Hot off the spool! VHS Revue Episode 10.
It’s another Nicholas Godfrey tape. This one a 1994 recording of the original Star Wars. Highlights include some casual racial homophobia from Hungry Jack’s, a highly inaccurate space-themed ad for Coca-Cola, a business update from a guy who thinks he’s reading a children’s book and watch all the way to the end for the BIG TWIST. Also, Han shoots first.
This’ll be the last one for a while. Cheers for the views.
VHS Revue links: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube
– David M. Green
After a 3 month sabbatical, VHS Revue is back! I acquired a couple more tapes from my good friend Nicholas Godfrey and the first of which has been combed through in Ep 9 above.
It’s the Australian television premiere of the 1990 Macaulay Culkin classic “Home Alone”, recorded on 15 August 1993.
Highlights include ads for Optus, Pascal Dipstix, Ian Berry Insurance and the Christian Television Association. Footage recorded from Channel Ten Adelaide and used here for review, parody and satirical purposes (obviously).
Plus a very special guest appearance by TV’s Mark Humphries!
We used a different VHS camera this time: a circa 1985 Hitachi belonging to my good friend Alexis Kotlowy (AKA the guy who also did all the brilliant music and graphics). It has a slightly softer look than Nick’s circa 1990 National camera we used for Eps 2-8. We had to take the side panel off because it was chewing the tape at one point, but it did make it look cooler:
Almost looks like it an old movie camera with those spools spinning around.
I made those offensive chocolate bars myself. Bit of a shame you hardly get to see them in the video. Although, it’s probably for the best. Graphic design was never my strong point. And if you could see them close up, you can clearly see I’ve just printed out some “crude” labels and stuck them onto real confectionery… If you haven’t scrolled down already, go on have a look then.
Got one more episode in the works for now, so keep track of VHS Revue on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
But until then, I’ll see ya around.
– David M. Green
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
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