1900 to 1930: The Dawn of Dementia; The Oldest Novelty Records of All Time from Dr. Demento. BLACK VINYL. The world-famous Dr. Demento's influence on pop culture is undeniable, and as we approach his 50th anniversary, we celebrate the earliest days of novelty and comedy records. He is a world-renowned record collector and music historian, whose life long passion for music of all kinds (from Frank Zappa to punk rock and everything in between) is reflected in his radio show and, most importantly, in this unique collection of rare songs from the early days of records.