Back of the Mike (1938)

★★★★★ · Who Are These People? · Frame Rate · 2020-12-01

The radio technicians and studio performers in this short were all employees of broadcasting entrepreneur George W. Trendle's station WXYZ in Detroit, Michigan -- where the industrial-film production company that shot the film (Jam Handy) and the corporate sponsor (Chevrolet) were also headquartered. At the time of filming, this same crew was regularly assigned to produce, LIVE episodes of a nationally broadcast western-adventure series you've all heard of: THE LONE RANGER!!! Their phenomenal success led to their producing two more network series that also lasted into the early 1950s, THE…

★★★★★ · Who needs TV? · mervyn leroy · 2003-07-24

Highly entertaining, if hellishly misleading, look at the "man behind the curtain" of network radio. Aficionados will stand up on their hind legs and bark for the images of a vintage '38 broadcast in progress, but the film purveys some dark and dubious lessons: Never leave witnesses to a crime. Only children are gullible enough to enjoy radio dramas. Children wear neckties in their bedrooms. The cheapest of afternoon serials could afford a team of 7 professional sound men. Blondes are an illusion. The great thing about the film is that it shows radio as a visual medium, sort of a personal TV…

★★★★★ · Brilliant! · bread · 2006-10-07

I found this film to be Brilliant! I loved seeing how a radio show is made (I'm only 15, so they are before my time), And i loved the clever way they show how radio uses the imagination. It's a very entertaining film, one of the best in the archive.

★★★★★ · Back of the Mike · Doc Long · 2009-04-15

Great. This film shows how Old Time Radio produced sound effects for the "Theater of the Mind."

★★★★★ · Back of the Mike · whiskey951 · 2011-09-21

Realy enjoyed the shot film. reminds me when I use to "WATCH" the radio when I was a kid. I have watched this several times and just discovered the car is english made. Steering wheel is on the right hand side. Wonder why they didn't use a american made car or is this a clip from a old movie. I gave this 5 stars for the fun of watching and the memories it brought back.

★★★★★ · Crackin' Good · Trio33 · 2006-03-22

Starts off slow with the vvisualization of what the boy is thinking, but when it gets into the radio studio it is very entertaining watching how many people jumped around to make the sounds!