The Sound of Edison’s Talking Doll

The Edison "Talking Doll" of 1890.
The Edison "Talking Doll" of 1890.

Photo credit: Joan & Robin Rolfs

Friday, April 17, 2015 at 1:00 pm
Thomas Edison National Historical Park welcomes Joan and Robin Rolfs, authors of the book "Phonograph Dolls and Toys", for a 90-minute program exploring the history and sounds of Edison's "Talking Doll" invention of 1888-1890. Robin Rolfs will describe the technology of the Talking Doll. Joan Rolfs will illustrate the dolls used by Edison. And TENHP Curator Jerry Fabris will play rare sounds recovered from doll phonograph cylinders. A commercial failure for Edison in 1890, the Talking Doll nevertheless marked the first occasion on which recorded sound technology was marketed for home entertainment use.

Reservations required: Call 973-736-0550, ext. 89.

Thomas Edison National Historical Park
National Park Service
United States Department of the Interior
211 Main Street
West Orange, New Jersey 07052

Last updated: April 12, 2015

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Mailing Address:

211 Main Street
West Orange, NJ 07052

Phone:

973-736-0550 x11
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