Ernestine

[Wingsley]

By Ernestine, I mean the mysterious "computer voice" provided by Majel Barrett Roddenberry, particularly in TOS.

By my count, there were at least four versions of Ernestine used in TOS...


The Cigarette Voice, or Ernestine v. 1.0. This voice is clearly exhibited in "Court Martial", "Mudd's Women", and "The Menagerie, Part 1". In this version, Ernestine's voice sounds very much like a natural human voice, although very deep for a woman's. I don't think there are any alterations applied in editing to "doctor" Mrs. Roddenberry's voice, although I admit I could be wrong about that. This computer voice was used for both the Enterprise's computers and the computers on Starbase 11. Apparently, Ciggie fell out of favor, as I don't recall it being used after TOS Year 1.

Ciggie Boop, or Ernestine 1.5. I believe this version was an adaptation of the original Cigarette Voice, used only in "Tomorrow is Yesterday". To make the Kirk's computer sound flirtatious, they had Mrs. Roddenberry make her voice breathy. "Computed, dear."

Tin Canny, or Ernestine 2.0. IIRC, the first time this was used would be when Scott asks Spock's computer to analyze Captain Kirk's radio call (actually Anan VII impersonating Kirk) in "A Taste of Armageddon". They used some kind of effect on Mrs. Roddenberry's voice; they decided her vocal impression wasn't computery enough. So they did a little '60's take on Locutus to "make it so". This voice was probably most clearly exhibited in the Briefing Room scenes in "Wolf in the Fold".

(NOTE: maybe we should also add Ernie to the list, as John Winston, aka Chief Kyle, provided the male computer voice of the I.S.S. Enterprise in "Mirror, Mirror".)

Reverby, or Ernestine 3.0. This was a TOS Year 3 revamping of the computer voice, or rather, two revamps. The first attempt is heard when Spock consults the computer in "Day of the Dove". The voice sounds more like a much-higher-pitched version of Ciggie, but the "Dove" version sounds excessively harsh. I don't think this version was ever used again.

The second version of Reverby/Ernestine 3.0 sounds the most natural or all of Mrs. Roddenberry's computer impressions, played again in a higher tone than Ciggie (about like Tin Canny, but without the tin can FX) with heavy reverb to sound like "this is God talking". It struck me in "That Which Survives" and "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield" that the computer's "hard drive churning", beeps and voice almost sounded like a song. It was like TOS romanticized computerization by making the scene into a musical performance.


Any that I'm missing?

 

[Jose Tyler]

I think the list is pretty complete; I am pretty sure it was the high-pitched Ernestine 3.0 in "Wink of an Eye" as well...

 

[Wingsley]

Anybody know what effect was used on the voices to come up with Tin Canny and Ernie?

 

[scotpens]

Well, you guys certainly have sharper ears than mine. I never detected any noticeable differences in Majel Barrett’s computer voice throughout the entire run of Trek TOS (except for the “seductive” voice in “Tomorrow is Yesterday”).

What’s amusing today, of course, is the robotic monotone Majel used, in keeping with contemporary notions of what a “machine voice” should sound like — along with the dubbed-in teletype noise.

BTW, where did the name Ernestine come from? Is it a fan thing?

 

[WRStone]

BTW, where did the name Ernestine come from? Is it a fan thing?

Ernestine is/was a character created by comedienne/actress Lily Tomlin.

Prior to the mid-1980s, there was only one phone company in the US. AT&T held a government monopoly on all phone service. You couldn't even buy your own phone: they were all leased from AT&T.

AT&T was legendary for its general disdain for customers, making it ripe for satire. Tomlin created the Ernestine character, who was an operator for AT&T that called off-stage or off-screen characters to nit-pick with them about their phone service, for comedic effect.

I'd suggest searching YouTube on "Lily Tomlin" and "Ernestine." No doubt there are any number of her sketches available.

Dakota Smith

 

[Nerys Myk]

BTW, where did the name Ernestine come from? Is it a fan thing?

Ernestine is/was a character created by comedienne/actress Lily Tomlin.

Prior to the mid-1980s, there was only one phone company in the US. AT&T held a government monopoly on all phone service. You couldn't even buy your own phone: they were all leased from AT&T.

AT&T was legendary for its general disdain for customers, making it ripe for satire. Tomlin created the Ernestine character, who was an operator for AT&T that called off-stage or off-screen characters to nit-pick with them about their phone service, for comedic effect.

I'd suggest searching YouTube on "Lily Tomlin" and "Ernestine." No doubt there are any number of her sketches available.

Dakota Smith

I think he means calling the Enterprise computer "Ernestine". Never heard of that prior top this thread. Pretty sure scotpens is one of the older posters.

 

[scotpens]

I think he means calling the Enterprise computer "Ernestine". Never heard of that prior to this thread. Pretty sure scotpens is one of the older posters.

Yes, I’m quite familiar with Lily Tomlin and her Ernestine character on Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In. I just didn’t see the connection to the Enterprise computer voice.

Prior to the mid-1980s, there was only one phone company in the US. AT&T held a government monopoly on all phone service. You couldn't even buy your own phone: they were all leased from AT&T.

Oh, I’m quite old enough to remember Ma Bell. I was sticking my index finger in the little holes and twirling the rotary dial before you were born.

 

[Wingsley]

I dubbed her "Ernestine" both as a nod to the similarly ciggie-voiced Tomlin (her Ernestine skit on Rowan & Martin's LAUGH-IN on NBC ran from 1968 to '73) and to the notion that "the lady computer voice", presumably everywhere on Federation ships and installations in the TOS Universe, had to come from somewhere. Why not assume the computer voice was fashioned off of a living woman, much as the pre-recorded AT&T automated answering voices of the 1960's through the 1980's were recordings of a woman specially selected for her voice and accent? I had to give her a name. Why not Ernestine? (See link to a Tomlin skit at the top of this thread.)

 

[scotpens]

I dubbed her “Ernestine” both as a nod to the similarly ciggie-voiced Tomlin (her Ernestine skit on Rowan & Martin's LAUGH-IN on NBC ran from 1968 to '73) . . .

The show ran from ’68 to ’73. Lily Tomlin joined the cast in 1970, during its third season.

 

[Wingsley]

I stand corrected. Thanks, scotpens!

 

[spooky spice]

Oh, I’m quite old enough to remember Ma Bell. I was sticking my index finger in the little holes and twirling the rotary dial before you were born.

LOL I remember them old phones, and having to book an international phone call, and the delay when you did speak to someone in America!

 

[WRStone]

Oh, I’m quite old enough to remember Ma Bell. I was sticking my index finger in the little holes and twirling the rotary dial before you were born.

Not knowing your age, I'd have no idea. However, I also stuck my finger in Ma Bell's hole pretty frequently. The real fun was my first 300 baud acoustic modem ...

Dakota Smith

 

[Redfern]

I still have two late 60s rotary dial phones in my house on "reserve". Should the power go out, that'll kill the wireless transceivers I have, but I can jack these into the wall and maintain my land line.

I do maintain the larger speaker and microphone elements allow for superior sound on the older phones. Plus, their weight kept them from sliding off tables or desks if the cords were stretched to any significant degree.

Sincerely,

Bill

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I bet Majel just had a laugh riot of a time doing the "Dear" voice.

 

[scotpens]

. . . I do maintain the larger speaker and microphone elements allow for superior sound on the older phones. Plus, their weight kept them from sliding off tables or desks if the cords were stretched to any significant degree.

Yeah, that old Western Electric model 500 desk phone was a heavy sumbitch. And the ringer used real acoustic bells. Even the "traditional" ringtone available for today's phones doesn't sound quite like the real thing.

 

[WRStone]

I still have two late 60s rotary dial phones in my house on "reserve".

Does pulse dialing still work in your area? It's been a long time since I had occasion to care, but my last land-line pulled support for pulse dialing around 1995. If I put a rotary dial phone into a landline anywhere in Iowa of which I'm aware, it won't dial. It would need something to convert the rotary pulses into touch-tones.

Dakota Smith

 

[WRStone]

Yeah, that old Western Electric model 500 desk phone was a heavy sumbitch. And the ringer used real acoustic bells. Even the "traditional" ringtone available for today's phones doesn't sound quite like the real thing.

I love that there's still 48 Volts DC still running down every phone line. As the economy spirals into the Greatest Depression Yet (as it inevitably must), I've started looking at how to make use of it.

If I had a 48VDC-to-120VAC step-up transformer that reliably worked, I would be happier. In Iowa, doing without air conditioning would be tough. Doing without hot water would just plain sucks. Won't be long, now, before I can't afford my electricity, and that 48 volts looks awfully appetizing ...

Dakota Smith

 

[Maurice]

Technically it was Ms. Barrett who did the voice for the TOS computer, as she wasn't married to Gene at that point.

 

[Redfern]

Does pulse dialing still work in your area?

Just tested it right after I read your question.

Yes, it works fine.

Sincerely,

Bill

 

[WRStone]

Interesting. Now I want to locate an old pulse-dial phone, keep it in my car, and plug it in wherever I find myself -- just to see if it works. I know they phased out pulse dialing anywhere I've lived in at least that last ten years because I remember when it was phased out. My father particularly grumbled that he had to buy new phones. He also has an antique phone (the kinds with separate mouth- and earpieces) that had to be retrofitted for touch-tone dialing.