Want to buy a record with Mel Blanc at Wallichs Music City / "Vintage Los Angeles" on Facebook

THE LAST 6 MINUTES OF THIS IS NOW AVAILABLE ON MY CHANNEL.
Filmed in wonderful color, this special promotional film was made in 1951 , it is 35 minutes long & is of perfect quality! This lost gem was never shown to the public & was used for promotional use only among record executives! It hasn't been seen in over 55 years!! What's on it? well, we get to see lots of great color footage of Hollywood landmarks first up.
Mel plays a record dealer who is desperately trying to sell anyone a record at the corner of Sunset & Vine streets in Hollywood, California. While pestering several people, (including Yogi Yorgeson!!), Billy May approaches playing a regular guy walking down the street, Mel takes him into his record store, (Wallichs Music City) & proceeds to pitch everything in the store to him.
In the end Billy won't pay the 85 cents for a record & Mel decides to show him exactly how records are made! They go over to the Capitol Records recording studios on Melrose Avenue & meet with Alan Livingston who takes them on a tour, here is where they run into several famous folks while getting into a little bit of mischief along the way! We get to see rare footage of Dean Martin in the studio actually recording one of his hit records! they run into Les Paul and Mary Ford, a vocal group, a country & western singer (Merle Travis?), and even Bozo the clown!

[@jonathanclary3992]

God Rest Your Soul Mel Blanc the Greatest Voice actor of all time

[@superbu1]

The country-western singer is Jimmy Wakely. His most famous song is his 1949 duet with Margaret Whiting, "Slippin' Around," which was a #1 hit. The pair also made the very first recording of the Christmas classic "Silver Bells," released in 1950.

[@ACcountryFan]

Wonderful footage of Mel Blanc and the pop-culture of the time period!!

[@purkasz]

Great seeing old Hollywood which was fast vanishing when I moved there in 1968. The sleeze had begun to encrust Hollywood Blvd with druggies and Hippie squatting driving most business off the Boulevard. Wallich's Music City was still there but NBC was replaced by a bank at Sunset and Vine. Broadway Dept Store was also there but is now luxury apartments. Only the Taft Building on South East corner H'wood & Vine remains unchanged. NY it ain't. The Frolic Room bar is still next to Pantages Theater.

[@Steamerthesteamtrain]

R.I.P. Mel Blanc Man of 1000 voices

[@davidkeeler1639]

been looking for this film for years,,,i got alot of capitol records promos regarding the tower when they did the ground breaking for the capitol tower in 1954 and the giveaway cardboard tower souvenier record when you took the tour of the round record building,,,thanks for posting,,,david keeler

[@jazzriversidedr3743]

My grandparents' lived on N.Bronson Ave around the corner from Capitol Melrose Studios at 5515 Melrose Ave in the old KHJ building... I luv that old LA, Hollywood neighborhood

[@Rotis59]

Since 1951 was the year when this film was made that means that those tape recorders were brand new technology! 51 is supposedly the 1st year that magnetic tape recordings came "on line" in most of the big name recording studios. Also interesting that the 45 rpm record shown had a small hole cardboard centerpiece included to allow the phono without a "45" spindle to play the record centered on the turntable. That remained the norm in Britain throughout the 50s and most of the 60s as well.

[@erichalasz8867]

Alison; I am so thankful this incredible short is available for all of us to see and smile from ear to ear from.

[@alexandremaltademoura2266]

Since I was a Young man I used To buy many Nat King Cole Records at the Capitol Re Cords Building in Vine Street ,Hollywood, and I'm proud to have completed my Nat King Cole Records collection.

[@KojiRecords]

6:22-6:37 You can still find tons of Capitol 78 rpm records, as well as 45 and 10" & 12" 33 rpms, including acetates, test pressings and promotional copies all over thrift stores and junk shops in Los Angeles. I went to Out of The Closet/Glendale and found an impressive Capitol Records "insider" collection of 78s, including test pressings---one had a jazz song on one side and Bozo on the other; there were interesting acetates with a tiny white and green label--all being sold for just pennies.

[@JohnnyFriendly]

The thing that strikes me is how much care and attention went into recorded music once upon a time. Hard to believe that it's all vanished. Future generations have a lot to answer for with their relentless quest for lower quality and "convenience"

[@cop4hie]

I can't find the commercial now but it is an ear worm. ♫♪"It's Music City"♪♫

[@tarotmusic]

This was absolutely great! Thanks again for posting - looking forward to the last 5 min as well...

[@TonySakich]

This was fantastic! I can't wait to see the last few minutes of this now. The guy bowing at the record dealer made me laugh pretty hard. Thank you for posting this, absolutely fascinating.

[@leongaer]

Thank you so much for finding and posting this wonderful little chip of history. I'll be looking forward to the last 5 minutes when you have a chance to put it up. Thanks again dantanasgirl.

[@CHarrizon]

Fantastic video but is there more? It shows how much work goes into one record... I think this place was near Paramount. thanks for the info.

[@randallrandall1]

Really great video! I used to go to Wallichs Music City all the time to buy records!

[@MikeVlcek]

Brilliant stuff. I am dying to watch the final minutes as well!

[@jslasher1]

Wonderful! Many of the album that I produced over the years were edited, mastered and/or mixed at Capitol Records in Hollywood. Brings back memories.

[@fromthesidelines]

This was indeed a special promotional film, shown only to Capitol executives and their sales force/distributors. Harry Stewart was "Yogi Yorgesson" {used the same voice as "Wally Walrus" in Walter Lantz's "Woody Woodpecker" cartoons at the time}.

[@jeffjazzwraight]

Great. Thanks again.

[@jaminova_1969]

Never knew how much work went into making recrds!

[@TopshelfTom]

This is amazing!!!

[@OpinionsAnimationStudios]

Classic, Thanks fer this, m8..

[@horarwgt]

1952 sounds about right. The purple label 45 held up to the camera at one point (sadly out of focus) appears to be a reissue of Stan Kenton's 1944 hit "Artistry In Rhythm" (Capitol 159). Great to see the cameos by Les Paul & Mary Ford, Dean Martin, Bozo, etc. plus real Capitol staff. Other than Mel's, the acting, film editing, lighting & amazingly the uneven audio (!) leave a lot to be desired. Regardless, this film is a priceless time capsule. Capitol had the industry's highest fidelity sound.

[@TheDejael]

The car is a 1952 MG-TC sports car. It was new then. The building they drive up to was vacated by Capitol Records in the mid-1950s and became the new home of KHJ-TV Channel 9.

[@jeanpreston8009]

It sounded like the old "Maxwell" Bet Mel voiced it.😄

[@14Hodges14]

I never realized that Capitol Records was in the very same building that later became 93/KHJ radio!

[@wackyworldnews]

this is great. old hollywood.

[@Bill5925]

Ditto the others in wanting to see the last few minutes. Can you please post part two?

[@breth8159]

Great to see this pretty high tech in its time especially since they were going through the switch over from 78 to LP and the 7 inch 45. On the level what gives with all the verbiage & vernacular what with all and such wordage for the love of Mike bring me some shellac jack. I love this movie and I know it was originally screened in the room where a girl would jump out of a cake at least I expect so . thanks for sharing it ...

[@wmbrown6]

@14Hodges14 - Not just 93/KHJ radio, but also KHJ-TV Channel 9. (Which at the time was at 1313 North Vine Street.)

[@donnalethal]

Love it!

[@jeffjazzwraight]

Fascinating & most enjoyable. Pity the last 5 mins is missing. Maybe at some point that could be sorted out. Thanks so much for the post though.

[@TopshelfTom]

BTW that's Jimmy Wakely doing "My Heart Has Plenty Of Room".

[@nakamichiguy]

Love Nipper and the sign 'Dog Records 4 cents'. Probably got a howl from the Capitol Records crews watching this. :-) Amazing time capsule. So much cool deco and art moderne architecture there at the time. I bet most of it's gone now, shame.

[@karmadhyana]

Ol' Mel is pretty good in front of the camera! Funny bit! I wonder how many voice actors are able to make the transitition to acting in front of a camera.

[@jeanpreston8009]

Mel could do it all! Musician, song writer, singer, voice actor (the BEST) , actor. No talent like him before or since.☺👍👍❤❣

[@melfan1978]

It cuts off at 29.55....can you post the rest of it as part 2? This is a wonderful rarity and people just have to see the bizarre ending! I knew Mel for 11 years and wish I had known about this while Mel was alive. Thanks for posting this! :-)

[@Vaultovinyl]

I like the stab at RCA. Mel uses Nipper for a hat rack and "Dog Records 4 cents"

[@kresblain]

@Michaeldair So, for a short while, Melrose Avenue was home to Capitol Records... right in front of the Paramount and RKO studio lots, of all places. That's so awesome!

[@galactorz]

I would love to have the display shown around 18 minutes as a poster!

[@baxterfilms]

No way. They developed the records in Scranton? That's pretty neat.

[@DisneyGary93]

The BIG Legend! 🎂✨❤️ 5:13 & 2:44

[@videonitekatt]

Mel is using the voice he later used for Barney Rubble and Heathcliff The Cat!

[@dantebronte]

nice MG TD!

[@Lemanic89]

Mel Blanc is so Swag! Grand Swag!

[@RobConstantine]

Wow!

[@dantanasgirl]

@billturgeon I think you are right!! Good call!

[@Karlfalcon]

I was so frustrated to see the film cut short right when it was getting really interesting!

[@PacRimJim]

Long ago, I shopped at this store. Zillions of albums for under a buck.

[@rideastro44]

85 cents lol now that's nothing

[@DefLeppardVanHalen]

I agree.

[@Pickinbuddy]

This was fabulous! By the way, the country singer was not Merle Travis...

[@romandjma.recordplayers7806]

Anybody know who's singing that cover of "Little Liza Jane" at 15:59? I've heard someone say it was the Jordanaires

[@musicom67]

3:48 - "So you ain't married, eh?" "Oh, you're a gay blade" "Gay old dog"... My, what we didn't know about Billy May and his 'slurping saxophones'....

[@ignatsrat]

Can you post the last 5 minutes?

[@cubantoro]

I love the BOZO Approved banner!

[@BryanDaste]

@JohnnyFriendly Not sure what you mean...I'm a recording engineer & musician, and I can tell you that we put plenty of care and attention into recording music these days. Sure, the duplication process has changed (CD replication is pretty similar to this, actually), but what's really changed is how people consume music. Doesn't mean quality music isn't being made, or that those producing the music don't care about it. We do!

[@lorenzoboyd6889]

02:27 - That IS Yogi Jorgesson [ anybody remember Dr. Demento? ] 28:31 - Billowing clouds of carbon black. Can you say Black Lung Disease?

[@ricadus]

@dantanasgirl Let us know when you get that missing 5 minutes. Personally I found the last 10 minutes of the current clip fascinating, all that old industrial technology and specialist skills that have been supplanted by the relative ease of digital.

[@TheZappawizard]

wow, that dude was using acetone with no gloves.... oh the good old days!

[@shawshawshaw]

Whatever happened to the last five minutes?

[@rixchannel]

I like the way Mel forces the guy to go to Capitol.

[@920mclen]

scranton rocks!

[@johnsocoloski9862]

Les Paul!!! Love that guy and his wife.

[@OpinionsAnimationStudios]

@JohnnyFriendly Agreed, m8..

[@dantanasgirl]

@jeffjazzwraight I am working on getting those last 5 minutes. Keep you posted...

[@dantanasgirl]

THE LAST 6 MINUTES OF THIS IS NOW AVAILABLE ON MY CHANNEL :)

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

@YeOldeUSARecordCo I hope it can be put up as well. It's annoyed when stuff like this happen and they leave you hanging for years all because they never care to do more for you (having used KZbin for the past 5 years has given me some good/bad experiences there).

[@desertbob6835]

Some ORIGINAL Ampex 200s there, folks.

[@deniseandread]

his voice sounds like barney rubble and heathcliff

[@johnbreighner5852]

Really? His REAL voice?

[@hankterreros223]

´´hey, look at uncle carmello blanco´´! later....

[@hemming57]

What's a record?

[@RockinEd]

16:15 looks like the Jordanaires

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

@melfan1978 I want to see it, I hope we can see it, I don't wan't to be denied how it ended. If not for that, than for the record stampin' action I was promised!

[@dboard9]

I like how at 2:05 da goils -er, GIRLS are waiting for their cue

[@DLEVANS65]

No Nat King Cole?

[@MrFrontrowkid]

Interesting promotion piece from Capitol Records. Loved the offficial Bozo the Clown record player. Those would be collectible today. Bozo the Clown was Capitol's creation. He appeared on record albums with accompanyin g storybook.Way before Show and Tell. The country-western artist shown at the microphone was Jimmy Wakely, not Merle Travis. The hillbilly singer heard on record was singing cowboy Tex Williams..