Morrison Music Company sheet music, recordings, and other material,

Transcription

1 Morrison Music Company sheet music, recordings, and other material, Overview of the Collection Creator Title Dates Quantity Collection Number Summary Repository Access Restrictions Additional Reference Guides Languages Morrison Music Company Morrison Music Company sheet music, recordings, and other material (inclusive) cubic feet, (2 boxes plus oversize materials) (accession) Sheet music, recordings, publications and other material produced by or related to a Seattle based publishing and recording company Museum of History & Industry, Sophie Frye Bass Library Sophie Frye Bass Library Museum of History & Industry P.O. Box Seattle, WA Telephone: Fax: library@mohai.org The collection is open to the public by appointment. Advance notice is required to listen to sound recordings. A complete list of the collection's sheet music titles is available in the repository. English. Historical Note Howell O. "Morrie" Morrison ( ) and Alice Nadine Morrison ( ) created the Pacific Northwest's first local popular music empire, the Morrison Music Company. The Morrison's business began as a sheet music publication company, capitalizing on the success of Alice's hit songs, the royalties from which provided the company's start-up capital. The sheet music company evolved into a series of family-run business enterprises which included dance studios, instrumental groups, a recording and record manufacturing business, and a film production endeavor, under such names as: Morrison's Marimba Xylophone Orchestra, Morrison's Dancing Academy, Morrie's Musical Comedy Co., and Morrison Music Company, Electronic Recorders and Associates. Though the Morrison's son Lew and grandson Ken carried on the professional music legacy, the Morrison music empire came to an end after the deaths of Alice and Morrie Morrison in 1978 and Information source: HistoryLink.org 1

2 Content Description Sheet music, recordings, publications and other material produced by or related to the Seattle based Morrison Music Company and the related enterprises of Howell O. "Morrie" and Alice Morrison. The sheet music collection includes many songs written by Alice or Morrie Morrison, published by Morrison Music Co. as well as other publishers; music by other composers published by Morrison Music Co.; and a small file of sheet music by Seattle area and other publishers. The collection also includes several sheets of manuscript music, mostly by Alice, Morrie or Lew Morrison. Dance related publications include two booklets by Morrie Morrison containing practical and theoretical information on dance, as well as several sheets of dance instructions and diagrams and a group of materials about Morrison's "Elysian Phenemona" approach to creativity and dance. Recordings include various sized discs produced by Morrison Record Co. and other record companies, and sample and blank recording discs from several companies. Photographs depict Jackie Souder's Orchestra, which recorded on the Morrison label, and the Andrews Sisters, who recorded Alice Nadine Morrison songs. Use of the Collection Alternative Forms Available View selections from the collection in digital format by clicking on the camera icons in the inventory below. Restrictions on Use The Museum of History & Industry is the owner of the materials in the Sophie Frye Bass Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from MOHAI before any reproduction use. The museum does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners. Preferred Citation Morrison Music Company sheet music, recordings, and other material, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle Administrative Information Arrangement Arranged in series: Sheet music Dance instruction Sound recordings Writings by Morrie Morrison 2

3 Photographs and drawings Ephemera Location of Collection 5a.2.4 Location of Collection 5a.4.10 Location of Collection VI.a.17 Acquisition Information Gift of Lew Morrison (Morrie and Alice Morrison's son); received in Processing Note Items related to including Morrison Music Company from accession no were added to the collection in Detailed Description of the Collection The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection. Sheet music Arranged by publisher. Container(s) Description Dates Published by Morrison Music Company /1 1-37c: Music composed by Alice, Nellie (Morrie's sister), Morrie or Lew Morrison 39 items Some of the songs are written by one of the Morrisons and another composer. Includes the sheet music for Alice Nadine Morrison's "My Love Is All For You," a waltz that became locally popular and was reissued by the Chicago-based sheet music company Forster Publishing (see folder 1/3). The song became a nation-wide hit which eventually sold a half-million copies. Also includes the music for "Love's Ship," which sold a reported one million sheet music copies and was included in the score for the 1920 movie

4 Shore Acres; and the music for the show "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow," produced by Morrie Morrison. Also includes the orchestration for "Under the Moon of Tahiti," by Alice Nadine Morrison and Abe Brashen (1945) and professional sheet music copies. 1/ c: Other composers 37 items / b: Published by Forster Music Publisher, Inc., Chicago, Illinois 5 items Consists of sheet music for five Alice Nadine Morrison songs: "Say You'll Be Mine (My Love is All For You)," a reissue for national distribution, "Sweet Anabel," "Orinoco," "Pan American," and "Love's Ship." 1/ : Published by Seattle area publishers 14 items Sheet music by miscellaneous composers (excluding the Morrisons) published by companies and individuals in Seattle, Mercer Island and Olympia. 1/ : Other publishers 2 items Includes "Playmate of Mine" by Morrie's sister Nellie Morrison, published by Weaver Music in Vancouver, B.C.; and "Chong (He Come From Hong Kong)" by Harold Weeks, published by Leo. Feist Inc., New York. 1/ : Manuscript sheet music 22 items Manuscript sheet music by Alice, Morrie, and Lew Morrison and others ; , Dance instruction Container(s) Description Dates 4

5 1/7 114: Ballroom Dance Book: A Journey of a Thousand Steps with music and instruction by Morrie "O," published by Sinclair and Morrison, Seattle 1/8 115: Morris Morrison's Dance Book: A Journey in the Land of Terpsichore This volume introduces Morrison's "Newmo--a new motion-a new mode of social dancing" 1/9 116: "Dance Steps of the Month," pamphlet published by Morrison Music Company with with sheet music and instructions for "Newmo" dancing 1/9 117: "Dance of Mexico" Sheet music of "authentic Latin music" by Macario Luna with dance instructions on back cover, published by Morrison Music Company 1/9 118: "La-De-Da" dance instructions, published by Morrison Music Company 1/9 119: "Learn to dance the Bossa Nova" instructions from Morrison records 1/9 120: "Morocco" instructions, probably a record insert, from Morrison records 1/ : Morrison Records dance recordings lists with dance instructions included 3 items Includes instructions for the "International Dance," the "Gayway," the "Boston Two-Step," the "Spanish Waltz," and the "Pan-American." 1/ : Dance description without diagrams (typewritten and handwritten) 3 items 1/10 127: Instruction for "Lady of Spain," sent to Morrie Morrison by Gordon Moss 1/ : Manuscript dance diagrams 2 items circa 1960 circa 1960 circa Dance instruction ephemera 5

6 >1/ : Lists of Morrison Company dance records 2 items One typewritten list of Morrison Records "best pattern dances" and trifold advertisement for Morrison Music Company dance records. 1/13 132: "Gay Nineties Dance Club" membership list, handwritten on hotel register page 1/13 133: Invitation to the Danceart Club dances at the Dreamland Ballroom, Fourth Avenue, Seattle 1/13 134: Flier for dance lessons given by Morrie Morrison at the Encore Ballroom, East Pike at 13th, Seattle "Elysian Phenomena" The "Elysian Phenomena" was promoted by Morrie Morrison as "an astounding breakthrough into a world of new conception," which espouses methods "combining, blending and utilizing the forces from Eleven Essential Sensates" to improve life "physically, spiritually and mentally." One the sensates was Movement, expressed through "Elysian Dancing," which purportedly improved and extended the lives of those who practiced it. circa November- December circa 1941 circa late 1960s-1980s 1/14 135: Booklet: Morrie Morrison's Discovery of Elysian Phenomena 24 pages 1/14 136: Book The Elysian Dance 38 pages 1/14 137: Untitled booklet of writings by Morrie Morrison, related to the "Elysian Phenomena" Numbered to 38 pages; several pages missing 1/14 137b: "Tall Tales" 39 pages Note printed inside front cover: This is the first printing of THE ELYSIAN PLAN there will be other editions. circa late s circa late s circa late s

7 1/ : Manuscript pages related to the "Elysian Phenomena," probably written by Morrie Morrison 6 handwritten pages 1/ : Fliers, writings and sheet music related to Morrison's motion picture "Discovery of the Elysian Phenomena" 5 pages 1983, circa late s Sound recordings and sample recording discs Arranged by record label or type, then by size Container(s) Description Dates Morrison Records All discs bear the Morrison Record label. OS box : 33 1/3 RPM 4 discs Gene Boscacci Quartet, Dance Tunes (2 discs); Dance Tunes from Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow; also includes covers for "Music for Dancing by Saturday Night Dance Bands" Volumes 1 and 2, with diagram/instructions for dances "Space Shift" and "Dance of Mexico" on versos. circa 1960, Box b: 78 RPM 17 discs Consists mostly of recordings of music written by Alice or Morrie Morrison, or performed by the Morrison Recording Orchestra, almost all of them dance music identified by dance. Dances include the Hesitation Waltz, fox trot, Shottische, seven-step, polkas, the Gayway, the Toddle, the "amphilula dance" and others. The disc for "Morocco" by Morrie Morrison includes a sheet with dance instructions. Other performers include Art Mineo's Orchestra, Jackie Souders and his Orchestra, Ray "Curley" Johnson and the Western Medley Boys 2/ : 45 RPM 5 discs circa 1960s-1970s 7

8 Recordings of dance music and vocal music. Performers include Art Mineo's Orchestra and the Stan Boreson Trio. Includes a disc with the Alice Nadine Morrison songs "My Love is All For You" and "Love's Ship." Other record labels 78 RPM 3 discs 2/ : Linden Recording Company, Seattle 2 discs Recordings by the Nordic Rhythm Boys and Bob Harvey and his Orchestra. 2/3 175: Edison Records thick record "Other Lips" fox trot. circa / : 45 RPM 2 discs Includes a record by the Ken Morrison Ensemble on the Take Five record label (unknown city), and a "special bi-centennial" recording on the Melophonic Records label (Seattle, 1976). Recording and sample discs 2/5 178: Sample 45 RPM record from Empire Record Corp., New York, NY 2/6 179: Audiodisc recording blank, Audio Devices, Inc., New York, NY 10" Aluminum core disc 2/7 180: Presto recording disc 10" Aluminum core; has been recorded on both sides 8

9 2/8 181: Wilcox-Gay Recordio discs 2 discs (6" and 8" diameter) These yellow fiber-core discs were commonly used for amateur home recording in the 1940s and 1950s. 2/9 182: Federal Perma Disk Type 2 (red) Aluminum core disc. Disc is labeled "Monologue and Masks" and "Masks--Virginia Way" recorded by Lew and Alice Morrison. 2/10 183: Metal disc (recorded) perhaps master pressing disc In envelope with "The Charles Eckart Co." from Los Angeles, California stamped on upper left corner. circa 1940s-1950s 1940 October 8 2/8 184: Cardboard stroboscope disc for checking turntable speed Instructional and promotional recording information 2/ : Recording disc company brochures 3 items "Facts about RCA VICTOR Custom Recording, Processing, Pressing Services for Independent Labels," Soundcraft Presto recording discs price list, Armco (Allied Recording Manufacturing company) trifold information brochure. 2/11 188: Booklet: "Engineering Facts and Practical Data Relating to the Record Pressing Industry" compiled and written by Trumpis- Collar and Associates, Consulting Industrial Engineers, Los Angeles, California 1949 January 5 Writings by Morrie Morrison Container(s) Description Dates 1/16 189: Untitled dialogue 4 pages Typewritten dialogue on Morrison Music Company letterhead, presumably by Morrie Morrison 1/16 190: Poem: "Once I was a Mountain" 9

10 1/16 191: Poem: "A Saturday Night in Dawson" 8 pages Written by Morrie Morrison with illustrations by D. Griffen and D. McGowan 1920 Photographs and drawing Container(s) Description Dates 1/17 192: Jackie Souder's Orchestra[view] circa /17 193: The Andrews Sisters signing autographs at table Written on verso: Andrews Sisters - Recorded songs by Alice Nadine Morrison circa /17 194: Photocopy of drawing of Morrie Morrison Ephemera Container(s) Description Dates 1/18 195: H.O. Morrison business cards 2 cards 1/18 196: Blank stationery and envelope for Morrison Music Company 1/19 197: Forms Blank copyright registration forms and musicians' union contract Drawer VI.a : Poster sized advertisement for Morrison Publications (located at 720 Queen Anne) 1/20 199: Poster for Vin Plunkett and his Jazz Band 10

11 Writing on back is probably song lyrics or a poem by Morrie Morrison Poster "Old Time Dance The Western Rangers" missing 1/ : Programs 3 items Program for Harvest Hoe-Down at the Civic Auditorium, September 23, 1949 with music by Morrie Morrison's Western Rangers 15 piece recording orchestra, and programs for "Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow," at the Metropolitan Theatre, directed by Morrie Morrison. Back page of Hoedown program is a full page advertisement for Morrison Music Company records. 1/22 203: Clippings 5 items 1947, Names and Subjects Subject Terms : Dance music--20th century Music publishing--washington (State)--Seattle Sound recording industry--washington (State)--Seattle Personal Names : Morrison, Alice Nadine, Morrison, Howell Oakdeane, Morrison, Lew, b Corporate Names : Morrison Music Company Morrison Records Geographical Names : United States--Washington (State)--Seattle Form or Genre Terms : Ephemera Sheet music Finding aid prepared by Jody Hendrickson 2009 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License:

12 Creative Commons Licenses in Archives West: