Date:         Tue, 15 Aug 2006 11:36:56 -0700
Reply-To:     Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
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Sender:       Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
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From:         Rod Stephens <[log in to unmask]>
Organization: S.A.V.E.
Subject:      Re: RCA Metal Parts in Camden.
Comments: To: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List <[log in to unmask]>
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Nitrate can do a pretty good job of self destructing.

One hot summer when I was working at the Desilu Culver studio (the old 
Selnick) as a beginning apprentice editor, I and another apprentice were 
assigned the task of clearing out some of the film vaults located on the 
back lot.  It turned out that the vaults were full of 35 mm nitrate that 
had started to turn bad (i.e., go liquid and powdery).  Fortunately, 
were given some face masks to help breathe in the dusty interiors.  We 
would take the film out of the vaults and put it in big open drums for 
carting away by a salvage company.

On a particularly hot Friday,  we closed up the vaults and went home.  
On the following Monday, we were taken off the project.  The vault we 
had been working had blown up!!!  There's nothing like Sho Biz, but we 
could have ended up as famous stars in a final production.

Rod Stephens

Robert Hodge wrote:

>A True Story Of Similar Tone...
>
>A film starlet whose name escapes me presently had borrowed a 35 mm
>nitrate print of one of her films from the studio  to show at one of her
>parties and when she was through with it, threw the whole print in the 
>ocean.. 
>
>That print was the only surviving print left of that title.
>
>Amazing.....
>
>R.Hodge
>
>
>  
>
>>>>[log in to unmask] 8/15/2006 11:44 AM >>>
>>>>        
>>>>
>From: Patent Tactics, George Brock-Nannestad
>
>Hello,
>
>----- why on earth would anyone bury metal (copper, silvered copper,
>and 
>nickel) when it can be sold as scrap? Defacing beforehand would ensure
>
>against misuse. EMI in the UK had several purges, but only of duplicate
>
>material.
>
>----- a slightly different rumor has it that after Kirsten Flagstad
>dumped a 
>number of her early records (and test pressings) in the Oslo Fjord,
>someone 
>tried to raise the wreckage again. 
>
>All very urban.
>
>Kind regards,
>
>
>George
>
>  
>
>>In a message dated 8/15/2006 6:37:14 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
>>[log in to unmask] writes:
>>
>>
>>Also, on a different topic. You seem very expert on the 78 era. Is 
>>    
>>
>it myth or
>  
>
>>fact that RCA buried a bunch of metal parts and masters when  they
>>    
>>
>tore down
>  
>
>>their Camden NJ plant? And I guess more importantly, did  they bury
>>    
>>
>anything
>  
>
>>important/valuable vs. obscure one-disk  wonders?
>>
>>
>>
>>There was a discussion of this on 78-L last month and someone posted
>>    
>>
>the 
>  
>
>>article in Billboard mag describing this. I can't find the link
>>    
>>
>anymore.
>  
>
>>Steve
>>    
>>
>
>  
>