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Stephen Katz after receiving his Academy Award in 1978 with two icons of film sound, six-time Academy Award nominated Director, Universal Sound, Universal Studios, Waldo Watson, and Gordon Sawyer, Sound Director at Samuel Goldwyn Productions; he won three Oscars for Best Sound and was nominated a further 13 times Steve Katz at the console for the Star Wars mix down. Much of the equipment shown was designed and built by Steve ay the Force be with you… Well, the Force is with us here in Four Seasons thanks to our neighbor, and this month's Fascinating Friend, Stephen Katz. Have you ever wondered how movies like Star Wars back in the late 70s had that out-of-this-world sound that had never before been heard in the movies? I sat down with Stephen Katz and his wife Aundrea to find out. I was treated to delicious chocolate orange Bundt cake baked by Aundrea, and a tour of their fabulous home. In every nook and cranny, blending in with the meticulously designed decor, you will find antique, as well as modern, electronics equipment, television screens, mixing boards, speakers hanging from the ceiling, huge speakers in cabinets, and computers. His cell phone can control the entire house with an interface program that he designed. Steve is currently building a Dolby Atmos 9.1.4 Dubbing Stage/Home Theater in the great room! Memorabilia is artistically displayed on every wall and shelf. Movie posters, awards, photos, shadow-box displays, and art tell an intriguing story. I was impressed by the beautiful plates and dishes made by Aundrea in her pottery studio, which Steve built for her in the garage, and which hung as art pieces on walls and displayed on tables. Racks dripping with Aundrea's handmade jewelry designs were proudly pointed out as I toured the rooms and learned about Steve's fascinating story. Steve was born in Brooklyn, NY, where his father served in the Coast Guard. His family lived in Chicago until Steve was 11, when they moved to Queens, NY. Ever since Steve broke the tube of his sixth-grade teacher's one-tube radio kit, he has been captivated by electronics. He was given a shortwave radio for his 13th birthday, and one of the first things he heard was the Russian satellite, Sputnik. By age 14 he had his ham radio license and was making contacts all over the world. Upon graduating from college, he got his first class radio operator license and took a job in radio. Seeking more excitement than what radio had to offer, Steve started working in recording. Within two years he had his own studio where he recorded artists including Barry Manilow, Jimi Hendrix, Ike and Tina Turner, and Chuck Berry. In 1971, in the studio's basement, he co-founded Eventide Electronics, one of the first manufacturers of professional digital audio equipment. (The company recently won a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.) In 1972 the studio had a fire and Steve found himself adrift. He moved to Nashville where he designed and built recording studios for the likes of Dolly Parton, Porter Waggoner, Tom T. Hall, and Grand Funk Railroad. In 1974 he was offered a job by Dolby Laboratories to head their nascent Hollywood film division. (Steve was the only employee.) His job was to find films to use the Dolby System and FASCINATING FRIENDS OF FOUR SEASONS Stephen Katz pictured with the presenters and other recipients of the 1977 Academy Award for the "Creation and Implementation of the Dolby System for Film Sound." L-R; David Robinson (Dolby Chief Engineer), Ray Dolby, Christopher Reeves (Superman), Howard Kotch (Producer, President of the Academy), Stephen Katz, Philp Poole (Stereo Optical Camera developer), Gregory Peck, and Ioan Allen (Creator of the Dolby Film Program) By Sandra Butler-Roberts M 10 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | SEPTEMBER 2019