April 24, 2009
Gus Walker sent me a compilation of the so-called Wilhelm Scream, which is a sound effect which has been used in a ton of movies.

Legend says the scream was created for a Western, The Charge At Feather River back in 1953 and has been picked up and used by various filmmakers including George Lucas, who has used it in all of the Star Wars and Indiana Jones films.

We did an article in True West a couple years ago that convincingly credits Shelby F. "Sheb" Wooley (April 10, 1921 – September 16, 2003) as the creator of the scream. Sheb was a character actor and singer, best known for his 1958 novelty hit "The Purple People Eater". Also for playing Ben Miller, brother of Frank Miller arriving on the train at High Noon.

If you'd like to see the compilation here it is:

The Wilhelm Scream Compilation

And here is the history of the Wilhelm Scream:

The History

Funny stuff, and I guarantee you will never watch a Western the same way again.

"A good plan violently executed today is far and away better than a perfect plan tomorrow."
—General George S. Patton