PHONOHUMOR
Uncle
Josh
Stories and Records
The Phonoscope, July 1898
Cal Stewart - The Yankee Story Teller
(1856 - 1919)
An early recording star
by the name of Cal Stewart is an example of a voice from the past
that would have been recognized by any phonograph listener at the
turn of the century. Now his famous laugh is probably only known to
record collectors. Cal Stewart clearly wanted to make people laugh
and his folksy humor in the persona of Uncle Josh Weathersby is a
piece of Americana. Uncle Josh said "I'd sooner tell Peter on the
last day about the laffs I've given folks on earth, than try to explain
about givin' them heart akes."
Uncle Josh recorded for
a number of record companies from the 1890's until his death in 1919.
In all, he wrote about 129 different comic monologues. His performance
and social folksy monologue always included his famous laugh, a laugh
the Edison company called "infectious". His story telling usually
found him at home in Punkin Center where he observed the events of
his time under such titles as "Uncle Josh and the Lightening Rod Agent"
and "Uncle Josh Buys an Automobile"; "Uncle Josh at the
Dentist's and "Moving Pictures at Pumpkin Center."
For Friends of the Phonograph,
there are three selections of note: "Uncle Josh Buys a Victrola,"
"Uncle Josh and the Phonograph" and the song "I Wants a Graphophone"
which Stewart wrote for comic Bob Roberts. (1)
Uncle Josh Buys
a Victrola
By Cal Stewart, Victor Talking
Machine Co., 18793-A, 1919
In 1919 Cal Stewart as Uncle Josh Weathersby was
confused about how a talking machine worked when his Victor record
"Uncle Josh Buys a Victrola" recounted his first experience
with his new talking machine.
.
Courtesy of Tim Gracyk
Victor matrix B-23118 August
11, 1919
LISTEN
Uncle Josh's Punkin Centre Stories - List of
Uncle Josh Victor Records
| |
Title |
Record Number |
|
Train Time at Pun'kin Centre and
Uncle Josh and Nancy Put up a Stove |
18595 |
|
Uncle Josh and Aunt Nancy Put
Up Kitchen Stove (with Jones) and Train Time |
18595 |
|
Uncle Josh and Aunt Nancy Visit
N. Y. and Uncle Josh on Street Car |
16227 |
|
Uncle Josh and the Billiken and
Hot Tamale Man |
16203 |
|
Uncle Josh and the Fire Department
and Uncle Josh at Skating Rink |
16931 |
|
Uncle Josh and Lightning Rod Agent
and Down in Jungle Town |
16805 |
|
Uncle Josh and the Photographer
and Farmyard Medley |
16676 |
|
Uncle Josh at a Camp Meeting and
Uncle Josh Playing Golf |
16226 |
|
Uncle Josh at Skating Rink and
Uncle Josh and the Fire Department |
16931 |
|
Uncle Josh at the Circus and Uncle
Josh's Troubles in a Hotel |
16193 |
|
Uncle Josh at the Dentist's and
Small boy and mother at the Circus |
16413 |
|
Uncle Josh at the
Opera and Uncle Josh in Society |
16145 |
|
Uncle Josh buys an automobile
and Village Gossips |
17854 |
|
Uncle Josh in a Barber Shop and
War Talk at Pun'kin Centre |
17820 |
|
Uncle Josh in a Chinese Laundry
and Uncle Josh on a Bicycle |
16068 |
|
Uncle Josh in a Department Store
and Uncle Josh's Visit to the Metropolis |
16520 |
|
Uncle Josh in Society and Uncle
Josh at the Opera. |
16145 |
|
Uncle Josh Joins the Grangers
and I'm Old but Awfully Tough |
16403 |
|
Uncle Josh on a Bicycle and Uncle
Josh in a Chinese laundry |
16068 |
|
Uncle Josh on the Street Car and
Uncle Josh and Nancy Visit N.Y |
16227 |
|
Uncle Josh Playing Baseball and
Uncle Josh on a Fifth Avenue Bus |
16228 |
|
Uncle Josh Playing Golf and Uncle
Josh at a Camp Meeting |
16226 |
|
Uncle Josh's Arrival in N. Y.
City and Uncle Josh's Trip to Boston |
16225 |
|
Uncle Josh's Huskin' Dance and
Last Day of School at Pun 'kin Centre |
16109 |
|
Uncle Josh's 2nd Visit to Metropolis
and Uncle Josh in Department Store |
16520 |
|
Uncle Josh's Trip to Boston and
Uncle Josh Arrival in N.Y |
16225 |
|
Uncle Josh's Trip to Coney Island
and Roll on de Ground |
16804 |
|
Uncle Josh's Trouble in a Hotel
and Uncle Josh at the Circus |
16193 |
| |
Uncle Josh Buys a Victrola |
18793 |
Uncle Josh's Punkin Centre Stories
- Contents
| |
Title |
Page |
|
PREFACE |
3 |
|
LIFE SKETCH OF AUTHOR |
5 |
| |
MY OLD YALLER ALMANAC |
11 |
|
ARRIVAL IN NEW YORK |
15 |
|
UNCLE JOSH IN SOCIETY |
21 |
|
UNCLE JOSH IN A CHINESE LAUNDRY |
25 |
|
UNCLE JOSH IN A MUSEUM |
31 |
|
UNCLE JOSH IN WALL STREET |
35 |
|
UNCLE JOSH AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT |
39 |
|
UNCLE JOSH IN AN AUCTION ROOM |
43 |
|
UNCLE JOSH ON A FIFTH AVENUE 'BUS |
45 |
|
UNCLE JOSH IN A DEPARTMENT
STORE |
49 |
|
UNCLE JOSH'S COMMENTS ON THE SIGNS
SEEN IN NEW YORK |
53 |
|
UNCLE JOSH ON A STREET CAR |
57 |
|
MY FUST PAIR OF COPPER TOED BOOTS |
63 |
|
UNCLE JOSH IN POLICE COURT |
65 |
| |
UNCLE JOSH AT CONEY ISLAND |
70 |
|
UNCLE JOSH AT THE OPERA |
75 |
|
UNCLE JOSH AT DELMONICO'S |
79 |
|
IT IS FALL |
83 |
|
SI PETTINGILL'S BROOMS |
87 |
|
UNCLE JOSH PLAYS GOLF |
91 |
|
JIM LAWSON'S HOGS |
95 |
|
UNCLE JOSH AND THE LIGHTNING ROD
AGENT |
99 |
|
A MEETING OF THE ANNANIAS CLUB |
103 |
|
JIM LAWSON'S HOSS TRADE |
107 |
|
A MEETING OF THE SCHOOL DIRECTORS |
111 |
|
THE WEEKLY PAPER AT PUNKIN CENTRE |
117 |
| |
UNCLE JOSH AT A CAMP MEETING |
121 |
| |
THE UNVEILING OF THE ORGAN |
125 |
| |
UNCLE JOSH PLAYS A GAME OF BASE
BALL |
127 |
| |
THE PUNKIN CENTRE AND PAW PAW
VALLEY RAILROAD |
131 |
| |
UNCLE JOSH ON A BICYCLE |
135 |
| |
A BAPTISIN' AT THE HICKORY CORNERS
CHURCH |
139 |
| |
A REMINISCENCE OF MY RAILROAD
DAYS |
143 |
| |
UNCLE JOSH AT A CIRCUS |
147 |
| |
UNCLE JOSH INVITES THE CITY FOLKS
TO VISIT HIM |
153 |
| |
YOSEMITE JIM, OR A TALE OF THE
GREAT WHITE DEATH |
157 |
| |
UNCLE JOSH WEATHERSBY'S TRIP TO BOSTON
|
163 |
| |
WHO MARCHED IN SIXTY-ONE |
169 |
Archeophone Records has this CD available
for purchase where you can also
listen to excerpts.
A humorist who spent 22 years waxing
his Uncle Josh stories, Cal Stewart was the first performer whose stage
appearances were celebrated by reference to his records rather than
the other way around. In his famous role as "rube" Uncle Josh Weathersby,
he entertained millions of listeners with tales of his antics both in
New York City and at home in Punkin Center. The Indestructible Uncle
Josh provides a snapshot of Stewart's repertoire at the height of his
career, featuring all 25 of his 2-minute cylinders for the Indestructible
company and a choice sampling of his work on U-S Everlasting cylinders.
The package includes a 28-page booklet with notes by Stewart expert
and scholar Patrick Feaster. List price: $16.49
The UCSB
Cylinder Archive also has many
Uncle Josh cylinder recordings available for listening, e.g, Uncle
Josh invites the city folks to visit him down on the farm.
Supporting UCSB's Adopt
a Cylinder Program would be an excellent way to be a Friend
of the Phonograph. Do it today!
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