The History Of Jukeboxes

By DerekJay Entertainment – specializing in Jukebox Hire & Jukebox Rentals

The jukebox hit its pinnacle in terms popularity around the 1950’,s at which time it was an absolute must for any decent entertainment establishment. It is estimated that around that time, there were approximately 750,000 jukeboxes in operation around the United States. But where did it all begin, and what is it that made the jukebox such a popular entertainment option?

Let’s start with the basics – what exactly is, or constitutes, a jukebox? The dictionary definition of a jukebox is “A coin-operated gramophone that originated in American amusement arcades that became widespread in Europe and the USA in the 1930s and were an important medium for disseminating popular music.”

It is said that the jukebox was originally invented around the 1890s. At this time, the jukeboxes used to operate on wax cylinder records. Soon after this invention, the novelty of the jukebox wore off due the availability of home record players and amplifiers. This however was not the end of the jukebox era – in fact it hadn’t even begun yet…

By 1918, the jukebox was re-invented into a semi-automatic, electrically amplified piece of engineering, which operated using both 45 rpm and 78 rpm records. This advancement saw the resurgence of the jukebox as it was to be known.  By the 1940’s jukeboxes were starting to establish their footprint throughout America. As we know, by the 1950’s, jukeboxes were a part of the furniture of any bar or pub.

But what was it that made the jukebox such a popular entertainment option? I would have to say that the key characteristic about any jukebox, new or old, is the fact that it offers interactivity. Jukeboxes offer the patrons the opportunity to hear the music that they like, on direct demand. Two key features which I believe contributed greatly to the success of the jukebox are:

1. People can choose their own songs or selection of music
2. People can choose exactly when these songs play
3. People can choose how many times they want to hear those songs

The jukebox provides what could be labelled a “musical democracy”. If you were to compare this to a “live act”, such as a DJ or a band, you will understand just how much more flexible a jukebox really is. Basic psychology dictates that when people go out to have fun, they want to hear what they want to hear, and they want to hear it now (especially with the mix of alcohol and social influences). The jukebox provides exactly this. A jukebox also has no “human-type” limits, such as fatigue (i.e., a band or DJ can only perform for a few hours, whereas a jukebox can continue for days).

Although the jukebox lost popularity after the 50s, primarily due to the onslaught of the “hippy” era, which was much more interested in idolising bands and live acts, the jukebox has certainly shown its resilience and can still be found in many establishments. Over time, the jukebox has also been revamped to take advantage of new technology. Jukeboxes today can offer touch-screen interactivity, huge music selections (thousands upon thousands of songs) and superior reliability (as opposed to their electro-mechanical predecessors).