Did anyone besides me make audio tapes of TV shows...? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Dr. Thong · 02-05-2004, 02:18 PM

Back in the '70s, I used to make audio cassettes of Happy Days. Keep in mind, folks, that this was before VCRs and home video being a part of most households. I would just put my tape recorder next to the TV and let it record. I'm sure it was probably mono!

In fact, rather than watch Laverne & Shirley afterwards in many cases, I would just rewind the cassette and play it. Did anyone else do this kind of thing or am I the only one??

vashti1999 · 02-05-2004, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dr. Thong
Back in the '70s, I used to make audio cassettes of Happy Days. Keep in mind, folks, that this was before VCRs and home video being a part of most households. I would just put my tape recorder next to the TV and let it record. I'm sure it was probably mono!

In fact, rather than watch Laverne & Shirley afterwards in many cases, I would just rewind the cassette and play it. Did anyone else do this kind of thing or am I the only one??

No, you're not the only one. I don't remember what tv shows I did it for, but I do remember audio taping a broadcast of the movie "West Side Story" so that I could at least listen to it when it wasn't on tv. This was also before vcrs for me too.

Mr. Television · 02-05-2004, 03:23 PM

In the late 70's I audio taped Three's Company and the Facts Of Life. Those were the days.

Dr. Thong · 02-05-2004, 04:58 PM

The funny thing is that there was no way to record the TV sound directly into the recorder - I didn't have a stereo then - and I can remember how crappy those tapes sounded!! It was probably okay back then, but I would shudder at listening to something so poorly recorded now!

Mr. Television · 02-05-2004, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dr. Thong
The funny thing is that there was no way to record the TV sound directly into the recorder - I didn't have a stereo then - and I can remember how crappy those tapes sounded!! It was probably okay back then, but I would shudder at listening to something so poorly recorded now!

I put the recorder right next to the tv and everybody that was watching it had to be quiet. I got an awful lot of dirty looks.

Dr. Thong · 02-05-2004, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mr roper
I put the recorder right next to the tv and everybody that was watching it had to be quiet. I got an awful lot of dirty looks.

Yep, that sounds about right!

Rhiannon · 02-05-2004, 07:37 PM

I have wav files on my computer from tv shows

Steve's Roadhouse · 02-05-2004, 08:35 PM

I was fascinated with my tape recorder as a kid. We played musical instruments into them and did variety shows mostly. I do remember recording the Brady Bunch trip to Hawaii (3 episodes) off reruns in about 1973-74. We just put a mic to the TV. It was my favorite show at the time.

wayman · 02-05-2004, 10:56 PM

I recorded the episode of 'Laverne and Shirley' entitled "A Visit to the Cemetery" on audio tape when I was young. I listened to it so many times that even now when I see the episode, I can practically recite all the dialogue along with the actors. I can even tell what they edited out in the reruns because I taped it off of an original ABC broadcast. I also taped a 'Three's Company' episode entitled "Black Letter Day." I used to tape various 'Saturday Night Live' skits as well as several episodes of 'Soap.' I also made audio tapes of just the theme songs of lots of TV shows.

dandelion wine · 02-06-2004, 12:59 AM

Yeah, I did that too. Every time my favorite show was about to start, I'd run for the tape recorder.

treky · 02-06-2004, 04:13 AM

I used to do that too, with various shows. I can remember recording an episode of "MASH' once, and an episode of "Happy Days" right before it "jumped the shark", the pilot episode of "Rhoda", an episode of "Maude" and an episode of a short-lived ABC series calle "That's my Mama".
I also remember, one of our local stations used to show reruns of "The Jack Benny show" on weeknights, and I also recorded an episode of that, and when he died in 1984, I recorded a half-hour special that NBC showed about him that night.
Also, a local station used to show episodes of a short-lived sydnicated series called "Dustys Trail" on Saturday mornings at something like 3 or 4 A.M. and I recorded that once. I still have the tape in my closet.
I remember once, I even recorded an episode of "The Tonight show with Johnny Carson!!"I remember, I used 2 or 3 tapes for that. Like someone else said, I would just put the mic next to the TV, turn the recorder on, and everyone had to "BE QUIET!" It didn't always work, though, and on one of the tapes, I had my brother yelling at me to turn the TV down.

Back then, I had gotten a cassete recorder/player for Xmas, and I used to love recording things on it!

Nanny Fine · 02-06-2004, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dr. Thong
Back in the '70s, I used to make audio cassettes of Happy Days. Keep in mind, folks, that this was before VCRs and home video being a part of most households. I would just put my tape recorder next to the TV and let it record. I'm sure it was probably mono!

In fact, rather than watch Laverne & Shirley afterwards in many cases, I would just rewind the cassette and play it. Did anyone else do this kind of thing or am I the only one??

Ha nice to know I wasn't the only one.

I did this with Double Trouble, Charles in Charge, Punky Brewster and Cosby Show.

I bet those cassettes are still floating around at my mom's somewhere.

02-05-2004, 02:18 PM	#1
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	Did anyone besides me make audio tapes of TV shows...? Back in the '70s, I used to make audio cassettes of Happy Days. Keep in mind, folks, that this was before VCRs and home video being a part of most households. I would just put my tape recorder next to the TV and let it record. I'm sure it was probably mono! In fact, rather than watch Laverne & Shirley afterwards in many cases, I would just rewind the cassette and play it. Did anyone else do this kind of thing or am I the only one??
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."

02-05-2004, 03:23 PM	#3
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	In the late 70's I audio taped Three's Company and the Facts Of Life. Those were the days.
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02-05-2004, 07:37 PM	#7
Rhiannon oh, snap! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Jul 19, 2002 Location: middle of nowhere Posts: 11,097	I have wav files on my computer from tv shows
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02-06-2004, 04:13 AM	#11
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	I used to do that too, with various shows. I can remember recording an episode of "MASH' once, and an episode of "Happy Days" right before it "jumped the shark", the pilot episode of "Rhoda", an episode of "Maude" and an episode of a short-lived ABC series calle "That's my Mama". I also remember, one of our local stations used to show reruns of "The Jack Benny show" on weeknights, and I also recorded an episode of that, and when he died in 1984, I recorded a half-hour special that NBC showed about him that night. Also, a local station used to show episodes of a short-lived sydnicated series called "Dustys Trail" on Saturday mornings at something like 3 or 4 A.M. and I recorded that once. I still have the tape in my closet. I remember once, I even recorded an episode of "The Tonight show with Johnny Carson!!"I remember, I used 2 or 3 tapes for that. Like someone else said, I would just put the mic next to the TV, turn the recorder on, and everyone had to "BE QUIET!" It didn't always work, though, and on one of the tapes, I had my brother yelling at me to turn the TV down. Back then, I had gotten a cassete recorder/player for Xmas, and I used to love recording things on it!
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

02-05-2004, 04:58 PM	#4
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	The funny thing is that there was no way to record the TV sound directly into the recorder - I didn't have a stereo then - and I can remember how crappy those tapes sounded!! It was probably okay back then, but I would shudder at listening to something so poorly recorded now!

02-05-2004, 08:35 PM	#8
Steve's Roadhouse Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 15, 2004 Posts: 91	I was fascinated with my tape recorder as a kid. We played musical instruments into them and did variety shows mostly. I do remember recording the Brady Bunch trip to Hawaii (3 episodes) off reruns in about 1973-74. We just put a mic to the TV. It was my favorite show at the time.

02-05-2004, 10:56 PM	#9
wayman Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 15, 2002 Location: Iowa Posts: 237	I recorded the episode of 'Laverne and Shirley' entitled "A Visit to the Cemetery" on audio tape when I was young. I listened to it so many times that even now when I see the episode, I can practically recite all the dialogue along with the actors. I can even tell what they edited out in the reruns because I taped it off of an original ABC broadcast. I also taped a 'Three's Company' episode entitled "Black Letter Day." I used to tape various 'Saturday Night Live' skits as well as several episodes of 'Soap.' I also made audio tapes of just the theme songs of lots of TV shows.

02-06-2004, 12:59 AM	#10
dandelion wine ~ Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 20, 2003 Location: Behind the Couch Posts: 34,967	Yeah, I did that too. Every time my favorite show was about to start, I'd run for the tape recorder.