Barbara Holdridge, co-founder of Caedmon Records, passed away at 95, leaving behind a legacy that transformed the spoken-word record industry. The label's success began with Dylan Thomas's recitation of A Child's Christmas in Wales in 1952, setting the stage for its future. Caedmon was pivotal in recording literary works by iconic authors like W.H. Auden and T.S. Eliot, as well as children's stories narrated by famous actors. By 1966, the company's sales reached $14 million, reflecting its significant impact on the burgeoning audiobook market.
"If we had started with some of the wonderful poets we recorded later, such as Katherine Anne Porter, Archibald MacLeish, Ezra Pound and Faulkner, I don't think anybody would have cared that much," Ms. Holdridge said. "Students would have. Literature professors would have. But the spark was the Dylan Thomas recordings."
"Caedmon began recording plays and other works of literature performed by famous actors, increasing its reach and appeal beyond just poetry and into the broader literary world."
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