Children's Phonographs and Popular Culture Characters A Gallery of Record Players with familiar faces . The announcement of Edison's invention of the Phonograph was greeted with wonder, questions and many predictions about its future. As an early exhibition machine it would be demonstrated as an invention based on science, "the talking wonder," "The Miracle of the 19th Century" and the "dream of the inventor realized." (1) The subtext for all phonograph exhibitions, however, was surely that Edison's Phonograph was something so novel it had to be heard -- possible in 1878 with traveling venues for 25 cents Adults, 10 cents for Children. These early phonograph exhibitions were akin to side-show or magic acts with their promotional posters, trade cards, and newspaper ads describing what to expect: "It Talks! It Sings! It Laughs! It plays coronet songs."   Edison's Phonograph, 1878 - Poster promoting demonstrations of the Phonograph (Courtesy of National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.)   When the phonograph did enter the home it was not promoted as a toy nor was it intended to be operated by children although an 1896 Columbia Graphophone ad pointed out that it was "so simple that even a child can make it pour forth the most enchanting selections of the world's greatest Musicians...."   "Marvelous, yet so simple that even a child" can operate it. Munsey's Magazine, 1896 (PM-1006A)   A French toy for children was offered in 1897 but it was promoted specifically for their education, said to assure children that in the future they would easily be able "to obtain a reproduction of the human voice with the phonograph." Although, in order to instruct children, it is well enough to make them read a description of great scientific inventions, such as the telegraph, telephone, phonograph, etc., it is certainly preferable to put these different instruments in their hands in order to permit them to learn how they operate. Thanks to an ingenious instrument, which is very easily manipulated and of relatively low price, children will be able in the future to assure themselves that it is as easy to obtain a reproduction of the human voice with the phonograph as it is that of a piece of music by means of a mechanical piano. So this is one of the playthings that has met with the most success this year. -- The Phonoscope, April 1897.   The Phonoscope, April 1897   Children would soon be included as a potential market and records for children would be released with advertisements such as this 1906 brochure "Victor for Every Day" which featured children operating and being entertained by the Victor Talking Machine and its records. Ads like these, of course, were designed more for the parents who were reminded that the phonograph could provide education and amusement for their children.   The Victor for Every Day in the Week, Victor Talking Machine brochure, c. 1905 (PM-0210)   "When the language lesson's done then the children have their fun" - The Edison Phonograph Monthly, October, 1904   The children's own phonograph market grew after World War I in the United States, but like the rest of the phonograph industry it faded in the 1930's, re-emerged after World War II and continued to be part of popular culture through the 1980's. "RCA Victor Children's Record" stories begin with Little Nipper, 1951 . Gallery of Children's Phonographs The following are examples of children's phonographs and respective ads featuring popular culture characters used to promote its children's market. Select from the gallery below or use the Children's Phonographs Table of Contents.   Howdy Doody Phono Doodle,Shura-Tone ©Kagran, 1955     Roy Rogers RCA Victor Model 9-EY-36 , 45 RPM, c. 1950   Donald Duck 78 RPM, Spear Products, Inc., 1961   Smurf™ Phonograph, Vanity Fair, 1983               The Victor-Victrola VV 1-2, the Nursery Model, c. 1925     Lemiphone, Leonhard Müller Company, c. 1926     See-A-Song, Mfg by The Wal-Feld Co., c. 1955   Bozo the Clown, Steelman Phonograph & Radio Co., 1954               WKRP in Cincinnati Disc Jockey Control Center, Vanity Fair, 1982   Lindstrom Electric Phonograph, Model 777, c. 1948   Winnie the Pooh Electric Phonograph, Lionel, c. 1948   Superman Phonograph, 1978               Genola Phonograph, General Phonograph Mfg. Co. c. 1925. Mother Goose Lithos   Frank Luther Phonograph with Babar and Nursery Rhyme characters, Decca, c.1950             .   HOWDY DOODY . Howdy Doody Phono Doodle, Shura-Tone ©Kagran - Three speed (78, 45 and 33 1/3 rpms) portable "Treasure Chest" design, c. 1955. (FP0641) . Howdy Doody Phono Doodle, Shura-Tone ©Kagran - Single speed (78 rpm) portable with no lid, c. 1955. (FP0397) . . Howdy Doody Phono Doodle, Shura-Tone - Single speed 78 rpm, plastic case and the smallest Phono Doodle, c.1955 MIB. (FP0622) . 1955 Catalog page showing three Howdy Doody Phonograph Models . Phineas T. Bluster Handkerchief, circa 1955 (FP1357) . Note: Howdy Doody is one of those popular culture characters that had a talking clock to wake-up children which used a miniature record and playing mechanism inside the clock. See the Howdy Doody Talking Alarm Clock made by Janex c.1977 in Phonographia's Talking Clock Exhibit. . ROY ROGERS Roy Rogers, RCA Victor Model 9-EY-36 , 45 RPM, c. 1950 (FP0403)   . Roy Rogers & Dale Evans Phonograph, Spear Products, Inc., Stereo Speakers, 4 speed, c. 1961 (Photo courtesy Hakes) .. Roy Rogers Portable Phonograph, Sears Catalog, 1961 (See full page ad) . See Roy Rogers - Records and Other Phonographia for more examples of Roy Rogers Phonographia Connections. . .DONALD DUCK Donald Duck Electric Portable Phonograph, Spear Products, Inc., Model #21, c. 1960's   Donald Duck Electric Portable Phonograph, Spear Products, Inc., Model #14D, c. 1960's (FP0616) . Donald Duck Electric Portable Phonograph Model #21, Sears Catalog, 1961 (See full page ad) . Donald Duck Electric Portable Phonograph 4-speed, General Electric (FP0407) Donald Duck's Sing Lesson, Golden Record, ©Walt Disney Productions . Courtesy Vintage Audio Love   Note: Mattel's Chatter-Chum pull-string toys used a miniature record and playing mechanism inside its figures and included Donald Duck as one of its talking characters. c. 1976 (FP0154) SMURF . Smurf™ 2-speed Phonograph, Vanity Fair, 1982 (FP0650) . Smurf™ 2-speed Phonograph, Vanity Fair, 1983 (FP0642)   Smurf™ 2-speed Phonograph, made by Vanity Fair, magazine ad 1983 . 1982 Christmas Polaroid Photograph with Vanity Fair Smurfs Phonograph   Note: Mattel's Chatter-Chum pull-string toys used a miniature record and playing mechanism inside its figures and included Smurf and Smurfette in their series of talking characters. c. 1982 (Smurf, FP0143) Smurfette Chatter Chum, Mattel c. 1983 (FP0142).   BOZO "THE CAPITOL CLOWN" Bozo, the Capitol Clown, Phonograph, Herold Radio and Television Mfg. Corp., Mount Vernon, N.Y., Model BA-11, 1954 . Bozo BE-21 Phonograph, Toys and Novelties, March, 1954 . For more examples of Bozo's Phonographs and Records see Phonographia's BOZO THE CAPITOL CLOWN.   SEE-A-SONG See-A-Song Phonograph, Model 4500T, The Wal-Feld Co., Valley Stream, NY, c. 1955 (FP0713) . The See-A-Song Phonograph plays its record and a Zoetrope with a light inside rotates while the song plays music/story to match the images. Lithographed figures included Mother Goose, the Wizard of Oz's Tin Man and Scarecrow, The King of Hearts, and The Cat and the Fiddle.   Magic Mirror Movies Magic Mirror Catalog Ad, 1958   Junior Operetta Records - Little Red Ridiing Hood The Talking Machine World, November 15, 1923 . The Talking Machine World, November 15, 1923 . The Talking Machine World, November 15, 1923, p. 126   VICTOR-VICTROLA VV 1-2 (Nursery Model) . The Victor-Victrola VV 1-2, the Nursery Model and renamed the "Aladdin" in December 1925, was designed for children and was decorated with storybook characters. The original 1925 selling price of the VV 1-2 was $18.00 (the average hourly earnings for United States workers in manufacturing was 49 cents per hour in 1925). (2) . . Victor-Victrola VV 1-2 "Aladdin" c. 1925 (Courtesy the Victor-Victrola Website) . . The Nursery Model VV-1-2, Voice of the Victor, May 1925   LEMIPHONE Lemiphone, with children decorating the lithographed record player, made by the Leonhard Müller Company, Nürnberg, Germany, c. 1926 (FP1222).   The JEANNETTE The Jeannette Phonograph, No. 4450, Johnson Smith & Co., 1926 . Baby Jeannette Phonograph and Genola, Butler Bros., Wholesalers of General Merchandise Catalog, New York, 1927, p. 75.   GENOLA   Genola Phonograph, General Phonograph Mfg. Co. , Elvira, Ohio, c. 1925 (FP0729)   Genola Phonograph, The Talking Machine World, February 15, 1925   1930 Children's Phonograph ads Children's Phonograph, Union Hardware and Metal Company Catalog, 1930 . Children's Phonograph, Union Hardware and Metal Company Catalog, 1930, p. 2710   Admiral Phonograph, "Child-Proof, " Collier's, August 1946   Frank Luther Phonograph with Babar and Nursery Rhyme Characters Frank Luther Record Player with Babar and children's storytime characters, 78 RPM, ca. 1948 Decca (FP0646)   LISTEN to "Mother Goose Songs" told by Frank Luther, 78 RPM, 1946 Decca Records, Inc.     "Favorites of Tots and Teens," Penney's Catalog, 1947, pp. 46-47 . . Children's Phonographs, Spiegel, 1952, p. 39   LINDSTROM with Litho Characters Lindstrom Electric Phonograph, Model 777, 78 RPM, c. 1948 (FP1510)   WINNIE THE POOH Winnie the Pooh Electric Phonograph, Lionel, ca. 1964     WKRP in CINCINNATI WKRP in Cincinnati Disc Jockey Control Center, Vanity Fair, 1983 (FP0388) . . For examples of Vanity Fair Phonograph ads see Phonographia's VANITY FAIR PHONOGRAPHS ADS.     Superman Phonograph .. Superman Phonograph SP-19, Dee-Jay Corp., 45 & 33 1/3 RPM, 1978 (FP0631)   Superman "The Flying Train," Musette Records, 2 Flexi-discs 78 RPM and comic book, 1947 (FP1523)   Super Heroes Phonograph SP-14, Dee-Jay Corp., 45 & 33 1/3 RPM, 1978 - Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and Robin. (FP0633) . 1981 Fisher-Price Phonograph Ad Fisher-Price Phonograph, Fisher-Price Toys, New York, 1981   Penny's Four-Speed Phono Fun! - Mickey and Friends and Dr. Dolittle and his animals! 1968.   "Dial-O-Matic" Phonograph. Sears, 1964. . For an on-line collection of children's phonographs (kindergrammophones) see Peter W. Burgherr's Collection. For other examples of lithographed children's phonographs see Phonographia's PhonoLithos.   Children's Phonographs Table of Contents   Bozo the Clown, Steelman Phonograph & Radio Co., 1954 Donald Duck 78 RPM, Spear Products, Inc., 1961 Frank Luther Phonograph with Babar and Nursery Rhyme Characters, Decca, c. 1950 Genola, General Phonograph Mfg. Co, c. 1925 Howdy Doody Phono Doodle,Shura-Tone ©Kagran, 1955 Lemiphone, Leonhard Müller Company, c. 1926 Lindstrom Phonograph, Model 777, c. 1948 Roy Rogers RCA Victor Model 9-EY-36 , 45 RPM, c. 1950 See-A-Song, Mfg by The Wal-Feld Co., c. 1955 Smurf™ Phonograph, Vanity Fair, 1983 Superman Phonograph, 1978 The Victor-Victrola VV 1-2, the Nursery Model, c. 1925 Winnie the Pooh Phonograph, Lionel, c. 1948 WKRP in Cincinnati Disc Jockey Control Center, Vanity Fair, 1982           Phonographia