Monday, December 31, 2007

Mystery Acetate Label

On the label it says Air-Tone Sound & Recording Co. The 78 rpm box is checked and typed on the label are the three words "Junior League Follies." The disc itself is missing. I found the label at the bottom of a bin of junk vinyl. I found a listing for a similar label on a 78 rpm, aluminum-based 12 inch acetate. This type of disc was phased out in the 1950s. It probably was a radio program. The address on the label is now a burger joint. Anybody know anything else?

6 comments:

  1. I recently acquired a 78 rpm disc by Air-Tone without any cover sleeve. This label is also hand-typed and on one side reads:

    "Faust Aria
    Peter Binder, Baritone
    Bella Bookbinder, Pianist"

    On the other side it reads:
    "Prologue - I Pagliacci
    Peter Binder, Baritone
    Bella Bookbinder, Pianist"

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  2. Anonymous9:01 PM

    Dear Richard, Peter Binder is a dear friend of mine. He sang opera in Europe for many years and now lives in Philadelphia, PA. He vaguely remembers making that recording when he was about 21. He is 78 now. Best Wishes, Dan (dancophl@comcast.net)

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  3. Anonymous11:49 PM

    Bella Bookbinder was my grandmother. She immigrated from Russia at a relatively young age and lived in Philadelphia most of her life. She became a well known piano teacher associated with the Curtis Institute. Wish I could hear that recording: Although I grew up hearing her play while giving lessons to students in her home, I never actually heard her perform as she gave up performing probably in the 60's or 70's, when I was very young. Great find.

    Loren Bookbinder
    Boston, MA.

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  4. I had a Doo Wop group in the '60's called "The Strangers." We were young 17 year old students from Bonner H.S. We cut Doo Wop demo albun at Air-Tone studies in 1966. It was produced on a 12 inch alum acetate 78 rpm platter. Had a "hiss" in it. We put together $20 each for an hour or so of recording... eight songs with only one or two retakes because of the limited time and limited bucks available to record. Still have it and downloaded it to CD. The group disbanded as we all went to different colleges but remain good friends to this day.

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  5. What else can you tell us about Air-Tone studios? Please upload the audio!

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