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From: lbv@sdchem.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.wobegon
Subject: Re: "The way it was"
Message-ID: <219@sdchema.sdchem.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 13-May-86 19:39:49 EDT
Article-I.D.: sdchema.219
Posted: Tue May 13 19:39:49 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 14-May-86 17:53:25 EDT
Distribution: na
Organization: Chemistry Dept, UC San Diego
Lines: 68
Keywords: network radio, broadcast history


In response to my original posting, mkr@mmm.UUCP writes:

>	I'm not really sure what to make of this. There really was no
>attempt to make the show an "authentic" reproduction of 1940's type
>radio shows. The telecast was simply coverage of what goes on all the
>time during the shows - it's just that this time there were TV cameras
>present. You have to remember that APHC is not just a *radio* show,
>there is also a sold-out live audience there. The stage decorations
>and all were not there specially for this show, they're always there.
>

I have to take gentle exception to these statements.  Exactly as
for APHC, the early network radio programs also played to
"sold-out live audiences".  Minor differences, however, would have
been that the audiences then probably were larger than that which
the World can hold, and often tickets for the network shows were
distributed free of charge---one just had to write to the network
sufficiently in advance to get them.

>>I don't know for a
>>fact, but I strongly suspect that GK strives for  historical
>>accuracy  in  the show's stage production, as well as in the
>>programming.
>
>	Historical accuracy? I dunno, I just think he's puttingon an
>radio show just like any other radio show. I suspect that things are
>done the way they are because that's the best way to do them, not
>because of any "historical" considerations.

Ah, but this neatly misses once of the central appeals of GK's
charm.  Being over 40 years of age, GK would easily remember
radio broadcasting at its zenith.  Granted that few (if any)
network radio shows originated in those days from the Twin Cities,
still he would have listened to them avidly (I suspect), and might
even have been in the audience for some local broadcasts.  Radio 
broadcasting *must* have had a powerful influence on the young GK.

This is further supported in his writings.  There is the beautiful
story in his book "Happy to Be Here" about the (fictional) station
WLT and its history in the Twin Cities.  GK has also spoken about
his impressions of a visit to the Grand Ole Oprey, after having
listened to it (and other notable programs) since childhood.  And,
of course, there are the countless weekly sketches (and parodies)
on APHC about fictional programs and announcers of past years.  Not
to leave out his song, "The Family Radio", etc. etc.
All, of course, the mark of a man who knows radio history.

I strongly believe that GK does not do radio by default, but because
he remembers what it once was and what it could do, and has an
abiding affection for it.  (As do I).

Finally, concerning the comment about things (at APHC) being done the way 
they are because that's "the best way to do them":  not at all.  The
current "best way" to do radio is to tape in a private studio, and
then apply heavy post-production editing to the result well before
air time.  People who do live network broadcasting, in front of
studio audiences, are either masochists or they truly love their medium.

					Gordon Schlesinger
					U.C. San Diego Chemistry
>
>	--MKR
>"Anything worth doing is worth overdoing."
>
>
"Everything to excess....moderation is for monks"
			 ---Lazarus Long