Home Movie Test with Sound (1963)

Back in the days before digital videos and computers, special effects in home movies were difficult to do. I always wanted sound with my films but until the 1970s when Kodak brought out their Ektasound system, it was nearly out of the question.
In December 1963, along with my buddy Alan, we shot a short piece of 8mm film with a reel-to-reel tape recorder running for the sound track. It wasn't until 1974 that I was able to truly sync them. Here is that film.
Production Note: This video is from a 1980s B&W Betamax transfer. I still have the original color film and I hope to transfer it and upload it soon.
Original Views: 1,895
December 1963 (w/1974 intro)

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People & Blogs

Tags:

• Kerry
• Decker
• 8mm
• sound
• 1963
• 1974
• Kodak

[umajunkcollector]

So I was not permitted to put sound and film together as a kid. My first sound film experiance was when my dad bought a used WWII B&H Filmoshound 16mm projector. We watched sound movies in the basement (my mom got them from many places). My faves were travel, how to, and educational, especially from Bell Labs (like Our Mr Sun). Many films were silly. I recently got a Filmosound projector from ebay, and may get a 16mm camera to mess with film. I like old skool, it's fun!

[KKD1247]

HI. I used to watch 16mm sound movies in my basement too. My Dad let me paint a patch of white on the old wall & I could watch them there. I have a copy of "Our Mr Sun"....those were the days!

[umajunkcollector]

NO CASSETTES yet at that time! So if you did it portable, you probably used 3" or 5" reel to reel. That was the advent of solid state RtR too, most units were still TUBE (like those Wollensak 1500's they used in AV at school)! Did they have 8-track recorders yet in 63? I was 9, and my first RtR experiance was my brother's MIJ Hilton rim drive 3" w/crystal mic that he got for xmas. I was totally amased (and not allowed to touch it - or else)! My mom had a Brownie 8mm, but I was not allowed...

[KKD1247]

HI. Thanks for the message! I used a 7" Voice of Music tape reel-to-reel recorder for the sound. It was AC only, so I had to string an extension cord out my front door to the porch.

As for 8-tracks, it was the early 1970s when I first used one. (Had an 8-track recorder at the time too.)

[KKD1247]

I have several audio cassette soundtrack films I made in early 70s. I hope to get them up here soon.

[amberola1b]

I did the exact same thing, only with an old army issue R.C.A. projector with a separate speaker unit. That *&^@@ :( @@%$^ was heavy, but it ran well. I had all sorts of odd b/w films like castle films etc. And I also have a copy although be it faded, of Our Mr. Sun. I remember seeing it in elementary school, and it was my favorite instructional film back when I was a kid. Now I`m a theatre projectionist and have been for over 30 years.

[tubeie07]

Oh, aren't we all feeling old now Kerry! Wonderful how we all just 'jumped into things' to create what we wanted - I too did the same thing with film/tape. In fact when I got a recorder that would allow speed adjustment as it played, I could subtly adjust it thought out the movie to bring everything back in sync! Those were the days, nothing was a problem! Great posting there!