Radio Sound Effects: Who Did It, and How, in the Era of Live Broadcasting | 
| Author: Robert L. Mott
Publisher: McFarland & Company
Category: Book
Buy New: $29.95
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Avg. Customer Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 1797870
Format: Large Print
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 397
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.6
Dimensions (in): 9.9 x 6.9 x 1.1
ISBN: 0786433159
Dewey Decimal Number: 791.44024
EAN: 9780786433155
ASIN: 0786433159
Publication Date: June 15, 2008
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Product Description
To todays radio listener, it is difficult to imagine the influence radio once held over the American people. Unlike movies or newspapers, radio both informed and entertained its audience without requiring them to participate. Part of its success depended upon the people who created the sound effectsa squeaking door, the approach of a horse, or a typewriter. The author did live sound effects during the Golden Age of radio. He provides many insights into the early days of the medium as it grappled with entertaining an audience based on a single sense (hearing). How the sounds were produced is fully covered as are the artists responsible for their production. Stories of successful effects production are balanced by embarrassing or funny failures. A list of artists and their shows is included.
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| Customer Reviews:
 More Who and Less How should be the subtitle April 1, 2008
I was disappointed in Radio Sound effects, as the subtitle "Who Did It, and How, in the Era of Live Broadcasting" is a bit misleading.
While it is an interesting and even somewhat intriguing read if you are into the comings and goings and mishaps of radio's most often heard non-actors, it does little to document the methods that they had to resort to to create the sound effects.
There is a story here and there about the creation of effects, but most of the emphasis is on what went wrong or who had drinks with who, and who got fired afterwards.
While a readable social narrative, the book just doesn't come up to snuff in the technique and method area.
 I Couldn't Put It Down . . . May 24, 2000
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Ok, so I am an Antique Radio hobbyist who really enjoys the "Golden Age of Radio"...but anyone who enjoys well written, humorous real life stories will enjoy this gem from the talented and expert Robert Mott.Though not very technical in its information, the excellent vintage photos, anectdotes, and relaxed writing style will capture anyone who has the least bit of interest in finding out how the illusion of radio theatre was created, way back when it was truly "On the Air"
Fun, a great read. August 7, 1998
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
This is a wonderful book. First of, it's not that technical, it's more of a history book of the Golden Age of radio. The book has so many wonderful and hillarious stories about those days, that it was strong in nostalgia, even though I wasn't born until 1971! I wouldn't call this a book for 'audio' people, anyone who lived during the time of old radio, or anyone who still loves to listen to old reruns of The Shadow will LOVE this book. Tim.
Live the life of a sound effects artist with Robert Mott June 6, 1998
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
RADIO SOUND EFFECTS by ROBERT L. MOTT McFarland & Company Publishers, 1993 283 pages, 140 pictures & illustrations, comprehensive 11 page index.This is an excellent book on the subject. The author tells his many stories from the wide variety of shows he worked on through radio's golden age. Very specific examples and descriptions on the working of all the sound effects from the simple footstep to the complicated Fibber closet gag. The book also chronicles much about the history of dramatic radio from it's beginnings up through the television age. For those interested in the technical aspects of sound on radio in those days, dozens of pictures are included with detailed descriptions of their uses and mechanical workings- In fact, a great deal of information on the history of recorded sound in general is included within it's pages. Best of all, the book also contains hundreds of great anecdotes which will have you laughing out loud and make you feel like you were really there!! Overall this book is loaded with facts, a wonderful collection of star studded historic photographs, amazing histories, and hilarious stories all told with Mott's witty and charming style which will keep you glued to the book as if it were a riviting detective novel! Highly recommended!! Jason
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