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

[Michael Biel]

On 12/25/2010 3:00 AM, Kevin P. Mostyn wrote:
> 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/

This was NBC, and they never used Western Electric mics, ONLY RCA.  
Other than Mutual Broadcasting System and Decca Records, which had a 
relationship then an ownership with World Broadcasting System, where 
have you seen photos of a 639 used for symphonic broadcasts or 
recordings?  Even Columbia Records had an RCA 44 in their logo!  I'm not 
sure if I've ever seen a 639 in a CBS or NBC photograph, only in MBS.
> 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
>

Be sure to note on the NBC discs what city is shown as where it was 
recorded.  Only New York recordings would have the possibility of full 
frequency response although you do get highs to maybe 12K in Chicago 
recordings from New York originations.

Mike Biel  mbiel at mbiel.com


> -----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
>
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