[78-L] Metropolitan Opera broadcasts in the old house

[Kevin P. Mostyn]

Perhaps several Western Electric / Altec 639 series. Very popular radio
microphone, selectable pattern, used often in symphonic broadcasts of that
era. I have one or two of them.

http://www.coutant.org/altec639/

The Myto CDs were issued from "n"th generation tapes and are not necessarily
representative of the actual sound of the broadcasts. Somewhere here I do
have NBC 16" discs of a 1939 MET broadcast. I should drag them out and find
out how the broadcasts sounded, at least to the extent we can hear from ETs.

--Kevin Mostyn 

-----Original Message-----
From: 78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com
[mailto:78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com] On Behalf Of Stewart, Joseph R
Sent: Friday, December 24, 2010 8:58 PM
To: '78-l at klickitat.78online.com'
Subject: [78-L] Metropolitan Opera broadcasts in the old house

(Not strictly a "78" question, but dating from the 78 era to be sure...)
This is probably a question for Mike Biel or Liz McLeod (or anyone else with
radio-history knowledge), and maybe an odd one at that.  It was inspired by
listening to the Myto CD transfer of the January 4, 1941 Met broadcast of
Wagner's "Tannhauser" (Melchior/Flagstad/Thorborg/Janssen/Leinsdorf).  I
don't think I've ever seen any references to what kind(s) of MICROPHONES
were used on the stage and in the pit at the Old Met for the broadcasts.  I
have trouble imaging a row of RCA 44BXs or 77s along the stage apron(!)...
so can anyone enlighten me as to what mics NBC Blue might have used on the
Met broadcasts in the 30s, 40s, and/or 50s?   Rarely if ever, at least on
the broadcast transcriptions I've heard, does the sound have the high-end
brightness NBC achieved in Studio 8H and Carnegie Hall for Toscanini... and
most of the Met broadcasts of that era seem to be woefully deficient in bass
response (this "Tannhauser" included).

Thanks and happy holidays to all!

Randy Stewart
Arts Producer
KSMU Radio
Springfield MO