Tillstrom / Fascinato - Kukla Fran & Ollie Private Issue Christmas 12” 78rpm
$
69
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Description
Tillstrom / Fascinato - Kukla Fran & Ollie Private Issue Christmas 12” 78rpm
Title : Yuletide Greetings
Performers : “Kuklapolitan Strolling Carollers”
Accompanist : Burr Tillstrom, choral director
Label : private issue, manufactured by Columbia Records
Catalogue No : XPC 7109
Publication date : ca. 1953
Number of discs : 1
Dimensions of jacket : 12? x 12¼ inches [30.8 x 31.1 cm]
Description: Single-sided 12-inch 78rpm in red paper sleeve, printed Merry Christmas from Burr Tillstrom and Jack Fascinato
Condition (disc / jacket): VG / VG
While researching this record, Granny came across the following very interesting history :
"Yuletide Greetings" was an experiment in multi-tracking by the creator of "Kukla, Fran and Ollie," Burr Tillstrom, shortly after Les Paul pioneered such recordings. As the only puppeteer on the live show, Burr had obviously never been able to do any choral work with the troupe, but instead used a skillful blend of movement and phrasing to distract viewers from the fact that only one character spoke at a time (many viewers were convinced they heard duets during the show's musical numbers).
So, to finally hear all of the "Kuklapolitan Strolling Carollers" performing at once, Burr recorded "Yuletide Greetings" (most likely in 1953), backed up by a small combo that included the show's music director and composer-in-residence, Jack Fascinato. A handful of copies of a 12" single-sided 78 rpm disc (XPC-7109) were pressed under the Columbia label - surprising, since RCA Victor had always been his main sponsor.
It was clearly intended as a private gift for Fran Allison, the show's only onscreen human performer. Ollie can be heard saying, "C'mon, Doloras, sing for Frannie," and the entire troupe warmly shouts Christmas greetings to her at the end. Kukla, Burr's alter-ego and the leader of the troupe, patiently waits until everyone has finished and poignantly adds, "Merry Christmas, Frannie."
Granny is very pleased to offer in this auction one of those rare original pressings of Messrs. Tillstrom & Fascinato’s audio Christmas greeting from Kukla, Ollie & Company.
The record appears to be in pretty good shape over all (Granny doesn’t have a turntable to verify the sound quality and can only go by a visual inspection). There is some typical general scuffing of the playing surface and on the decorative pressing on the reverse, but there do not appear to be any major scratches, needle scrabble, cracks, chips, or other damage that Granny can see. The paper sleeve is strong and intact, with only a ¾-inch seam split on the bottom, a semicircular tear in the middle of the back cover, and general wrinkling to the corners, particularly on the bottom left. At the top of the back cover, someone (Mr. Tillstrom, perhaps?) has written very neatly in pencil, “Kukla, Fran and Ollie Box 3446 Chicago 54,Ill.”I have tried to show these items as clearly & accurately as possible in the photos, but if you have any questions or need more information, please feel free to contact me. Please wait until you receive my invoice before making payment.
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