Department store dobros (1933 film)

Marty Rifkin · Post by **Marty Rifkin** » 15 Dec 2020 4:51 pm

The other night I was watching a 1933 film called Employees Entrance. The character was in the music section of a department store. Did a double-take when I saw the glass showcase packed with dobros. Had to take a screenshot and share it.

Jim Pitman · Post by **Jim Pitman** » 15 Dec 2020 5:42 pm

Cool Marty. Tx for posting. Seems that era may have been the pinnacle of Dobro sales.

Noah Miller · Post by **Noah Miller** » 15 Dec 2020 6:07 pm

Ooh, a Tenortrope! For when you want to confuse people with a banjo that isn't really a banjo.

Marty Rifkin · Post by **Marty Rifkin** » 15 Dec 2020 6:27 pm

I was wondering about that one, Noah. Cool that you have one.

Yeah, it was a great time for dobros, Jim. Seeing them in a store like that shows how popular they were.

I love seeing how new and shiny the instruments are! Not used to seeing '30s dobros look like that.

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 16 Dec 2020 12:55 pm

Set in the May Co Department Store, 801 S Broadway, Los Angeles, California. Not far at all from the 1933 Dobro factory.
Great post; thanks for sharing.

Allan Revich · Post by **Allan Revich** » 16 Dec 2020 5:44 pm

Noah Miller wrote:Ooh, a Tenortrope! For when you want to confuse people with a banjo that isn't really a banjo.

WOW!

Now everyone is going to want one!

(Seriously, that is a very cool instrument)

Glenn Wilde · Post by **Glenn Wilde** » 17 Dec 2020 2:36 pm

Great! Looks like a model 65 in there, also maybe a metal body in the other case. What a display.

Marty Rifkin · Post by **Marty Rifkin** » 17 Dec 2020 5:55 pm

Interesting that they did an â€œinsideâ€ scene on location instead of a set at the studio. Good call on figuring out where they shot it, Jack. It most likely wouldnâ€™t have had the same showcase with those instruments if it was on a soundstage. Glad they took a field trip!