Oddity Archive (2012)
The Oddity Archive is a web series that revolves around the "cultural dustbin", especially as it pertains to media. The Archive also functions as an actual archive of sorts, with a modest collection of off-air Betamax and VHS recordings (about 400 total as of June, 2014). There's also a decent collection of ephemeral video, "ripoff" and "drugstore" LP's/cassettes/8-tracks, as well as (working) obsolete technology.
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Episodes
SpecialsSeason 1Season 2Season 3Season 4Season 5Season 6Season 7Season 8Season 9Season 10Season 11Season 12Season 13Season 14Season 15
- 1 1. The Max Headroom Incident of 19872012-07-05 · 12mOn the night of Sunday, November 22nd, 1987, a mysterious figure in a Max Headroom mask hijacked two Chicago TV stations. Spoiler alert: The perpetrators were never found.
- 2 2. Emergency Broadcast Salute2012-07-19 · 17mAn informal (not to mention, loose) history of Civil Defense Broadcasting in the U.S.
- 3 3. TV Sign-offs2012-08-02 · 15mRemember when TV stations used to go off the air late at night? Anyone?
- 4 4. Local TV Special2012-08-16 · 21mInterested in seeing a clown so laid-back, he forgets he's on camera? Now about a Hawaiian teen idol with a pen fetish? Maybe an American Bandstand ripoff with an evil spirit hosti
- 5 5. American EXXXtacy (and other C-band nastiness)2012-08-30 · 16mThe Archive's most infamous episode--for some reason.
- 6 6. Conservative Folk Music2012-09-13 · 16mMeet the artists that made the likes of Joan Baez and Pete Seeger fear for their careers.
- 7 7. Format Wars2012-09-27 · 21mVHS or Beta? Laserdisc or CED? What the hell is a CED anyway? These burning questions (amongst others) answered in this episode!
- 8 8. 1-900-ARCHIVE2012-10-11 · 21mJoin Ben as he launches his own 1-900 number. What could possibly go wrong?
- 9 9. Halloween Special 2012 (Strange VHS Endings)2012-10-25 · 37mWe still get a lot of flack for this episode (did you really think there were 37 minutes of odd VHS endings out there?). Nonetheless, it's still a favorite.
- 10 10. Captain Midnight / Vrillon2012-11-08 · 14mAn Archive double header: The two most famous occurrences of Broadcast Signal Hijacking (well, save for the Max Headroom Incident) are discussed here.
- 11 11. Pay TV (but not Cable or Satellite)2012-11-15 · 14mThe Oddity Archive will now be switching to scrambled mode. Please turn on your (preferably, circa 1984) decoder box now.
- 12 12. Top (Thanksgiving) Turkeys of the (19)90's2012-11-22 · 19mBecause we always like to go the extra mile (at least, when it's convenient), the Archive tackles TWO lists of the worst of the (19)90's: The top 4 Trendy Turkeys and the top 4 Tec
- 13 13. Local TV vol. 2 (Kiddie Show Hosts)2012-12-06 · 32mThe 13th episode is a very unlucky one for Ben as he discusses some (all too often, rather off) U.S. Kiddie Show hosts from the early 1950's through the late 1990's.
- 14 14. Christmas Special (A Fair Use Christmas)2012-12-20 · 23mAll Ben wanted for Christmas was a silent night...
- 15 15. Teletext Heaven (or Hell)2013-01-03 · 16mCeefax and Keyfax, Nite-Owl and Cable Chuckles, oh my...
- 16 16. Intermission2013-01-10 · 13mIt's movie day at the Archive! Unfortunately, due to copyright issues, you're not invited. But, at least you can join us for an intermission reel (conveniently containing all Publi
- 17 17. Prehistoric Television2013-01-17 · 16mGiven how much we discuss TV on the Archive, a history lesson seemed in order.
- 18 18. gniksaM sdrawkcaB (Backwards Masking)2013-01-31 · 24m?segassem lanimilbus tahW ?huH Everyone knows there are no subliminal messages in music...(!slatrom nwod wob ,woN)
- 19 19. Valentine's Day Special (Dating Services)2013-02-14 · 26mJoin Ben as he discusses some of the Dating Services of the 1980's to present. And, if you're good, maybe Ben will let you join him in his own quest for a date.
- 20 20. Local TV vol. 3 (Public Access)2013-02-28 · 20mTemporarily exiled from the big leagues of Internet TV, Ben (again, temporarily) sets up camp at his local Public Access outlet.
- 21 21. Protect & Survive2013-03-14 · 16mIt's the feel-good episode of the year as Ben discusses the (in)famous British Nuclear War preparedness campaign.
- 22 22. Duck & Cover2013-03-28 · 17mBecause you can (apparently) never have enough nukes...
- 23 23. Scary Logos (and other Nostalgic Video Terrors)2013-04-11 · 23mWhat is it about end logos and FBI Warnings that scared so many children of the VHS era?
- 24 24. Hell's Bells (The Dangers of Rock and Roll)2013-04-25 · 22mCan pure rock sound really hard-boil an egg? Of course not. It does make for some wicked "deviled" eggs though.
- 25 25. Employee Training Videos2013-05-09 · 29mThings have gotten so dire at The Archive that Ben's been forced to take a "real" job. Join him as he takes a look at his potential employers' training videos.
- 26 26. VHS Vault vol. 1 (Amvest Video)2013-05-23 · 22mEver wanted to know the absolute root of the Oddity Archive? Well, it involves a creepy guy in a Hamster costume...
Cast
Ben MinnotteSelf - Host
Images
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