Jump Cut!: Memoirs of a Pioneer Television Editor

Rating:
Summary: An excellent review of television technology
Review: Although this is technically an autobiography, this book provides excellent insight into the devlopment of television, specifically the history of kinescope and videotape recording and editing. When there are no rules, who makes the rules? The author was involved in early West Coast kinescope recording, which was the only way to record television programs in the early 1950s. As videotape came into use, it was used to record and time delay shows for the West Coast. The author pioneered many early techniques, crude as they were, that helped make videotape a more effective production tool. The chapter detailing how 'Laugh-in', one of the first shows to use a fast-paced edit style, was produced, is excellent. This aspect of televison technology has not been well documented. This book provides excellent insight into the early days of network television.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent review of television technology
Review: Although this is technically an autobiography, this book provides excellent insight into the devlopment of television, specifically the history of kinescope and videotape recording and editing. When there are no rules, who makes the rules? The author was involved in early West Coast kinescope recording, which was the only way to record television programs in the early 1950s. As videotape came into use, it was used to record and time delay shows for the West Coast. The author pioneered many early techniques, crude as they were, that helped make videotape a more effective production tool. The chapter detailing how 'Laugh-in', one of the first shows to use a fast-paced edit style, was produced, is excellent. This aspect of televison technology has not been well documented. This book provides excellent insight into the early days of network television.