I didn't see a lathe nor did anyone mention such when I last visited the 
Pavek.

Might that short have been "Listen to This!" ?

joe salerno


Art Shifrin wrote:
> There's a Ruth Etting short, circa 1935 that has a great opening showing an
> ET sized master being cut in a control room.  It transitions to her singing
> in the studio and thereafter to the story that the film portrays  I think
> that the disk is wax but haven't seen it for X years.  Perhaps it is a
> lacquer.  Search amongst her shorts & you might get lucky ( (double entendre
> intentional).  If you do find it, then I'd appreciate knowing the title and
> from where a copy might be obtained.
> 
> There's also a delightful promotional short depicting the production of a
> Command Performance.  It includes Bob Hope, Judy Garland and Lana Turner.
> It's seen it several times on TCM.  I think that it includes a montage of
> the recording and distribution process.  The montage might contain a shot of
> a 16 or 17" lacquer being cut, because that's how the AFRS was mastering
> their programs during WWII.
> 
> Another possibility is to inquire at the Pavek Museum.  Their technical
> collection is stupendous.  I wouldn't be surprised if they have an operating
> lathe.  BTW I have about ten never-cut 16" Audio brand lacquers & would
> contribute one if newly produced footage had to be shot.
> 
> Yet another source for cutting ET sized wax is the  4 reel Vitaphone Film
> made in Sept / Oct '26.  It has shots of recording, shooting and playing
> back such films.  The host is Edward B. Craft, then a Bell Labs VP.
> Problem: I can't dredge out the film's title from my memory cells as I'm
> typing this.
> 
> Best,
> Art (Shiffy) Shifrin
> www.shifrin.net
>