OLE DOC METHUSELAH - 2000-X REMASTERED
When I was young my reading habits were formed on Science Fiction Pulps and later on Mysteries like The Complete Sherlock Holmes that I found on the book shelf of a lakeside cabin my parents' rented on Lake Champlain in Vermont. I broadened my likes into Historical Novels and more thought provoking Science Fiction. Later on I developed a like for Dramatisations of an audio nature. The pictures I conjured up in my mind were always much more interesting than a film or a book with pictures. I always loved Comics also, but it was still always more satisfying to conjure up fantastic pictures in my mind than to try and put voices to Comic Characters.
This being said, after much pondering on the subject I have come to the conclusion that for Science Fiction Pulps I have to go back to the early days of my obsession for Science Fiction Pulps and to one series that was instrumental in helping to form many of my preferences. I do not care what is said about L. Ron Hubbard I feel that his Pulps, especially the Scifi ones are top Notch, all around the best in my opinion and I have to admit that my favorite is "Ole Doc Methuselah"
Now we take a foray into the world of radio, taking into consideration all of the Scifi from OTR right up to the Year 2000 and an NPR Series called 2000X. This series was originally broadcast on NPR in the US in glorious stereo and now after 15 years, even when you buy it you get MONO. Some stereo cuts were found on the director's website but the full Series has never been released in the stereo it was broadcast in. This leads me back to my favorite Scifi Pulp "Ole Doc Methuselah" of which the first story was dramatised on the show but has never been released in anything close to stereo.
A couple of months ago a new member, Tracy Kite, was looking for an encode to remaster and i sent it to him. His hobby is playing with and enhancing the sound of Audio Drmamtisiations. When I listened to what I had given him and what was created from it I immediately knew that there was some hope in site for quite good mono copy I had of the 2000X show with the Dramatisation of "Ole Doc Methuselah" I had. I asked him if he would consider trying to do something with it. Were there stereo indicators left in it and was some semblance of the stereo show I originally heard 15 years ago on NPR still lurking in the copy I had. He asked me what I wanted and all I could really remember specifically was the separation of voices during conversations of characters especially between "Doc" and his four armed sidekick. He said it might take awhile and then he had some personal problems that slowed it down to a crawl and I still did not know what could be done even. Now, last night I checked my email and there was a Christmas Present there for me. He had finished the digital remastering and there was the link. With nervous trepidation, that only someone with an obsession for distinctive audio in dramatised works can appreciate, did I settle down to listen. That listen was the most fun I have had with my clothes on in quite a few years. I am not saying that it is a stereo copy made from a mono but there are enough indicators in my ears to entice me into saying "Hell Yes". Tracy, you done good. Without further adieu I have uploaded the link to my storage for anyone that wants to check it out. Let me know what you think of it. Your comments can be good, bad, or indifferent. I only ask out of curiosity in the light that I am totally satisfied in what was done to the copy I had there is a dramatic improvement in the overall sound.
This now is my Christmas present to All Of You Enjoy!! ------------------------ R
Replies
Cheers
Loved the original radio version (but also hate mono when things should be stereo much as I love OTR, stereo just adds a new dimension in sound to my ears)
Thank you Tracy and Rick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have read the book but I have not heard the radio version.
I look forward to hearing this. Thanks to everyone concerned.