Before the rise of synchronized sound in the late 1920s, movie theater owners tried all kinds of different ways to get words and music into the movie-going experience. They brought in enormous ...

Which record player is best? The phonograph, or gramophone, has been around since the 1800s and has gone through many changes. The modern record player that record fans look for has many variations ...

This media is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's ...

Say what you will about [Thomas Edison], but it’s hard to deny the genius of his self-proclaimed personal favorite invention: the phonograph. Capturing sound as physical patterns on a malleable medium ...

“USA250: The Story of the World’s Greatest Economy” is a yearlong WSJ series examining America’s first 250 years. Read more about it from Editor in Chief Emma Tucker. Technology and entertainment in ...

Talking tin foil -- Cylinders in business -- Entertainment for a nickel -- Emile Berliner's disc -- At home with the phonograph -- The improving gramophone -- Europe welcomes the talking machine -- A ...

Upgrade your vinyl setup with the best record players, from affordable options to high-end turntables with superior sound ...