Al Block Broadcast Collection, 1943-1958

Summary

Creators:

Block, Al

Abstract:

Open reel tapes containing off-air recordings from the late 1940s through the mid-50s, particularly of Toscanini conducting the NBC Symphony Orchestra.

Extent:

2 boxes : 35 open reel tapes

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

Al Block Broadcast Collection, ARS-0077. Courtesy of the Stanford Archive of Recorded Sound, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Background

Scope and content:

The Al Block Broadcast Collection consists of open reel tapes containing off-air recordings from the late 1940s through the mid-50s, particularly of Toscanini conducting the NBC Symphony Orchestra. There is little information enclosed about the performances, outside of principle performers and the date of broadcast; however, most of these programs have likely been documented elsewhere. The numbering for the programs was assigned by Block. Discrepancies between box and reel information imply that some boxes were mixed up over the years. The Toscanini recordings appear to have been originally made by a recording engineer at Westinghouse who had a direct line feed from the NBC studio console. His widow was contacted by a Toscanini collector, who then passed on copies (recorded at 7.5 ips half-track mono) to the donor.

Acquisition information:

The Al Block Broadcast Collection was donated to the Stanford Archive of Recorded Sound by Al Block.

Processing information:

This finding aid was produced with generous financial support from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Rules or conventions:

Prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Live sound recordings
Radio programs

Names:

NBC Symphony Orchestra.
Toscanini, Arturo, 1867-1957

Restrictions:

Open for research; material must be requested at least two business days in advance of intended use. Contact the Archive for assistance.

Terms of access:

Property rights reside with repository. Publication and reproduction rights reside with the creators or their heirs. To obtain permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the Head Librarian of the Archive of Recorded Sound.

Preferred citation:

Al Block Broadcast Collection, ARS-0077. Courtesy of the Stanford Archive of Recorded Sound, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Location of this collection:

Stanford University, Archive of Recorded Sound

Braun Music Center, 541 Lasuen Mall

Stanford, CA 94305-3076, US

Contact:

(650) 723-9312

soundarchive@stanford.edu

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