This month’s History Happy Hour features retired historyteacher Leonard Pipitone and his collection and knowledge all about inventorextraordinaire Thomas Edison!

Mr.Pipitone’s presentation is entitled “Thomas Alva Edison and the Origins ofRecorded Sound.”  Originally from California, Mr. Pipitone’s sideline has been researchingeverything Edison and collecting early phonographs and music for over fortyyears.  He is a current, long-time member of the Antique PhonographSociety and a former member of the London Phonograph Society. “Thomas AlvaEdison and the Origins of Recorded Sound” is a glimpse into the greatinventor’s process, from the accidental discovery that spawned the first“Talking Machine” through the development of the later phonographs which wouldchange the world of entertainment forever. In addition to his knowledge, Mr.Pipitone will be bringing several phonographs as well as cylinder and discrecords representative of popular music styles and themes from the 1880sthrough the 1920s.

Theprogram will take place at the International Storytelling Center at 6:30 pm onThursday, September 15^th. The program is free and open to thepublic. The presentation will also be livestreamed to the Chester Inn Museum’sFacebook page.

This project is funded under an agreement with the TennesseeDepartment of Environment and Conservation, Tennessee Historical Commission. For more information on the Chester Inn Museum, History HappyHour, or the Heritage Alliance please call our office at 423.753.9580 or theChester Inn Museum at 423.753.4580.  Youcan also contact the organization via email at info@heritageall.org.  Additional information about the HeritageAlliance and its mission can be found online at http://www.heritageall.org/.Be sure to follow the Chester Inn and Heritage Alliance Facebook pages forupdates about events at the Chester Inn and other Heritage Alliance programs.