As a special treat to celebrate the release
of our new CD chronicling the career
of Henry
Burr, Anthology: The Original King of Pop, here
is a rare recording from the company founded by Burr and
banjo player, Fred Van Eps, the Paroquette Record Manufacturing
Company of New York. The company was incorporated in 1916
and began selling records in 1917.
Par-O-Ket discs were seven-inch, vertically
cut records that played a full three minutes and sold for
only 25 cents (30 cents "in the West" and 35 cents
in Canada). Artists included the likes of Walter Rogers'
Military Band, Collins and Harlan, and Louise and Ferera,
as well as acts featuring the company's principals: the
Sterling Trio and Campbell and Burr, along with the Van
Eps Banjo Band.
"Come Out of the Kitchen, Mary Ann"
is a novelty song about a female dishwasher who daydreams
about starring in motion picture with Douglas Fairbanks
or Charlie Chaplin. It was also recorded by Eddie Morton
for Emerson, but we have not found out anything about "Harry
Dunn." If you have information on this elusive figure,
let us know.
In December 1917, Paroquette published its
last list of new records, and in May 1918, the firm's assets
were sold at auction, including 30,000 Par-O-Ket discs.
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