Child Abuse?

[thereallyniceman]

Here is an unusual, and quite rare, banjo recording… for children!

 

Kiddyphone was a 1920s United Kingdom record label, which issued small-sized gramophone records aimed at very young children.

Children’s miniature gramophones were also made under the Kiddyphone name.

 

The label was owned by The Crystalate Gramophone Record Manufacturing Company Ltd., which also manufactured Imperial records.

Kiddyphone records exist in three sizes: 5½", 6" and 7".

 

The record label shows “Fernbank Quick Step”, played by John Main.

 The composition is by Olly Oakley and it appears he also played the solo under the name of John Main.

FERNBANK QUICK STEP by John Main (aka Olly Oakley)

What cruelty were they inflicting on their poor children in the 1920’s?

 

“If you don’t tidy your room I will make you listen to that banjo tune again”

 

 ;-)

[Steve Harrison]

The mere threat that granddad is going to play his banjo soon brings my grandkids into line when they're playing up!

[Ginny Matheson]

Wouldn't it have been wonderful to know what the children and families really thought of this "new" invention of their time.  I think the technology was pretty darn cool.  The Fernbank Quick Step was a bit cruel, I must admit.

[Richard William Ineson]

I first saw and heard one of these amazing little gramophones at the home of a well known, but rather reclusive, banjo player/collector, in the south of England, some years ago. He kept it in his downstairs lavatory, I think that the banjo record he had on the machine, at the time, may have been 'Comical Coons' but I'm not sure. The tone is remarkably good.

[Shawn McSweeny]

Growing up in the postwar era, the recorded fare gave me some early insight into classical music and a gift for mimicry, not of soothing birdsong, but of goofy clown voices. A rousing banjo tune would have been welcome relief.

[Trapdoor2]

Well, at least you weren't raised on Alvin & The Chipmunks as I was in the early 60's. ;-)

"Fernbank" is a tad on the pedestrian side for Oakley, I think. I have an original copy of the sheet music but when tabbing it out, I kept falling asleep. ;-)

[Joel Hooks]

You got to love the way he pounds that bass string!

[Thomas Edgar]

Shawn McSweeny said:

Growing up in the postwar era, the recorded fare gave me some early insight into classical 

"Rusty in Orchestraville"!!!  Oh, how I played that over and over.  I still feel sad for the piano.  He felt so rejected.  

[Steve Harrison]

Hi Thomas, Do you remember Sparky's magic piano? It was a favourite on childrens' radio in the 1950s in the UK. An import from the US but the British kids loved it.....Steve.

Thomas Edgar said:

Shawn McSweeny said:

Growing up in the postwar era, the recorded fare gave me some early insight into classical 

"Rusty in Orchestraville"!!!  Oh, how I played that over and over.  I still feel sad for the piano.  He felt so rejected.