Indiana Schools Get Phonographs: 1921

1921DecTalkMachWorldThis item appeared a hundred years ago this month in the December 1921 issue of Talking Machine World.  The Indiana State Board of Education determined that music was an important part of education. Accordingly, in its report card for schools, one criterion for scoring was that each elementary school in the state should equip every room with a talking machine and “ten good records.”

We don’t know for sure, but we’re guessing that this record would qualify as one of those ten good ones. Recorded in 1921, it’s entitled “Popular songs of yesterday” and is a medley of “Hail! Hail! The gang’s all here!” “The bowery,” “Sidewalks of New York,” ” Summertime,” and “Yip! I adde! I aye.”

You can listen by clicking the link below or by visiting the Library of Congress National Jukebox.