[Ads-l] Antedating of "Boom Box"

[Rich Lowenthal]

>From "Doctor's Wife in Papua" by Margaret Spencer (1964), via Internet 
Archive:

"My husband, always experimenting and modifying (usually with great 
success), drives our transistor record player with a six volt wet 
battery, using a twelve inch speaker in an airtight 'boom box' of local 
red cedar, and the rounded music spills out of the house and down the 
hillside to meet and mingle with the continuing thump of drums in the 
village." (page 40)

It would seem the early colloquial meaning was any kind of musical 
player or amplifier enclosed in a box. Her use of quote marks suggests 
(to me, at least) that it was a familiar term, but not quite 
standardized.

Rich Lowenthal


------ Original Message ------
>From "ADSGarson O'Toole" <adsgarsonotoole at GMAIL.COM>
To ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Date 3/30/2025 10:56:56
Subject Re: Antedating of "Boom Box"

>Interesting topic, Fred. Here are three pertinent citations for "boom
>boxes" in chronological order.
>
>In 1967 "boom boxes" appeared in a newspaper in England, but the
>referent was ambiguous. It did not seem to be electronic. Perhaps it
>corresponded to a large drum.
>
>Date: November 24, 1967
>Newspaper: Birmingham Evening Mail
>Newspaper Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, England
>Article: Mourning Train
>Author: John Newton Chance
>Quote Page 13, Column 3
>Database: Newspapers.com
>https://www.newspapers.com/image/852992879/
>
>[Begin excerpt]
>The band comprised three rhythm groups from local villages, using five
>guitars, four whistles, drums, cymbals and boom boxes. A selection of
>funeral music played by this combo was an experience of unbelievable
>ferocity
>[End excerpt]
>
>There was a match in 1970, but the device in the citation seemed to be
>an electronic amplifier.  The OED definition suggests that a boombox
>is  "A large portable radio and cassette player … with powerful
>speakers" which is a bit different.
>
>Date: July 11, 1970
>Newspaper: The Sunday Sun (The Vancouver Sun)
>Newspaper Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
>Section: Weekend Magazine
>Article: Attack! Hippies: A Final Solution
>Author: McKenzie Porter
>Quote Page 2, Column 1
>Database: Newspapers.com
>https://www.newspapers.com/image/491393736/
>
>[Begin excerpt]
>King-sized ukuleles and jumbo banjos are plugged into electronic "boom
>boxes" by hippies who then recite, keen or scream lyrics couched in
>the language of the Liverpool slum and the Arkansas barnyard. This is
>upheld as entertainment of deep significance.
>[End excerpt]
>
>There was a match for "boom boxes" in 1971, and this device did
>incorporate a tape recorder.
>
>Date: August 8, 1971
>Newspaper: Lincoln Journal Star
>Newspaper Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
>Section: Back To School
>Article: Classroom Changes May Make
>Author: Ed Icenogle
>Quote Page 1G
>Database: Newspapers.com
>https://www.newspapers.com/image/313570178/
>
>[Begin excerpt]
>An estimated 1,000 fifth-graders will find "boom boxes" in their
>instrumental music classes this fall, according to Gene Stoll, music
>consultant for the schools. These are cassette recorder systems that
>play band tapes.  ...
>
>The program, titled "Learning Unlimited Band Series," will
>individualize learning. A student may use it either for remedial or
>advanced work - if the fifth grader needs work or wants to advance
>more rapidly than the class, the "boom box" will allow him to do it,
>Stoll said.
>
>The "boom box" differs from present tape programs in that special
>speakers produce a "true sound." rather than a flat sound. ...
>
>One "boom box" is being purchased for each elementary school, and all
>instrumental teachers will have one. Stoll said the Lincoln school
>system is piloting the program nationally.
>[End excerpt]
>
>Garson
>
>On Sat, Mar 29, 2025 at 11:18 AM Shapiro, Fred <fred.shapiro at yale.edu> wrote:
>>
>>  boom box (portable player) (OED 1981)
>>
>>  1980 Pittsburgh Press 7 Dec. G-1/1 (Newspapers.com)
>>
>>  The box got so hot in New York City that Mugger's Special became the industry name ... Ghetto Blaster and Boom Box have also been suggested.  Blacks buy about 60 percent of the estimated 100 portable radio-tape players sold weekly at Ralph's Discount City, Downtown.
>>
>>  Fred Shapiro
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>  ------------------------------------------------------------
>>  The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>
>------------------------------------------------------------
>The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org