The record-union., 1895-05-20
PHONOGRAPH MUSIC.
One Man Makes Fifty Dollars Day
Producing It.

One Man Makes Fifty dollars q Day
Producing IL.
Perhaps very few of the patrons who
drop nickel in the slot and then wait TO
hear the voice OF the phonograph ever
think OF the process by which the notes
that they hear are deposited in the little
cabinet. for reproduction at any time. 1t
appears that there is one singer who ex-
cells all OF hers in impressing perfect
tones on the wax cylinders. His name is
Siias Leachmun, and he lives at lonely
spot in the extreme northwestern part OF
Chicago. where he can yell as much aud
as loua he pleases, without disturbing
anyone and without being disturbed.
When ne gets tired of singing, which is
usually At the end OF about tour hours, he
varies tie procetd dings by preaching a
negro sermon OK by giving ali imitation
OF an irish wake, etc. lie earns over 500 a
day, without ever seeing one OF his audi
tors. These facts concerning him we
gather from the Dtity Tribune, Chicago,
which tells US further as follows:
'Mr. Leachman sings Tor monographs,
and, as he has a monopoly OF the busi-
ness IN the West he contrives to keep
busy. He has better projection i'll his
monopoly than copyright or an injunc
ton or unlimited legal talent could aiiord.
Nature gave him the peculiar qualities
that enable him to reproduce his voice
perfectly Oh the wax cylinders. Hum
dreds of people have attempted TO break
in on his profitable monopoly, but the
results of their efforts put an effectual
stop TO their attempts. And 50 Mr..
Leachman goes on enjoying the mo-
nopoly and reaping the profits thereof.
There are four other men in the East
that also DO work for the photograph,
but while they have to have a man to
play the piano while they sing. another
10 make the announcement, another TO
change cylinders and fourth to keep
the machines in order, Mr.. Leachman Is
the entire show in himself. Furthermore,
he can give an unlimited number of I'M
presentations, while the other four men
are limited to q few specialties each. Mr..
Leachman is a natural mimic, and there
in lies the secret of his success. He sings
ballads. Negro melodies, and Irish. Chi
nese and Dutch dialect songs. He plays
his own accompaniment on the piano and
takes care Of the machines. He prepares
three records as the wax cylinders are
called, at one time. 70 do this three
monographs are placed near the piano
with the horns at one side pointing away
from the key board at an angle OF 45 de-
grees. The horns have to be placed very
carefully, for fifth Of an incn makes q
great difference in the tone The cylinders
will reproduce.
when the horns have been adjusted
exactly right MIR. Leachman seats him
self at the piano and, turning his head
away over his right shoulder, begins to
sing as loud as he can, and that is pretty
loud, for he is man of powerful ply
sique, and has been practising loud sing
ing for four years. He has been doing
this work until his throat has become
calloused SO that he no longer becomes
exhausted after singing short time. AS
soon as he has finished one song he slips
Oft the wax cylinders, puts on three fresh
ones without leaving his seat, and goes
right on singing until passing train
compels him to stop for short time. In
the four years he has been in the business
he has made nearly 250,OO0 records. So
great is the demand for them that he CAN
not fill his orders. 1t is such exceedingly
hard work that ne cannot sing more than
four hours day. FIe gets 50 cents for
every cylinder he prepares. He has a
repertoire OF 420 pieces, and his work is
put on the market under score of names.
He has d remarkable memory, aud after
once hearing song can not only repeat
the words and music correctly, but he
can luIItate excellently the voice and ex-
preston Of The singer"