Country Connections By James and Ellen Perry

Most inanimate objects get no attention after their use has expired, but the object that I am writing about deserves a place in Union County notoriety and history. This object has brought so much pleasure to three decades of Union County natives as well as the many, many visitors to the County. This object was produced from 1935 until 1992 by its founder, born in Canada and moving to the USA. The 600,000 sq. ft. factory was located at 800 North Kedzie Avenue, Chicago IL in 1934. The Chicago factory has since been demolished. The plant eventually was relocated to Torrence, California. The object written about here was built in 1952 and designated Model 1434. It was designed to play the new seven-inch 45 rpm records, which were taking over the recording business and maintained its dominance in music recording until the compact disc better known as a CD took over music recording in 1991. This object happened to be a Model 1434 Rock-Ola Jukebox which began life in 1952 at the Rock-Ola Mfg. Corp Factory. The Rock-Ola name and plant was owned by David C. Rockola.

This Rock-Ola Jukebox had sat in a garage for nearly forty years. Before that it was enjoyed by customers of Hickory Star boat dock located on Norris Lake eight miles west of Maynardville, Tennessee which is in Union County, Tennessee.

Lucky for the Roy Acuff Museum this Rock-Ola Jukebox was donated by a friend to the Museum last year. Most people who were born after 1960 have never heard music played on a jukebox. From the 1930’s until the 1960’s Rock-Ola and Wurlitzer jukeboxes were heard in Greyhound Bus Stations, Drug Stores, Bars and Honky Tonks, fraternal buildings and restaurants. During the 1940’s through the 1950’s mechanicals or jukeboxes provided most of the commercial music in the United States. Radio had its share of music listeners, but also carried serial programs, sports, boxing and news programing. The jukebox or mechanicals played more, Big Band, Pop, Country, Doo-Wop than was listened to on radio.

I was told while Hank Williams was on tour when they would stop to eat at restaurants or truck stops, he would go immediately to the Rock-Ola, check for his songs or songs he wrote and had been recorded by another artist, drop a few quarters in the Rock-Ola and enjoy his music. Hank loved to hear his songs recorded by artists such Jo Stafford, Joni James, Kay Starr, Patti Page, Frankie Lane, Rosemary Clooney, and Tony Bennett. Hank coming from near poverty in southwest Alabama, thought that pop stars were a few notches better than himself. If Hank would have lived to an old age he would have seen how recordings of his songs were so well received and today in 2025 his music is still alive being played on outlets like YouTube and other internet channels. Today young star wanna-bees still record Hank’s songs.

From this article you can see what an important role that Rock-Ola, Wurlitzer and other jukeboxes have played in making music history from the 1930’s until the early 1960’s. This time frame produced the best music the world has seen with at least 60% of this music being listened to on the jukeboxes. Today the jukeboxes are quiet, resting in dark buildings with a few in private homes and museums like the Roy Acuff Museum in Maynardville, Tennessee. We have had our Rock-Ola repaired and are looking for some 45’s to put into the machine. Any 45 rpm record donations will be greatly appreciated.

Today the radio doesn’t play the best music ever recorded. That’s music from 1928-1965. Today there’s many small radio stations closing across the USA. You can listen to the greatest music today on YouTube. Almost all commercial music recorded is on YouTube. Just buy some good speakers for your computer or your smart phones and listen.
Here is a list of the most popular Big Band, Pop and Country songs from 1952-1953.

1952:
Cry by Johnnie Ray
Wheel of Fortune by Kay Starr
You Belong to Me by Jo Stafford
Half as Much by Rosemary Clooney
Slow Poke by Pee Wee King
Give Me More, More, More of Your Kisses by Lefty Frizzell
Let Old Mother Nature Have Her Way by Carl Smith
When You Feel Like You’re in Love by Carl Smith
Easy on the Eyes by Eddy Arnold
The Wild Side of Life by Hank Thompson
Jambalaya by Hank Williams
Are You Teasing Me by Carl Smith
Wondering by Webb Pierce

1953:
You, You, You by The Ames Bros.
Till I waltz Again With You by Teresa Brewer
Why Don’t You Believe Me by Joni James
Don’t Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes by Perry Como
Seven Lonely Days by Georgia Gibbs
Your Cheating Heart by Joni James
Crying in the Chapel by Rex Allen
Crying in the Chapel by The Orioles
I’m Walking Behind You by Frank Sinatra
Hey Joe by Carl Smith
Your Cheating Heart by Hank Williams
Take These Chains From My Heart by Hank Williams
Kawliga by Hank Williams
I Let the Stars Get in My Eyes by Goldie Hill
Going Steady by Faron Young
A Fool Such as I by Hank Snow
I Won’t be Home No More by Hank Williams
Bumming Around by T. Texas Tyler
Do I Like it by Carl Smith
I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive by Hank Williams
Yesterday’s Girl by Hank Thompson
North Wind by Slim Whitman

Rock-Ola also produced motor scooters in 1938 which could reach 30 mph and get 125 miles per gallon. This motor scooter was produced before Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Yamaha and Vespa were seen in the USA.

During World War II Rockola produced hundreds of thousands of M1 rifles for our military. They also produced M1 parts for other manufacturers of M1 rifles.

See you next month.