Carroll Pratt

Carroll Holmes Pratt (April 19, 1921 – November 11, 2010) was an American sound engineer who, along with laugh track inventor Charley Douglass, pioneered the use of prerecorded laughter.

Early life Carroll Pratt was born April 19, 1921, in Hollywood, California, to Carroll, Sr., a sound engineer during the early years of sound in films and television, and Edith Pratt (née Holmes), a housewife and homemaker.

The Pratt family relocated to Sydney, where Pratt's father worked on Australia's first film with sound, before returning to the U.S. The junior Pratt soon took an interest in sound engineering as well.

After serving in the United States Air Force during World War II, Pratt began working as a sound engineer at MGM Studios. next to Douglass, the Pratt brothers were the most prolific editors working for Northridge Electronics.

Personal life While Pratt was working on M*A*S*H, a woman wrote in to producer Gene Reynolds, begging him to stop using a laugh track on the show. Ironically, the woman was Pratt's girlfriend, Carole. The two later married and lived in Malibu, California.

Filmography Below is a partial list of shows Pratt worked on, both while working for Douglass, for his own Sound One. Years indicate the time period Northridge Electronics and/or Sound One worked on the corresponding show.

Northridge Electronics I Love Lucy (CBS, 1951–57) The Steve Allen Show (NBC, 1956–60; ABC, 1961; Syndication, 1962–64) Bachelor Father (CBS, 1957–59; NBC, 1959–61; ABC, 1961–62) Leave it to Beaver (CBS, 1957–58; ABC, 1958–63) Kraft Music Hall (NBC, 1958–71) Dennis the Menace (CBS, 1959–63) My Three Sons (ABC, 1960–65; CBS, 1965–72) The Flintstones (ABC, 1960–66) The Andy Griffith Show (CBS, 1960–68) (previously laughed by Douglass) The Dick Van Dyke Show (CBS, 1961–66) The Jetsons (ABC, 1962–63) The Beverly Hillbillies (CBS, 1962–71) My Favorite Martian (CBS, 1963–65) Bewitched (ABC, 1964–72) Green Acres (CBS, 1965–71) Hogan's Heroes (CBS, 1965–71) I Dream of Jeannie (NBC, 1965–70) The Carol Burnett Show (CBS, 1967–1978) (Writers Guild strike specials only) The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (CBS, 1967–69) The Banana Splits Adventure Hour (NBC, 1968–70) Scooby Doo, Where Are You! (CBS, 1969–71) The Brady Bunch (ABC, 1969–74) (only when Douglass was unavailable) The Mary Tyler Moore Show (CBS, 1970–77) Josie and the Pussycats (CBS, 1970–71) The Odd Couple (ABC, 1970–75) The Partridge Family (ABC, 1970–74) The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour (CBS, 1971–74)

Transition from Northridge Electronics to Sound One The Pink Panther Show (Northridge Electronics, 1969–78; Sound One, 1978–80) The Bob Newhart Show (CBS, 1972–78) M*A*S*H (Northridge Electronics, 1972–77; Sound One, 1977–83) Happy Days (Northridge Electronics, 1974–77; Sound One, 1977–84) Rhoda (CBS, 1974–78) The Jeffersons (CBS, 1975–85) Barney Miller (ABC, 1975–82) Laverne & Shirley (ABC, 1976–1983) Alice (Northridge Electronics, 1976–1978; Sound One, 1978–85) Eight Is Enough (Northridge Electronics, 1977–79; Sound One, 1980–81) The Love Boat (Northridge Electronics, 1977–78; Sound One, 1979–86)

Sound One What's Happening!! (ABC, 1976–79) Halloween with the New Addams Family (NBC, 1977) Soap (Northridge Electronics, 1977–1978; Sound One, 1978–81) Taxi (ABC, 1978–82; NBC, 1982–83) [also collaborated with Douglass on many episodes] WKRP in Cincinnati (CBS, 1978–82) Mork & Mindy (ABC, 1978–82) Benson (ABC, 1979–86) You Can't Do That on Television (1979–82) [not for entire run] Harper Valley PTA (NBC, 1981–82) The Great Space Coaster (syndicated, 1981–86) Family Ties (NBC, 1982–89) Newhart (CBS, 1982–90) The New Odd Couple (ABC, 1982–83) AfterMASH (CBS, 1983–85) W*A*L*T*E*R (CBS, 1983) Kate & Allie (CBS, 1984–89) The Cosby Show (NBC, 1984–92) Who's the Boss (ABC, 1984–92) Mama's Family (NBC, 1983–84; syndicated, 1986–90) ALF (NBC, 1986–90) Married... with Children (FOX, 1987–97) Roseanne (ABC, 1988–97) Seinfeld (NBC, 1989–98) Home Improvement (ABC, 1991–99) The Red Green Show (CBC Television, 1991–2006) [not for entire run] Mad About You (NBC, 1992–99) Friends (NBC, 1994–2004) Kenan and Kel (Nickelodeon, 1996–2000) [not for entire run]