Industrial Musicals: The Golden Age of corporate showtunes

Twenty Thousand Hertz

Dallas Taylor

Music, Design, Arts, Music Commentary

4.8 • 4.1K Ratings

🗓️ 21 February 2024

⏱️ 34 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

For more than three decades, it was common for American companies to put on “industrial musicals” for their employees. These elaborate productions could rival Broadway shows, and featured original songs about the company and its products. And while this music was never intended for the general public, once you hear it for yourself, you might just get hooked. This is a story about bathroom remodeling, corporate art, and one man’s obsession with a forgotten corner of pop culture. Featuring comedy writer and collector Steve Young. Sign up for Twenty Thousand Hertz+ to get our entire catalog ad-free. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. Follow Dallas on Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn. Watch our video shorts on YouTube, and join the discussion on Reddit and Facebook. Go to zocdoc.com/20k and download the Zocdoc app for free. Listen to Wondery Class of ‘88 at wondery.com/class of 88. Get 50% off your first Factor order at factormeals.com/tth50. Claim your $75 sponsored job credit at indeed.com/hertz. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/industrialmusicals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	One of the best choices I ever made for my health was prioritizing regular checkups,
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0:20.0	That's Z-O-C-D-O-C.com slash H-E-R-T-Z.
0:24.3	Zocdoch.com slash Hertz.
0:29.8	You're listening to 20,000 Hertz.
0:33.4	I'm Dallas Taylor.
0:35.4	Are we ready to go?
0:37.0	I'm ready.
0:38.2	And you have the big red light going?
0:40.6	Yeah, it's going.
0:41.5	Yeah.
0:41.7	Excellent.
0:42.7	Recently, I sat down with producer Amelia Tate.
0:45.7	Okay.
0:46.4	So we're here to talk about industrial musicals today, Dallas.
0:51.3	Okay.
0:52.2	Interesting.
0:52.9	In fact, before I even explain what an industrial musical really is, I'd like to set a scene,
0:58.7	if you wouldn't mind.
0:59.8	I'd love for you to imagine that you're a salesman, and it's 1972, and you work for Lipton T's.
	...

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