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Oddity Archive

Oddity Archive
★ 8.0/10•2012•30m•Documentary
Similars

The Oddity Archive is a web series that revolves around the "cultural dustbin", especially as it pertains to media. The Archive also functions as an actual archive of sorts, with a modest collection of off-air Betamax and VHS recordings (about 400 total as of June, 2014). There's also a decent collection of ephemeral video, "ripoff" and "drugstore" LP's/cassettes/8-tracks, as well as (working) obsolete technology.

Ben Minnotte · Writer

Ben Minnotte · Director

StatusReturning Series
Runtime30m
LanguageEN
First Air DateJul 5, 2012

Episodes

E112m

The Max Headroom Incident of 1987

On the night of Sunday, November 22nd, 1987, a mysterious figure in a Max Headroom mask hijacked two Chicago TV stations. Spoiler alert: The perpetrators were never found.

Jul 5, 2012

E217m

Emergency Broadcast Salute

An informal (not to mention, loose) history of Civil Defense Broadcasting in the U.S.

Jul 19, 2012

E315m

TV Sign-offs

Remember when TV stations used to go off the air late at night? Anyone?

Aug 2, 2012

E421m

Local TV Special

Interested in seeing a clown so laid-back, he forgets he's on camera? Now about a Hawaiian teen idol with a pen fetish? Maybe an American Bandstand ripoff with an evil spirit hosting? If you answered yes to any of these questions, watch this episode--then seek immediate professional help.

Aug 16, 2012

E516m

American EXXXtacy (and other C-band nastiness)

The Archive's most infamous episode--for some reason.

Aug 30, 2012

E616m

Conservative Folk Music

Meet the artists that made the likes of Joan Baez and Pete Seeger fear for their careers.

Sep 13, 2012

E721m

Format Wars

VHS or Beta? Laserdisc or CED? What the hell is a CED anyway? These burning questions (amongst others) answered in this episode!

Sep 27, 2012

E821m

1-900-ARCHIVE

Join Ben as he launches his own 1-900 number. What could possibly go wrong?

Oct 11, 2012

E937m

Halloween Special 2012 (Strange VHS Endings)

We still get a lot of flack for this episode (did you really think there were 37 minutes of odd VHS endings out there?). Nonetheless, it's still a favorite.

Oct 25, 2012

E1014m

Captain Midnight / Vrillon

An Archive double header: The two most famous occurrences of Broadcast Signal Hijacking (well, save for the Max Headroom Incident) are discussed here.

Nov 8, 2012

E1114m

Pay TV (but not Cable or Satellite)

The Oddity Archive will now be switching to scrambled mode. Please turn on your (preferably, circa 1984) decoder box now.

Nov 15, 2012

E1219m

Top (Thanksgiving) Turkeys of the (19)90's

Because we always like to go the extra mile (at least, when it's convenient), the Archive tackles TWO lists of the worst of the (19)90's: The top 4 Trendy Turkeys and the top 4 Technological Turkeys of the (again, 19)90's.

Nov 22, 2012

E1332m

Local TV vol. 2 (Kiddie Show Hosts)

The 13th episode is a very unlucky one for Ben as he discusses some (all too often, rather off) U.S. Kiddie Show hosts from the early 1950's through the late 1990's.

Dec 6, 2012

E1423m

Christmas Special (A Fair Use Christmas)

All Ben wanted for Christmas was a silent night...

Dec 20, 2012

E1516m

Teletext Heaven (or Hell)

Ceefax and Keyfax, Nite-Owl and Cable Chuckles, oh my...

Jan 3, 2013

E1613m

Intermission

It's movie day at the Archive! Unfortunately, due to copyright issues, you're not invited. But, at least you can join us for an intermission reel (conveniently containing all Public Domain footage!).

Jan 10, 2013

E1716m

Prehistoric Television

Given how much we discuss TV on the Archive, a history lesson seemed in order.

Jan 17, 2013

E1824m

gniksaM sdrawkcaB (Backwards Masking)

?segassem lanimilbus tahW ?huH Everyone knows there are no subliminal messages in music...(!slatrom nwod wob ,woN)

Jan 31, 2013

E1926m

Valentine's Day Special (Dating Services)

Join Ben as he discusses some of the Dating Services of the 1980's to present. And, if you're good, maybe Ben will let you join him in his own quest for a date.

Feb 14, 2013

E2020m

Local TV vol. 3 (Public Access)

Temporarily exiled from the big leagues of Internet TV, Ben (again, temporarily) sets up camp at his local Public Access outlet.

Feb 28, 2013

E2116m

Protect & Survive

It's the feel-good episode of the year as Ben discusses the (in)famous British Nuclear War preparedness campaign.

Mar 14, 2013

E2217m

Duck & Cover

Because you can (apparently) never have enough nukes...

Mar 28, 2013

E2323m

Scary Logos (and other Nostalgic Video Terrors)

What is it about end logos and FBI Warnings that scared so many children of the VHS era?

Apr 11, 2013

E2422m

Hell's Bells (The Dangers of Rock and Roll)

Can pure rock sound really hard-boil an egg? Of course not. It does make for some wicked "deviled" eggs though.

Apr 25, 2013

E2529m

Employee Training Videos

Things have gotten so dire at The Archive that Ben's been forced to take a "real" job. Join him as he takes a look at his potential employers' training videos.

May 9, 2013

E2622m

VHS Vault vol. 1 (Amvest Video)

Ever wanted to know the absolute root of the Oddity Archive? Well, it involves a creepy guy in a Hamster costume...

May 23, 2013

Actors

Ben Minnotte

Self - Host

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