David M. Green: Purveyor of fine humour

Tag: VHS

  • VHS Revue 8 – Wiseguy (1993)

    It’s the 8th installment of VHS Revue! Wow 8 episodes. I reckon that’s enough to call it a proper webseries now.

    This week I took a look through a circa 1993 tape of an episode of the late 80s/early 90s police drama “Wiseguy” – a show I’ve never heard of.

    Highlights include ads for Brunnings lawn seed, Sizzler, Link Introductions, TyreMag (which I think might now be banned?), Bob Moran used cars (who is DEFINITELY now banned), Solver Paints, and another thing. Footage recorded from Channel Nine Adelaide and used here for review, parody and satirical purposes (obviously).

    This is the last episode I’ve got in the can. But they’ve been fun to make and I’ve got a few more tapes with good stuff on them. So keep your lips peeled for number 9.

    Thanks for watching/liking/tweeting/subscribing/etc. It’s always a thrill.

    Big thanks especially to Alexis Kotlowy for the fabulous theme music and opening title sequences. And Nicholas Godfrey for his VHS camera. Though I did spot it in Cash Converters for him, so really, it’s mostly me.

    Keep track of VHS Revue on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

    – 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 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

  • VHS Revue 3 – The Two Mrs Grenvilles (1988)

    When I was back in Adelaide over Christmas, I found a box of old video tapes in my Mum’s garage. After lugging them back to Melbourne – and buying a VCR – I’ve spent the last few months going through them and boy… thank Christ no one threw these out.

    I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe… And this stuff is way too good to keep to myself. So I’m thrilled to announce SIX brand new episodes of my webseries “VHS Revue”!

    I’ll be releasing one a week for the next six weeks, starting right now. Here’s Ep 3 – The Two Mrs Grenvilles (1988):

    Highlights include ads for Jeans United, Big Sister fruitcakes, pork, space-themed instant scratchies, Menage cologne and the inaugural edition of “What the hell was that?”

    And a special thanks to a few fantastic people for all their help with these six episodes. Nicholas Godfrey, Adam Navarro, Matthew “Smiddy” Smith & Antonio Cafasso behind the camera; Alexis Kotlowy for his sensational music, graphics and video tape editing; Tim Wray for props, Annika Samuelsson for her voice and my sister Hannah Green for her make-up.

    I’ve found some very funny stuff, and a lot of it isn’t already on YouTube. So if you love old ads and random audio-visual tidbits from 80s and early 90s Australia, this is right up your alley.

    See the other episodes on my YouTube channel.

    – David M. Green

  • VHS Revue

    Merry New Year!

    When I was in Adelaide the other week, I got together with my good friend Nick Godfrey to make a new direct-to-YouTube video recorded on the futuristic medium of VHS…

    And after tedious conversion through about 4 other formats. it’s now online for your enjoyment. Presenting “VHS Revue”. A nostalgic look back on the 4:3 gems taped and abandoned on video cassette decades ago. In this edition, I look at a tape of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics:

    Highlights include commercials for National, Ansett, South Australian potatoes & Peter Russell-Clarke endorsing cheese, as well as some John Newcombe presenting clips and an Eyewitness News update with a young Tim Webster.

    You may have noticed that’s actually episode 2. I did make a similar video back in 2008 where I dissected some ads on a tape of the 1985 Australian Grand Prix, originally titled “Witty 80s TV Commercial Nerd”. I’ve re-branded that Star Wars-style as “VHS Revue 1”. Here’s that one, if you’re interested:

    These are really fun to make. And there’s something quite relaxing about putting a tape into the VCR and hearing those reels wind around, not knowing what you’re going to find. I find my eyes that are so used to crystal clear HD reception adjust to the warm, fuzzy image on the screen after a while. I brought a box of old tapes back with me to Melbourne, so if I find anything good, I’ll be back for another VHS Revue.

    Kind regards,
    David M. Green
    How about that blue shirt? Still fits!