[78-L] The recording studio in MGM's Sweethearts (1938)

[David Lennick]

Forgot to mention that the song is "More Than You Know".

David Lennick wrote:
> I haven't seen that..but it sounds a lot more authentic than the recording 
> setup in "Funny Lady", wherein Fanny Brice, in 1930 (maybe late 1929)..
> 
> (a) Records onto a lacquer disc (not invented yet)
> (b) Records onto a CENTER START lacquer disc
> (c) Records a song which the producer SLATES (noop!)
> (d) Records with a bunch of hangers-on in the studio
> 
> Then she receives the test pressing, which comes to her with a free phonograph 
> under it, and it has a locked groove. Of course since Fanny never recorded that 
> song, anything goes. Maybe Joel Whitburn was the music consultant...if she 
> HADDA recorded it, that's how it would have been done. And with a big lush 
> orchestra, too.
> 
> dl
> 
> Harold Aherne wrote:
>> "Sweethearts" may be the best of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy's co-starring
>> films, both because of the light satirical tone and the witty screenplay by Dorothy Parker and Alan Campbell. There's one scene that sticks out especially for those interested in
>> recording technology. It's in the following video beginning at 3:28 with the iris in to
>> the fake Nelson Eddy label:
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5UqYzu97Ms&NR=1
>>  
>> Now that I look at it up close, it appears that they just put a sticker over
>> a Victor red seal with the circular label. Anyway, Nelson Eddy sings Victor
>> Herbert's "On Parade" in a recording studio and for about three seconds 
>> (4:32 to 4:35) we get a close-up of the wax master. It's much thicker than 
>> the one in "Command Performance" from 1942, and I'm guessing that it's a 
>> "cast" blank instead of a "flowed" one. When did Victor start using the latter?
>> They were using both kinds in 1940-41 when Billy Murray made his Bluebird
>> sides, cutting a given take simultaneously on both varieties (see 
>> http://www.denvernightingale.com/discography/bluebird.html
>>  
>> Was there supposed to be an increase in quality on the flowed wax blanks,
>> or were they used for some other reason?
>>  
>> Getting back to my subject header, is this an actual recording or radio studio
>> in the LA area, or was it built on the MGM soundstages? I'm guessing the latter, 
>> but I really don't know. I don't recall seeing "On Parade" among his 1938 titles
>> in the CED...but I always get a kick out of seeing the musicians dressed up in
>> band uniforms, something that would never happen at an actual session! 
>>  
>> -Harold
>>
>>
>>