This was fantastic! I can't wait to see the last few minutes of this now. The guy bowing at the record dealer made me laugh pretty hard. Thank you for posting this, absolutely fascinating.
The country-western singer is Jimmy Wakely. His most famous song is his 1949 duet with Margaret Whiting, "Slippin' Around," which was a #1 hit. The pair also made the very first recording of the Christmas classic "Silver Bells," released in 1950.
Thank you so much for finding and posting this wonderful little chip of history. I'll be looking forward to the last 5 minutes when you have a chance to put it up. Thanks again dantanasgirl.
Could the year cited for this piece (1951) be in error by 1 year? At 16:20, Dean Martin commences "Oh Marie" and it sounds exactly like the audio of his official Capitol recording made on April 8, 1952. Dean originally signed with Capitol on August 12, 1948 and signed again in January of 1952. Therefore, this conceivably could be 1951 but I'm just wondering whether it might not be 1952. Dantanasgirl, is 1951 cited in the piece? Info on this film does not (yet) reside at IMDB.
@dantanasgirl Let us know when you get that missing 5 minutes. Personally I found the last 10 minutes of the current clip fascinating, all that old industrial technology and specialist skills that have been supplanted by the relative ease of digital.
Ol' Mel is pretty good in front of the camera! Funny bit! I wonder how many voice actors are able to make the transitition to acting in front of a camera.
Since 1951 was the year when this film was made that means that those tape recorders were brand new technology! 51 is supposedly the 1st year that magnetic tape recordings came "on line" in most of the big name recording studios.
Also interesting that the 45 rpm record shown had a small hole cardboard centerpiece included to allow the phono without a "45" spindle to play the record centered on the turntable. That remained the norm in Britain throughout the 50s and most of the 60s as well.
The thing that strikes me is how much care and attention went into recorded music once upon a time. Hard to believe that it's all vanished. Future generations have a lot to answer for with their relentless quest for lower quality and "convenience"
@JohnnyFriendly Not sure what you mean...I'm a recording engineer & musician, and I can tell you that we put plenty of care and attention into recording music these days. Sure, the duplication process has changed (CD replication is pretty similar to this, actually), but what's really changed is how people consume music. Doesn't mean quality music isn't being made, or that those producing the music don't care about it. We do!
Love Nipper and the sign 'Dog Records 4 cents'. Probably got a howl from the Capitol Records crews watching this. :-) Amazing time capsule. So much cool deco and art moderne architecture there at the time. I bet most of it's gone now, shame.
This was indeed a special promotional film, shown only to Capitol executives and their sales force/distributors. Harry Stewart was "Yogi Yorgesson" {used the same voice as "Wally Walrus" in Walter Lantz's "Woody Woodpecker" cartoons at the time}.
@14Hodges14 5515 Melrose originally the Consolidated Film Corp. NBC Radio bought the building and used it until 1938 when they moved to Sunset & Vine. KHJ took over for a few years, starting 12/ 1/1940, then moved to the Don Lee Building at 1313 Vine on 7/ 1/1948. Capitol was there from 1948 until the Capitol Tower was ready in '56; KHJ returned on 12/ 22/1961. KHJ/KRTH & KHJ-TV/K-CAL9 remained until 2007. CBS owns the property and is leased to Paramount as office space.
@Michaeldair So, for a short while, Melrose Avenue was home to Capitol Records... right in front of the Paramount and RKO studio lots, of all places. That's so awesome!
been looking for this film for years,,,i got alot of capitol records promos regarding the tower when they did the ground breaking for the capitol tower in 1954 and the giveaway cardboard tower souvenier record when you took the tour of the round record building,,,thanks for posting,,,david keeler
I think a new documentary should be made about the current recording techniques and show the general public all the work that goes into making a recording. I bring this up because the guy complaining about 85 cents being too much mirrors the mind-set of people today who bellyache if they have to spend 99 cents on-line for a song. 99 cents, by today's standards, is still super cheap when you factor in all the time and energy put into the making of just one recording but yet people still complain.
As a key networking group on Facebook for over 1000 Recorded Music Industry professionals (current and alumni) in the United States, we highly recommend this film, however we are disappointed that part 2 has not been loaded up yet on You Tube. Please load up part 2 so we can see its conclusion.
@YeOldeUSARecordCo I hope it can be put up as well. It's annoyed when stuff like this happen and they leave you hanging for years all because they never care to do more for you (having used YouTube for the past 5 years has given me some good/bad experiences there).
It cuts off at 29.55....can you post the rest of it as part 2? This is a wonderful rarity and people just have to see the bizarre ending! I knew Mel for 11 years and wish I had known about this while Mel was alive. Thanks for posting this! :-)
@melfan1978 I want to see it, I hope we can see it, I don't wan't to be denied how it ended. If not for that, than for the record stampin' action I was promised!
I like how at 2:05 da goils -er, GIRLS are waiting for their cue
dboard9 1 month ago
I like the way Mel forces the guy to go to Capitol.
rmk4362 2 months ago
I love the BOZO Approved banner!
cubantoro 2 months ago
This was fantastic! I can't wait to see the last few minutes of this now. The guy bowing at the record dealer made me laugh pretty hard. Thank you for posting this, absolutely fascinating.
tonysakich 4 months ago
2 people hate Bugs Bunny
andyotay 5 months ago
No way. They developed the records in Scranton? That's pretty neat.
baxterfilms 7 months ago
Classic, Thanks fer this, m8..
BadNews88 7 months ago
This was absolutely great! Thanks again for posting - looking forward to the last 5 min as well...
tarotmusic 7 months ago
this is great. old hollywood.
wackyworldnews 7 months ago
The country-western singer is Jimmy Wakely. His most famous song is his 1949 duet with Margaret Whiting, "Slippin' Around," which was a #1 hit. The pair also made the very first recording of the Christmas classic "Silver Bells," released in 1950.
superbu1 7 months ago
Thank you so much for finding and posting this wonderful little chip of history. I'll be looking forward to the last 5 minutes when you have a chance to put it up. Thanks again dantanasgirl.
leongaer 7 months ago
Great. Thanks again.
jeffjazzwraight 7 months ago
Could the year cited for this piece (1951) be in error by 1 year? At 16:20, Dean Martin commences "Oh Marie" and it sounds exactly like the audio of his official Capitol recording made on April 8, 1952. Dean originally signed with Capitol on August 12, 1948 and signed again in January of 1952. Therefore, this conceivably could be 1951 but I'm just wondering whether it might not be 1952. Dantanasgirl, is 1951 cited in the piece? Info on this film does not (yet) reside at IMDB.
billturgeon 7 months ago 5
@billturgeon I think you are right!! Good call!
dantanasgirl 7 months ago
Fascinating & most enjoyable. Pity the last 5 mins is missing. Maybe at some point that could be sorted out. Thanks so much for the post though.
jeffjazzwraight 7 months ago 2
@jeffjazzwraight I am working on getting those last 5 minutes. Keep you posted...
dantanasgirl 7 months ago 2
@dantanasgirl Let us know when you get that missing 5 minutes. Personally I found the last 10 minutes of the current clip fascinating, all that old industrial technology and specialist skills that have been supplanted by the relative ease of digital.
ricadus 5 months ago
Wonderful! Many of the album that I produced over the years were edited, mastered and/or mixed at Capitol Records in Hollywood. Brings back memories.
jslasher1 8 months ago
Ol' Mel is pretty good in front of the camera! Funny bit! I wonder how many voice actors are able to make the transitition to acting in front of a camera.
karmadhyana 8 months ago 2
nice MG TD!
dantebronte 8 months ago
watch?v=mb4knlFwnQg
TheBlessedOne18 8 months ago
Mel is using the voice he later used for Barney Rubble and Heathcliff The Cat!
VideoNitekatt 8 months ago
Really great video! I used to go to Wallichs Music City all the time to buy records!
randallrandall1 8 months ago
This was fabulous! By the way, the country singer was not Merle Travis...
Pickinbuddy 8 months ago
I would love to have the display shown around 18 minutes as a poster!
galactorz 8 months ago
Since 1951 was the year when this film was made that means that those tape recorders were brand new technology! 51 is supposedly the 1st year that magnetic tape recordings came "on line" in most of the big name recording studios.
Also interesting that the 45 rpm record shown had a small hole cardboard centerpiece included to allow the phono without a "45" spindle to play the record centered on the turntable. That remained the norm in Britain throughout the 50s and most of the 60s as well.
Rotis59 8 months ago 2
I like the stab at RCA. Mel uses Nipper for a hat rack and "Dog Records 4 cents"
Vaultovinyl 8 months ago 3
The thing that strikes me is how much care and attention went into recorded music once upon a time. Hard to believe that it's all vanished. Future generations have a lot to answer for with their relentless quest for lower quality and "convenience"
JohnnyFriendly 8 months ago 7
@JohnnyFriendly Not sure what you mean...I'm a recording engineer & musician, and I can tell you that we put plenty of care and attention into recording music these days. Sure, the duplication process has changed (CD replication is pretty similar to this, actually), but what's really changed is how people consume music. Doesn't mean quality music isn't being made, or that those producing the music don't care about it. We do!
bryandaste 7 months ago 3
@JohnnyFriendly Agreed, m8..
BadNews88 7 months ago
Ditto the others in wanting to see the last few minutes. Can you please post part two?
Bill5925 8 months ago 2
Love Nipper and the sign 'Dog Records 4 cents'. Probably got a howl from the Capitol Records crews watching this. :-) Amazing time capsule. So much cool deco and art moderne architecture there at the time. I bet most of it's gone now, shame.
nakamichiguy 8 months ago
This is gold. Thanks.
gdsza 8 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Glenn Wallichs, owner of "Wallichs' Music City", was one of the three founders of Capitol, with Johnny Mercer and Buddy DeSylva.
fromthesidelines 8 months ago
This was indeed a special promotional film, shown only to Capitol executives and their sales force/distributors. Harry Stewart was "Yogi Yorgesson" {used the same voice as "Wally Walrus" in Walter Lantz's "Woody Woodpecker" cartoons at the time}.
fromthesidelines 8 months ago 2
I never realized that Capitol Records was in the very same building that later became
93/KHJ radio!
14Hodges14 8 months ago
@14Hodges14 - Not just 93/KHJ radio, but also KHJ-TV Channel 9. (Which at the time was at 1313 North Vine Street.)
wmbrown6 8 months ago
@14Hodges14 5515 Melrose originally the Consolidated Film Corp. NBC Radio bought the building and used it until 1938 when they moved to Sunset & Vine. KHJ took over for a few years, starting 12/ 1/1940, then moved to the Don Lee Building at 1313 Vine on 7/ 1/1948. Capitol was there from 1948 until the Capitol Tower was ready in '56; KHJ returned on 12/ 22/1961. KHJ/KRTH & KHJ-TV/K-CAL9 remained until 2007. CBS owns the property and is leased to Paramount as office space.
Michaeldair 8 months ago 2
@Michaeldair So, for a short while, Melrose Avenue was home to Capitol Records... right in front of the Paramount and RKO studio lots, of all places. That's so awesome!
kresblain 7 months ago
been looking for this film for years,,,i got alot of capitol records promos regarding the tower when they did the ground breaking for the capitol tower in 1954 and the giveaway cardboard tower souvenier record when you took the tour of the round record building,,,thanks for posting,,,david keeler
photo10 8 months ago
Love it!
donnalethal 8 months ago
Thank you so much for putting this up. Great stuff.
aarontuneup 8 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
I think a new documentary should be made about the current recording techniques and show the general public all the work that goes into making a recording. I bring this up because the guy complaining about 85 cents being too much mirrors the mind-set of people today who bellyache if they have to spend 99 cents on-line for a song. 99 cents, by today's standards, is still super cheap when you factor in all the time and energy put into the making of just one recording but yet people still complain.
ACcountryFan 8 months ago
Wonderful footage of Mel Blanc and the pop-culture of the time period!!
ACcountryFan 8 months ago
wow, that dude was using acetone with no gloves.... oh the good old days!
TheZappawizard 8 months ago 4
Wow!
roon41 8 months ago
As a key networking group on Facebook for over 1000 Recorded Music Industry professionals (current and alumni) in the United States, we highly recommend this film, however we are disappointed that part 2 has not been loaded up yet on You Tube. Please load up part 2 so we can see its conclusion.
Regards - Ye Olde American Record Companyarians
YeOldeUSARecordCo 8 months ago
@YeOldeUSARecordCo I hope it can be put up as well. It's annoyed when stuff like this happen and they leave you hanging for years all because they never care to do more for you (having used YouTube for the past 5 years has given me some good/bad experiences there).
RetroToledo 8 months ago
It cuts off at 29.55....can you post the rest of it as part 2? This is a wonderful rarity and people just have to see the bizarre ending! I knew Mel for 11 years and wish I had known about this while Mel was alive. Thanks for posting this! :-)
melfan1978 8 months ago
@melfan1978 I want to see it, I hope we can see it, I don't wan't to be denied how it ended. If not for that, than for the record stampin' action I was promised!
RetroToledo 8 months ago
16:15 looks like the Jordanaires
RockinEd 8 months ago
Mel Blanc is so Swag! Grand Swag!
Lemanic89 8 months ago
Mel Blanc ROCKS FOREVER!!
How nice!
MEponyfan 8 months ago
BTW that's Jimmy Wakely doing "My Heart Has Plenty Of Room".
TopshelfTom 8 months ago 2
This is amazing!!!
TopshelfTom 8 months ago
fascinating!
bluegirl27 8 months ago