Inventor of Canned Laughter Dies - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brett Ferino · 04-24-2003, 07:11 AM

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - The inventor of the machine that provides canned laughter for television shows, boon to some producers and bane to some viewers, has died.

Charles Rolland Douglass, a longtime CBS engineer, died April 8 at age 93.

Douglass invented the "Laff Box" in the 1950s when he was working as a technical director on a number of TV shows that broadcast live. The idea was to enhance the audience reaction that home viewers heard -- or cover over dead spots if a joke failed. He earned an Emmy for engineering in 1992.

"My father was very jovial, polite to everyone, and everyone in Hollywood loved him," Douglass' son Bob, an Emmy-winning sound mixer, tells the AP.

Bob Douglass continues to run the business his father started, Northridge Electronics. The company's product enables TV producers to add "giggles, guffaws, cries, moans, jeers, ohs and ahs" to shows, even if they're not filmed before an audience.

Newer versions of the Laff Box also have recordings of laughter from other parts of the world, for use in overseas markets.

Charles Douglass worked as a radio engineer and served in the Navy during World War II, where he worked on the development of shipboard radar. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, two sons, a brother and two grandchildren.

*GoodMorningCalgary* · 04-24-2003, 08:52 AM

aww thats awful

¤I Love Clay Aiken¤ · 04-24-2003, 12:08 PM

Aw, the laugh track man! But, if you ask me the laughs sounded so fake!! Im glad it wasnt used for Wonder Years and Malcom in the Middle.

BLT · 04-24-2003, 02:55 PM

Inventor of Canned Laughter Dies
Wed, Apr 23, 2003 03:24 PM PDT

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - The inventor of the machine that provides canned laughter for television shows, boon to some producers and bane to some viewers, has died.

Charles Rolland Douglass, a longtime CBS engineer, died April 8 at age 93.

Douglass invented the "Laff Box" in the 1950s when he was working as a technical director on a number of TV shows that broadcast live. The idea was to enhance the audience reaction that home viewers heard -- or cover over dead spots if a joke failed. He earned an Emmy for engineering in 1992.

"My father was very jovial, polite to everyone, and everyone in Hollywood loved him," Douglass' son Bob, an Emmy-winning sound mixer, tells the AP.

Bob Douglass continues to run the business his father started, Northridge Electronics. The company's product enables TV producers to add "giggles, guffaws, cries, moans, jeers, ohs and ahs" to shows, even if they're not filmed before an audience.

Newer versions of the Laff Box also have recordings of laughter from other parts of the world, for use in overseas markets.

Charles Douglass worked as a radio engineer and served in the Navy during World War II, where he worked on the development of shipboard radar. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, two sons, a brother and two grandchildren.

F*O*L 1988 · 04-24-2003, 02:56 PM

That's a shame.

*Pleasant Tomorrow* · 04-24-2003, 03:04 PM

Aww, that's so sad. He died right on my birthday, too.

¤I Love Clay Aiken¤ · 04-24-2003, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by *A TV People*
Aww, that's so sad. He died right on my birthday, too.

!!

Central Perk · 04-24-2003, 03:07 PM

I'm sorry that he died and I'm sorry that he did invent canned laughter, I never really liked it that much.

*Pleasant Tomorrow* · 04-24-2003, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by •Shotz|NYC•

!!

Thanks lol, it was a few weeks ago, though...because it said he died on April 8th.

*PinkLady* · 04-24-2003, 06:57 PM

It's sad that he died.

But it's even sadder that he will be forever remembered for inventing canned laughter.

TJL · 04-24-2003, 07:05 PM

The day the laughter died...

Pitooey · 04-24-2003, 07:56 PM

I guess I'm the only one who liked the canned laughter. When I would hear it , It would make me laugh.

Seriously, At least people will never forget him for his canned laughter.

ABlairican Pie · 04-24-2003, 09:42 PM

~*Hannah_Lee*~ · 04-24-2003, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TJL
The day the laughter died...

That's really sad that he died. I really liked the laugh track on I Dream of Jeannie.

harper · 05-22-2003, 09:07 AM

alan Alda never used canned laughter in the operating room.He wanted natural responses of the actors to be the focal point.He believed that the seriousness of war shouldn't be prodded by canned laughter to make the show funnier.He felt the dialogue should be real not be a serious of set ups so the canned laughter becomes the audience.I'am phrasing what he said.That is why Alan Alda is both the heart and soul of the show.He knew how to make the show better.The only gripe I have in the early shows was that the producers depended on A.To Carry the Show but having him be the main story.I think this was to get the show a indentity for the audience to be hooked on.There are many able bodies that could carry storylines like Mclean Stevenson and L.Swit.That's just my opinion.

04-24-2003, 07:11 AM	#1
Brett Ferino Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 18, 2000 Location: PA Posts: 3,782	Inventor of Canned Laughter Dies LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - The inventor of the machine that provides canned laughter for television shows, boon to some producers and bane to some viewers, has died. Charles Rolland Douglass, a longtime CBS engineer, died April 8 at age 93. Douglass invented the "Laff Box" in the 1950s when he was working as a technical director on a number of TV shows that broadcast live. The idea was to enhance the audience reaction that home viewers heard -- or cover over dead spots if a joke failed. He earned an Emmy for engineering in 1992. "My father was very jovial, polite to everyone, and everyone in Hollywood loved him," Douglass' son Bob, an Emmy-winning sound mixer, tells the AP. Bob Douglass continues to run the business his father started, Northridge Electronics. The company's product enables TV producers to add "giggles, guffaws, cries, moans, jeers, ohs and ahs" to shows, even if they're not filmed before an audience. Newer versions of the Laff Box also have recordings of laughter from other parts of the world, for use in overseas markets. Charles Douglass worked as a radio engineer and served in the Navy during World War II, where he worked on the development of shipboard radar. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, two sons, a brother and two grandchildren.

04-24-2003, 08:52 AM	#2
GoodMorningCalgary Banana Hammock! Senior Member Join Date: Dec 02, 2002 Location: Sacred Heart Hospital Posts: 1,225	aww thats awful
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04-24-2003, 12:08 PM	#3
¤I Love Clay Aiken¤ MISS APRIL Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 19, 2001 Location: Parsonsfield ME Shaws - Screwing my way up the employment ladder! Posts: 68,780	Aw, the laugh track man! But, if you ask me the laughs sounded so fake!! Im glad it wasnt used for Wonder Years and Malcom in the Middle.
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04-24-2003, 02:55 PM	#4
BLT Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 06, 2003 Posts: 496	Inventor of Canned Laughter Dies Inventor of Canned Laughter Dies Wed, Apr 23, 2003 03:24 PM PDT LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - The inventor of the machine that provides canned laughter for television shows, boon to some producers and bane to some viewers, has died. Charles Rolland Douglass, a longtime CBS engineer, died April 8 at age 93. Douglass invented the "Laff Box" in the 1950s when he was working as a technical director on a number of TV shows that broadcast live. The idea was to enhance the audience reaction that home viewers heard -- or cover over dead spots if a joke failed. He earned an Emmy for engineering in 1992. "My father was very jovial, polite to everyone, and everyone in Hollywood loved him," Douglass' son Bob, an Emmy-winning sound mixer, tells the AP. Bob Douglass continues to run the business his father started, Northridge Electronics. The company's product enables TV producers to add "giggles, guffaws, cries, moans, jeers, ohs and ahs" to shows, even if they're not filmed before an audience. Newer versions of the Laff Box also have recordings of laughter from other parts of the world, for use in overseas markets. Charles Douglass worked as a radio engineer and served in the Navy during World War II, where he worked on the development of shipboard radar. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, two sons, a brother and two grandchildren.

04-24-2003, 03:04 PM	#6
Pleasant Tomorrow Member Forum Addict Join Date: Feb 19, 2003 Location: New York Posts: 69,525	Aww, that's so sad. He died right on my birthday, too.
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04-24-2003, 02:56 PM	#5
FOL 1988 Pat the Bat Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 20, 2002 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 434	That's a shame.

04-24-2003, 03:07 PM	#8
Central Perk ~~~~~ Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 10, 2002 Posts: 4,553	I'm sorry that he died and I'm sorry that he did invent canned laughter, I never really liked it that much.

04-24-2003, 06:57 PM	#10
PinkLady Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jun 04, 2002 Posts: 7,457	It's sad that he died. But it's even sadder that he will be forever remembered for inventing canned laughter.

04-24-2003, 07:05 PM	#11
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	The day the laughter died...
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04-24-2003, 07:56 PM	#12
Pitooey Member Forum Star Join Date: Feb 15, 2001 Location: Rocking in Transylvania. Posts: 15,042	I guess I'm the only one who liked the canned laughter. When I would hear it , It would make me laugh. Seriously, At least people will never forget him for his canned laughter.
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04-24-2003, 09:42 PM	#13
ABlairican Pie Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 12, 2001 Location: Living where cats reign more Supreme than a pizza. Posts: 31,619	re: goodbye, Canned Laughter Man.
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05-22-2003, 09:07 AM	#15
harper gentlegiant Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 04, 2003 Location: Towson,Maryland Posts: 130	canned laughter not used on mash alan Alda never used canned laughter in the operating room.He wanted natural responses of the actors to be the focal point.He believed that the seriousness of war shouldn't be prodded by canned laughter to make the show funnier.He felt the dialogue should be real not be a serious of set ups so the canned laughter becomes the audience.I'am phrasing what he said.That is why Alan Alda is both the heart and soul of the show.He knew how to make the show better.The only gripe I have in the early shows was that the producers depended on A.To Carry the Show but having him be the main story.I think this was to get the show a indentity for the audience to be hooked on.There are many able bodies that could carry storylines like Mclean Stevenson and L.Swit.That's just my opinion.
	__________________ sincerly Happy harper