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The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2016 : Issue 29
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Sound Effects on Radio [ "scherago" <scherago@[removed]; ]
SFX [ "jsalerno@[removed]" <jsalerno@ ]
Sound effects [ "Jan Bach" <janbach@[removed]; ]
Great Lakes Nostalgia Convention [ Mike Wheeler <mike05@[removed]; ]
NY Times Obit for Arthur Anderson [ Charlie Summers <listmaster@lofcom. ]
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Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2016 01:11:34 -0400
From: "scherago" <scherago@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Sound Effects on Radio
Stephen Kallis, Jr. brought up the subject of sound effects.
On WTIC's Golden Age of Radio with Dick Bertel, one of our many
interviews was with Ham O'Hara, CBS sound effects man. We met Mr. O'hara
in his studio in the basement of his Connecticut home where he
demonstrated all manner of recorded and "live" sound effects.
In addition to a large stock of recorded music (usually classical and
therefore free of copyright restriction) to fit every scene, there were
sound effects records to replace the "real thing". That would usually be
sounds of objects too large or too expensive for a radio studio, [removed]
car engine, airplane, cannon, large crowds, explosions, and an ocean
liner.
You can hear the interview and the live effects here:
[removed]
We have all 89 "Golden Age of Radio" shows, and 43 "One Night Stand
with the Big Bands." In addition, we have lots of extras, and are adding
to them often.
Bob Scherago
Webmaster and former WTIC Engineer
[removed]
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Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2016 01:11:47 -0400
From: "jsalerno@[removed]" <jsalerno@[removed];
To: OTR List <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: SFX
Gunsmoke had realistic sound effects. Maybe the best of them all.
But the sound of a car was mostly not convincing IMO. I'm thinking of
examples: "Let's See Your Driver's License" (syndicated, early 30s)
which takes place in large part in a car. And Superman, or any show from
the early 40s was not convincing. But when Andy crashed a car while
parking, much better effect, if not exaggerated.
--
Joe Salerno
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Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2016 01:12:00 -0400
From: "Jan Bach" <janbach@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Sound effects
Stephen Kallis' mention of The Lone Ranger as the program he believed to
have the best sound effects reminds me of an interview I heard once with the
sound effects men on the Gunsmoke radio show, and their painstaking research
on such things as the kind of weapons that would be used in the old west,
even going so far as to record the different types on the rifle range. I've
heard that "gravel to wooden floor" walking effect there as well. But even
more than the sound of those effects was their timing; recall that when Matt
walked into the Long Branch, you could tell by the jingle of his spurs (and
why did he always wear them inside?) just how far it was from the door of
the saloon to the bar; the realism of the show was due in part to the
producer's and director's acceptance of dead air time to get the timing just
right. This timing, coincidentally, a topic that came up several times last
week in this news group in discussing "War of the Worlds," where time was
particularly -- and unrealistically -- condensed to fit within a half hour!
Jan Bach
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Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2016 01:12:09 -0400
From: Mike Wheeler <mike05@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Great Lakes Nostalgia Convention
I had the pleasure of attending The Great Lakes Nostalgia Convention
this past weekend and BOY did I have a good time! If there was any
doubt about whether the magic of the old Cincinnati convention could be
replicated in a new locale, it was totally dispelled. If you thought
about going and chose not to, you really need to consider going next year.
Operationally, everything seemed to run very smoothly. That doesn't just
happen so Don and his team deserve kudos for [removed] think the attendance
may have been slightly smaller than we've had in Cincy the last few
years but not by a lot. It was a very respectable turnout for a new
convention in a new location.
I saw many familiar faces and the friendliness that was a hallmark of
Cincy was there as well. The hotel was very nice and the convention
layout was better than what we've had in Cincy in recent years. At the
convention rate, the hotel cost was about the same and (I know this is a
big deal to some people, including me) there is a free airport shuttle.
Martin [removed] it's impossible to say enough good things about Martin
[removed] Martin Grams had a big presence at GLNC. He pretty much was
the dealer room alongside tables for the special guests, Kathy Garver
and Paul Petersen. He also gave a captivating presentation on Tallulah
Bankhead and the Big Show. Martin's presentation alone was worth the
price of admission. He also provided a lost Ed Wynn tv show that was
screened on Saturday. His work to preserve and document golden age
radio and tv is phenomenal.
The other major presentation was by Bob Daniel talking about his
grandfather, Brace Beemer. Bob has a pretty decent speaking voice,
himself. He shared family photos and stories and I certainly came away
with a better appreciation of the man.
What about the recreations? For me, the recreations are a major reason
I go to OTR conventions. GLNC followed a schedule modeled on what we
did in Cincy so there were three performances, each with two shows. ALL
of them were superb! I've never been disappointed by an All Ears
Theatre performance but when they are "playing on their home court" they
really sparkle. I thought their Magnificent Montague performance last
year at Cincy was probably the best recreation performance of any during
my tenure running Nostalgia Expo. At GLNC they did episode two and it
was even better!
I've seen a lot of so-so Gunsmoke recreations over the years. Not this
year. They did a Gunsmoke that featured Randy Larson (of the Chicago
Group Players) as Matt with Paul Petersen as Chester and both of them
absolutely nailed it. Okay, they weren't William Conrad and Parley Baer
but they both "got" the characters and their voices, intonation and
timing were spot on. Can you tell? I really enjoyed that recreation.
Randy was there, at least in part, because his Chicago Group Players
were invited to come and do a recreation of their own. That was a nice
continuation of a Cincy tradition. They did a Mr. and Mrs. Blandings
and, again, I was really impressed with their performance. Between the
featured guests, All Ears Theatre and the Chicago Group, the amount of
talent on display this year was astonishing.
So, from the perspective of "Did it carry on the spirit of the old
Cincinnati conventions?" or "Did you have a good time?" the answer is a
resounding YES! Whether it was a sufficient success financially to
sustain itself and grow, I don't know. But I sure hope so.
So, let me say it as plainly as I can: The Great Lakes Nostalgia
Convention is a worthy successor to Bob Burchett's long running
Cincinnati Oldtime Radio and Nostalgia Convention and the short lived
Nostalgia Expo. Don has already said that they plan to do another one
next year and I plan to attend. You should too.
Mike Wheeler
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Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2016 01:12:30 -0400
From: Charlie Summers <listmaster@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: NY Times Obit for Arthur Anderson
Folks;
Derek Tague provides the link to the New York Times obituary of Arthur
Anderson:
[removed]
Charlie
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End of [removed] Digest V2016 Issue #29
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