Original NBC Chimes. Photo taken at the National Capital Radio and Television Museum
If you have thirteen minutes today, do yourself a favor and listen to this excellent radio documentary about the NBC chimes from the podcast Twenty Thousand Hertz. It’s fascinating!
(Source: Twenty Thousand Hertz via 99% Invisible)
NBC’s three little chimes didn’t just define a television network, they defined a generation. Where did they come from and what is the surprising impact they have had on current and future media? Featuring the last person to play the NBC chimes on the NBC radio network, broadcaster Rick Greenhut, and radio historian, John Schneider.
https://soundcloud.com/defactosound/20k-the-nbc-chimes
Many early radio stations used various musical tones for identification, even NBC had several versions of tones before settling on the three notes G-E-C. NBC was the first to trade mark a sound.
See: http://www.radioremembered.org/chimes.htm
NBC had more than just 3 notes, They had the NBC symphony orchestra. My father had a friend who’s father worked as a staff musician for NBC. He never took a day of vacation in his life because they were most always on tour and frequently moved around by cruse ship in first class accommodations. Even though Toscanini was a task master, His point is why take vacation when you were always on one.
Thanks, Thomas – really interesting! (Great production as well.) Good bit of history and insights. Cheers!