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- Season 0
- Episode 13
VHS Vault Vol. 1 (Amvest Video) (Commentary)
Oddity Archive - S0 - E13
Recorded before the original episode premiered. Since then, we've learned that: 1. Audiofidelity Records started in the mid/late 1950's and issued some of the first stereo records. 2. Someone at Audiofidelity went berserk sometime in the '70's and started issuing pirated Beatles albums. 3. Those that signed up for the Kid Pics newsletter wound up on mailing lists for sleazy child beauty pageants (are there any other kind?). Ben has since learned that: 1. Playing a record at 75% of it's original speed is equivalent to flattening the "key" by a fourth, not a flat-fifth. 2. Audio frequencies are exponential. 2. Ben cannot do math in his head.
Oddity Archive: Season 0 - 63 Episode s
0x1 - Everlasting Love
September 20, 2012
What the hell would make this overplayed moldy-oldie count as an oddity? Find out...
0x2 - The Max Headroom Incident of 1987 (Commentary)
October 18, 2012
The first Archive Riffs episode. Ben tackles a supposed promotional film for the "Butter & Egg Days Festival" that the Rifftrax guys already did--but they don't know real art (like Ben does).
0x3 - Sounds to Make You Shiver
October 31, 2012
A nice, compact little review of one of the most (in)famous "drugstore" records ever released. Bet you thought we didn't have a copy!
0x4 - TV Sign-Offs (Commentary)
December 13, 2012
An informal discussion of the TV Sign-Offs episode.
0x5 - Emergency Broadcast Salute (Commentary)
February 7, 2013
Something about February always gets Ben thinking about Civil Defense Broadcasting.
0x6 - Freedom is a Hammer (Album Review)
March 7, 2013
At the time of the Conservative Folk Music episode, some of the artists discussed had yet to make their digital debuts. Naturally, Ben would want to take a look at the CD that rounds up the complete folk-rock works of Janet Greene.
0x7 - American EXXXtasy (Commentary)
April 4, 2013
Perhaps the Archive's most infamous episode needed a little more context. Maybe not. Nevertheless, it got it anyway--the context, that is.
0x8 - Greetings From the Stars (Sort Of)
May 2, 2013
Ever wanted to get an (impersonal) birthday greeting from Milton Berle? How 'bout an answering machine message from "Richard Simmons"? Yeah, didn't think so.
0x9 - Ask the Archive
May 30, 2013
An informal Q & A session. Yep, that's about it.
0x10 - Archive Riffs: Petaluma Chicken
June 6, 2013
The first Archive Riffs episode. Ben tackles a supposed promotional film for the "Butter & Egg Days Festival" that the Rifftrax guys already did--but they don't know real art (like Ben does).
0x11 - Local TV Special (Commentary)
June 13, 2013
A commentary cut for the Local TV Special that was originally shelved due to a factual error regarding Indianapolis-based Horror Movie Host, Sammy Terry. Well, that and a couple of other brain farts.
0x12 - Archive Riffs: Greedy Humpty Dumpty
June 20, 2013
Ben riffs the sole survivor of his childhood Public Domain VHS collection.
0x13 - VHS Vault Vol. 1 (Amvest Video) (Commentary)
June 27, 2013
Recorded before the original episode premiered. Since then, we've learned that: 1. Audiofidelity Records started in the mid/late 1950's and issued some of the first stereo records. 2. Someone at Audiofidelity went berserk sometime in the '70's and started issuing pirated Beatles albums. 3. Those that signed up for the Kid Pics newsletter wound up on mailing lists for sleazy child beauty pageants (are there any other kind?). Ben has since learned that: 1. Playing a record at 75% of it's original speed is equivalent to flattening the "key" by a fourth, not a flat-fifth. 2. Audio frequencies are exponential. 2. Ben cannot do math in his head.
0x14 - Archive Riffs: Say No to Strangers
July 25, 2013
Learn to take the safe way to school (but only if you have to walk through Chinatown).
0x15 - National Anthem Conspiracy Theory (Redux)
August 22, 2013
One of the Archive's earliest episodes seems to have gone missing. As such, Ben has been forced to remake it. Or, this was Ben's (unsurprisingly, failed) submission to the ConBravo indie video showcase.
0x16 - Halloween Special 2012 (Commentary)
October 17, 2013
An all-too-brief look back at the Archive's first Halloween special.
0x17 - Hallmark Presents: Spooky Sounds
October 31, 2013
Given we followed up the first Halloween Special with a review of a "spooky sound effects" album, we figured it wouldn't hurt to do it again.
0x18 - Archive Riffs: Dining Together
November 28, 2013
Chain Aunt Phyllis to the family piano and enjoy an old-fashioned Thanksgiving.
0x19 - Christmas Special 2012 (A Fair Use Christmas) (Commentary)
December 12, 2013
A much-maligned commentary to a forgotten Archive episode.
0x20 - Archive Riffs: A Christmas Fantasy
December 24, 2013
Because nothing says "Christmas" quite like creepy wax figures and a bargain-basement Bing Crosby.
0x21 - TV DX-ing
January 9, 2014
...because the local stations suck.
0x22 - Archive Riffs: Live & Learn
January 30, 2014
Sid Davis would like to remind you that he loves his wallpaper and hates your child.
0x23 - Archive Riffs: Cigarette Commercials
February 27, 2014
Since we spent so much time with anti-smoking propaganda last time out, in the name of fairness, we thought we'd share some pro-smoking propaganda. Sorry, no dancing Luckies here (seriously, what can you say about it? Insert smart-ass comments below).
0x24 - Backwards Masking (Commentary)
March 27, 2014
Everything Ben has to say about the Backwards Masking episode in a mere 12 minutes!
0x25 - A Nice Pair (of early, European VCR's)
April 24, 2014
Can your heart take the sheer sex appeal of the Philips N1500? No (prescription) pills necessary!
0x26 - Blooper Reel
May 15, 2014
Alternate Title: Why The Archive isn't terribly conducive to outtake specials.
0x27 - VHS Vault Vol. 5 (Y2K Apocalypse Party!) (Commentary)
June 5, 2014
One of those rare occasions where there was a little TOO much to say in an episode.
0x28 - Archive Riffs: Atomic Alert (Elementary Edition)
June 12, 2014
Released about five minutes before the Conelrad system was established (and featuring some nice undercranking), 1951's Atomic Alert teaches you how to keep your nuclear experience nice and peaceful.
0x29 - Ben's Junk: Sony Super Betamax
June 19, 2014
A new spin-off of the Archive in which a piece of equipment is discussed that either has already been discussed in greater detail or that simply wouldn't amount to even a minisode of Archive.
0x30 - Ben's Junk: VideoNow PVD Player
June 23, 2014
The rejected pilot of Ben's Junk (for reasons that should become readily apparent fairly quickly). This time out, Hasbro's failed attempt at a portable DVD player for kids.
0x31 - Format Wars 2 (COMMENTARY)
July 3, 2014
By request, Ben discusses "Format Wars". By unilateral action, Ben discusses both "Format Wars" videos in one convenient (for him) commentary.
0x32 - Ben's Junk: VHS Camcorder (RCA CC285)
July 31, 2014
A "by request" Ben's Junk. Taking a look at the camcorder used to film "Going Analog" and "Y2K Apocalypse Party".
0x33 - The Great Archive Treasure Hunt (Commentary)
August 28, 2014
Who'da thunk the making of this episode AND the episode itself was about rediscovery?
0x34 - Ben's Junk: Tascam Cassette Portastudio
September 25, 2014
Perhaps a too-personal installment of Ben's Junk. Don't take that the wrong way...
0x35 - Halloween Special 2013 (Commentary)
October 9, 2014
Must be that magic time of year again when Ben lazily dusts off the previous year's Halloween episode for a commentary.
0x36 - Ben's Junk : 8-Track/Cassette "Adaptor"
November 20, 2014
SPOILER ALERT: Whoa-oh here it comes/Watch out boy, it'll chew them up/Whoa-oh here it comes/It's a tape eater!
0x37 - Ben's Junk: Multi-System VHS VCR (Hitachi VT-M768EM)
December 4, 2014
Finally, a VCR that can play all international formats! What do you mean, it only has mono sound?!? What you do mean I need converter boxes?!?
0x38 - Ben's Junk: JVC S-VHS VCR (S7600U)
December 18, 2014
The long-awaited conclusion to the two-part Ben's Junk VHS extravaganza. Does this count as the climax?
0x39 - Ben's Junk: LaserKaraoke/Laserdisc Player (Pioneer CLD-S304)
January 8, 2015
Two episodes of LaserKaraoke and still no demonstration of the machine? Yeah, I'm kinda slow...
0x40 - 1-900 ARCHIVE Vol. 2 (Commentary)
January 22, 2015
A dual commentary for both 1-900 ARCHIVE volumes. WARNING: Wrestling aficionados may not like what I have to say.
0x41 - The DuMont Network (Deleted Game Show Segment)
February 5, 2015
The DuMont episode ran ridiculously overlong (gotta love that molasses-slow early TV!). Here is a deleted segment giving an overview on the Game Shows aired on the DuMont Network.
0x42 - Ben's Junk: Handheld Electronic Games
March 5, 2015
Pouring some additional salt in the gamer wounds...
0x43 - Ben's Junk: B-Movies & cult Classics
April 2, 2015
Slightly bastardizing the usual Ben's Junk format--but not Ben's Junk itself (that'd hurt).
0x44 - Ben Tries Finnish Candy
April 30, 2015
...and welcome to (probably the only edition of) "Ben Tries"!
0x45 - Ben's Junk: WebTV Box
May 28, 2015
A day late, a dollar short--you know the deal.
0x46 - The Death of Analog TV (Commentary)
June 11, 2015
Little did I know... NOTE: If you don't like my dry, rambling (and stutter-heavy) commentaries, you might wanna skip this one.
0x47 - Ben's Junk: Super 8 Sound Projector (Sears Sound II - Model 9258)
June 18, 2015
Nothing but the cutting edge in home video technology in Archive-land!
0x48 - Archive Riffs: Self-Conscious Guy
June 25, 2015
I'm so vain, I KNOW I think this short is about me...
0x49 - VHS Vault Vol. 6 (How's Your Sex Life?) (Valentine's Day Special 2015) (Commentary)
July 2, 2015
I really wanted to be hypnotized! Seriously!
0x50 - (Unofficial) Ben's Junk: Philips CD-I (model 220)
July 9, 2015
The original "demo" segment in the CD-I episode ran long. REALLY LONG! This is the complete, intended segment shamelessly re-purposed as a "Ben's Junk" episode.
0x51 - Ben's Junk: 8-Track (and related) Oddities
August 6, 2015
Just going through some (relatively) recent additions to the Archive's 8-track (and associated) pile.
0x52 - Ben's Junk: Sony DT-30 (External VCR Timer)
September 3, 2015
DVR? Two-week advance recording? Wusses.
0x53 - Ben Tries Bonomo's Turkish Taffy
September 17, 2015
Made as a thank you to the viewer who sent this. A thank you for not sending us any Magic Clown ephemera, that is.
0x54 - Ben's Junk: Rejuvenique Revisited (plus Contest!)
October 1, 2015
Looking back on the mental and physical scars sustained while making the Rejuvenique episode--and the mask too.
0x55 - Halloween Special 2014 (Archive Wares: Rejuvenique) (Commentary)
October 15, 2015
Recounting one of the Archive's more memorable production experiences.
0x56 - An Overly Nostalgic Halloween (or, For The Want of a Pail)
October 29, 2015
I hate it when my ideas for holiday specials fall through...
0x57 - For The Want of a Pail (Conclusion)
October 31, 2015
0x58 - Ben's Junk: Fisher-Price PXL 2000 Camcorder
November 12, 2015
Discussing what was arguably the most difficult restoration project I’ve (successfully) undertaken. Special thanks once again to Stephen Greer for his generous donation.
0x59 - Ben Tries (Thanksgiving Edition) (or, Ben tries Australian Stuff)
November 26, 2015
'Cause, you know, Thanksgiving, food...it all makes sense.
0x60 - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
December 10, 2015
What's with the box? Who's that creepy guy in the intro? Is Chuck Swirsky really a freakin' nerd? Those questions (and more) will be answered in this video.
0x61 - Archive Riffs: A Christmas Dream
December 24, 2015
The Archive dusts off a minor (albeit severely butchered) art-house classic. Merry Christmas!
0x62 - Ben's CED Collection (Deleted Segment from CED Episode)
January 14, 2016
Filmed for inclusion on the CED episode (Episode 92), but left off for time.
0x63 - Ben's Junk: Guitars! Guitars!! Guitars!!!
January 28, 2016
Ben geeks out about guitars for 25 minutes. Watch at your own peril.
Oddity Archive: All seasons
S0: Specials
300 Episode s
S1: Season 1
26 Episode s
S2: Season 2
26 Episode s
S3: Season 3
26 Episode s
S4: Season 4
24 Episode s
S5: Season 5
24 Episode s
S6: Season 6
25 Episode s
S7: Season 7
22 Episode s
S8: Season 8
24 Episode s
S9: Season 9
23 Episode s
S10: Season 10
22 Episode s
S11: Season 11
23 Episode s
S12: Season 12
16 Episode s
S13: Season 13
4 Episode s