If you’re typical, tucked away in your attic (or closet or basement) are old sound recordings of people and events that are important to you. Having those old tapes and disks restored and converted to CD, can provide entertaining listening. Here are some examples:

The Attorney

The tape was of an original interview recorded sometime during the ‘60s. The voice on the tape was that of the client’s grandfather, who’d been a feisty young attorney working in San Francisco at the time of the 1906 earthquake.

When the tremors began, he was in Oakland on business. All public transportation had been commandeered for emergency use only, so he made his way to the waterfront. Waiting until a boatload of emergency supplies had just left the dock, he made a flying leap to the rear deck and said to the surprised crew, “Now, either drown me or take me to San Francisco!”

His concern was centered on his wedding, planned for that weekend. The ring and all of his cash were in his office safe, right in the center of the disaster area!

Arriving at his office location, he found that the ‘quake had collapsed all of the masonry from the building, leaving nothing but a skeleton of steel beams. High above his head, he could see the safe he needed to reach – welded to a beam on the 3^rdfloor!

Possessed of unusual determination, he somehow managed to climb up the beams to get what he needed, and the wedding proceeded as planned!

Hearing this story, told first-hand by the man himself, was exciting beyond belief!

The Homesteader

There was a time in America when tracts of land were free for the taking. The taking was the easy part; it was the keeping that provided the challenge.

The open reel tape was of the client’s aunt, recalling what life had been like as a homesteader in the Dakotas during the late 1800’s. What an incredibly tough and tenacious people they were! They faced drought in the summer, sub-zero blizzards in the winter, and every hardship you could think of in between.

Driving the Interstate in our air-conditioned cars, favorite music on the CD player, cell phone nearby, coffee or cooling drink in hand, we fail to appreciate the trials and tribulations our early ancestors faced every day.

This priceless recording was an example of living history at its best, telling the story the way it happened, by those who made it happen – and did it the hard way!

The Sailor

It’s challenging to find a way to play a 78-RPM steel disc that’s only 6” in diameter. The recording had been made by a weary sailor aboard a battle-ship in the war-torn Pacific during WWII. His brief and heart-felt message was simply to let his family know that he was all right. As he spoke, his words were punctuated by occasional cannon fire!

After hearing someone under such extreme stress attempting to sound calm and comforting to his loved ones, I don’t believe a photo could have conveyed the same emotional impact.

The Broadcast Executive

In the late 1930s, Don was appointed Executive Director of the Western Division of Columbia Broadcasting Corp. in Los Angeles. So outstanding was his leadership that he became a living legend. On his retirement, to commemorate his career, his staff wrote and recorded a collection of anecdotes and tributes to their illustrious leader. Featuring a multitude of voices, music and sound effects, and loaded with loving humor, this amazing set of recordings was produced on 78 RPM microgroove acetates in July of 1949. Interestingly, after 50 years the humor is still funny!

 These wonderful examples of recorded personal history make fascinating listening. What stories doyou have tucked away in your attic that should be restored and preserved?

Materials of this kind can be fragile, and won’t last forever.
They are fading while you read this. What are you waiting for?
  Save those sounds and that are important to you – for yourself, for your family, and for future generations.
  Call now for an appointment: 610-647-4341

King Street Recording Company
Professional Audio Services for Any Purpose You Can Think Of
Since 1967
610-647-4341
kingstreetrecord@aol.com
www.kingstreetrecording.com

P.S. Old photos can be made into custom covers for your CDs!
P.P.S. Old videos can be restored, too!