Music recorded in August 1918
August 1918 was the month in which the leadership of World War I shifted significantly in favor of the Allied powers. On August 2nd, Allied forces advanced to Arkhangelsk, and foreign intervention in the Russian Civil War became concrete in the north as well. On August 6th, the Second Battle of the Marne ended, and on August 8th, the Battle of Amiens began, marking the start of the Hundred Days Offensive. In the United States, on August 12th, the United States Post Office Department took over the full operation of airmail, further institutionalizing air transport. On August 13th, Opha May Johnson (1878–1955) enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, marking a milestone in women's participation in the military. In terms of public health, the arrival of a ship carrying influenza patients in New York Harbor on August 14 marked a shift to a more alert phase ahead of a worsening of the disease in the fall. On August 30, Vladimir Lenin (1870–1924) was assassinated in Moscow, further escalating political tensions under the Russian Civil War.
Confirmed recordings this month: 0
Summary of information regarding the August 1918 recording.
In August 1918, the recording industry continued its monthly new release announcements, maintained local sales networks, conducted recordings, and advertised phonographs, despite the wartime conditions. In particular, the Victor Talking Machine Company confirmed both new release announcements for August and recordings for that month. The Columbia Graphophone Company and Thomas A. Edison, Inc. also confirmed recording and sales activities for that month. Furthermore, phonograph and record-related companies such as the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, Cheney Talking Machine Company, and Operaphone Co., Inc. also show advertising and distribution activities in August documents. Below, we list only the companies whose activities for August 1918 can be confirmed in the documents.
Victor
The Victor Talking Machine Company's August new releases section of "The Talking Machine World" shows popular songs such as "They Were All Out of Step But Jim," confirming that their release activities continued throughout the month. Additionally, the American Historical Recording Discography records "Colonel Bogey March" on August 9th and several test recordings on August 30th, allowing us to track their August activities in terms of both releases and recordings.
- https://archive.org/stream/talkingmachinew14bill/talkingmachinew14bill_djvu.txt
- https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/date/browse/1918-08-09
- https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/date/browse/1918-08-30
Columbia
Regarding the Columbia Graphophone Company, a newspaper advertisement from August 1918 confirms a monthly release schedule stating that "new Columbia records will be released on the 20th of each month." Furthermore, the American Historical Recordings Discography confirms recordings such as Lewis James' (1892–1954) "My Baby Boy" on August 20th and "Russian Rag" on August 30th, indicating that recording activities for new releases continued throughout that month.
- https://cdm16818.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/examiner/id/89152/
- https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/date/browse/1918-08-20
- https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/date/browse/1918-08-30
Edison
A newspaper advertisement dated August 16th at Thomas A. Edison, Inc. shows that sales activities for "The New Edison Diamond Disc" were still ongoing, at least during that month. In terms of recordings, the American Historical Recordings Discography records an Edison recording from August 19th, indicating that recordings of popular songs and dance repertoire were underway, including "Smiles" by the Jaudas' Society Orchestra.
- https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=RDP19180816.2.58.1
- https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/date/browse/1918-08-19
Brunswick
The Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company heavily advertised its Brunswick phonograph in the August 1918 issue of a music magazine, confirming increased sales that month. Furthermore, the American Historical Recording Discography records a Brunswick test recording dated August 16, 1918, confirming that recordings were already taking place that month. From what can be confirmed, Brunswick was active in both promoting phonographs and preparing for recordings during August.
- https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1648&context=etude
- https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/index?Matrix%5BCompany%5D=&Matrix%5BDateGroup%5D=&Matrix%5BLanguage%5D=&Matrix%5BMainTalentDisplay%5D=&Matrix%5BMatrixSeries%5D=&Matrix%5BRecordingSeries%5D=&Matrix%5BType%5D=&Matrix_page=2&Matrix_sort=MasterSize.desc
Cheney
The Cheney Talking Machine Company's newspaper advertisement dated August 8th shows them promoting Cheney phonographs. Furthermore, a contemporary industry magazine article titled "Expanding Cheney Representation" indicates that the company was expanding its distribution network as of August 1918. Based on the information we were able to find, we could not confirm from the documents that recordings were actually made that month.
- https://newspapers.library.in.gov/?a=d&d=INN19180808-01.1.13
- https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Talking-Machine/10s/Talking-Machine-1918-07.pdf
Operaphone
An advertisement for Operaphone Co., Inc.'s 10-inch records can be found in the August 15, 1918 issue of an industry magazine. The text of the advertisement reveals that the company was prominently featuring its standard American catalog and preparing promotional materials for window displays and catalog booklets to reach retailers. Therefore, for Operaphone in August, it is more appropriate to examine the product line announcements and the establishment of distribution and sales channels rather than the recording studios themselves.
- https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Talking-Machine/10s/Talking-Machine-1918-08.pdf
- https://archive.org/details/talkingmachinew14bill
