Re: [ARSCLIST] "Aircheck" history

[Rod Stephens <savecal@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Tom,

I just checked a number of our Family Theater radio shows that 
originated on the Mutual Network from Hollywood (KHJ) and found several 
different conditions as far as delayed broadcasts.  In 1948, probably 
due to scheduling difficulties, a show opened with "A program 
transcribed from Hollywood" which meant they didn't play the show live, 
and instead had recorded it earlier to transcription disks.  Usually, 
"transcribed" meant that it had been recorded at previous time to be 
used for a later or delayed broadcast.  Later that year, the announcer 
just said,"Transcribed" at the beginning of one of the shows, so I guess 
that meant that my set of disks were made from a previous set of 
transcriptions. 

Of course, maybe all of my disks were made and used for Hollywood 
rebroadcasts while the shows went out live over the network to New York 
and the east.  Or, maybe they did the show twice (not as likely) for the 
two time zones.  I think I've heard of that being done.  I don't have 
any direct information on that.  If anyone does know what Mutual 
actually did, we at Family Theater would like to know to add to our 
database and archival background.

On 8-29-51, the show opened with "The following feature was transcribed 
from Eastern Mutual".  I would guess something happened to our 
transcription masters in Hollywood, so they rerecorded the show in 
Hollywood from the disks made and fed from New York.  That reinforces my 
idea that the shows were done live and fed to New York (who recorded 
them for protection) and also recorded in Hollywood at the same 
(earlier) time for feeding later for west coast air time.

On 12-19-51, the show opened with "The following is transcribed", so it 
would seem these were special situations, since none of the other shows 
had this disclaimer at their opening.

Of course, there were a few rebroadcasts via transcription (reruns) of 
earlier shows to periodically fill the schedule, since the show went 
year round without any hiatuses; quite an accomplishment considering 
they were done with a new music score and script every week without 
stopping.

So, I guess these were all delayed broadcasts in some way or another.  
My hat's off to those people of "yesteryear".

Rod Stephens
Family Theater Productions

Tom Fine wrote:

<snip>

> Now here's a followup question. If an affiliate recorded a program off 
> the network feed line for delayed broadcast, is that an air-check or 
> something else?
>
> -- Tom Fine

<snip>