What a terrifying picture. Those Victrolas look like they are on the attack, their doors flapping, in preparation to to eat unsuspecting listeners.

1940's style -- We used the rooms to listen, smoke and sometimes buy. Smoking was acceptable almost anywhere but not by 15-year olds. We were bad and I know it.

I've easily got that many 78s in my collection, though not as nicely arranged. As for listening rooms, the smaller privately owned higher end audio shops will usually have them when you can find one.

Interesting, that wooden archway in the rear of the store with windows appears to house a set of isolated listening rooms. A prospective buyer could listen to various models of Victrolas without being disturbed by other buyers.

I wish they would do more of the same in modern audiovisual stores, it's such a jumble of noises you can't tell if what you're going to buy actualy sounds good.

Wonder if they also used these rooms to sell records? The customer could listen to a record before buying it, after all, records were quite expensive at the time.

An advertisement from the April 26, 1924 issue of the New York Times lists a retail establishment owned by one William Waldman, 601 Ninth Avenue. The ad listed retailers who sold a brand of battery specifically for radio sets, so it is likely that this store is the one listed.

[Thanks, A.T.! - Dave]