Saturday, June 07, 2003
Thrift Store Archaelology: Far too many people mock me for the fact that, in addition to the regular VHS VCR and DVD, I also picked up an on-the-cheap but remarkably functional Beta VCR a few years back, and started grabbing up Beta tapes at breathtaking speed not too long after. The prerecorded tapes are about as interesting as you'd expect, but the real treats are on the "blank" tapes, because when you find them at flea markets or thrift stores, they're rarely ever blank. The tail ends of other people's tapes always hold my attention, since the stuff they record over is often a lot more interesting than what they choose to keep. Just in one score at Goodwill from last year, I've found parts of old newscasts, pieces of the 1984 Olympics, and something on a tape I didn't bother with until today.
Through some whim, somebody recorded a Conan movie over an evening of MTV that they just let roll, so there was a nice surprise after the movie ended: at least an hour and a half of 1988 vintage MTV, loaded with (GASP!) music videos, and right in the center of what was left was the crown jewel of the schedule: Remote Control, with Colin Quinn, Kari Wuhrer, and your host Ken Ober. No Adam Sandler as the Trivia Delinquent, sadly, but it was a fun trip. And then, in the ad break right after, was one of those ads that linger in your subconscious, like a lady's perfume or where you buried that drifter. Two grubby comedy hippies sitting in front of a VW van with a boombox:
Hippie #1:Hey, man, is thatFreedom Rock?
Hippie #2: Yeah, man!
Hippie #1:Well, turn it UP, man!
(Cut to the record jacket, Allman Brothers "Ramblin' Man", and a photo montage...)
There was also an MTV News appearance by Toby Radloff (genuine nerd), a coworker of American Splendor's Harvey Pekar and one of a seemingly endless line of MTV Short-Term American Celebrities, dressing up for Halloween. (Kurt Loder: "That's the news...or whatever...")
The lot included a few sealed Beta blanks, too, and I was thinking of using one of those to make a Beta copy of The Matrix, complete with photo sleeve, and leaving it at the Goodwill sometime. It's conceptual humor, for sure, but I'd think a Matrix fan would appreciate the concept. ("What is the secret of the Matrix on Beta format?" "The secret is there is no Beta format.")
Be back later...
Through some whim, somebody recorded a Conan movie over an evening of MTV that they just let roll, so there was a nice surprise after the movie ended: at least an hour and a half of 1988 vintage MTV, loaded with (GASP!) music videos, and right in the center of what was left was the crown jewel of the schedule: Remote Control, with Colin Quinn, Kari Wuhrer, and your host Ken Ober. No Adam Sandler as the Trivia Delinquent, sadly, but it was a fun trip. And then, in the ad break right after, was one of those ads that linger in your subconscious, like a lady's perfume or where you buried that drifter. Two grubby comedy hippies sitting in front of a VW van with a boombox:
Hippie #1:Hey, man, is thatFreedom Rock?
Hippie #2: Yeah, man!
Hippie #1:Well, turn it UP, man!
(Cut to the record jacket, Allman Brothers "Ramblin' Man", and a photo montage...)
There was also an MTV News appearance by Toby Radloff (genuine nerd), a coworker of American Splendor's Harvey Pekar and one of a seemingly endless line of MTV Short-Term American Celebrities, dressing up for Halloween. (Kurt Loder: "That's the news...or whatever...")
The lot included a few sealed Beta blanks, too, and I was thinking of using one of those to make a Beta copy of The Matrix, complete with photo sleeve, and leaving it at the Goodwill sometime. It's conceptual humor, for sure, but I'd think a Matrix fan would appreciate the concept. ("What is the secret of the Matrix on Beta format?" "The secret is there is no Beta format.")
Be back later...
|| Eric 4:38 PM#
