Tape Findings Tue Aug 21 2007

Weather Report

I knew this tape was going to be good when all that was written on it was "Mine". This tape has two young Chicago kids doing their best weather report.

[MP3]: Weather Report (2:49)

— RJ Porter

Tape Findings Tue Jun 26 2007

Bad Poetry (2:07)

I found this tape labeled "The Mav Quoth" and thought it might be interesting. What I discovered was a really weird spoken word/ poetry thing. It sounds like this guy does not like kids, marriage, or Ukrainians.

[MP3]: Bad Poetry (2:07)

— RJ Porter

Tape Findings Mon Mar 26 2007

Mike's audio letter

This is a fantastic guest submission from Phillip. He recorded this audio letter in the early 80's when he was a young kid in Chicago just enjoying some Atari and fooling around with the tape recorder. He thinks it is most likely from 1982 when the Atari game Planet Patrol was released.

The letter was made with the intent of sending to a friend who was on vacation in Washington, so it would arrive delivered and waiting for him in his mailbox when he returned to Illinois. Good thing he never sent it.

[MP3]: Mike's audio letter (14:47)

— RJ Porter

Tape Findings Tue Feb 20 2007

Skolnick Conspiracy Lecture

This tape is of a lecture by Sherman Skolnick, a Chicagoan who wrote the book "The Secret History of Airplane Sabotage" concerning the crash of United Flight 553 in Chicago on December 8, 1972. He was one of the main conspiracy theorists who believed the plane was brought down by the government to take out Watergate conspirator E. Howard Hunt's wife, Dorothy Hunt. I don't know where or when this lecture was recorded. I would imagine sometime in the mid '70s.

More info here:
Sherman H. Skolnick website
United Airlines Flight 553
A 1994 interview with Skolnick about the crash here.

[MP3]: Skolnick Flight 533 Conspiracy Lecture (9:23)

— RJ Porter

Tape Findings Mon Jan 15 2007

Chicago Polka Radio

This tape is of late 70's or early 80's polka radio in Chicago. I love the DJ hamming it up, giving shout outs, and his intro to a song by Tony Rodemaker "the Rocker" from Kettle Merain. The commercial for Al's Superette is fantastic as well.

I guess back in the day Chicago was pretty well known for their Polka radio. There was even a polka shock jock. You can read more about him here.

[MP3]: Chicago Polka Radio (3:17)

— RJ Porter

Tape Findings Mon Dec 04 2006

Microcassette Messages

This week's audio comes from an answering machine microcassette tape. This is one of the best message tapes I have. It's absurd, dramatic, mundane and hilarious. This might also be proof that Elvis is still alive.

[MP3]: Microcassette - Elvis, School, Harley Santa, Snake (2:17)

— RJ Porter

Tape Findings Mon Nov 20 2006

Homebuilt Aircraft Stories

These two stories are about a Hinsdale man who built a replica WWI plane with his son. I am guessing that these were rough audio mixes for a possible TV news story. I prefer the second version because it has a more "this guy is crazy" feel.

[MP3]: Homebuilt Aircraft Stories (4:26)

— RJ Porter

Tape Findings Mon Nov 06 2006

All Women Kazoo Band Medley

[Hi Transmission readers, my name is RJ Porter and I have been a hunter of found audio in Chicago for a number of years. Chicago has turned out to be a treasure trove of lost audio gems and I will be sharing some of my finds here every couple weeks right here in the Transmission blog. Visit my site Tape Findings to check out my archive of found audio.]

For my first post I have chosen a tape from my collection that continues to give me joy every time I hear it. This is a practice session of an unknown women's singing group that I suspect would preform at senior centers or similar places around Chicagoland. These ladies have a truly unique act incorporating a chorus of kazoos, crashing percussion, and some goofy jokes to a accompany old-time standards. Truly odd and inspiring music.
[MP3]: All Women Kazoo Band Medley (8:58)

For more songs by these ladies click here.

— RJ Porter