The 1950s Jukebox: History, Icons and How Jukeboxes Work

Quick history: The first coin-operated phonograph was installed in a San Francisco saloon in 1889. The name "jukebox" took hold in the 1930s, borrowed from the "juke joints" of the American South. Jukeboxes hit their peak after World War II, when glowing machines from Wurlitzer, Seeburg, Rock-Ola and AMI filled diners, soda fountains and bars, and the new 45 RPM single helped make them the soundtrack of 1950s rock and roll.

Who Invented the Jukebox?

In 1889, Louis Glass and his business partner fitted an Edison phonograph with a coin slot and listening tubes and installed it at the Palais Royale Saloon in San Francisco. Customers paid a nickel to hear a single song through the tubes. It was a hit, and "nickel-in-the-slot" machines spread quickly.

Early machines played one song. Over the following decades, inventors added electric amplification, loudspeakers and record changers that let customers choose from several records, and the modern jukebox took shape.

Where Did the Name "Jukebox" Come From?

"Juke joint" was a term for informal music and dance halls in the rural South, and "jook" or "juke" is generally traced to a Gullah word meaning rowdy or disorderly. By the late 1930s, people were calling the coin-operated record machines in those places "juke boxes," and the name stuck, even though manufacturers preferred "automatic phonograph."

The Golden Age: Jukeboxes in the 1940s and 1950s

The Wurlitzer 1015

Introduced in 1946, the Wurlitzer 1015 is the jukebox most people picture: an arched top, bubble tubes, rotating color cylinders and chrome. Designed by Paul Fuller, it became one of the best-selling jukeboxes ever made and the template for "bubbler" styling.

Seeburg and the 100-selection jukebox

Seeburg's Select-O-Matic mechanism, launched with the M100A in 1948, held 50 records and offered 100 selections, playing both sides. When RCA introduced the 7-inch 45 RPM single in 1949, Seeburg followed with 45 RPM jukeboxes, and smaller, lighter 45s quickly took over.

Wallboxes and diner booths

Many diners added wall-mounted selectors at each booth, like Seeburg's Wall-O-Matic. Customers flipped through the song cards, dropped in a coin and picked a song that played on the main jukebox across the room. Today the Arkrocket 200 Wall-O-Matic recreates that look as a tabletop Bluetooth speaker.

Rock and roll on the jukebox

In the 1950s, teenagers spent their spare change at the jukebox, and operators watched which records got played. Jukebox plays helped turn rock and roll and R&B records into national hits, and stars like Elvis Presley became fixtures on diner jukeboxes across the country.

How Does a Jukebox Work?

1. Payment: on classic machines, a coin mechanism checks the coin and adds credits.
2. Selection: you press a letter and number matching a song on the title strips.
3. The record is fetched: a mechanical arm or carriage moves along a magazine of records, pulls the right one out and lays it on the turntable. Many machines could play either side.
4. The song plays: the tonearm lowers, the amplifier and speakers fill the room, and lights cycle through their colors.
5. The record returns: the mechanism puts the record back and moves to the next selection in the queue.

Later jukeboxes used CDs, and many modern home jukeboxes add Bluetooth, USB and radio, so you're not limited to the records inside.

Vintage vs Modern Retro Jukeboxes

Get the 1950s Jukebox Look at Home

• Full-size: the Arkrocket Saturn V uses the arched 1015-style cabinet with color-changing light tubes, and plays vinyl, CD and Bluetooth. Elvis fans can choose the Elvis Presley Saturn V.
• Mid-size: the Arkrocket Taurus II pairs a turntable with a CD player and Bluetooth, with an optional stand.
• Vinyl-loading: Crosley Vinyl Rocket jukeboxes hold 70 records in our jukeboxes collection.
• Tabletop: the 200 Wall-O-Matic and mini jukeboxes bring the look to a counter or shelf.

Planning a purchase? Read our jukebox for home buying guide for sizes and prices.

FAQs

What was the most popular 1950s jukebox?
The Wurlitzer 1015 from 1946 is the most famous design of the era, and Seeburg's 100-selection machines dominated the 1950s.

How much did a jukebox song cost in the 1950s?
Typically a nickel or a dime per play, with deals like several plays for a quarter.

Do jukeboxes still exist?
Yes. Restored vintage machines are collected, digital jukeboxes are common in bars, and new retro-style jukeboxes are made for homes.

You may also like:

• Jukebox for Home Buying Guide
• Gifts for Vinyl Lovers and Record Collectors