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This sheet music is for the song “A Little Bit Independent,” with lyrics by Edgar Leslie and music by Joe Burke. It was published by Donaldson, Douglas and Gumbile Inc. in New York, New York, in 1935. The cover notes that the music contains an “additional Chorus for Piano Accordion arranged by Pietro Deiro.” The cover features an inset photograph of Ken Sparnon, who “successfully featured” the song with his orchestra. The rest of the cover is yellow and cream with a profile drawing of a woman.

Kenneth H. Sparnon (1895-1972) was a pianist, organist, trombonist, and arranger who performed in vaudeville and in movie theater stage shows. He was also music director of radio stations in Syracuse and Rochester, New York and provided consultant services to radio music directors as an employee of the Broadcast Music Inc.

Original artwork, of page 21, for the book, Gaston and Josephine, written by Georges Duplaix with illustrations by Feodor Rojankovsky, and published by Simon & Schuster in New York, New York, in 1949.

At an early age, Latvian-born Feodor Rojankovsky (1891-1970) discovered his passion for drawing and was captivated with animals an d the natural world. He entered the Moscow Academy of Fine Arts but was drafted into the Russian Army during World War I, where he worked as a sketch artist documenting the war. In 1927, he moved to Paris to continue his study of art and became interested in fashion, theatrical set design and illustrating children’s books.

Rojankovsky’s keen sense of observation and his vivid imagination, coupled with his love for nature, was a major source of inspiration for his artwork. Flat, richly detailed, colorful illustrations evoked the fanciful drawings of the folklore tradition of European fairy tales. When the Nazi influence spread through Europe, Rojankovsky fled to the United States. His talents were quickly recognized and, like many of the other Golden Book illustrators, he was hired to work for the Artists and Writers Guild in New York. He created illustrations for numerous Little Golden Books, including The Three Bears and Farm Favorites.

Most of Feodor Rojankovsky’s characters were animals who took on human traits and characteristics. Gaston and Josephine are two French pigs who decide to run away from their home in the French countryside. The story follows their escapades as they make their way to the docks to board an ocean liner and embark on their journey to the United States.

This sheet music is for the song “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” by George M. Cohan. It was published by Vogel Music Co., Inc. in New York, New York in 1933. The cover features an image of American actor, dancer and film director James Cagney (1899-1986).

”You’re a Grand Old Flag” was featured in the 1942 Warner Bros. musical film, Yankee Doodle Dandy, directed by Michael Curtiz and starred James Cagney, Joan Leslie, and Walter Huston.

This music roll was made by Mills Novelty Company in Chicago, Illinois, about 1929-1930. It is Roll #2904, playable in a Violano Virtuoso player. The tune list for this roll is as follows:

Roll #2904 - Good Dance Music in a Most Attractive Way
14343: Wake Up Chilluns Wake Up (fox trot), Jo Trent & Willard Robison, copyright 1929, Walter Donaldson
14344: I'm Ka-razy for You (fox trot), Al Jolson, Billy Rose & Dave Dreyer, copyright 1929, Irving Berlin
14345: I Love You I Adore You from "The Silver Swann" (waltz), H. Maurice Jacquet, copyright 1929, Leo Feist
14346: My Castle in Spain is a Shack in the Lane (fox trot), Irving Ceasar & Cliff Friend, copyright 1929, Leo Feist
14347: Susianna (fox trot), Spencer Williams, copyright 1929, Triangle Music Co.

This sheet music is for the song “Twenty-Four Hours a Day (The Music Box Song),” with words by Arthur Swarstrom and music by James F. Harley. It was published by Harms. Inc. in New York, New York in 1924.

”Twenty-Four Hours a Day” was featured in the 1935 Universal Pictures musical film, Sweet Surrender, directed by Monte Brice and starred Frank Parker, Tamara, Helen Lynd, Russ Brown, Arthur Pierson, and Otis Sheridan. The sheet music cover features images of the cast.

Teddy Wilson and his Orchestra featuring Billie Holiday. side 1: Easy Living; side 2: When You're Smiling (Columbia 36208), from the album, Hot Jazz Classics - Teddy WIlson-Billie Holiday (Columbia C-61).
78 rpm. Side 1 was originally recorded in 1937 and released on Brunswick 7911. Side 2 was originally recorded in 1938 (second master). This album was released in 1947.

The cover art for this album was made by Alex Steinweiss. Alexander “Alex” Steinweiss (1917-2011) was an American artist and graphic designer. He was the first art director of Columbia Records, expanding the use of album covers and cover art. Steinweiss created album cover art from 1938 to 1973.

This sheet music is for the song “I’ve Told Every Little Star,” with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and music by Jerome Kern. It was published by T. B. Harms Company in New York, New York in 1932.

"I've Told Every Little Star" was featured in the musical, Music in the Air, with lyrics and book by Oscar Hammerstein II and music by Jerome Kern. Music in the Air opened on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre on November 8, 1932.

The cover art for this sheet music was made by American artists Benjamin “Jorj” Harris (1904-1957) and Georgette Harris (1902-1963). The couple was known for their airbrush art and Art Deco style.

side 1: Benny Goodman Trio. Where or When; side 2: Benny Goodman Quartet. I'm a Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas (British Rhythm Society BRS 26).
78 rpm. Both tracks were originally recorded in 1937 and released on Victor 25725.

British Rhythm Society was a 78-rpm record bootleg label founded by American jazz enthusiast and record label manager Dante S. Bollettino in New York, in 1950. Most of the BRS pressings were on non-breakable vinyl. British Rhythm Society was fictional and most likely created as a “club label” akin to legitimate re-issue record labels Hot Record Society and United Hot Clubs of America. Bollettino was also responsible for Jolly Roger Records bootleg label.