Did you check with David Goldin who has a web site?
I just sent a general response to Cuck at the UM Broadcast Archives which I'm sure he'll send on to you.
----- Original Message ----- From: "David Jacobs" <David.Jacobs@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2006 10:41 AM
Subject: [ARSCLIST] History Detectives
Hello,
I am a researcher on the PBS show, History Detectives, a prime-time series about the discovery, documentation and preservation of historic American buildings and artifacts. The format of our program is an investigation of a question posed by an individual who is interested in learning the history behind an artifact or location and its possible historical significance.
The story I'm working on now involves an aluminum record with what seems to be a lost Amos 'n' Andy serial (No. 920) from Thursday, March 5, 1931. It was part of the "Breach of Promise" storyline. I've spoken with several experts and checked out a number of online databases, and our recording isn't mentioned as being in existence. So, I am just trying to confirm to the best of my ability that we do have a lost recording.
The second thing I am looking into is how this recording was made. It is an aluminum disc that has been embossed with grooves. The label that was stuck onto the disc says "Sentinel Chromatron". I know Sentinel Radio Corp. is the company, but I am not sure what "chromatron" means - maybe their fancy name for a method of recording sound onto aluminum discs. The words "Amos 'n' Andy" are written on the label, along with the call letters "WOW" (a Nebraska radio station owned by Woodmen of the World Life Insurance). Now our recording includes the first third of the serial on one side, and the last third of the serial on the other. In the middle of the recording it cuts out to an announcer who says that they are broadcasting from Omaha, and then it cuts to a narrator, followed by a cut to piano music, and finally someone who says that we are at the home of Ben and Helen from the Homemaker's club where they sing "Sweethearts at Sweet 16". Now, I think these would have been daytime broadcasts from a different hour than when Amos 'n' Andy was being broadcast. Was this recording made by an amateur? Was it recorded by a radio station for some reason? Did someone pay to have this specific serial transcribed? Is the middle half of the episode missing because it was recorded on another disc so that no dialogues would be lost during the recording?
Any ideas about this recording you can offer would be greatly appreciated.
Many Thanks,
David Jacobs
Lion TV, History Detectives
304 Hudson St, 5th fl
New York, NY 10013
212-206-8633 x3848
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