The Pacific Phonograph Company introduced the first coin operated jukebox today in 1889. It was installed at the Palais Royal Saloon at 303 Sutter Street in San Francisco. The reports of the success of the machines fueled a rapid adoption of the technology around the world. The first 15 machines in existence raked in $7,000 in the first year, which in today’s money is over $100,000. That’s a lot of nickels.
The jukebox was critical in allowing early blues, rockabilly and rock and roll to be heard by the masses. Radio was largely indifferent to these genres as respectable folks didn’t listen to "race" music. Radio was dominated by swing, big band, jazz and classical music and the jukebox provided an alternative. The term “jukebox” took its root from the word “juke”, a slang term for dancing, and small bars that featured jukeboxes and dancing were soon called juke joints.
By the end of World War II the jukebox had become a ubiquitous appliance in millions of bars and restaurants across the country. It has become synonymous with early rock and roll and 1950s culture and nostalgia. As the wheels of technology continued to turn the jukebox was reinvented many times over. An early innovation at the beginning of the 20th century expanded the jukebox’s capacity to 24 records while today’s jukeboxes with their wireless technology hold a virtually limitless amount of songs.
If you’re a music fan you likely have a memory or two tied to a jukebox somewhere in time. You might have frequented a bar because they had the best jukebox in town. You probably smeared your greasy hands on the worst jukebox in town at the local Pizza Hut. You might have used a jukebox to get your best girl out on the dance floor or strategically lied in wait to accidentally bump in the gal you had your eye on all night. Maybe your folks would give you a handful of quarters so you’d leave them alone at the bowling alley on league night.
Whatever your relationship to the humble jukebox it is one of the coolest inventions man has ever dreamed up. Let’s celebrate it with some songs that make reference to that constant musical companion of the past 125 years.
Gene Vincent – Crazy Legs:
Floyd Dixon – Hey Bartender:
Billy Paul – Me and Mrs. Jones:
James Taylor – Hey Mister, That’s Me Up On the Jukebox:
Van Morrison – Wild Night:
AC/DC – Shot Down in Flames:
Dan Auerbach – Mean Monsoon:
Ray Lamontagne – The Devil’s in the Jukebox:
