Cohen on the Telephone

1916 recording of "Cohen at the telephone by George Thompson

"Cohen on the Telephone", also known as "Cohen at the Telephone" is a comedy monologue which is believed to be the first to sell a million copies.[1] The monologue was released on both cylinder records and 78 rpm records.

Joe Hayman first recorded the monologue in London on July 1913 for Regal Records and was issued in the U.S. by Columbia Records.[1][2] The success of that record led to cover versions recorded by performers such as Monroe Silver in 1914, and Barney Bernard whose version was recorded on March 1916 for Victor Records[3] and George Thompson whose version on Edison Records was released in 1916.[4] In 1927, Victor issued an electrical recording of that monologue by Julius Tannen.[5]

The monologue is Mr. Cohen's attempt to contact his landlord using a telephone of the period. The humor is derived from Cohen's difficulty in being understood on the then primitive telephone with his thick Yiddish accent:

"Hello, I'm Cohen...I'M COHEN...No- I ain't Goin...I'm sitting here....Hello! This is your tenant Cohen...YOUR TENANT COHEN....No, NOT Lieutenant Cohen..."

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "78s - Cohen On The Telephone - Joe Hayman". Ruclip.com. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
  2. ↑ "FAU Judaica Sound Archives - 78-rpm List (Jewish Music)". Faujsa.fau.edu. 1913-07-05. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
  3. ↑ "Victor Discography: Matrix B-17337. Cohen at the telephone / Barney Bernard". Victor.library.ucsb.edu. 1916-03-17. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
  4. ↑ "Cohen at the telephone / George Thompson. Edison Blue Amberol: 2815 [1916] | Cylinder Preservation and Digitization Project". Cylinders.library.ucsb.edu. 2005-11-16. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
  5. ↑ "FAU Judaica Sound Archives - 78-rpm List (Jewish Music)". Faujsa.fau.edu. 1927-08-11. Retrieved 2012-01-10.

Other sources

Smith, Jacob (2008) Vocal Tracks: Performance and Sound Media University of California Press (see pages 205-207)