Finding Aid for Periscope Records, 1993-2014 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

By Rory Grennan, Kate Lambaria, Katie Nichols, Somer Pelczar, and Emily Schneider

Service Location	Boxes
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 1, 4-10
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 2-3

Submit request (Aeon) | email

Email us about these papers | printer

Print this information

Collection Overview

Title: Periscope Records, 1993-2014

ID: 12/9/141

Primary Creator: Sokolski, Jon (1952-)

Other Creators: Dodds, Marci (1959-)

Extent: 3.5 cubic feet

Arrangement:

Organized in three series: Series 1, Marci Dodds Professional Papers, 1996-2010; Series 2, Scope Publication Files, 1993-1998; and Series 3, Periscope Business Records, 1990-1997, which has three subseries: Subseries 1, Administrative Materials; Subseries 2, Photographs; and Subseries 3, Sound Recordings.

Subject Files in Series 1 are arranged alphabetically. Floppy disks in Series 2 are arranged by type of material, and chronologically thereunder. Series 3 is arranged chronologically within subseries. All other materials, including the sound recordings in Series 1, are arranged chronologically.

Date Acquired: 03/00/2015. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Band Musicians, Blues-rock music, Champaign, Illinois, Interviews, Journalism, Music -- Illinois - Business and Industry, Music business, Music stores, Newspapers, Popular Music--Illinois--Urbana-Champaign, Publications, Retailing, Rock Music, Rock musicians United States

Formats/Genres: Business Records, Newsletters, Sound Recordings

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Consists of office records, transcriptions, sound recordings, and publications documenting the operations of the Periscope Records music retailer and record label, including editorial files and published issues of the Scope newsletter and the Octopus weekly tabloid newsaper. Of particular interest are recordings and transcriptions of interviews conducted by Marci Dodds for publication in Scope and the Octopus, with interviewees including Belle & Sebastian, Frank Black, Solomon Burke, the Eels, Absinthe Blind, Fu Manchu, the Reverend Horton Heat, Jonathan Pines, Iggy Pop, Smokey Robinson, Todd Rundgren, Matt Talbot, and Dave Wyndorf.

Collection Historical Note

Periscope was record store in Champaign that was owned and opperated by Jon "Cody" Sokolski and his wife Marci Dodds. The business opened its doors in the Old Farm Shopping Center at 1711 W. Kirby Ave in December1990. In 1993, the pair began publishing a music newspaper, The Scope, which served as a platform for both the business and the 1990s alternative rock scene. In 1994, Sokolski opened a second store in downtown Indianapolis at 247 S. Meridian, which was managed by his business partner Dennis Beard. The following year, Sokolski moved the Champaign business location to 219 N. Neil Street, applying for a Champaign City Redevelopment grant to improve the building. Sokolski closed the Indianapolis location in 1996 due to a loss of profits caused by city construction projects. Between 1995 and 1997, Periscope's Champaign location began hosting CD release events that featured live bands, including Sokolski's band, the Delta Kings. However, due to rising costs, the business closed in 1999. Afterwhich, Dodds, who had contributed to The Scope, began serving as music editor for the local newspaper The Octopus. Sokolski also transitioned in his career, becoming a property developer and founding One Main in 2004.

Biographical Note

Jon "Cody" Sokolski (1952- ) was born and raised on Manhattan's Upper East Side, his father was an attorney and his mother an architect. Sokolski decided to become a musician after seeing The Lovin' Spoonful in Central Park in 1967. He began studying percussion, but transitioned to guitar at the request of his parents. As a high school student, he attended concerts by Alice Cooper and Iggy Pop. He also became an apprentice to rock historian Lillian Roxon. Sokolski began his studies at Goddard College in Vermont, but left school to live with Peter Green (of Fleetwood Mac) in England. Following this he served as a roadie for the band Osibisa and then the blues musician Fred McDowell.

After moving to Boston, he co-founded the band Johanna Wild with Jon Butcher and Jeff Linscott. He briefly attended the Berklee College of Music, studying jazz, but left college once again to pursue a career in music. After moving back to New York, he joined the punk band, The Dictators, on bass in the mid 1970s. In the late-1970s, he briefly branched out to managing and producing artists, turning down Billy Squire. With the band Falcon Eddy, he toured alongside the Kinks, Meat Loaf, and Rush. Following this he joined the Secret Chiefs, which included former members of Joan Jett & the Blackhearts.

He married Marci Dodds in 1986, and in 1989 he decided to move to Champaign, Illinois to open a record store. The two opened Periscope Records in 1990. Four years later he joined the blues band The Delta Kings. After Periscope closed in 1999, Sokolski formed the band Cody and Gateway Drugs. In 2004, he briefly transitioned into property development, becoming the CEO of One Main Development in Champaign.

In 2016, he and Dodds moved to Chicago and Sokolski began performing as Dario Cohen. During the pandemic, he transitioned in his career once more, working in liscensing and signing deals with NASCAR, Keeping Up With the Kardashians, the Discovery Channel, and Universal Music.

Subject/Index Terms

Band Musicians
Blues-rock music
Champaign, Illinois
Interviews
Journalism
Music -- Illinois - Business and Industry
Music business
Music stores
Newspapers
Popular Music--Illinois--Urbana-Champaign
Publications
Retailing
Rock Music
Rock musicians United States

Administrative Information

Repository: The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Accruals: 3/31/2016

Acquisition Source: Marci Dodds and Jon Sokolski

Acquisition Method: donation

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Marci Dodds Professional Papers, 1996-2010],
[Series 2: Scope Publication Files, 1993-1998],
[Series 3: Periscope Business Records, 1990-1997],
[All]

Series 3: Periscope Business Records, 1990-1997

Sub-Series 1: Administrative Materials

Box 11

Folder 1: Rental lease, 1711 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign IL, 1990
Folder 2: Framed certificate of shares, Periscope Inc., Nov. 1, 1990
Folder 3: Rental lease, 247 S. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN and correspondence, 1994-1996
Folder 4: Balance sheets, 1995
Folder 5: City of Champaign improvement grant, 1995
Folder 6: Notebook with addresses, phone numbers, and receipts, ca. 1995
Folder 7: Newsclippings about Periscope, ca. 1995
Folder 8: Rental City receipt, Mar. 25, 1996
Folder 9: Property history of 223 N. Neil St, Champaign IL, Apr. 1, 1996
Folder 10: The Album Network magazine, May 17, 1996
Folder 11: Weekly report of cassettes and CDs, 1996
Folder 12: Newspaper sections, New York Times and Wall Street Journal, 1996
Folder 13: Billboard magazine, Jan. 11, 1997
Folder 14: Community awards, 1997
Folder 15: Sugarbuzz promotional photo and flyer, undated
Folder 16: February-December calendar printout, undated

Sub-Series 2: Photographs

Box 11

Folder 17: Group portraits and negatives, ca. 1995
Folder 18: Ernie's Club Twang performance photos, ca. 1995
Folder 19: Ernie's Club Twang performance photos, ca. 1995
Folder 20: Ernie's Club Twang performance photos, ca. 1995
Folder 21: Ernie's Club Twang performance photos, ca. 1995
Folder 22: Ernie's Club Twang performance photos, ca. 1995
Folder 23: Ernie's Club Twang performance photos, ca. 1995
Folder 24: Ernie's Club Twang performance photos, ca. 1995
Folder 25: Ernie's Club Twang performance photos and negatives, ca. 1995
Folder 26: Ernie's Club Twang performance photos and negatives, ca. 1995
Folder 27: Negatives, Ernie's Club Twang performances and store interiors, ca. 1995
Folder 28: Periscope Records store interior shots, ca. 1995
Folder 29: Periscope Record store interiors, ca. 1995
Folder 30: Periscope Records store interiors, ca. 1995
Folder 31: Store interiors and Indianapolis store construction panoramic photos, ca. 1995
Folder 32: Store interiors photos and negatives, ca. 1995
Folder 33: Cody Sokolski performance photos, undated
Folder 34: Family photos and Indianapolis store front photo, undated

Sub-Series 3: Sound Recordings

Box 3

Item 39: Delta Kings: 4 Chords and the Truth, 2010: Compact disc. Delta King Records, One Main, Champaign, IL 61820. Tracks include: 1. She's Gotta Have a Crazy Problem, 2. Do You Got Love, 3. I'm A Survivor, 4. Hats, 5. Flyin' Solo, 6. Summer Of Our Discontent, 7. Give It Back (God's Song), 8. Hold Me When The World Goes Different, 9. It All Comes Down To You, 10. It's Too Late, 11. (Nothin' You Say Is) More Than Words, 12. Rock'n'Roll Will Take You In, 13. I Ain't That Guy, 14. GDWMTGHNM, 15. Something I Gotta Say

Box 10

Item 1: Cody & the Gateway Drugs, Songs for the New Depression, 2014: 33 RPM 12 inch disc. Periscope Records. Tracks include: Side 1: 1. Kingdom Come, 2. What Luckky Looks Like, 3. Good & Bad Times, 4. Anita, 5. Drop My Money; Side 2: 1. Want, 2. Gonna Get Myself a Big One, 3. Pretty Damn Fine, 4. Fast.

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Marci Dodds Professional Papers, 1996-2010],
[Series 2: Scope Publication Files, 1993-1998],
[Series 3: Periscope Business Records, 1990-1997],
[All]