The terrifying roar of the original Godzilla – which, to me, always sounded more like a schreeching car tire than a radiation-enhanced kaiju – has an interesting origin story of its own. As it turns out, Godzilla is more of a classically-trained musician than most people give him credit for.
I love monsters. And by that, I mean more than just kids or. more precisely, other people’s kids.
I mean I love actual monsters. Kaiju.
And one of my favorite monsters is the grandaddy of movie monsters, Godzilla. More specifically, the original, 1954-version of everyone’s favorite radioactive dino-dragon, with whom pre-Perry Mason Raymond Burr co-starred (in the American release) previewed in this delightful trailer …
Watching movies like this is one of my guilty pleasures. This film buff in me enjoys the importance of the film in the history of filmmaking. The history buff in me appreciates the societal anxiety of 1950s Japan in a thinly-veiled disguise of a rubber suited, radioactive fire-breathing dragon.
But maybe the best thing of all is the warm glow of nostalgia that comes from watching something I so closely associate with my childhood.
My life with Godzilla
I wasn’t around in 1954. So I didn’t see this feature when it hit theaters. But I grew up watching the late-night “Creature Feature” television show on Saturday nights with my friends during sleep-overs.
And my brother and I still laugh at the ridiculous adventure we had at a Saturday matinee showing of GODZILLA VERSUS THE SMOG MONSTER at the Capital Theater in downtown Davenport. We watched a radioactive cowpie face off against Godzilla and Ultraman while dodging plastic balls filled with orange drink being hurled from rival groups of pre-teen boys who, like us, had been dropped off by parents looking for a break from their own in-home monster experience for a few hours.
By the time Godzilla was fighting the Smog Monster, the King’s roar had become a pre-recorded thing and was played over and over again, from one feature to another. But this article by Scott Campbell gives us a look at the original version of Godzilla’s roar (which you can hear in the trailer), and it’s an interesting look at the ingenuity and creativity required to bring Big G to life on the silver screen.
How Godzilla got his voice
Seventy years ago, no one had ever heard Gozailla roar. In fact, 70 years ago, nobody had ever heard of Godzilla. So it was on composer Akira Ifukube to come up with a terrifying sound that would herald the arrival of everyone’s favorite kaiju.
Ifukube’s recipe for success involved rubbing a leather glove coated in pine-tar against the strings of a double bass. Knowing that now, you can almost hear a more organic sound to the screech. Unlike other iconic “voices” like Chewbaca from Star Wars or the T-Rex from Jurassic Park which are mixes of different animal sound recordings, Godzilla’s roar is entirely organic in nature and presents a different affect.
Do you have a favorite monster roar?
There are, unsurprisingly, dozens of videos on YouTube featuring “famous monster roars and sounds” – but I’m interested in hearing what yours might be. Leave your suggestion (and a link) in the comments below and tell me what those sounds say to you.
I’ll share the best.
A dream job … or just a job of dreams?
You need to know one of the true “wizards” of Disney’s Imagineering department. He’s made a real-life lightsaber and now he’s creating the technology that could put a Holodeck experience in every home. Find out more …
So long Leap Day, see you in 4 years (or so) …
Oh sure, it seems obvious. Every four years, we’ll just add an extra day to the calendar. Unless the year ends in a 00, then … well … read this post and you’ll know all you really need to know about “Leap Days.”
Gone but not forgotten – favorite automotive trends from the past
America (and much of the world) has had a century-long love affair with automobiles – of all shapes and sizes. But just like that person you dated back in high school, a second look few decades after the fact may result in a raised eyebrow or two.
Leaping back into the DAILY SPAM … and much more.
It’s well preserved in its own juices and fresh out of the can. The DAILY SPAM is back.
Celebrating the best underwater photography of the year
The online gallery showcasing the best entries of the 2024 Underwater Photographer of the Year competition is absolutely stunning. I’ve posted a few samples and a link to the online exhibit.
Nothing to watch on HULU? Not exactly …
Overwhelmed with options when it comes to finding a new series to stream or a movie to watch? If you’ve got a subscription to HULU, I might have a few suggestions …
Additions for your “ttrbyd” list
What’s this? Just another one of those lists of things to do, read, watch, experience before you leave this mortal coil? Maybe, but it’s worth the read.
A little walk can take us miles
How many steps do you take in a day? Believe it or not, there are physiological, mental, and emotional benefits to literally “taking a hike” whether your wife asks you to or not.
Apple’s big bet on the MLS
How does Apple view its 10-year, $2B+ deal between Apple TV+ and Major League Soccer? It’s a way to reinvent sports for a streaming environment and get in on the ground floor of what could be the freshest source of “reality television” on the planet.
Animal stories … and much more.
Whether it’s a rampaging bear, a happy dog, or the return of the woolly rhino … it’s all good in today’s DAILY SPAM.
Still turning heads at 50 … happy birthday to THE EXORCIST.
Everything from celebrating fifty years of head-spinning thrills to the health benefits of ice cream. It’s all part of today’s nutritious meal of email delights.
Have you had your SPAM today?
Introducing a new column … Daily Spam is what I serve up after digging through the hundreds of emails I get every day … just so you don’t have to. I’ll provide links to interesting articles, videos, podcasts and more with no offers for winning lotto numbers, inheritances from African princes, or the latest NFTs. It’s free content worth every penny. Guaranteed.
You’ll never guess where I found the biggest obstacle to my recovery journey …
It turns out that the mind-body connection works both ways. Sometimes the biggest barrier keeping you from your success is located between your ears – which is why its important to understand how physical trauma can bring on depression and how your mental health affects your recovery.
The patient can go on vacation, but the therapy can’t.
Even when you intentionally “get away from it all” you don’t get away from it ALL. Blogger Mike Bawden explains how to manage travel, touring foreign countries, chasing grandchildren, and rehabbing an injured shoulder simultaneously.
Sometimes physical therapy can be a real pain …
I learned the hard way that pain, and my reaction to it, is one of the useful signals a therapist uses to evaluate the progress of your rehabilitation.
