David M. Green: Purveyor of fine humour

Author: David M. Green

  • VHS Revue 7 – 1989 British Open

    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

  • VHS Revue 6 – Caddyshack (1984ish)

    On this special late night movie edition of VHS Revue, I take a look at a tape that’s been in the Green Family Video Library for 31 years: The golf-based comedy “Caddyshack”. One of my all time favourite films.

    But get a load of the ads! Which include commercials for: Toyota, Mitsubishi, Hungry Jack’s, Glen 20, Caj Amadio real estate, with guest appearances by Mr T and Rodney Dangerfield.

    So press that play button and take a gander.

    Special thanks to Adam Navarro, Nicholas Godfrey and Alexis Kotlowy.

    – David M. Green

  • VHS Revue 5 – 1992 Ray Martin Special

    Pour yourself a tall glass of vodka and settle back for another VHS Revue!

    This time it’s a Channel Nine special called “Good Blokes & Superstars” from 18 November 1992.

    Highlights include commercials for Telecom, Bolle sunglasses, Australian Dairy Foundation and Spend-less Shoes. Join me as I raise a glass (or two) for quintuple Gold Logie-winner Ray Martin.

    Special thanks to Adam Navarro, Nicholas Godfrey, Alexis Kotlowy and Hannah Green. They know what they did.

    Have you subscribed on YouTube yet? You have the technology.

    – David M. Green

  • DO SOMETHING to save Australian Community TV!

    This week June 1 to 5, community television in Australia is having a week of action to call attention to the fact they’re still facing the axe at the end of the year when the Federal Government turns off their TV transmission.

    I wrote an article about all this for The Age last year. Aside from my middle initial mysteriously disappearing from The Age website, nothing much has changed since then – not least my firm belief that community television is an important part of the Australian media landscape and deserves to exist.

    Do you agree? Yes? Okay. So what can you do?

    Go to the Commit to Community TV website: http://i.committocommunitytv.org.au/

    Sign the petition. Like the Facebook page. Send a Tweet. Write to your local MP and/or Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Tell someone you think community TV and the thousands of hours of content created every year by thousands of volunteers is important and they should have more time to make the transition to an online distribution business model.

    Do it this week.

    DO SOMETHING.

    – David M. Green

  • VHS Revue 4 – 12 O’clock High (1989)

    Hi dudes. On VHS Revue Ep 4, I take a look at a 1989 Channel 10 recording of the 1949 war film “12 O’clock High”. (Got all those numbers?)

    Highlights include ads for: Dynamo washing powder (with Mother & Son), Miss J. M., Honda CRX (my favourite), Planters Nuts, Ashley & Martin, and some other things. AND if you watch all the way to the end, there are singing cats.

    Plus a surprise appearance from TV’s Michael Pope!

    Thanks again to Michael Pope for “agreeing” to be in this episode of VHS Revue. If you’re a Gen Y like me, you might remember him from those 90s kids game shows “Blockbusters” and “Total Recall”. One of the finest MCs in Australia and if you’re ever lucky enough to be in the studio audience for a TV show and he’s the warm up guy, you’re in for a fun night. Also check out his podcast: An Audience with the Pope for some great celebrity chats.

    Cheers as always to Nick Godfrey & Alexis Kotlowy. And to Antonio Cafasso, Matthew Smith, Annika Samuelsson & Hannah Green for their help on this one.

    See the other Eps on my YouTube channel.

    – David M. Green