National Jukebox Day 2023: National Jukebox Day occurs annually on November 22, the day before Thanksgiving. As music serves as the backdrop to our existence, this day honors the jukebox by shedding light on the apparatus that initially and continues to uniquely introduce music into our lives. Jukeboxes have an extensive past; the sentimentality they evoke is unmatched. It has existed throughout every epoch of contemporary music, including jazz, country, blues, and rock. Commemorate this momentous apparatus while you dine at local bars and restaurants in your community in advance of Thanksgiving with cherished old acquaintances.
The History of National Jukebox Day
Jukeboxes brought about numerous musical revolutions. The advent of the jukebox enabled individuals to appreciate music in bars and restaurants. In addition to gaining a fresh avenue for public exposure, artists were granted the ability to sell vinyl. The phonograph serves as a multifaceted cultural and historical symbol.
The inaugural jukebox was invented by officials of the Pacific Phonograph Co., namely Louis Glass and William S. Arnold. On November 23, 1889, this revolutionary device, which was referred to as a nickel-in-the-slot phonograph at the time, was on exhibit at the Palais Royale Saloon in San Francisco, California. Instantaneously profitable at over $4000 (approximately $120,249.23 today) in its first year, it inspired countless individuals throughout the United States to produce variants. “Phonograph parlors” stocked with nickel-in-the-slot phonographs rapidly proliferated throughout Europe and America.
Technological advancements occurred in tandem with the machine’s growth and popularity. Record manufacturers devised techniques to increase the efficiency of record copy production, amplifiers were invented to facilitate simultaneous listening by large audiences, and the phonograph cylinder was displaced by the disc record. John Gabel introduced the Automatic Entertainer, a device featuring twenty-four song selections, to the public in 1905. The audio phone, a multi-select jukebox created by Justus P. Seeburg in 1928, featured eight distinct turntables that enabled users to select from a collection of eight unique recordings.
The advent of radio, an additional form of cost-free entertainment, in the 1920s and the Great Depression in the 1930s both had a negative impact on the jukebox. As individuals lost the luxury of investing in recreational activities, record sales plummeted. However, jukeboxes experienced a rapid recovery and were thrust into their Golden Age as people prepared to enjoy life to the fullest once more following the Great Depression.
It is postulated that the term ‘jukebox’ emerged in 1937 and originated in the southern states of the United States of America. Since then, the jukebox has experienced a consistent surge in popularity, accompanied by continuous evolution in its design. From an art deco-inspired metal structure, a wooden box featuring listening tubes, vibrant lighting, and even bubbles! Jukeboxes revolutionized the entertainment industry and amplified the voices of musicians. The day before Thanksgiving in 2017 was proclaimed National Jukebox Day by TouchTunes, a digital jukebox platform, in recognition of the countless contributions they have made to humanity.
Name Your PC Day 2023: Activities, FAQs, History, and Dates
National Absurdity Day 2023: Activities, History, Dates, and FAQs
Black Consciousness Day 2023: History, Dates, Activities, FAQs, and Facts about Black Americans
FAQs for National Jukebox Day
What is the price of a jukebox?
A variety of digital jukeboxes are available for purchase, with prices varying from $50 to $1,500 per unit.
What is an alternative term that describes a jukebox?
In addition to their original designations such as ‘coin-operated phonograph,”multi-select phonograph,’ and so forth, jukeboxes are frequently referred to as’music boxes.’
What phonograph is the rarest?
Gabel Starlite jukeboxes from 1936 are among the rarest. Presently, only five of this type are known to exist.
Parade of Nations Jukebox Day Activities
Behold a gramophone
If you are in close proximity to a restaurant, diner, or any other establishment that features a jukebox, visit it and indulge in its melodies to satisfy your sentimental yearnings.
Obtain a jukebox application.
Apps emulating the experience of a phonograph are abundant, allowing you to feel engaged from the convenience of your own residence. Nothing is worse than having something.
Attend to your preferred music.
To commemorate it, a jukebox is not even necessary. As the jukebox is an integral part of the history of music listening, savor your preferred selections while contemplating their illustrious past.
Five noteworthy facts regarding Jukeboxes
The conflict among the creators
Although two additional inventors made patent applications for their coin-operated phonographs, it was the Glass and Arnold model that made its initial official public debut.
They exuded mystique.
Due to their prevalence in speakeasies, jukeboxes possessed an exotic allure.
From “jukebox” to “wallbox”
As technology progressed, wall-mounted miniature jukeboxes with integrated speakers were created.
Lacking a nickelodeon
The rumor that jukeboxes were once referred to as nickelodeons is unfounded and contrary to popular belief.
The Four Major
The innovations of the industry titans—AMI, Rock-Ola, Wurlitzer, and Seeburg—ruled the jukebox world.
NATIONAL JUKEBOX DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | November 22 | Wednesday |
| 2024 | November 27 | Wednesday |
| 2025 | November 26 | Wednesday |
