The atmosphere of a 50\’s diner or a great country and western style restaurant just does not seem complete without a juke box. They can be found in clubs, lounges and even private homes. Today\’s modern jukeboxes are very different from the original ones, including the Crosley jukebox.
If you were in an establishment and wanted to spend money to play a song, jukeboxes could facilitate that need, making a lot of money in the process. You could find them in dance halls and at county fairs. Jukeboxes quickly became a rapidly growing subculture that continues to this day.
Before the jukeboxes became popular, there were coin operated phonographs. These were used in many places and were well received by the public. But people were limited to listening to only one record at a time which would last for 2 minutes.
It was during the 1930\’s that jukeboxes started to develop, and the Crosley jukebox was created from that original, coin-operated phonograph. Powel Crosley had planned to buy his son a receiver radio for his birthday, but was put off by the cost of it. He then decided he would just build one himself, and successfully did so for about $35. With that success, the Crosley company was formed and began produce a variety of things that were mass marketed, including telephone, record boxes, and a myriad of other items.
The term \”jukebox\” borrowed from the African word \”jook\” which meant \”to dance\” and became commonly used in the US in the early 1900s. Automatic Music Instrument Company manufactured the first actual jukebox in 1972. This meant that clubs and other venues could now entertain customers with music at any time without the expense of having to hire a band. The machines offered the choice of multiple songs which was a new idea.
Sales of jukeboxes increased after the depression and many people were able to purchase them for their own homes. The Crosley jukebox remains a popular collector\’s item from those bygone days.
Now, despite the existence of CD-playing jukeboxes, the ones that play old fashioned vinyl records are truly valuable. They remind collectors of a time when rock and roll was new, and the 50\’s were in full swing. Many people love collecting these classic pieces of America\’s history, as they are aesthetically pleasing and fun to collect and possess.
In addition to the Jukebox, Melvin has written on shoes as well, read his other articles at men\’s Italian shoes or NSM jukebox.
