Harry Sylvester Lavine (1879-1961 ) was a businessman in diverse fields - electric power, oil, real estate, movie theaters, and coin-operated vending and amusements such as jukeboxes (was inventor of an early version) and pinball machines.
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Harry S. Lavine in the 1950s
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Born in New York City, he later moved to Cleveland, Ohio. In 1904 he married Lillian Moskowitz, who would pass away in 1911. That year he was recorded as one-half owner in a patent for a washing machine, the design of which is pictured below.
In 1905, son Donald was born. Harry was identified as president of the Cleveland-based Columbia Amusement Company in 1906. This was apparently not affiliated with an identically named concern involved with booking burlesque acts in theaters. In 1908 he was listed among incorporators of Solar Fixture Manufacturing, an enterprise to manufacture gas and electric fixtures.
In 1913, he married second wife Helen Steuer Herman who died in 1916.
Harry was listed as president and treasurer of the Automatic Musical Company in the 1914/1915 and 1916/1917 Cleveland city directories.
In a July 1956 trade magazine retrospective of his career, Harry described how he arrived in Oil City. Note the Volstead Act mentioned brought about nationwide prohibition of the production, transport, and sale of alcoholic beverages, effectively ending the (legal) saloon business. This would of course have hurt peripheral enterprises such as his coin-operated player pianos business.
The Cash Box 28-Jul-1956, Part II, Page 65
In 1939, Harry was a charter member of a newly-formed Lions Club in Oil City. Note son Donald was named secretary. An attorney, he was once Oil City postmaster and served as the town's mayor from 1948-1964.
The Cash Box 28-Jul-1956, Part II, Page 65
In 1939, Harry was a charter member of a newly-formed Lions Club in Oil City. Note son Donald was named secretary. An attorney, he was once Oil City postmaster and served as the town's mayor from 1948-1964.
Shreveport Times 15-Dec-1939, Page 18
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| Donald Lavine |
In 1950, Mrs. Linda Brown Lavine, (Harry's third wife) received an award for her contributions to support of the Red Cross. Two earlier wives, including Donald's mother Lillian (Moskowitz) had passed away relatively young.
Shreveport Times 03-Jun-1950, Page 3
Harry passed away in 1961 and is buried in Centuries Memorial Park; Shreveport, LA. Linda died in 1963 and is buried likewise.
For purposes of clarity, Harry's various business interests are described separately as follows:
ELECTRIC POWER GENERATION
In another excerpt from his 1956 career retrospective, he described his venture into the power generation industry.
The Cash Box 28-Jul-1956, Part II, Page 65
Note the radio station's owner was W. K. Henderson, hence the call letters K(WKH).
OIL PRODUCTION
He owned numerous producing wells around Oil City and in greater northwest Louisiana.
REAL ESTATE
Harry began purchasing properties first in Shreveport, then in Oil City when he settled there. He owned several building on the east side of town including the one in which Eggleston's grocery store operated, as well as the White Front Bar, shown listed available for rent in 1960.
Shreveport Times 26-Apr-1960, Page 12-B
Here the bar is pictured in a photo of the Oil City Junior High Band marching in the homecoming parade later that year.
1961 OCJHS Bengal (yearbook)
MOTION PICTURE THEATERS
During the 1920s - 1930s, he owned three different movie theaters, in chronological order - the Star, Dixie, and Strand.
For more information, see Oil City's Last Picture Show.
For more information, see Oil City's Last Picture Show.
COIN-OPERATED VENDING AND AMUSEMENTS
Continuing from the July 1956 Cash Box retrospective, Harry described his entry into the coin machine business.
The Cash Box 28-Jul-1956, Part II, Page 65
Excerpt from a patent for a mechanical "receptacle holder," possibly intended to be component of a mechanism to dispense bottles of beverages, such as beer or soft drinks.
Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office 25-Aug-1914, Page 1194
One of the earliest "jukeboxes" was invented in collaboration with fellow Oil City resident Harry Walker.
Mention of the new invention appearing in a trade magazine.
Here's a derivative of their original design, as produced by the Seeburg Corporation, which became the leading jukebox manufacturer. Previously there had been coin-operated phonographs, playing a single song, but this device allowed listening of up to 10 records.
Patent details along with a plan view drawing for a subsequent design, where records were kept in a magazine and as selected, were removed and placed on a turntable for playing; then afterwards returned. Note the drawing portion has been turned 90 degrees to help the reader orient parts displayed to those of a working version shown in a video that follows. Mr. Lavine was president of National Manufacturing Company and the original plan was to manufacture the machines locally, before eventually selling to Seeburg.
This video of a 1938 Seeburg Classic with a very similar mechanism.
Shreveport Times 22-Feb-1929, Page 17
Listed among businesses congratulating the newly opened Shreveport restaurant Ablon's in 1945, he touted himself "best in phonographs."
Shreveport Times 22-Nov-1945, Page 8
In the 1951 article below about Mr. Lavine donating jukeboxes to Barksdale Air Force Base dining halls, he's referred to as the "Daddy of the Jukebox." It notes he sold the invention to Seeburg.
Shreveport Times 14-Jan-1951, Page 17
In the 1953 Shreveport Business Directory, Harry was listed a manager of the Tri-State Amusement Company. He attended showing of new Wurlitzer line in Dallas in 1954.
In the 1953 Shreveport Business Directory, Harry was listed a manager of the Tri-State Amusement Company. He attended showing of new Wurlitzer line in Dallas in 1954.
The Billboard 17-Apr-1954, Page 58 & 60
An advertisement for a mechanic to work on jukeboxes and pinball machines, appearing in 1952.
Shreveport Times 22-Oct-1952, Page 23
In 1957, the obituary of Hobert Gardener (1896-1957) of nearby Vivian notes he was "employed in the vending machine business by Harry Lavine." His World War II draft registration, completed in April 1942 also listed him in Harry's employ at the time.
Return to Oil City Businesses Past And Present.
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