Jukebox Research Paper

Although the history of the Jukebox extends back more than one hundred years, they hit the peak of their fame in the 1940's and 1950's. The jukebox was an essential feature of bars and diners across the United States and over Europe. Their beautifully sculpted appearance and their unique, rich sound added style, entertainment and a talking piece for any venue. It is unclear as to where the term ‘jukebox’ actually originated from. Rumour has it that the term was derived from the black slang for dancing: ‘jook’. This is also a slang word for sex: a somewhat vague link between music and the art of seduction. Finally, it could be a deviant of the word ‘jute’, referring to jute joints; venues for jute picking labourers to dance and socialise. The roots of the jukebox can be traced …show more content…
The jukebox wasn’t always popular. In fact it was quite the opposite.The poor public image of arcades and sleazy bars stained people’s opinion of the jukebox due to the fact that it was also coin operated. This image was changed not only by extensive advertising campaigns, but also over time as society changed and the jukeboxes improved. The popularity of the jukebox was threatened again in the late 1940's. The invention of the television had a lot to answer for as it not only kept people entertained at home but also appeared in bars and diners where the jukebox had once taken pride of place. Despite difficult times, the jukebox held on, clinging to the hearts of those that appreciated it, and eventually reinstated it's popularity with the birth of rock and roll in the 50's and 60's. Youths flocked to bars for dancing and socialising, whilst their parents sat at home watching that oh so popular television. Many jukeboxes throughout the 1940's played their music not through the machine, but through speakers that were either wall mounted or placed on counter tops. Rock-Ola and Seeburg were the first of the jukebox manufacturers to create the wallbox systems that would be used