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Series 8. Sound Recordings, 1965 ,
and undated
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6 sound tape reels |
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RXA 2480–2485 |
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A digital version of the audiotapes is available for listening in the Recorded
Sound Research Center, National Audio-Visual Conservation Center, Library of
Congress, Washington, DC, 20540-4690; (202) 707-7833. Format of access copy:
Broadcast Wave (BWF), 44.1 kHz, 16 bits per sample (made from preservation copy:
Broadcast Wave (BWF), 96 kHz, 24 bits per sample). |
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This series consists of six sound recordings on 7-inch reels. Included are undated
Wife Saver radio programs and brief announcements, experimental spots, and audition
pieces for a program called As a Matter of Fact. |
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REEL RXA 2480 |
The Wife Saver, undated
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Prescott, Allen
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1 sound tape reel (20 minutes, 40 seconds) |
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Title on original container: "Monitor-The Wifesaver." |
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Consists of a series of household hint "talks," each about one minute long,
delivered by Allen Prescott. Every piece begins with the sound of a ringing
doorbell and the introductory line, "Hello, girls, this is Allen Prescott, the
Wife Saver," and ends with, "Mrs. Housewife, I hope there's nothing burning."
No guests and no music are featured, just Prescott delivering household hints
with a touch of humor. |
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Handwritten description on original container: "About 15 one-minute talks." |
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REEL RXA 2481 |
As a Matter of Fact, 1965-03-16
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Prescott, Allen
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1 sound tape reel (2 minutes, 36 seconds) |
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Allen Prescott introduces himself and announces an Everlasting Dagger Blades
commercial that includes descriptions of several historical and technological
phenomena, each introduced by the phrase, "As a matter of fact...." In the next
track, Prescott introduces himself and delivers a Rock of Ages Bank and Trust
Co. commercial that includes descriptions of several historical and
technological phenomena, each introduced by the phrase, "As a matter of
fact...." The third track consists of a very brief, unidentified segment of an
unaccompanied choral performance. |
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Description on original container: "4 one minute audition (?) talks." |
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REEL RXA 2482 |
The Wife Saver, undated
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Prescott, Allen
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on 1 sound tape reel (3 minutes, 44 seconds) |
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Four brief Wife Saver pieces, with a total duration of 03:44.
Wife Saver pieces (about one minute each in duration) each begin with the
introduction, "Hello, this is Allen Prescott, the Wife Saver." Household hints,
interspersed with wry comments, include suggested methods for keeping "baby"
safe while "parked" on the sofa, opening bottles of soda water, hanging
wallpaper, and deterring moles.
The Wife Saver material is followed on the tape by two examples of a proposed series
entitled As a Matter of Fact. |
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REEL RXA 2482 |
As a Matter of Fact, undated
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Prescott, Allen
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on 1 sound tape reel (2 minutes, 29 seconds) |
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Allen Prescott introduces an idea for "a series of fillers" entitled As a Matter of Fact. Similar to the light, comedic treatment of useful information that
characterizes his Wife Saver program, Prescott remarks that As a Matter of Fact expands "from the household to a broader field." Two sample pieces
include brief descriptions of the use of feathers for money, an ancient game,
connecting rods, the secret ballot, and the oldest known fossils of beetles.
Both pieces end with the phrase "...as a matter of fact."
The As a Matter of Fact material is preceded on the tape by four brief Wife Saver pieces. |
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REEL RXA 2483 |
The Wife Saver, undated
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Prescott, Allen
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on 1 sound tape reel (3 minutes, 44 seconds) |
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The content is identical to The Wife Saver material on the preceding tape, RXA 2482. |
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REEL RXA 2483 |
As a Matter of Fact, undated
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Prescott, Allen
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on 1 sound tape reel (2 minutes, 29 seconds) |
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The content is identical to As a Matter of Fact material on the preceding tape, RXA 2482. |
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REEL RXA 2484 |
The Wife Saver, undated
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Prescott, Allen
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1 sound tape reel (9 minutes, 31 seconds) |
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In the first of two brief Wife Saver programs, announcer Allen Prescott offers a number of household hints,
such as how to freshen a black silk dress, freezing nylon stockings for longer
wear, whipping cream, and removing lime deposits from tea kettles; also
included are commercials for General Electric coffee makers and toasters. In
the second program, Prescott offers household hints concerning "our war with
inanimate objects," such as coping with "vacuum cleaner fuddle," wearing clip
earrings, peeling oranges with a spoon, keeping slacks in shape, keeping "baby"
safe when "parked" on the sofa, and serving mussels; commercials are for
General Electric portable vacuum cleaners, toasters, and coffee makers. |
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Description on original container: "2 five-minute shows for General
Electric." |
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REEL RXA 2485 |
The Wife Saver experimental spots, undated
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Prescott, Allen
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1 sound tape reel (15 minutes, 40 seconds) |
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The tape contains four Wife Saver programs, each less than five minutes in duration, and a separately
presented commercial. At the beginning of each program, announcer Allen
Prescott introduces himself as the Wife Saver. In the first program, he makes
suggestions to use moleskin to make clip earrings more comfortable, peel
oranges with a spoon, hang slacks by the pockets to dry, keep "baby" safe when
"parked" on the sofa, and button cuffs to the front of a shirt before washing;
commercials are for Sta-Puf fabric softener and Sta-Flow spray starch. In the
second program, he provides tips on adding hot soup to a cold meal, making a
slip-free tie rack, reducing the amount of luggage needed for overseas travel,
using eyeliner, peeling cooked eggs, and cleaning a dirty oven with a towel
soaked in ammonia; commercials are for Sta-Flow and Sta-Puf.
In the third program, Prescott offers hints on freshening a black silk dress,
freezing nylon stockings for longer wear, keeping rabbits away from the garden,
whipping cream, removing lime deposits from tea kettles, grating chocolate
safely, and keeping moths away from stored yarn; commercials are for Sta-Flow
and Blue Raindrops water softener. In the fourth program, which is several
minutes shorter than the first three, Prescott offers a household tip on
stopping squeaks in doors and delivers a Sta-Flow commercial. The fifth track,
not a program, is a 30-second commercial for Sta-Flow. |
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Description on original container: "15 minutes, audition (?) recording for A.E.
Staley" (maker of Sta-Puf and Sta-Flow laundry products, and sponsor of the
program). |
