Re: [ARSCLIST] Pathe 12" Waldorf-Astoria DO

["Steven C. Barr(x)" <stevenc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steven Smolian" <smolians@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> I just received a Pathe Actuelle  12" 78, 15105.  It contains Chabrier's
> Habanera (originally a piano piece, here orchestrated similarly to that by
> the composer) and the March of the Toys from Herbert's "Babes in Toyland."
> 
> The performing group is credited as the Waldorf-Astoria Concert Orchestra.
> It sounds like 20 or so musicians.
> 
> Who conducts?  What was this doing on Pathe as a 12"?   Something here
> smells fishy- another group in disguise.  
> 
> I can't say I've seen many other 12" Actuelles.  Is there a story behind
> this?  
> 
I've never seen a 12" PA...OTOH, I'm not surprised by the existence of
at least one...?! I would assume this was a lateral-cut version of a
12" sapphire-cut Pathe issue (if you can find a listing of those, you
can verify this...?!). Pathe initially issued the label as a way to
sell their recordings to folks with Victrolas/Graphonolas and the
like (after experimenting with other "needle-cut" lateral dubs on
Empire/Operaphone/World/client pressings in 1919-20...!)...so may
have done likewise with 12" sapphire-cut issues?

The director would presumably be Joseph Knecht, who led his
"Waldorf-Astoria Dance Orchestra)...Knecht recorded for most of
the early record companies at the time...?

Steven C. Barr