SwingDJs

Just noticed this - it's on my local PBS station here in Cleveland tonight at 8pm . . .

Soundies: A Musical History Hosted by Michael Feinstein

Wednesday, March 14, 8:00pm CHANNEL 25 (WVIZ)


A look at soundies (precursors to music videos), which appeared on machines called panorams in the 1940s. Included: clips of Les Paul, Cab Calloway, Louis Jordan, Duke Ellington, Merle Travis and Kay Starr.

CC, Stereo TVG

It is a interesting documentary with very clean copies of Soundies that are usually seen in less than pristine condition.

Soundies are such cheap films that is it really hard to elevate them to any level of "art". The music and the artists carry the films. Nothing approaching cinematic value is on display.

It is pledge break time, so beware the long breaks.

ANd .. tossing in props to Michael Feinstein - I am not a fan of his style of singing, but that guy truly knows his stuff when it comes to popular music and the people who wrote the songs back in the 20s - 50s. He is astounding in his knowledge.

Mark Cantor, the LA film collector, is also in the show and those are likely his Soundies they used.

if any of you come to Seattle, make sure to go to the Experience Music Project (EMP), they have a working Soundie machine upstairs that has about 10 clips that rotate through. It was really fun to watch. made me think of MTV actually.

Put some soundies DVDs in the new DVD section (bottom of page) of OTR CDs at http://www.gregpoppleton.com

Please take a look

Cheers
Greg Poppleton