One of comedy's earliest, brightest, and zaniest stars, Murry K. Hill flourished briefly between 1907 and 1913. This was recorded for an Edison 4-minute cylinder in July of 1908, at the same session that would yield the classic recording of
"Father's Eccentricities" (now on-line at "Thomas Edison's Attic"). It is also one of the few 4-minute cylinders that carries an announcement. As was Murry's usual
practice, he combined three shorter bits on one recording - a song, a monolog, and then another song to finish. The title of this record is drawn from the first song, the monolog in the middle is the hilarious "Inside Inn", and the song at
the end is a parody of "Coming Through the Rye". A bit corny in spots, as was the fashion in 1911, but other bits (such as "Inside Inn") are just as funny now as they were then. The cylinder is in very good shape, needing only minor noise
removal to sound great.
