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Len Spencer

Leonard Garfield Spencer (February 12, 1867 – December 15, 1914) was an early American recording artist. He began recording for the Columbia Phonograph Company, in 1889 or 1890. Between 1892 and 1897 he recorded extensively for the New Jersey Phonograph Company and its successor the United States Phonograph Company. He specialized in vaudeville sketches and comic songs, but also sang sentimental ballads popular at the time. He returned to Columbia in 1898 for an exclusive contract then began recording for Berliner Gramophone (disc) records in 1899 and continued with Victor and Columbia as discs became the dominant format in the early 1900s.

He began performing with banjoist Vess L. Ossman in 1901 and with Ada Jones in 1905. He is best remembered today for his vaudeville-style comic sketches, such as "The Arkansaw Traveler" (1902), combining clever turns of phrase, ironic elocutionary delivery, sound effects and music to create colorful dialogues featuring itinerant Southerners, auctioneers, circus barkers, and Irish, Jewish or Black Americans. Many of his roles were performed in either blackface or brownface. Spencer's output was eclectic. He imitated animal sounds in "A Barnyard Serenade" (1906) and released another record titled "The Transformation Scene from 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'," but also popularized songs still known today such as "Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom De-ay" and "A Hot Time in the Old Town." Music historian Bob Stanley deems it "probable" that Spencer's comedic "Arkansaw Traveler" routine was the first record to sell one million copies, though official documentation is lacking.

As the popularity of Len's style of humor waned in the latter part of the decade, he opened a booking agency called "Len Spencer's Lyceum" in New York. He died of a cerebral hemorrhage while working at the Lyceum on December 15, 1914.

Birth and Death Data: Born February 12, 1867 (Washington, D.C.), Died December 15, 1914 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1896 - 1925

Roles Represented in DAHR: speaker, author, baritone vocal, performer, composer, adapter

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 601-625 of 812 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Zonophone 8572 10-in. Before May 1908 Jimmie and Maggie at The merry widow Ada Jones ; Len Spencer Comic scene, with orchestra author, performer  
Zonophone 8644 10-in. Before July 1908 Henny and Hilda at the Schuetzenfest Ada Jones ; Len Spencer Comic scene, with orchestra author, performer  
Zonophone 8646 10-in. Before July 1908 Sadie and Abie Ada Jones ; Len Spencer Comic scene, with orchestra author, performer  
Zonophone 8693 10-in. Before Aug. 1908 The frisky farmer and the modest manicure Ada Jones ; Len Spencer Comic scene and female-male vocal duet, with orchestra author, performer  
Zonophone 8695 10-in. Before Dec. 1908 Tony and Rosetta Ada Jones ; Len Spencer Comic scene, with orchestra author, performer  
Zonophone 8789 10-in. Before Sept. 1908 House cleaning time Ada Jones ; Len Spencer Comic scene, with orchestra author, performer  
Zonophone 8791 10-in. Before Oct. 1908 Jimmie and Maggie at the "Table d' Hoté" Ada Jones ; Len Spencer Comic scene, with orchestra author, performer  
Zonophone 8879 10-in. Before Mar. 1909 Jim Jackson's affinity Ada Jones ; Len Spencer Comic scene, with orchestra author, performer  
Zonophone 8882 10-in. Before Dec. 1908 Jim Jackson's affinity Ada Jones ; Len Spencer Comic scene, with orchestra author, performer  
Zonophone 9421 10-in. Before June 1909 How Johnnie lost out Ada Jones ; Len Spencer Comic scene, with orchestra author, performer  
Zonophone 9422 10-in. Before June 1909 Herman and Minnie at Dreamland Ada Jones ; Len Spencer Comic scene, with orchestra author, performer  
Zonophone 9731 10-in. Before Feb. 1910 Ludwig's air castle Ada Jones Comic scene, with orchestra author  
Zonophone 9734 10-in. Before Feb. 1910 The bashful rube and the tough girl Ada Jones Comic scene author  
Zonophone 9816 10-in. Before Mar. 1910 Mr. and Mrs. Malone Ada Jones ; Len Spencer Comic scene, with orchestra author, performer  
Zonophone 9818 10-in. Before Mar. 1910 The suffragettes Ada Jones ; Len Spencer Comic scene, with orchestra author, performer  
Zonophone [Zo cat 515] 10-in. Before Aug. 1906 Flanagan's night off Steve Porter Comic dialogue author  
Zonophone [Zo cat 561[b]] 9-in. ca. 1901-1902 The bureau Len Spencer Monologue speaker  
Zonophone [Zo cat 872] 10-in. Before Oct. 1907 Scene at a dog fight Al S. Holt Comic monologue, with imitations author  
Zonophone [Zo cat 881] 9-in. Before May 1902 Twenty-third psalm and Lord's prayer Len Spencer Recitation speaker  
Zonophone [Zo cat 882] 9-in. Before May 1902 Lincoln's address at Gettysburg Len Spencer Recitation speaker  
Zonophone [Zo cat 883] 9-in. Before May 1902 Ingersoll at the tomb of Napoleon Len Spencer Recitation speaker  
Zonophone [Zo cat 884] 9-in. Before May 1902 Auction sale of pawnbroker's goods Len Spencer Monologue speaker  
Zonophone [Zo cat 885] 9-in. Before May 1902 Auction sale of household goods Parke Hunter ; Len Spencer Descriptive scene, with banjo speaker  
Zonophone [Zo cat 904] 9-in. Before May 1902 The fairy boat Len Spencer Monologue speaker  
Zonophone [Zo cat 905] 9-in. Before May 1902 The stuttering monologist Len Spencer Monologue speaker  
(Results 601-625 of 812 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Spencer, Len," accessed May 9, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106197.

Spencer, Len. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 9, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106197.

"Spencer, Len." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 9 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106197

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