AUDIBILITIES
By Emmet Robinson
King Street Recording Company
Volume 87, Spring 2025
610-647-4341 kingstreetrecord@aol.com
Voices
Pennsylvania Law – Fine Points Explained
Hosted by retired enforcement officer and senior magisterial judge John R Bailey, his original online audio programs are growing in popularity. Combining the expertise of guest speakers with his own broad experience has resulted in a series of informative audio podcasts to increase the general public’s awareness of various aspects of the law. The latest addition explains the rights and responsibilities of both landlords and tenants. Previous topics include:
• Title 75: general aspects of the PA vehicle code, including the point system
• Credit card debt when it becomes a matter for the court.
• The role of a public defender.
• Duties and responsibilities of a Pennsylvania Constable.
• The Castle Doctrine: the truth about your rights and responsibilities regarding firearms use for home defense.
• Crimes against the elderly, including telephone scams.
• Criminal law procedure including correct apparel and behavior in a courtroom.
• Pennsylvania Landlord and Tenant Procedures explains both the rights and responsibilities of commercial property owners and their renters. Longer and more detailed than previous programs, this features guest attorney Matthew Bradley in a lively discussion with Judge Bailey.
New topics are added every four to six weeks. Go to: www.fromthebench.info
Living History – A Life Well Traveled
There’s so much in the recent news about immigration that it reminds us that very single person living here now is either an immigrant, or the descendant of immigrants. There are no exceptions.
We are truly fortunate to live here in America to enjoy freedoms unavailable elsewhere. Some appreciate that more than others, and I was recently reminded of that.
An old tape was brought in for preservation and conversion to disk.
On the tape were the voices of former immigrants, now naturalized citizens, describing their difficult histories – including surviving a German prison camp with nothing but courage and ingenuity. The stories, told by those who lived them, were absolutely chilling – and the heartfelt love they expressed for their adopted country brought a tear to the eye.
Personal Faves
About 40 years ago, John became his own disk jockey and assembled all of his favorite tunes on long play open-reel tapes. He loved listening to his faves played without interruption. Then the tape recorder died.
Years passed and he began to miss his favorite music. So, he brought the tapes here for transfer to digital disk.
The tapes were from that era when tape manufacturers were required to change the chemical formulation of their products – for the ecology, y’know. No one could have known it then but, over time, the tapes would become sticky and, eventually, impossible to play. Luckily, John’s tapes had held up pretty well and just required a little special handling for accurate playback.
The music was a treat for me because musicians back then were less reliant on synthesizers and played traditional instruments – real horns, strings, drums and pianos. Smooth voices sang in harmony.
With a little touch-up here and there for added clarity, and the removal of an occasional unwanted noise, the first two reels of John’s faves have been carefully preserved for many years of enjoyment.
How long did that take? Just over fourteen hours.
On the Workbench
One morning I found a large envelope in the mailbox. In it was an audiocassette (remember those?) that would no longer play – the tape had broken.
After removing several tiny screws, I opened the cassette shell, found the missing ends and made the repair with a precision splicing tool. That was the easy part.
The tricky part was reassembling the cassette. Cassette tape is narrow, and quite thin. It’s also a bit springy, and resists being tucked into such a shallow enclosure. I’d get it all placed carefully in the bottom half of the shell, then try to fasten on the top. At the slightest jiggle the tape would pop out on the bench and I’d have to start over. The third time was the charm, the tape played perfectly, and I was treated to a pleasant afternoon concert by a symphony orchestra.
Did you know that broken videotapes can be repaired?
Changing With the Times
King Street Recording Company began as a location recording service for musicians and entertainers – capturing and preserving their live performances as they happened.
After a couple of years a small studio was established; then a larger facility on Malvern’s King Street. A wide variety of singers, songwriters and musicians have recorded here performing folk, blues, jazz and rock plus an occasional multi-voice chorus.
Along with the music has been a growing variety of spoken word recordings. These would include radio commercials, narration for corporate videos, a six-volume series on success tactics for business owners, public service announcements, narratives for stress relief, meditation, relaxation, mid-life career change, finding a mate, educational audio programs, pre-recorded eulogies, original poetry and, finally, audiobooks.
Audiobooks are growing in popularity as they allow you to be more efficient by listening while driving. Productions thus far have included an extended historical biography and a selection of novels, two of which I was pleased to both edit and narrate.
When well done, the power of the spoken word can have tremendous emotional impact. People, places and events can come alive in sound much more effectively than on the plain printed page.
What have you written that might find a larger audience as an audio program? Call here for information.
Wild Card
You might not have known, but I’ve been providing editorial services for about 40 years. What makes it fun is the wide variety of assignments I’m given. Here are some examples:
Signage, newsletters and advertising slogans for area businesses, marketing efforts for a health club, directory listings, the sales procedure for an area business, papers for a university student, scripts for corporate training videos, a university fund-raising effort, songs, short stories, a children’s’ rhyme, a selection of novels and a cookbook. I never get bored!
I believe that anything to appear in print needs a professional review prior to publication. Everything I write is reviewed by a professional editor – and I’m always surprised to find that my efforts aren’t perfect!
Although you’re probably not writing “The Great American Novel,”
you might know someone who’s putting words on paper and might appreciate a little help. I’d be pleased if you’d point them in my direction!
The Autograph is Free!
The Adventures of Dave and Dani is my 220-page novella in which a downsized accountant finds a new and rewarding profession, a high school girl becomes a successful business owner – and the two of them find each other!
Follow their adventures as they deal with a refugee from organized crime, a frivolous lawsuit, suicide prevention, an attempted robbery, two mad bombers, a stalker, the FBI, a winning lottery ticket, a timely inheritance and an enjoyable new pastime!
Autographed Copies are $24.95 including tax and shipping.
Send cash or check to P.O. Box 402, Malvern, PA 19355
