It’s a politically-themed VHS Revue this week. On a tape of the 1989 British Open, Gough Whitlam endorses a fax machine and introduces Australia to the “smart phone” and a guy who looks like a former leader of The Greens does a patriotic ad for windscreen wipers. It’s as good as it sounds.

Interesting/tedious production note: This VHS tape was actually labelled “no good” and during the digitising process, the magnetic tape inside the cassette actually snapped. I had to take it to a camera store and pay $20 to get it repaired. But it was worth it just for the Gough Whitlam ads. I do believe this is the first time anyone has uploaded them to YouTube. So if I achieve nothing else, I’ve got that.

Special thanks to Nicholas Godfrey, Adam Navarro, Matthew “Smiddy” Smith and Alexis Kotlowy. Flags and anchors provided by Tim Wray.

Oh and by the way, VHS Revue is now on FACEBOOK and TWITTER. So like and follow, if you’re into that sort of thing.

– David M. Green

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