6 12" 33 RPM "Orthacoustic" discs - 1954 Radio Show, New York Closeup, Sinatra..
$
90
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Description
Besides what may be on these discs, what is also interesting is the label: "Orthacoustic" and the story behind it, made by NBC. From a technical website noting these particular NBC discs:
"...Broadcast Transcription Discs are not in the focus of this page either. Those were recordable lacquer discs, mostly 16 inch in diameter, played at 33? or 78 rpm. They were professionally used by radio broadcasters.
In America many of these discs were recorded under the standard of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) of 1942. The very same recording curve had been used by NBC under the name “Orthacoustic” since mid 1930s."
These six discs were 33 RPM and were for a radio show called "New York Closeup". The listing photos show all six together, and then one photo for one side of each of the six discs. The six discs comprise three shows - two discs per show. The three shows over six discs are, briefly:
Sides 1 and 2 of Al Jolson, Dated Aug 3, 1954
Sides 3 and 4 of Al Jolson, Dated Aug 3, 1954
Sides 1 and 2, Various including Dick Haynes, Louis Armstrong, Dinah Shore, Walter Huston, etc, dated Aug 4, 1954
Sides 3 and 4, Various including the same cast of characters as above, same date of Aug 4, 1954
Sides 1 and 2, Frank Sinatra, Dated Aug 4, 1954
Sides 3 and 4, Frank Sinatra, Dated Aug 4, 1954
I can't find a lot about the radio show, New York Closeup. By Googling the show with quotes, "New York Closeup" I was able to find sites where archived radio shows in the 50s were identified with that title. One site identified a set with Tex & Jinx McCrady. Another site with an archived 1951 radio newspaper included an ad which advertised this show which also identified McCrady:
"First in a series of exclusive recorded reports from New York servicemen overseas will be presented on the Tex and Jinx McCrary program over WNBC on Oct. 24, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m., and on their WNBT program, "New York Closeup." Interviews with servicemen overseas are being made by Bill Safir, member of the McCrary's staff."
Now it's making sense. I found these in the estate of Bill Safire (he added the "e" to the end of his last name to make it more clear how to pronounce his last name later in his professional life). An sale on his estate was held in the Washington DC area in April of 2021. On William Safire from Wikipedia:
"William Lewis Safir (December 17, 1929 – September 27, 2009), better known as William Safire (/?sæfa??r/), was an American author, columnist, journalist, and presidential speechwriter. He was a long-time syndicated political columnist for The New York Times and wrote the "On Language" column in The New York Times Magazine about popular etymology, new or unusual usages, and other language-related topics."
The six discs look playable, with visible scratches seen over generally clean vinyl. Some look to have more wear than others, I'll grade the set in the range of VG to VG+.
ER
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