Feb 19, 2025
The pre-recorded laughs of sit-coms
In the past, sit-coms were recorded with a real audience and broadcast on TV. Unfortunately, when a joke didn't work, the audience felt it.To solve this problem, sound engineer Charley Douglass invented the “Laft Box” in 1950.
This box contained 320 different recorded laughs, and are the same ones we heard on the most recent sit-coms. The purpose of these laughs was to manipulate the viewer while watching a program. By hearing the laughter, the viewer imitated the action.
Unfortunately, the Laft Box, which had been a ratings success for over 40 years, was quickly abandoned in the early 2000s.The laughter that used to make the audience enjoy the shows ends up getting boring, and the shows part from it.
