Westhampton, PA
August 29, 1902

Last night the Smytheberry Concert and Dance Hall was thrilled and
delighted by a wonderful Vaudeville performance.  Stars of the New
York City stages stopped in town in a grand example of a touring stage
show, and performed their acts for the good people of Smytheberry.

Special mention must be made of M—- S—-, or Samplini, as he
prefers to be called on stage.  His unique and terrifically inventive
act brought an almost childlike sense of wonderment over the hall.  As
he walked out on stage with his gramophones in tow no one knew what to
expect.  Certainly a singer would not need two gramophones, nor would
a dancer.  Once he had arrived at center stage, he said simply, “I am
The Great Samplini.  If you feel the need to dance I encourage you to
do so.”

What happened next was one of the most astounding things I have ever
witnessed.  Samplini used his dual gramophones to interweave the two
recordings together  with a combination of manual dexterity and timing
so keen it was as though I were listening to a single record.
Additionally, the singular noise created by grabbing and twisting the
record was of a novel and pleasant type.  I had the good fortune to
speak with M—- S—- after the show, and he called this noise,
“scratching,” which I feel is an accurate term for the process, but
not the pleasantness of the sound.

Also making appearances at the Smytheberry Concert and Dance Hall last
night were the twin sister magic act Zadanna and Annadaz, and virtuoso
harmonica player Wilton G. Fresson.