Framed or unframed, desk size to sofa size, printed by us in Arizona and Alabama since 2007. Explore now.
Shorpy is funded by you. Patreon contributors get an ad-free experience.
Learn more.
"Alda -- May 1921." The Australian soprano and frequent Caruso collaborator Frances Alda shipboard in New York. 5x7 glass negative. View full size.
That $4 price was for a one sided record. Victor Red Seals were all one sided until the early 1920's when they began to issue them as two sides, often coupling earlier recordings together.
Looks like a hand-cranked 35mm film movie camera. Anyone know what type? Alda has a very modern - today - hair style. Pity about the poor animal around her neck.
[Most of what we see on her head are feathers. - tterrace]
That $4.00 price printed around the spindle hole would be about $95 today. I hope that was for the whole album, not just the one record.
[That was the price of the one disc; the red label Victors were top of the line, reserved for super-star artists. Albums of multiple discs were still in the future. -tterrace]
I've known of the Caruso-Alda collaborations since childhood because of this family artifact that was in our house when I was growing up. This 12-inch 78 undoubtedly came from my mother's side of the family. I can't remember when I first played it, but eventually did so enough that I can still hear it in my mind's ear.
Geek details: It was recorded on January 6, 1910 in New York City, and this pressing dates from before 1915.
On Shorpy:
Today’s Top 5