Cohen on the Telephone

recording of "Cohen at the telephone by George Thompson (1916)

"Cohen on the Telephone", also known as "Cohen at the Telephone" is a comedy monologue. The monologue was released on cylinder records, 78 rpm records, and early sound film.

History of recordings

Joe Hayman first recorded the monologue in London in July 1913 for Regal Records and was issued in the U.S. by Columbia Records.[1] 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 in March 1916 for Victor Records[2] In 1927, Victor issued an electrical recording of that monologue by Julius Tannen.[3][4] and George Thompson whose version on Edison Records was released in 1916.

A sound-on-film recording was made in 1923 with Monroe Silver by Lee DeForest in the Phonofilm process, and with George Sidney (1876-1945) in September 1929 by Universal Pictures.[5][6]

Hayman recorded a similar routine entitled "Cohen Buys a Wireless Set" in 1923 on Columbia Records.

Synopsis of sketch

The monologue is Mr. Cohen's attempt to contact his landlord using a telephone of the period. The humor is derived from that of the Cohen's "stereo-typical" tendency to make puns, and perhaps the 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 stopping here....Hello! This is your tenant Cohen...YOUR TENANT COHEN....No, NOT Lieutenant Cohen..."

References

  1. ↑ "FAU Judaica Sound Archives - 78-rpm List (Jewish Music)". Faujsa.fau.edu. 1913-07-05. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
  2. ↑ "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.
  3. ↑ "FAU Judaica Sound Archives - 78-rpm List (Jewish Music)". Faujsa.fau.edu. 1927-08-11.
  4. ↑ "Victor Discography: Matrix B-17337. Cohen at the telephone / Barney Bernard". Victor.library.ucsb.edu. 1916-03-17. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
  5. ↑ SilentEra entry
  6. ↑ IMDB entry

Bibliography

External links


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