The Modern Recording Industry
Materials and other resources
Presentation:
The Web:
Archives and General Information
- Archive.org – Digital library of cultural artifacts including Web sites, print, images, sound, video, and so on. The Boogie Woogie Compilation (1940) is worth a listen.
- Google Patents – Ever want to look up a patent filing? All you need is the patent number.
- Library of Congress – A good place to start for information about aspects of American life, culture and history. the History of the Cylinder Phonograph is very interesting. Or try “Inventing Entertainment: Articles and Essays.” Everything Edison.
- picryl.com – Public Domain media search engine. Requires establishing an account, but very useful for finding PD images.
- Wikipedia.org – The Free Encyclopedia. It is always surprising what I find in this amazing resource. Try 1930s American Radio Programs
Digitizing Resources
Analog Media digitizing services. Most digitizing services have a 4-8-week turnaround because they are shipped overseas. These three companies seem representative. Be sure to ask questions and read the customer reviews before placing your order.
- Aperture – A Kodak Digitizing Blog – Home page
- How Long Does Reel-to-Reel Audio Last?
- Does Reel-to-Reel Sound Better Than Vinyl?
- Digitizing Service – moderately expensive, 5-6 week turnaround,
- Southtree – Digitizing service. Most economical. 6-8 week turnaround
- Audio Video Workshop – Reel-to-Reel – Digitizing service. 3-4 week turnaround. San Francisco-based/ Most expensive, best reviews
Recording Artists
- Top 100 Pop Song Chart for 1950 – Searchable by year starting in 1900
- Music Played in the 1950’s Music Styles, Bands And Artists during From the 50’s
Music Genome
- Music-map.com – Fun tool to find related musicians and styles. Try typing in a musician’s name like “Elvis Presley” and watch . . .
- Every Noise at Once – Another music genome tool that also plays a sample of each performer. After typing in a musician’s name, it returns related styles. Then, click on that style to see related performers.
Technology
- Television
First coast-to-coast broadcast
First Color Broadcast
- Stereo Sound
- Bell Laboratories Experimental Recordings – Philadelphia Orchestra Leopold Stokowski, conductor (1931-1932)
The Space Race
- Sputnik, first Man-made Earth Satellite launched (October 4, 1957)
- Telstar – First Commercial TV Broadcast (July 23, 1962)
- Kennedy’s Moon Challenge Speech (September 2, 1962)
- Historic Apollo 11 Moon Landing Footage (July 20, 1969)