George E. K. Awai and his Royal Hawaiian Quartet popularized the small, guitar-like instrument when they performed at the Panama Pacific International Exposition at San Francisco in 1915. From then on to the early 1920s, the ukulele became popular on the mainland United States.
<p>“Just received a big new shipment of banjo-ukuleles and ukuleles ranging in prices from $5 to $30 cases and bags. $1.00 to $3.50 all other string instruments in stock.”
</p><p>“J. Edgar Robinson”
</p><p>Banjo &amp; Ukulele
Washington times, July 17, 1919, Image 11
</p>
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Chronicling America - <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/">http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/</a>, Hawaii Digital Newspaper Project - <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="https://hdnpblog.wordpress.com/">https://hdnpblog.wordpress.com/</a>