This is directed to Charles Drago:
Charles, I had an opportunity a few years ago to hear the last of George Michael Evica's programs on WWUH. For those who are not familiar, he had a series of shows on The University of Hartford's radio station called "Assassination Journal". A description of the format is found on Spartacus' page on GME.
This was all new to me at the time and was quite startling. I was quite saddened when his show was suspended due to his illness and of course his passing.
The material in these programs was mind boggling and I was fascinated at how he could come up with such information.
This information should be made available to all. I have never seen reference to WWUH making the programs available.
Do you have any idea if the information from his shows is available anywhere?
I apologize if this is posted in the wrong forum, but this is the forum I frequent.
- Jerry
Thank you, Jerry, for reminding us of "Assassination Journal" -- the longest-running program of its kind in the history of radio.
The levels of scholarship and erudition that characterized each program remain without peer.
A very large collection of "AJ" cassette recordings exists (some of our readers may be old enough to remember the term "air checks"), but for the most part they are unlabeled. If the University of Hartford -- or any other broadcast service -- is seriously interested in re-broadcasting the material, they should be in touch with me via this website.
I'll make certain that the Evica family is made aware of your very kind words.
Charles
In whose possession are these cassette tapes? They should probably be digitized for posterity, for some unnamed archive or archivist, for a more lasting record than tape.
"Air check" is an antiquated term? Damn.
Charles Drago Wrote:Thank you, Jerry, for reminding us of "Assassination Journal" -- the longest-running program of its kind in the history of radio.
The levels of scholarship and erudition that characterized each program remain without peer.
A very large collection of "AJ" cassette recordings exists (some of our readers may be old enough to remember the term "air checks"), but for the most part they are unlabeled. If the University of Hartford -- or any other broadcast service -- is seriously interested in re-broadcasting the material, they should be in touch with me via this website.
I'll make certain that the Evica family is made aware of your very kind words.
Charles
CD, if you need "help" of any kind (labor, contributions, a ride to Hartford, whatever) you just let me know.
John and Ed,
The tapes are securely held.
And yes, they should be digitized. The problem is: by whom?
To be blunt, I can't think of an existing JFK archive to which I'd entrust them.
Charles Drago Wrote:John and Ed,
The tapes are securely held.
And yes, they should be digitized. The problem is: by whom?
To be blunt, I can't think of an existing JFK archive to which I'd entrust them.
They definitely need to be 1] preserved (tape decays after about 20-50 years) and 2] made available to those who'd like to hear them. Digitizing them could be done on a home computer with the right software. It would take the time of all the recordings played one at a time on a good tape player plugged into a good computer with the correct equipment and software - but not expensive; just time consuming. I imagine that he says the date on each one and that could be used as the label - plus a main topic[s]. As to [2], that is a bit trickier, but once you have them digitized, they can be stored in many places and spread easily, so no one can 'sit' on them to make them never see the light of day [out of sloth or malice]. Does anyplace have his papers? The
internet archive or the
Pacifica archives might be interested [or know who would be] - even though they were not the originators nor was this ever on the internet. Is there an audio equivalent to youtube for political [expecially deep political] things? There should be. Internet Archive has speeches of many people on progressive things and are well respected and used. Again, you and others would always have copies that couldn't decay. Good luck. I'd love to have them and see them sold on DVD's [at cost]. Maybe someone would like to do this with all the speeches of all the better JFK researchers. Video is great, but many speeches and all radio programs of the early years are without video....but just as important.
Alternatively, a website could be built at minimal cost, like the Mae Brussel site which has her audio tapes for sale [you could have GMEs tapes for free play over internet, and for sale at cost, etc.] You'd just need someone to build the site and maintain it. I think it is do-able.
I think the question of an archive, existing or otherwise, is actually beside the point. (I'm the one who brought up "archive," but let's let that go.)
The actual digitizing is the important thing. This is not to be construed as me volunteering, because I'm not. But the actual digitizing, as most may know, is really quite simple. All that's required is a few bits of hardware. I've digitized a bunch of JFK stuff in recent years. It's as easy as connecting a tape player into a computer. In my case, it goes into Garageband on my Mac. Thence to iTunes, thence to disk. But it's time consuming, since it must be done in real time, and I take it there are many, many hours worth of the program.
Once digitized, the disk, flash drive, or whatever, could be stored in a shoebox next to all the original air check cassettes. Or duplicated and distributed to whatever archive.
The watchword is preservation.
Charles Drago Wrote:John and Ed,
The tapes are securely held.
And yes, they should be digitized. The problem is: by whom?
To be blunt, I can't think of an existing JFK archive to which I'd entrust them.
John Kelin Wrote:I think the question of an archive, existing or otherwise, is actually beside the point. (I'm the one who brought up "archive," but let's let that go.)
The actual digitizing is the important thing. This is not to be construed as me volunteering, because I'm not. But the actual digitizing, as most may know, is really quite simple. All that's required is a few bits of hardware. I've digitized a bunch of JFK stuff in recent years. It's as easy as connecting a tape player into a computer. In my case, it goes into Garageband on my Mac. Thence to iTunes, thence to disk. But it's time consuming, since it must be done in real time, and I take it there are many, many hours worth of the program.
Once digitized, the disk, flash drive, or whatever, could be stored in a shoebox next to all the original air check cassettes. Or duplicated and distributed to whatever archive.
The watchword is preservation.
Charles Drago Wrote:John and Ed,
The tapes are securely held.
And yes, they should be digitized. The problem is: by whom?
To be blunt, I can't think of an existing JFK archive to which I'd entrust them.
John and Charles, great points. John, maybe you should record some simple specifics on the "how-to"s in case... and, Charles, I think the point about the security of the process (place, organization, etc.) is well-taken. Perhaps, with the help of some selected other folks within the tight inner circle of DPF, it should be made a semi-formal project to find the financial and legal means, the place, the people, etc. I would add, if it wasn't stated or implicit, the creation of digitized textual versions as well.
That would be nice if my comments were passed on to the family.
I am glad I finally brought up the subject. That was one of my motivations for signing on with DPF to inquire with you about GME. I see my original reply disappeared into the ether.
Do you have an estimate of how many hours of material you have?
- Jerry
John Kelin Wrote:I think the question of an archive, existing or otherwise, is actually beside the point. (I'm the one who brought up "archive," but let's let that go.)
The actual digitizing is the important thing. This is not to be construed as me volunteering, because I'm not. But the actual digitizing, as most may know, is really quite simple. All that's required is a few bits of hardware. I've digitized a bunch of JFK stuff in recent years. It's as easy as connecting a tape player into a computer. In my case, it goes into Garageband on my Mac. Thence to iTunes, thence to disk. But it's time consuming, since it must be done in real time, and I take it there are many, many hours worth of the program.
Once digitized, the disk, flash drive, or whatever, could be stored in a shoebox next to all the original air check cassettes. Or duplicated and distributed to whatever archive.
The watchword is preservation.
Charles Drago Wrote:John and Ed,
The tapes are securely held.
And yes, they should be digitized. The problem is: by whom?
To be blunt, I can't think of an existing JFK archive to which I'd entrust them.
Right! Not loosing through degradation or loss is the most urgent and important - how to disseminate them comes after and is easy and manifold. I'd be willing if someone gave me the computer configuration to mention how it can most easily be done. It will take about 5% longer than actual tape time / tape. There is no way to automate it. Someone has to change the tapes and start the computer 'record' and then label the product. The computer does not need attending once the process is begun. It can be made to shut off when the tape is over....but someone has to change the tapes and start the process for each show. Perhaps with a little money, a neighborhood techie [who is trusted] could be given tapes in small groups and paid for his/her time to do this. It would NOT stop them doing other things on their computer. Only if you know someone with a radio station could one consider doing multiple tapes simultaneously.....or buy a number of tape machines all plugged into a computer each feeding in a separate show to a different space on the disk. Few have quality tape machines these days...but you might hunt for a trusted one...they are likely to have many. If you had ten [for example] and ten taped shows were done at a time, this would cut down the time involved by 1/10th. Depending on the heat, humidity and type of tape originally used the lifetime and quality of what is on those tapes will be determined. There is good software to repair most degradation of voice recordings, as long as there is something to work with. May I ask about how many tapes of what length [time] we are talking about?