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Handy (Jam) OrganizationHow to Listen To... New Dimensions in Sound (1957)

Demonstration of the latest audio technology: stereo sound.


This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives

Producer: Handy (Jam) Organization
Sponsor: RCA Victor Corporation
Audio/Visual: Sd, C
Keywords: Media: Phonograph; Music

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: Marysz - - August 16, 2005
Subject: High Fidelity Breaks Up Families
A variety of men, all named Smith, enthuse about hi-fidelity sound to an off-screen male narrator. Although we see the various Smiths in pristine domestic settings, we never see their spouses or children. One Smith tells the announcer that his wife threatens to leave him because of his enthusiasm for hi-fi. Are we surprised? The various Smiths obsessive-compulsive attitudes about stereo components and listening to long pieces of classical music are guaranteed to drive family members out of the house. Despite their great sound systems, the Smith men are a forlorn group. Its a good thing the narrator dropped in for a visit. If it werent for him, these men would have no one to talk to.

Reviewer: Neon Bozo - - February 18, 2004
Subject: Fantastical Wayback Machine For Audiophiles....
While watching this I kept thinking to myself....imagine Trent Reznor sitting in his studio listening to Nine Inch Nails 5.1 digital Surround Sound mixes and going "Golly Gee! Doesn't this High Fidelity record sound just swell?"

I am going to create my own soundtrack for this...during the silent parts (like the Grand Canyon flyover) I am going to insert the most horrifying death metal known to man. This will be a real hit at parties!!

The REALLY hilarious thing, aside from the various Mr. Smiths and their ultimate 3-dimensional cube-ality (meaning to a modern "cool" person these characters are "beyond square") is that yes the actual film itself is in mono.

How ironic.

I rate this 5, mostly for the comedic value, but also as an interesting look back 45 years to the Cro-Magnon days of modern audio technology....

Reviewer: Steve Nordby - - February 16, 2004
Subject: Technology Furniture for Your Home
"Hi-Fi" those young whipper-snappers called it, and then came stereo, but it wasn't good enough for the marketers at RCA, so they called it "Orthophonic".

Beautiful color as the do-it-yourself audiophile explains sound and how it is recorded and reproduced. Of course, you don't need to do it yourself, you can buy it all from RCA - high tech for the home in finely crafted wood furniture. Wish I had the record to play for the final part of this.

Reviewer: Spuzz - - August 14, 2003
Subject: Mr Smith goes to Stereoland
While no doubt people are commenting on the filn from an esthetic and audio viewpoint, I wanna comment on great the film looks. About 5 or 6 Mr Smiths, all of which I believe are played by the same actor are all awed by the wonders of High Fidelity Sound stereos, all of which are in fab late 50's living rooms. Even the stereos themselves look groovy. After much technical talk, One of the Mr Smiths lets us listen to Hi-fi-2, all we here is nothing. But wait! In a novel trick, the audio for this segment was obviously to be heard from an outside source. I would've loved to be in a theater when this was tried out. This is reccomended!

Reviewer: DanAmrich - - April 7, 2003
Subject: Sampleriffic
This film was intended to be shown with an accompanying record, to be played at the middle and end of the film as a stereo demonstration; nearly all the dialogue is without bed music, and since most of it explains how recorded audio and hi-fi systems work, it's awesome for anyone looking to drop some golly-gee-audio-is-keen style quote chestnuts into their techno mixes or what have you. And yes, great stock footage of the Grand Canyon in a lengthy flyby at the end!

Reviewer: pablo_altes - - March 19, 2003
Subject: Great aerial shots !
The last part of this movie presents beautiful color (and quite long) Grand Canyon aerial shots, perfect for editors !

Reviewer: pravda - - December 23, 2002
Subject: vinyl junkies and sound scavengers
excellent kitch demonstration for early developments in high fiedelity. amusing off screen naration and 60s living room design make this doc/ad essential for any sound enthusiast or vinyl junkie.

great sampling possibilities here

Shotlist

PRESENTS NEW STEREO RCA VICTOR PHONOGRAPH RECORDS & PLAYER. DEMONSTRATES SOUND OF STEREOPHONIC REPRODUCTION.


SOUND PERCEPTION MUSIC ORCHESTRAS PHONOGRAPHS RECORDS PLAYERS LISTENING STEREOPHONIC REPRODUCTION HIGH FIDELITY TECHNOLOGY MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS AUDIO LIVING ROOMS CONCERTS HOUSES HOMES INTERIORS MEN HOBBIES FADS CONDUCTING HANDS HUMOR Sound Stereophonic sound Phonographs Records Audio Audiophiles Music Conducting Surrealism Living rooms Grand Canyon Grand Canyon Suite Electronics (consumer)