Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1538148
10 PRODUCTION SOUND & VIDEO – Fall 2025 Ric Rambles by Ric Teller Septuagenarian. Syn. aging, senescent, over-the-hill, superannuated, in other words: analog. I am honored to be in that small, select group of people seventy- plus who are still working in live entertainment television. We are breaking age barriers. So much so that I felt the need to learn how to spell septuagenarian. Technology has helped us stay active, specifically replacing long runs of heavy copper mult-cables with fiber-optic cables. A couple of bi-directional single-mode TAC-12's can transport the entire audio content from the stage to all of the mixer positions and receive from the mixers as well. It has lightened our load. See what I did there? OK, I didn't mean to over-enthuse about fiber, but it has made a big change in our workflow. In the world of live entertainment television, the Fiber Kings are Bill Eastham, who we call, Fiber Bill, and Kit Donovan, who we call Kit Donovan. They are responsible for managing the complicated fiber networks necessary to make big shows like The Oscars and The Grammys. We have come a long way from the eight-pair copper mult- cables that KTLA used when I worked there more than forty years ago. I wonder what connectivity will look like forty years from now. If you figure out a way to contact me, let's not talk about that. In 1985, when I began to freelance, I was surprised to find that most of the crew in the freelance world was young. Not-so-annuated. A bunch of tricenarians. You know, thirty- somethings. Maybe one A2 was in their forties. Kinda like now. Next to my desk, there is a large paper grocery bag from Ralph's, filled with credentials. Not every single one that I have received, but a pretty good bunch. My wife, Patricia, reached in without looking and picked out a few for me to tell you about. 1. The 1991 International Special Olympics Opening Ceremonies This event took place in Minneapolis at the Metrodome. You know, the place that was forced to cancel a football game in 2010 because the roof collapsed. The highlight of our show was a short set by Prince. He and his band played "Diamonds and Pearls," "Baby I'm a Star," and "Push." Fantastic! The day after the show, I rented a car and drove to Lake Okoboji. It's in Iowa. You should visit there. Not in winter. 2. Miley's Sweet 16 For her sixteenth birthday in 2008, Miley Cyrus celebrated with a fundraising party at Disneyland. A private party at Disneyland. After the park closed. My little part included a concert on Tom Sawyer's Island, in Frontierland. I think we had to take everything to and from the island by barge. The fireworks show, just for the birthday party, was spectacular. I understand that the island and Rivers of America will close soon to make way for a new car-themed attraction called Piston Peak National Park. Hmmm. Front Tires Land? 3. 55th ACM Awards at The Ryman Auditorium I rambled about the ACM's in the last issue, but working this show at The Ryman was great. A bucket-list venue for me. Yes, bucket-list venue is a thing. Fox Theatre - Atlanta, Chicago Theatre - Chicago, Radio City Music Hall - New York, The Roof Garden - Arnolds Park. Since I started in 1987, we have done the ACM show in thirteen venues in four states. 4. Betty White's 90th Birthday Early in January 2012, we did a tribute show for Betty. Ed Greene was our Mixer, and he was very concerned that we make sure to set the height of the stand mic just perfectly for the 5'4" Betty, several times reminding Credentials and galettes