Date:         Sat, 4 Oct 2008 03:38:21 -0400
Reply-To:     Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
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Sender:       Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
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From:         Ron Cowen <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:      Re: on record: presidential debates 1908 style
Comments: To: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List <[log in to unmask]>
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These records --and there were both cylinders and disk records--were recorded by Taft and Bryan themselves. Please read story and graphics--in earlier elections, most political speeches recorded by actors, but not in 1908. Story makes this clear. 

________________________________

From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List on behalf of Steven C. Barr
Sent: Sat 10/4/2008 1:01 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] on record: presidential debates 1908 style



---- Original Message -----
From: "Ron Cowen" <[log in to unmask]>
>I just wrote a neat piece for Science News magazine online on the coming
> of age of the phonograph and the first sound bites recorded by candidates
> running for the White House, exactly 100 years ago in 1908. William
> Jennings Bryan and William Howard Taft recorded their voices
>
Point is, were the voices recorded and sold ACTUALLY Bryan and Taft...?!
The "recording industry" of that era often offered...or CLAIMED to...various
"noted orators" and their speeches! However, most of these were actually
recorded by standard recording artists, like Len Spencer...!

After all, in 1908, cylinders weren't yet manufactured using moulds...so
should aq
politician elect to record a speech himself, he would have to repeat it an
incredible
number of times...?!

Steven C. Barr