These "voice notes" give us a window into the past
Summary
Host Susan Ormiston explores the history of "voice letters," vinyl records recorded in booths and mailed as early voicemails. Princeton professor Thomas Levine discusses his global archive of these discs, which capture intimate messages from soldiers, travelers, and families during the mid-20th century. The episode highlights how this forgotten technology allowed people to share their voices across distances before modern digital communication.
Topics discussed
Sponsor: Crime Story podcast
Intro: Soldiers recording voice letters in WWII
Audio clip: Soldier's message from Guantanamo Bay
Global examples: Tourists and Canadians using booths
Introduction of Princeton historian Thomas Levine
Technical details: Materials and recording process
Availability and cost of voice letter booths
Why it worked: Home gramophones and postal tariffs
Levine's discovery of the archive at a flea market
The collection: 5,000 disks and global variations
Types of messages: Travel, love, and spontaneity
Audio clip: Intimate love letter recording
Social context: Privacy and euphemism in living rooms
Audio clip: Soldier's humorous message to Mary
Sponsor: Crime Story podcast
Media theory: Censorship and the novelty of recorded voice
Audio clip: Birthday message in San Francisco, 1951
The 'Ghost Archive': Voices of the dead and linguistics
Modern parallels: Voice memos and media archaeology
Economics: Cost comparison with telephone calls
Transition to magnetic tape and cassettes
Preservation: Finding records and digital permissions
Conclusion and credits
Outro: CBC podcast sign-off
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