1. New Orleans’ First Record Label: Louis Vasnier and the Louisiana Phonograph Co., 1891 Tim Brooks Author, Lost Sounds: Blacks and the Birth of the Recording Industry, 1890-1919

2. New Orleans, 1890

3. The Phonograph in New Orleans Early 1880s: Tin foil phonograph exhibited Early 1880s: Tin foil phonograph exhibited 1889: Four brothers found Texas Phono. Co. in Galveston 1889: Four brothers found Texas Phono. Co. in Galveston  H. Lee and Robert Sellers  Hugh and Thomas Conyngton 1891: They found Louisiana Phono. Co. 1891: They found Louisiana Phono. Co. Jan. 26, 1891: Demonstration at Tulane Jan. 26, 1891: Demonstration at Tulane

4. Louisiana Phonograph Co. Emphasized entertainment from start Emphasized entertainment from start  Import music cylinders from North  Active program recording “local talent” Conyngtons proselytize in The Phonogram May 7, 1891: 1 st coin-in-slot machine placed in May’s Palace Drug Store on Canal and Chartres

5. Canal Street, 1890s

6. West End Pavilion, Lake Pontchartrain

7. The Phonogram, July 1892

8. The Phonogram, August 1892

9. Louis “Bebe” Vasnier Born 1858 in New Orleans, “creole of color” Born 1858 in New Orleans, “creole of color” House painter House painter Talented comic, banjo player Talented comic, banjo player 1880s: Johnson & Vasnier’s Colored Minstrels, as sideline 1880s: Johnson & Vasnier’s Colored Minstrels, as sideline 1891: Makes first recordings 1891: Makes first recordings

10. Louis “Bebe” Vasnier 1891-93: Actively recording 1891-93: Actively recording Sold nationally, played by exhibitors in north Sold nationally, played by exhibitors in north Samples sent to Thomas A. Edison Samples sent to Thomas A. Edison Promoted at Mardi Gras Promoted at Mardi Gras Repertoire: Repertoire:  Banjo solos, quartets  “Brudder Rasmus” sermons

13. Louisiana Phonograph Co. – Later History 1893: Major economic downturn in U.S. 1893: Major economic downturn in U.S. 1893-94: Company winds down 1893-94: Company winds down 1894: Moves out of Equitable Bldg. 1894: Moves out of Equitable Bldg. 1896: Becomes kinetoscope agency 1896: Becomes kinetoscope agency 1897: Last listing in city directory 1897: Last listing in city directory

14. Louis Vasnier – Later History 1897-98: Reported as sick, off stage 1897-98: Reported as sick, off stage 1898: Moves to St. Louis, MO 1898: Moves to St. Louis, MO 1899: Marries 1899: Marries 1900: Advertises in Indianapolis Freeman 1900: Advertises in Indianapolis Freeman  Original monologues  Five dialects  “The only colored comedian who can do it” Jan 24, 1902: Dies of consumption Jan 24, 1902: Dies of consumption

15. The Vasnier Cylinder Only surviving example Only surviving example “Trophy” owned by a series of collectors “Trophy” owned by a series of collectors  John Coles, Rich Reinold – 1980s  Reported clear, understandable  None preserved it  To John S. Dales (U.K.)  By 1990s, audio destroyed When will we ever learn? When will we ever learn?

16. Thank You! www.timbrooks.net For more on this and related subjects see Lost Sounds