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

[Kevin P. Mostyn]

Mike,

Look at this picture:

http://library.buffalo.edu/music/exhibits/perry/img/bostonorch.jpg

Looks like a 639 to me, but my eyes are old and weak. Please correct me if
I'm wrong.

No date is given, but it's Munch at the podium. NBC broadcasts 1949 through
1951 with Munch/BSO, then again NBC 1954-1957. WGBH began broadcasting in
1951, but they used a WE 640AA, which is not the one in the picture. Also
only one radio booth shown. I believe a second one was installed for WGBH.
By 1957, there were three, the last one being for WCRB.

--Kevin Mostyn 

-----Original Message-----
From: 78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com
[mailto:78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com] On Behalf Of Michael Biel
Sent: Saturday, December 25, 2010 5:51 AM
To: 78-L Mail List
Subject: Re: [78-L] Metropolitan Opera broadcasts in the old house

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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>

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