[Photo Album]: Banjo Player

GEDNEY, Burton G.

Published by New York, 1950

About this Item

Oblong quarto. Measuring 12" x 8½". String-tied red leather over stiff paper boards with "Photographs" stamped in gilt on the front board. Contains 34 sepia-toned or black and white gelatin silver photographs measuring between 3" x 3" and 7½" x 9", some with captions. Good only album with detached but present front board, worn edges, and chipping with very good or better photographs. A photo album kept by Burton G. Gedney, a banjo player and music shop owner from New York. Gedney had been a vaudeville banjo performer for 30 years before retiring as a music store owner in the 1920s. At the height of his music career Gedney was touring with the "Gedney Society Orchestra" specializing in playing the Paramount banjo. A hand-colored photograph shows Gedney and another banjo player, Harry Six dressed in tuxedos and holding their instruments. Many of these photos seem to be taken during the time Gedney owned the music store and show him and others playing instruments. A large majority of these are of young women, smiling and holding guitars including one of a woman playing slide guitar. Gedney Signed each one with his initials in the corner and often hand-colored them. Gedney opened his shop in Mamaroneck, New York in the 1920s where he sold instruments as well as providing lessons and training for interested musicians. Gedney was already known for his vaudeville days and as a respected musician he was able to establish a following for his shop. He became known for selling Paramount instruments and phonographs. A contemporary newspaper article notes, "Mr. Gedney is now a recognized Paramount dealer in Mamaroneck and has already sold many of these instruments to customers in his territory His window displays are attractive and the interior of his store is arranged conveniently." A modest but interesting collection of photographs compiled by a New York musician. Seller Inventory # 432263

Bibliographic Details

Title: [Photo Album]: Banjo Player

Publisher: New York

Publication Date: 1950

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Good