1954 Event Michigan rep Ruth Thompson (R) introduces legislation to ban mailing "obscene, lewd, lascivious or filthy" phonograph (rock and roll) records 1878 Event Phonograph shown for 1st time at Grand Opera House 1878 Event Thomas Alva Edison patents gramophone (phonograph) 1877 Event Thomas Edison patents phonograph 1877 Event Thomas Edison demonstrates hand-cranked phonograph 1877 Event Tom Edison announces his "talking machine" invention (phonograph) 1851 Birthday Emile Berliner, Germany, inventor, flat phonograph record
