the birth of the blog back in October, so this has been way over due. Back when I moved in the mid-1990's the old house owner left a bunch of old vinyl records in the garage. I've kept about half of them and will be posting many of them up here (most of them are records from famous broadway musicals). Today's however is fairly interesting in its own right. Entitled 'John Fitzgerald Kennedy: The Presidential Years - 1960-1963: Original Speeches.' Produced by the Pickwick International company, the 33 1/3 RPM record has clips from 16 of the 35th president's greatest speeches.

The two sides include experts of these speeches:

Pre-Election - November 6, 1960

Election Eve - November 8, 1960

Oath of Office - January 20, 1961

Inaugural - January 20, 1961

State of the Union - January 31, 1961

Alliance for Progress - August 6, 1961

U.N. Address - September 26, 1961

Peace Corps - March 2, 1962

U.S. Steel - April 12, 1962

On Labor - September 3, 1962

On Cuba - October 23, 1962

Birmingham Segregation - May 13, 1963

Berlin Wall - June 26, 1963

Nuclear Test - July 15, 1963

Houston - November 21, 1963

Dallas - November 22, 1963

The back of the record's sleeve has a reprint of The New York Times from Saturday November 23, 1963 which has a memoriam for the late President Kennedy. While I can find no discernible date of when the record was made, I have done a little research and it may have been in 1963, but according to Amazon it was in 1995 but I'm fairly sure it was before 1995 and most of the other records were from the 1960's so I'm going to go with 1963 for now.

And as a side note, when I took the picture the face recognition found JFK's profile and asked me if someone blinked. Thought it was funny enough to share.

Sleep is Power! - PUB 001

PUB 001

The Official Sleepy Steve Cartoon Collection

Media: Floppy Disks

Year: 2005

Details: two disks, a few paper comics

While I don't have too many pieces that belong in publications, I decided this would be placed there rather than in the personal collection as the significance has already made it to the internet. This is one of my favorite pieces simply because of the inscription on the box reading "All on two convenient 3 1/2" floppy disks formatted for Windows 2000 or lower."

For those who don't know, Sleepy Steve is a comic strip character who was invented by my friend Dan and based off of me. Basically he sleeps all the time. So for my birthday back in 2005 he gave me the only Official Sleepy Steve Cartoon Collection, on floppy disks or course (Dan was a bit behind technologically back then, but has since gotten much better). Needless to say I no longer own a working computer that still has a floppy drive attached, but luckily I have all the comics saved on a compact disk he later gave to me. The box included two floppy disks, some comics printed out, and a pin (not Sleepy Steve related however).

The writing on the box says,

Henry Green Products Presents...Henry Green by Daniel P.

Includes:

• All the HENRY GREEN Sleepy Steve Cartoons from 2003-2005 in JPEG Windows Format
• Original Sleepy Steve Drawing
• Biography on Sleepy Steve by the person Sleepy Steve is based on
• HENRY GREEN Desktop picture
• All on two convenient 3 1/2" floppy disks formatted for Windows 2000 or lower

The Official Sleepy Steve Cartoon Collection

From the very beginning until January 2006

All the Sleepy Steve cartoons you love in JPEG picture format on two convenient 3 1/2" floppy disks

Henry Green, Sleepy Steve, the Henry Green symbol, and the (dp) are trademarks of THe Henry Green Comics Company.

Copyright 2005 Henry Green Company

LIMITED EDITION

_________________________

Want to learn more, or read the comics? Check out the official Facebook Fan Page!