Happy Birthday Dear Jukebox

It's the jukebox's birthday ~ 111 years old today. The world's first jukebox was installed at San Francisco's Palais Royal Hotel on 23 November 1899. The term "juke box" comes from the African American phrase "juke joint", which was a place with music, drinking, dancing and gambling, sometimes doubling as a brothel; the word "juke" originally meant disorderly, rowdy, or wicked, but later meant to dance. I wouldn't be surprised if it also referred to sex, like "rock & roll" originally did.

Although I like live music, as this blog attests, I don't think you can beat a good juke box in a pub . It's a pity that there aren't so many of them around now, piped music or big screen TV having moved in, but I can think of a couple of good ones, like the one in the Mason's in Southport.

It's also 47 years today since the first episode of Doctor Who was broadcast, with the best theme tune ever (composed by Ron Grainer and realised by Delia Derbyshire).