Hal Wallis Presents Elvis Presley G.I Blues Cartridge Magazine Loading Cassette

Description

VERY SUPER RARE... VERY SCARCE!!! Outer box shows age an some discoloring. No tears or rips. Does have a little writing 6.00 price tag someone wrote on upper right corner. No major staining. Cassette looks brand new. Awesome shape for over 60yrs old.
1960 Elvis Presley G.I. Blues Soundtrack on Rare "Magazine Loading Cartridge" Early Cassette Tape Format
In 1958 in conjunction with its launch of the stereophonic phonograph record, RCA also unveiled its new RCA tape cartridge (Magazine Loading Cartridge), a self-contained cartridge of magnetic tape that was easier to use than the reel to reel. It was a precursor to the compact cassette design by Philips that was introduced in 1962, but the RCA tape cartridge did not enjoy wide success. RCA was slow to manufacture the playing machines for the home market, and at the time (the early 1960s) the cartridges themselves were expensive, causing this format to disappear by 1964. Offered is a scarce example of the listening format containing Elvis' G.I. Blues soundtrack.
G.I. Blues was Elvis' first film role after completing his military service, and since his popularity hadn't waned while he was away from his adoring fans, the Colonel and Hal Wallis prepared to capitalize on the star's continued fame by releasing the film shortly after Elvis' return. The role made for a perfect homecoming and reached number two on the Variety box office charts; it was also runner-up for a Laurel Award for Top Musical in 1960.
This G.I. Blues tape with original case has a label on side A listing the songs on "Sequence A" and "Sequence B." Side B has no label. The reverse of the case lists the specifics songs and the details of this new technology:
RCA Victor has perfected a new concept in recorded stereophonic tape - the use of a dynamic modern medium, the cartridge - for easy magazine loading. Now, you may enjoy high fidelity stereophonic sound at a tremendous saving over conventional 7 1/2 inches per second stereo tapes. By recording the tape at 3 3/4 inches per second and by including two pairs of stereo tracks instead of one, the high cost factor in magnetic tape has been greatly reduced. This dramatic new medium brings you all of these advantages... Ease of Loading / Self-Contained Unit / Compact Design / No Rewinding After Playing.
This unusual relic is a perfect memento from a time in music technological history when great strides and changes in formats were being discovered. The case of this curious medium for the G.I. Blues soundtrack measures 7 1/2 by 5 1/4 inches (19.05 x 13.33 cm), while the tape itself measures 5 by 7 inches (12.7 x 17.78 cm).