Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1515063
C I N E M A A U D I O S O C I E T Y. O R G 27 Many of us have a story of how we got involved with the CAS or got into the sound industry. As I sit down at my computer, having recently celebrated my 83rd birthday, here's mine in a couple paragraphs: I was born and raised in Los Angeles. At 10, I started delivering newspapers. In my 20's, I water-skied to Catalina Island behind actor Dan Blocker of Bonanza fame, got into the movie business, became President of IATSE Local 695, then President of the Cinema Audio Society, and was part of the Hollywood's Media Redevelopment Program. I also worked with the city of Long Beach developing kiteboarding events. I have four children and nine grandchildren. At 65, I retired from the movie sound business. During the COVID pandemic, my wife Ruth and I moved from Long Beach to the Central Coast to be close to family. As I enter my last chapter, I feel truly blessed to have had great opportunities in this industry of ours. Early Jim Corbett I was born in Glendale, California, with my early years spent in Lincoln Heights. My dad served in the Army during WWII and, after being discharged, bought me a cat's whisker AM radio kit. At night, I would crawl under my covers and listen to crackling radio stations from around the country. I saw my first movie at 9, The Last of the Mohicans. At an early age, my parents introduced me to music. They played records from the Big Band era: Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Frank Sinatra, etc. Uni-High I attended University High (Uni-High) in West Los Angeles. There, I was introduced to music appreciation and found classical music fascinating. I graduated in 1958, alongside such notables as Nancy Sinatra, Ryan O'Neal, Jim Mitchum, and James Brolin. That year, I visited Jan Berry's home recording studio; he was the "Jan" of Jan and Dean. He had an Ampex two-track tape recorder and used it to record demos in his garage. Also that year, I saw my first movie being shot, Strangers When We Meet, starring Kirk Douglas and Kim Novak, as they were shooting a scene near my home. I got to talk to Kirk. Kim was stunning. During that time, I had dreams of joining the Air Force as a test pilot. I was in the Civil Air Patrol, took classes in math and science, and loved drafting. I also loved drag racing at the San Fernando and Lion's drag strips. My plans soon changed as in 1960 at the age of 20, my girlfriend said, "We're going to have a baby!" I quit Santa Monica College and we drove to Las Vegas with her father and were married. "Fighting" My Way Into Sound On a parallel track, I got into physical fitness with my buddy, Larry Hardsell. We started bodybuilding at Gold's Gym, then switched to Kenpo Karate with Ed Parker. In August of '64, Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris were the headliners of the first Me with my father and sister Julia, circa 1944 Cat's whisker AM radio