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Topical Budget 695-2: Broadcasting the Zoo (1924)
 

BFI

Main image of Topical Budget 695-2: Broadcasting the Zoo (1924)
 
22/12/1924
35mm, black and white, 53 feet
 
Production CompanyTopical Film Company

Radio engineers and equipment at London Zoo.

Show full synopsis

"Wireless Waves carry to countless delighted children, Growls, Yowls and Howls". Ideally, this item would need a soundtrack for full impact, but to compensate Topical offers plenty of visual variety.

Radio technicians are shown setting up some cumbersome valve-driven recording equipment, which is then used to capture the sound of seals ('A Seal of Approval!') and elephants ('Making a noise like a bun!').

It's not a total success - one title informs us ruefully that "the Laughing Jackass wouldn't laugh!", but a shot of a child listening on headphones with a thrilled expression on his face suggests that the experiment found a willing audience.

Michael Brooke

Click titles to see or read more

Video Clips
Complete item (0:53)
GALLERY / SCRIPTS / AUDIO
SEE ALSO
Topical Budget 605-2: Spring Comes To The Zoo (1923)
Topical Budget 762-2: Spring Comes To The Zoo (1926)
Topical Budget 867-2: Budding Landseers (1928)