Distant Drums

Basically, just so you understand, the Wilhelm scream is a famous stock sound effect that's been used in countless films, television programs, and other media.

And it originated to the – and I guarantee you my grandpa's seen this because my grandpa knows every Western known to man – It originated in the 1951 film called Distant Drums, where the scream was allegedly voiced by an actor named Sheb Woolley.

Now, Sheb Woolley, a lot of people probably don't know that he was an actor and a voice actor and all of that.

But Sheb Woolley was famous for something that a lot of people should know, which is Purple People Eater.

And just in case you didn't hear it, here it does.

Okay.

So they then put that into the movie, 1951, a film called Distant Drums, where it was used.

And then after that, instead of recording other screams, they just started using that scream in a lot of other movies.

Gordon MacRae can be seen starring in Warner Brother's Starlet.

Lucille Norman appeared through the courtesy of Warner Brothers, who are releasing the Milton Sperling production Distant Drums.

Tonight's story, The Happy Prince, by Oscar Wilde, with the great music of Christmas, was dramatized for the Railroad Hour by Lawrence and Lee.

Our choir is under the direction of Norman Luboff, and our music is prepared and conducted by Carmen Dragon.

movies.

1951 for the film Distant Drums.

Yeah, because we watch so many movies, and whenever you hear it, you hear it.

It's almost like, I don't know, it's almost like a punctuation.

Yeah.

Let's see.

According to the Wikipedia, Distant Drums, allegedly voiced by actor Sheb Woolley.

Yes.

Like I said, his legacy extends far beyond novelty music.

For example, as a voice actor, Shep recorded the iconic Wilhelm Scream sound effect for the 1951 film Distant Drums.

That audio clip has become cinema's most famous recurring sound effect across hundreds of major films, and actually including Star Wars.

Do you remember this? All right, coming in at number six, they got one of the heaviest tracks of the 50s in name and in subject matter, but despite the grim nature of the song, it caught on thanks to some seriously hypnotic finger snapping.