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How to Make Old School Radio Sound Effects

Before the advent of television, radio was the premier source of entertainment, sports news and current events news. Radio dramas were especially popular, and utilized the talents of soundmen, who manually made all the sound effects of the drama on cue. Rather than the computer and turntables of today’s sound men, old school radio sound effects were created using a plethora of everyday items to create the appropriate sounds. The soundmen’s tables often looked like a stall at a junk sale due to the collection of odds and ends used for the sound effects.

Things You'll Need

  • Wooden board
  • Coconut halves
  • Carrots, apples, celery
  • Styrofoam egg carton
  • Broken light bulbs
  • Jar
  • Water
  • Corn starch bag
  • Cellophane
  • Shoes
  • Metal washers
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Instructions

    • 1

      Hold the coconut halves, one in each hand. Bring one half down on the board, one side of the half and then the other, followed by the second half of the coconut in the same manner, to simulate the sound of horses. Alternately, simply clap the two coconut halves together in rapid motions, as seen in Monty Python’s ‘The Holy Grail.’

    • 2

      Snap a carrot, break the celery stick and bite into the apple in quick succession to make the sound of a compound fracture.

    • 3

      Squeeze the Styrofoam egg carton in your hands to make the sound of a rope tightening. This can be used for the sound of a noose tightening, or tying up a captive, or even rigging a sail.

    • 4

      Put the broken light bulbs into the jar, then fill it 1/4 full of water. Put the lid on the jar and shake it for the sound of a cocktail shaker.

    • 5

      Squeeze an unopened bag of corn starch in a rhythmic fashion to mimic the sound of walking on snow.

    • 6

      Twist cellophane in your hands for the sound of crackling fire.

    • 7

      Bring shoes down on the wooden board, one after the other, in either a slow rhythm for walking, or a fast rhythm for running.

    • 8

      Drop the metal washers from a height of around 10 or 15 inches onto the wooden board to simulate the sound of coins.

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