One of the earliest forms of entertainment when it comes to music and partying would have to be the Jukebox. In 1889 the first modern Jukebox was introduced in Palais Royale Salon in San Francisco. It was an Edison Class M Electric Phonograph and accepted nickles to listen to your favorite hits. It was also refereed to as the nickle-in-the-slot machine and in it's first six months of operation it earned over $1000!!!
The juke box is always a favorite at local bars! Although I don't get out much anymore and when I was going out there were very little bars with boxes. Some bars do have digital jukeboxes now though. Definitly music is a money maker.
ReplyDeleteJuke boxes are still pretty cool. the newer versions can play any one of millions of songs, and for some reason it always lands on that one song that you cant stand. Still everyone likes to listen to thier favorite songs when they are out at the bar. This is why the Juke Box has been around for so long and will probably stay around for years to come.
ReplyDeleteJoan Jett said it best, "I love rock and roll, so put another dime in the jukebox baby!" While they are much fancier now, the basic concept is great and will live on. Why pay a DJ when you can make money by having a machine there?!
ReplyDeleteWhat a difference between the modern Juke Box versus the classic. The new ones can download music, the artists can be changed with the seasons, and if the bartended doesn't like the song, it gets skipped! I never really thought of it as a money maker but to see that it earned that much money when it first came out definitely shows that it is.
ReplyDeleteThe Juke Box is still in use today is some places. I see them mostly at bars. Some still use the older ones that you flip through but they are mostly being replaced by the megatouch. I also remember going to a local diner like 10 years ago and they were on every table in the diner. It was a great way to store a variety of songs and music in one place to access.
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh at Rich's comment. Your absolutely right, its always lands on the song you cant stand. Juke boxes are an incredibly invention. Its cool to see the newer versions of juke boxes can play so many different songs. Many of which are not very good.
ReplyDelete1,000 Dollars in the first six months? That’s 20,000 nickels! That is pretty impressive for back then. From playing vinyl’s, to playing CDs, and now digital. The jukebox has come a long way.
ReplyDeleteI’m not sure what the cost is now, but I can remember going out to the local pubs and taverns with my friends from the ship and getting five songs for a dollar. That was usually just enough time to have a couple of mugs before moving on to the next place. We always wound up at Kane’s Place, where we would feed their juke box with money, while finishing off the night shooting darts. Thanks for the memory!
ReplyDeleteThe juke box was fun. I use to work at a bar and it had the old style juke box until the new touch screen version came along. you can still find these in diners in Bristol like the Golden Eagle.
ReplyDeleteIts interesting to see the juke box update with CDs and Mp3s. I really enjoy controlling the juke box when Im out at the bar. Its funny to everyone's reactions to the songs that you pick.
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