Is Chucky the creepiest talking doll to ever utter words? Created by screenwriter Don Mancini, the possessed doll of the Child's Play movie franchise took on a new life when voiced by actor Brad Dourif. Well move over Chuckster, Thomas Edison had you beat by a hundred years.
In 1890, Edison started manufacturing a talking doll that used an internal cyclinder player. By turning a crank, the doll played back very short nursery rhymes and phrases. The sound was directed through a short bell which ran up the doll's chest and out a grill. The venture was doomed from the start by fragile wax cylinders, cost overruns, and damaged dolls due to children tossing the toy in horror. The voices that eminated from Chatty Cathy's ancestor were downright creepy, like "Little Jack Horner":
Edison payed just pennies to women workers in his factory to record their voices for the doll. Little did they know that they were making history. These little cylinders were not only the first commercial recordings, but the first recordings of women. Edison shut down the venture just a month in. Only 500 dolls were ever made and are highly collectible for their historical significance.
A few years later in 1893, the French gave it a try. Emile Jumeau and Henri Lioret released the Bebe Jumeau Phonograph Doll that had unbreakable celluloid cylinders. These were also interchangeable, something Edison's didn't do. Though only made for two years, Jumeau and Lioret's toy was well received and is considered the first commercially-successful talking doll.
Although a few companies had mild success with talking dolls over the next several decades, it was the introduction of Matell's Chatty Cathy in 1960 that opened the floodgates for talking dolls. It was second in popularity only to Barbie, another Matell creation, thanks partially to voice actor June Foray. Foray voiced the animated characters Rocky the Flying Squirell, Natasha Fatale, Cindy Lou Who, and many others. Chatty Cathy "talked" via a pull string activated record player.
By the late 1980s, batteries, magnetic tape, and microprocessors were making dolls talk. Some even interacted with children by listening and responding with similar prerecorded messages. But interactive dolls would take a giant step in 2014 with My Friend Cayla. The doll connects to the internet with Bluetooth and operates much like Apple Siri or an Amazon Echo. You might remember this doll being hacked in 2015 to spout curse words into tender ears.
Now we have AI – and so do dolls. Introducing Moxie. Moxie is an AI companion that is, according to the website, "The world’s most advanced robot that uses safe AI to boost kids' learning and emotional development." Not inexpensive ($700), Moxie is probably a lot cheaper than a child psychologist. I want to know what happens when Moxie is left behind and Jack needs to interact with it. Does it use Facetime or Zoom? You think it might sooth Jack with a little rhyme, like "Little Jack Horner"?
Photo of "Edison's Talking Doll" courtesy The Smithsonian Institution
Push the Right Buttons
A Practical Guide to Becoming and Succeeding as an Audio Engineer and Producer
Know someone that is looking to get into the audio industry? Are you curious about the magic that goes on behind the curtain? Then this book will push the right buttons.
Tape Op recently reviewed my book:
The next time someone asks me for advice on a career in pro audio I will immediately recommend this book, but with a few instructions: Do not skim read it. Read every one of its 585 pages and then read it again. Take notes. Take more notes. Follow every single suggestion about how to behave in professional situations. Learn how to dress properly for the job, and how to take care of your body when the long days occur (and they will). And do all of this with a smile on your face and a positive attitude.
-Larry Crane
Radio World recently reviewed it:
'If there was ever a single book that could give aspiring audio engineers an accurate look at the career, “Push the Right Buttons: A Practical Guide to Becoming and Succeeding as an Audio Engineer and Producer” is it."
-James Careless
Excerpt from the book:
Let’s take the second step towards your ultimate goal: Envision where you’ll be in ten years. In Chapter 3, I had you look down the road a decade from now, and hopefully see yourself finally doing the kind of sound work you really want to do. Because life can take us in different directions, your initial goal may not be realized in ten years, twenty, or ever. But aiming in that direction is what will keep you on course to succeed in the industry. Remember my story of being dead set on recording music, only to wind up doing mostly film sound design and advertising? Well, I love what I do and have no regrets. But truthfully, I’d jump at the chance to record jazz groups all day long if that opportunity came along and I could make a living doing it.
I parlayed my music experience and training into succeeding at creating soundtracks for film, radio, and stage. While I was working my first real job at the film production company, I recorded music with my friends and family. I also recorded my own stuff, even selling some jingles and backing tracks along the way. These music experiences within a recording studio designed for film soundtracks and advertising just solidified my opinion that we’re all in this profession together. Whether we’re recording music, creating film soundtracks, making ads, talking on the radio, or mixing live music in an arena, we all basically use the same tools. We’re all card-carrying members of the Benevolent Society of Button Pushers (I just made that up, but wouldn’t it be a cool name for a band?). We use mixers, microphones, speakers, and our ears. I liken it to science laboratories. One lab may synthesize drugs, another may sample DNA, and yet another may research molecular biology. To the untrained eye, all these labs may look alike because there are constants in the tools they use, such as test tubes, pipettes, exhaust hoods, centrifuges, and white coats. But scientists will tell you that the difference between all labs is more in how they are used, not what they use.
Dynamix Productions, Inc. is an audio production facility in the heart of thoroughbred horse country, Lexington, Kentucky. Some of the many audio services we provide are: sound-for-picture, corporate communications, advertising, narrations, audiobooks, podcasts, live broadcast, SourceConnect, ISDN, location and remote recording, restoration, and tape/LP to digital transfers.
Since our opening 20 years ago in 2003, we have won or been a part of nearly 100 awards; including more than 75 ADDY’s (American Advertising Federation), 10 Telly's, 2 Silver Microphones, 1 PRSA (Public Relations Society of America), an Eclipse Award, and an Emmy nomination.
Why do professionals from desktop producers to Fortune 50 companies choose Dynamix for the highest level of production? We Listen.
RECENT NOTABLE PROJECTS
"Tales of the Shield Knight", an omnibus of short stories by Jonathon Moeller, narrated by Brad Wills
Other projects of note were:
In-museum video presentation soundtracks for National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame members (Keeneland, Lexington, KY)
Radio / TV campaings for Legoland California, and Legoland Florida (Team Cornett, Lexington, KY)
RISE
DOCUMENTARY
RISE is a documentary series which airs periodically as part of 88.9 WEKU’s Eastern Standard weekly radio show/podcast. It came about in response to unprecedented flooding experienced by many southeastern Kentucky communities in July of 2022. The first six episodes, which aired for six consecutive weeks, explored what contributed to the disaster, how communities responded and the leadership, programs and resources needed to address the challenges and opportunities ahead.
The RISE series is produced by a team of reporters, producers, and external collaborators, including Dynamix Productions in Lexington. The team is led by Tom Martin, who is the host and senior editor of Eastern Standard. The team’s goal is to explore important policy issues affecting a region that is in transition due to shifting economic, social, environmental, and political realities.
Since the first six episodes aired, the RISE team has continued to produce occasional episodes focused on specific issues of importance to Eastern Kentucky. RISE is also available on Apple and Spotify.
Dynamix Productions, and WEKU-FM, Eastern Kentucky University’s public radio station in Richmond, KY, partnered in 2018 to move primary production of the popular long-running radio program EASTERN STANDARD to the studios of Dynamix. The first program produced at Dynamix aired on July 19, 2018. By bringing the production to Lexington, producers have easier access to Central Kentucky business, healthcare, and education leaders, as well as local artists, entertainers, and other newsmakers. The move underlines WEKU’s commitment to providing the area’s most concise and in-depth coverage of news, issues, and ideas that directly affect Central Kentuckians.
Hosted by network news veteran Tom Martin, EASTERN STANDARD is a public affairs program that covers a broad range of topics of interest to Kentuckians. Resources for topics include WEKU’s reporting partner, the Ohio Valley ReSource, a partnership with seven public media outlets across three states; the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting; and National Public Radio. EASTERN STANDARD can be heard Thursdays at 11:00 AM / 8:00 PM and Sundays at 6:00 PM on 88.9 WEKU-FM, and online at www.esweku.org.
From Danny McBride (HBO’s Vice Principals), this critically acclaimed comedy follows a world-famous televangelist family with a long tradition of deviance, greed, and charitable work. Left flailing in the wake of their patriarch Eli Gemstone’s (John Goodman) semi-retirement, Season 3 finds Jesse (McBride), Judy (Edi Patterson), and Kelvin (Adam Devine) in charge of the vast Gemstone empire. When their long-lost cousins come out of the woodwork, the siblings must work together if they want to keep the Gemtsone legacy intact. An irreverent look at the lives of holy rollers, The Righteous Gemstones explores the salacious world of those who offer salvation… to the highest bidder.
GEORGE & TAMMY on Showtime
A limited series chronicling country music’s king and queen, George Jones and Tammy Wynette, whose wild and troubled love story inspired some of the most iconic music of all time.
SCOTT'S VACATION HOUSE RULES on HGTV
Scott turns problem properties into profit in his new series, Scott’s Vacation House Rules. With years of smart real estate investing and renovation experience, Scott and his secret design weapon, Debra Salmoni, unlock the rental potential of even the most uninspired properties. Finding and transforming tired, dated, and rundown spaces into unique and buzz-worthy Canadian cottage hotspots, the series proves that any dream property is always within reach if you follow Scott’s Vacation House Rules.
THE WHITE LOTUS on HBO
A social satire set at an exclusive Hawaiian resort, the series follows the vacations of various hotel guests over the span of a week as they relax and rejuvenate in paradise. But with each passing day, a darker complexity emerges in these picture-perfect travelers, the hotel’s cheerful employees, and the idyllic locale itself.
SECRET CELEBRITY RENOVATION on CBS
A new one-hour series that gives celebrities in sports, music and entertainment the chance to gift a surprise home renovation to a meaningful person who helped guide them to success. Hosted by Nischelle Turner (ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT), SECRET CELEBRITY RENOVATION provides stars with a hands-on opportunity to show their gratitude to someone who has had a significant impact on their life’s journey by helping to realize the renovation of their dreams. Those participating in making these heartfelt gifts include Emmy® and GRAMMY® Award-winning singer and choreographer Paula Abdul; award-winning singer-songwriter Lauren Alaina; Emmy®-winning actor and comedian Wayne Brady (LET’S MAKE A DEAL); NFL MVP and CBS sports analyst Boomer Esiason; GRAMMY®-winning artist Eve; Emmy®-nominated actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson; SURVIVOR winner “Boston” Rob Mariano; NBA All-Star Chris Paul; GRAMMY®-winning singer, songwriter and actor Anthony Ramos; and Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith. The series also features the design team of home improvement contractor and television personality Jason Cameron (“Man Cave,” “While You Were Out”) and interior designer Sabrina Soto (“Design Star,” “Trading Spaces”).
ESCAPE TO THE CHATEAU on HGTV
Lieutenant colonel Dick Strawbridge and his partner Angel Adoree trade their English apartment for a dilapidated, 19th-century French chateau. The pair work to restore, renovate and redecorate the estate into a fairytale castle for their upcoming wedding.
YOU LIVE IN WHAT? INTERNATIONAL on HGTV
Architect George Clarke is on a mission to find inspiration for his outrageous, space-age concept house. His journey takes him around the world to meet the visionary people who build and live in some of the most unusual homes ever seen.
Vote Worthy helps to inform voters about the issues and challenges surrounding the 2020 General Election.
The Cancer Crisis in Appalachia" Compelling stories from the next generation of leaders in the fight against cancer in Appalachia. From UK's Markey Cancer Center.
"Tales of American History" with Kent Masterson Brown
