Origins of Christmas lights talk featured at annual meeting Dec. 5
"Christmas Lights of Yesteryear and Today"
Saturday Dec. 5 10 am
Middleton Senior Center 7448 Hubbard Ave. Middleton
Event is free and open to the public
Although it's not required, participants are asked to share a familly favorite treat that reflects your family heritage and celebration. Recipes are welcome.
As the Christmas season arrives, many of us bring out our holiday lights. But have you ever wondered how the traditions of the lighted Christmas tree and Christmas lights began?
Thomas Alva Edison helped make decorative electric holiday lighting possible. In 1882, Edward H. Johnson, Vice President of the Edison Electric Light Company, decorated a revolving Christmas tree in his home with 80 miniature hand-blown lamps.
Join Scott Malawski and Robin and Joan Rolfs for a presentation on the history of Christmas lights. Drawing on their extensive research and published articles about early Christmas lighting, they will showcase some of the first Christmas lights sold to the public, share the sounds of Christmas played on a vintage phonograph, and help everyone get into the holiday spirit.
Although it's not required, participants are asked to share a familly favorite treat that reflects your family heritage and celebration. Recipes are welcome.
Who are the Presenters?
Scott Malawski is an author and historian and specializes in the history of recorded sound, all things Thomas Edison and early phonographs. He has given presentations about antique phonographs, recorded sound and other early technology. He wrote and published many articles about antique phonographs for the worldwide Antique Phonograph Society publications since 2003. Scott also published a book in 2023 titled “On Tour with Theodore Roosevelt – The Western Campaign Trail of 1900.” His interest in Theodore Roosevelt grew from when he was a child living in Oyster Bay, NY and has carried forward throughout his life.
Scott enjoys collecting antique phonographs, records, and other forms of early technology.
Robin and Joan Rolfs are authors, educators, and historians. They have given presentations at the Edison National Historic Park, Orange NJ., for the Antique Phonograph Society conventions, Cade Museum, Gainesville, Florida. Their books and research have been published in the New York Times, PBS, and news channels.
They are authors of the following books: Phonograph Dolls and Toys and Nipper Collectibles, Nipper Collectibles Vol. II and III. Edison Little Folks Furniture, and Hearthstone: American’s Electrical National Treasure. The authors have authored articles relating to the phonograph hobby for AntiqueWeek, Antique Phonograph News, For the Record, Fox Cities Magazine, Yesteryear and The Antique Phonograph.
Joan enjoys collecting Nipper trademark dogs and Robin is enthralled by the technology of phonograph mechanisms and mechanical sound reproduction.
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