Step away from the Victrola...

Technically speaking this is only a "Victrola" in the way that a copy machine is a "Xerox" or a cola is a "Coke"... but it's a beauty and it's in my next show. I sat quietly back as the props and scenic people discussed the player... and while they discussed how to safely break the box of 78's they bought for the show.

In the script there is a Caruso collection that is supposed to be destroyed and it hurts me. First off I don't think we're actually going to be able to do this safely. If anyone out there isn't familiar with 78rpm records let's just say; they're not vinyl, they're made of shellac and shatter spectacularly when broken.

They are heavy and big and provide one song per side of a ten inch disc. They crackle and hiss and sound is often mumbled a bit... but for some reason I love them. They're artifacts. They're treasure... they're usually songs and artists I've never heard of and are not available on other formats...

Tonight I bit my lip when they discussed converting vinyl into MP3s (a topic I know about but would eat up all of my time to help with) and when everyone left I found myself lured towards the bin of records... I mustn't look... I don't have the storage space... I Do have the record player though... no! step back... but I want to listen to them all!

If anyone would have entered at that point they would have seen me drooling but not touching the pile of music before me. I fear if I get too close I'll find the need to liberate a few. I'll want to save them from the destruction mill of the theater... I'll want to adopt them all.

Step away from the records...

Step away from the turn table...

... but they're all so beautiful!