Oddity Archive(2012–)

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.

Emergency Broadcast Salute

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

TV Sign-offs

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

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.

American EXXXtacy (and other C-band nastiness)

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

Conservative Folk Music

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

Format Wars

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

1-900-ARCHIVE

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Christmas Special (A Fair Use Christmas)

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

Teletext Heaven (or Hell)

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

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!).

Prehistoric Television

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

gniksaM sdrawkcaB (Backwards Masking)

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

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.

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.

Protect & Survive

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

Duck & Cover

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

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?

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.

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.

U-Matic (or, How I Spent My Summer)

So much for taking a break...

The Great Archive Treasure Hunt

Another existential crisis in Archive-land? Get your head out of your ass, Benny boy! NOTE: If viewing this episode on a Pioneer VP-1000 unit (Serial #'s: 12467-21804), please turn your frame display function to the ON position.

Return of the Son of Record Rip-Offs (or, Record Rip-offs, vol. 3)

We've only just begun...to hurt.

Macrovision (and one other nostalgic copy-protection hassle)

Copying this video may cause your computer to randomly burst into flames. The Archive assumes no liability.

LaserKaraoke Vol. 2 (Aqua Net Edition)

Is there really such a thing as too much LaserKaraoke? Let's find out with this special double (if not triple) length episode!

Laserdiscs (and their children)

For all the time we've spent with this format, a full look at it (and its offshoots) seemed only natural.

Copy-Protection Vol. 2 (Odds and Ends)

WARNING: This episode is coated in a new, ultra high-tech substance that may cause colorful sparks to emit from your computer. Also, <<

Shortwave DX-ing (or, Shortwave for Rank Amateurs)

The most headache-inducing Archive episode to date. Guaranteed.

Hallmark Presents: The Sounds of Halloween

This year's (apparently now requisite) Halloween album review. This was actually meant to be just a minisode, but it ran really long. Consider it a "bonus" Archive episode.

Halloween Special 2014 (Archive Wares: Rejuvenique Facial System)

Test-driving a new, potential recurring concept, "Archive Wares". The idea is to look at items from the golden age of infomercials ('80's through early 2000's) and their ads and/or tutorial videos. Given that it's Halloween, it seemed only natural to discuss the most nightmare-inducting product sold via infomercials: the "Rejuvenique Facial Toning System".

Local TV Vol. 4 (Local Commercials)

Well, that only took a year-and-a-half to follow through with another Local TV installment. No, this wasn't painful at all.

Oddity Archive's Greatest Misses

Ben reviews the Archive (and then the world imploded).

Public Domain VHS Distributors (An Incomplete Overview)

And welcome to the Oddity Archive, the show that isn't afraid to piss off VHS fetishists.

Christmas Special 2014 (Santa Claus IS Watching You!)

This episode is dedicated to----you, Amber.

Future Oddities (Benny-boy Predicts)

After being asked all year about what Ben thinks the next generation of oddities will be, a New Year's special seemed to be in order (somehow).

1-900 ARCHIVE Vol. 2 (Operators Aren't Standing By!)

You asked, we gave. $683.43 will now be added to your next phone bill.

VHS Vault Vol. 6: How's Your Sex Life? (Valentine's Day Special 2015)

Ladies' man that Ben and Ed are, they didn't really need this. This is really for all the lonely folks (especially the guys) that watch the Archive.

The DuMont Network

Maybe all those DuMont jokes in all the 50's-centric Archive episodes will make sense now. Maybe.

Video Games (A Non-Gamer's Perspective)

Q: y u no duvide gams? A: Because I'm not that kind of girl--er, wait. Did you mean "Video Games"? I guess...

Audiocassette-Based Board Games

Because, you know, VIDEOcassette board games went so well...

Electronic Talking Oddity Archive! (Electronic Talking Board Games)

How many times do I have to tell you, China Cabinet? The money is NOT in the fishtank!

Record Ripoffs Vol. 4 (For Vinyl Fetishists Only)

Every now and then we get to thinkin' you'd like to hear somethin' from us done nice and easy. Well, lemme tell ya, we don't do NOTHIN' "nice and easy"...

3DO Interactive Multiplayer

An (unintentional) almost-three years in the making...

Philips CD-i (Compact Disc Interactive)

It's a computer! It's a home video unit! It's a video game console! It's...a little underdeveloped.

WebTV (and one other early internet/tv crossover)

boxes Boxes. BOXES!!!

Bicentennial Fever

Because nothing says "Happy 200th, America" like crappy "collectibles", Up With People and bizarre Government films.

Record Ripoffs

Featuring such great (non-)hits from the likes of Hairy Nielsen, BAAB, William Turkey and many, many more! Order today!!!

VHS Vault Vol. 2 (Fashion Videos)

What do you mean Ben is fashion-challenged?

Archive LaserKaraoke Party! (LaserKaraoke)

Seeing as the Archive somehow managed to hit the 30 episode mark, it seemed like a good time to throw a nice, little (tax-deductible) party. Plus, Ben sings a viewer poll-selected song (a move that was instantly regretted by all who voted).

Number Stations (And Other Radio Oddities)

Covert broadcasts...and how to decode them (your results may vary).

The EAS Zombie Hoax of 2013

Or, as Ben likes to call it, the Max Headroom Incident's annoying, less creative little brother.

8-Tracks (or, The Care & Feeding Of Your 8-Track)

And Ben thought it would just be another cool toy for his collection. How naive...

VHS Vault Vol. 3 (Gambling Videos)

Learn to gamble--Archive style! God help us...

Kiddie Disco Records

Come visit the Archive Children's Disco before it's condemned!

Halloween Special 2013 (Italian Dance Party/Son of Halloween Riffs)

Forced to discuss his fourth knockoff Disco record in a row, Ben has a slight meltdown.

Format Wars Vol. 2 (Pre-Betamax)

VHS vs. Beta? How 1977...

VHS Vault Vol. 4 (VCR Games)

Ben's still having nightmares about being forced to play charades with Rich Little.

QUBE Interactive TV

An interesting, but (unsurprisingly) failed, early attempt at multimedia interactivity.

A Bargain Bin Christmas (or, Ben's Holiday Hits!)

Five forgotten holiday albums that will...more than likely remain forgotten.

Infomercials

Have you ever wanted to make "melons" in real estate? If so, you've come to the right place!

Industrial Musicals (or, The Archive Sells Out!)

...because salesmen need the comfort of knowing that their product is truly the answer to all problems (consumerist OR existential).

Educational Film Salute (or, The Stock Footage Special!)

Don't screw with Jam Handy!

Teknikel Diffikultees (Technical Difficulties)

The Archive is currently experiencing technical difficulties...LOTS of them...and Ben refuses to take responsibility. So there.

PSA's (or, The More You Know, The Less You Understand)

If V.D. really is for everybody, why don't I have it?

Interstitials

...because only Ben would be stupid enough to devote an entire regular Archive episode to between-show filler.

A Tour of the Archive (or, roll up for the Magical, Mysterious Archive Tour)

Alternate Title: Why Ben should never make a full "behind-the-scenes" episode. Alternate Title #2: Ben stammers for 38 minutes. Alternate Title #3: Why Ben will never get a date.

More Record Rip-Offs

The Archive gathers together all your favorite '70's hits--then realizes that the major labels, the RIAA, etc. would have our nuts in a sling over it. More ripoff records it is then! All 70's edition!

Test Cards (and Patterns)

Wait, there's a logic to all this?

Going Analog

It's time for a few changes in Archiveland.

Weather Warnings

***THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A ***SEVERE FALSE NOSTALGIA WARNING*** FOR YOUR AREA UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE***

How I Spent My Summer VI (The Great A/V Overhaul of 2019)

Ben gets far more than he bargained for…and it was hardly a bargain.

Record Ripoffs Vol. 9 (HITS on the '60's!)

A special limited addition—because we don’t think this’ll sell too well.

The Right Way To Tape Record (1965-Style)

Oddity Archive®: On the cutting edge of amateur, home recording (as of 1965).

Scanimate

A banquet of oversaturated and generation-lossy goodness from the Archive! Fill-in-the-blankwave fans will love it.

Local TV Vol. 7: Dialing For Dollars (& other Franchised Game Shows)

…and the jackpot goes up to 178…episodes, that is!

LaserKaraoke Vol. 7 (Golden Moldies)

Our seventh annual marathon of soft rock and mullets…lots and lots of mullets.

Employee Training Videos Vol. 2 (Loss Prevention)

…or, Ben enters the Loss Prevention Protection Program.

Random Reel-To-Reel Tapes Vol. 2 (featuring "The Ballad of Tom")

Another batch of (no more than) 7.5ips goodness…straight from the hea-a-a-arrt.

After Hours (Transmitter Maintenance) (Halloween Special 2019)

It takes a LOT of sacrifice to maintain the Archive…

Video8 (8mm Video) (and its children)

Getting the History of Home Video train back on track with the first great (albeit rather dull) camcorder format.

Top 10 Earworms (to date)

Guaranteed to get stuck in your head for days…er, weeks…er, months…er, years after viewing!

Christmas Special 2019 (Ben's Christmas Kookies)

Would you please make welcome to the Archive…tap-dancing Christmas trees, teddy bears that can wipe out entire armies and…Dennis.

Future Oddities 2: A Kissoff To The 2010's

Saying goodbye to the decade that brought us selfies, Alexa, and fidget spinners…and not a minute too soon.

History of VHS, Vol. 1 (the '70's)

A history lesson so big, it’s gonna have to be its own subseries.

Theatrical Policy Trailers

Please silence your phones, mobile devices and other electronics…actually don’t. You won’t be able to hear this episode otherwise.

VHS (& Beta) Vault Vol. 16 (A (cautious) Romantic Tale)

It’s a love obsession at the Archive!

Special Bulletins (or, we Interrupt This Archive...)

We interrupt this episode of Oddity Archive to bring you…a bunch of other interruptions.

Ben's Music "Career" Vol. 4: Greetings From Elderbush Gulch

Time to leave the ol’ cassette 4-tracker behind…

Jukebox Network (& other UHF Music Video Channels)

Ben's Random Audiocassette Haul #3

A springtime-fresh bouquet of ferric (or chrome) goodness!

History of VHS, Vol. 2 (Format Wars & VHS-C)

Oddity Archive®: Now in our exclusive EP (Endless Play) Mode!

Local TV Vol. 8 (Even More Local Commercials)

…or, the Archive’s idea of nocturnal delight.

(Semi-)Lost TV Series (Personal Favorites)

Some shows were pre-destined to land in the dumpster or collide with the ol’ bulk eraser…here are five of them that have (at least) somewhat cheated fate.

How I Spent My Summer V: The New Frontier

Archive HQ Version 2.0. Was it worth it?

Record Ripoffs Vol. 8 (‘80’s & ‘90’s Hits!)

Ben’s Music “Career” Vol. 2 (The Outsider Years, Pt. 2)

By (inexplicably) popular demand, the Rock N’ Roll equivalent to “American Movie” rolls on.

The Archive Drive-In Movie Theater (or, more fun with Part 15 microbroadcasting)

Attempting to realize a viewer’s vision of an old-school, drive-in theater—at home.

VHS Vault Vol. 14 (Be Cruel About Fire Safety)

We haven't had a good roast in awhile, have we?

LaserKaraoke Vol. 6 (Repeat Offenders)

More 8 frames-per-second at 1,800 revolutions-per-minute goodness from the darkest pits of the Archive!

Pioneer CLD-D605 (or, Laserdiscs, Vol. 2)

Well, I kinda killed the Archive’s old LaserKaraoke machine…and I’d been threatening to upgrade the main Laserdisc player. Upgrade time!

Emergency Broadcast Salute, Vol. 2 (Halloween Special 2018)

IT’S BA-ACK!

Philips DCC (Digital Compact Cassette)

The future of the common audiocassette is (er, was) here!

Vinyl Potpourri Vol. 2 (Deeper Cuts)

Another fragrant bouquet of dusty, musty, moldy slabs of wax!

Ben Vs. The Mo(u)ldy Mystery PAL VHS Tapes

The Archive finally acquires some genuine off-air U.K. tapes…complete with some genuine U.K. mold (er, mould).

Christmas Special 2018 (Ben's Christmas Crackers)

Some Christmas oddities (and one not-so-oddity) with a real bang to them!

DBX Noise Reduction Revisited

New year, old hindrances…

Local TV Vol. 6 (More Public Access)

Let us take another dip into the well of televised municipal culture…

Ben's ONTV Box/ Non-Cable Pay TV Vol. 2

Our trucks are currently scouring your neighborhood with sophisticated equipment to detect anyone watching our show illegally. Don’t you dare question how we do it. Punks.

The Care & Feeding of Audiocassettes

A massive dose of hissy, sticky goodness that should never be degaussed after midnight!

Cult VHS Distributors Vol. 1 (Something Weird & Rhino)

A genuine(ly twisted) labor of love from your friends at the Oddity Archive®.

Laserdisc Games (but not LaserActive or Arcade)

Search Frame 30609. Then, add in 29,000. Then, multiply by .84. Then, write down your findings (in order). You are now ready to begin watching this episode of Oddity Archive.

Ben's Music "Career", Vol. 3 (The Transitional Years)

Like in sports, sometimes musicians need a rebuilding season. I promise, it starts resembling "real" music this time…

Mystery 8mm Films/The Ballad of Ben & 8mm

About a year ago, I came across a pair of unmarked, somewhat damaged 8mm films. Since they both needed some repair, it seemed like a good time for an educational OA episode.

VHS Vault Vol. 15 (Potty All The Time)

In the name of commercial appeal, the Archive cheapens itself to toilet humor.

Microbroadcasting (or, Oddity Archive Goes Part 15)

The Archive is back on YouTube! But, not without (desperately) seeking out some alternatives in the meantime.

Stereo Test Records (or, The Official Archive Stereo Test)

Today's burning question: Is it pronounced "stare-eo" or "steer-eo"?

Nanny Boxes (TV Content Filters)

Naughty words WITHOUT Oddity Archive® – 22 Naughty words WITH Oddity Archive® – 21

LaserKaraoke Vol. 3 (& VCD Karaoke Vol. 1)

The 3rd annual Archive LaserKaraoke Party is on (sort of)!

CB Radio (or, Gonna Blow Your Doors In, Chicken Inspector!)

Breaker for a short-short. This is the Oddity Archive. What's yer handle, good buddy?

VHS Vault Vol. 7 (It's My Party and I'll Sigh If i Want To)

Oddity Archive®: Also available for birthday parties, weddings and bar mitzvahs.

Record Rip-offs Vol. 5 (Pickwick: Picked-Over)

Recently, we came into a small jackpot of Pickwick albums. Given this label's long-standing history with the Archive, it only seemed appropriate to devote an entire episode to the king of all "drugstore" labels.

Fisher-Price PXL 2000 Camcorder (Halloween Special 2015)

Oddity Archive: Now in high-pile carpetvision!

VCR Ephemera

VCR Ephemera, or, Oddity Archive for beginners.

Action Max (VHS Video Game Console)

I got a message from the Action Max. “I’m crappy. Hope you’re crappy, too.”

Prehistoric Pay-Per-View

You wanted a history lesson, you got a history lesson. Hope you don't mind a really, really long slideshow.

Ben's Holiday Grab Bag (Christmas Special 2015)

Some of you aren't singing. Don't think I can't tell.

VCR Rabbit (or, Microbroadcasting Vol. 2)

The donations were multiplying like, well, rabbits. I figured y'all were trying to tell me something. (Did I really just type "y'all"? Heaven help me.)

Capacitance Electronic Discs (or, CED's)

Movies pressed on records? Should've waited for the 21st century (the hipsters would love it).

VHS Vault Vol. 8 (More VCR Games)

Lots of effort for little (or no) reward? Sounds about right for the Archive.

Prevue Channel(s)

The Oddity Archive® keeps you up to date with what’s hot—as long as the system doesn’t crash—again.

Airline Safety Videos

Dramamine? Check. Airsick bag? Check. My confidence? Nope.

Ham Radio (A Beginner's Perspective)

...or, Ben vs. Another Expensive Hobby or, Ben cures the hams or, Ben was already a total ham. Why make it worse?

Calibration & Test Laserdiscs

The Oddity Archive® strives to provide the best and latest in home theater tune-ups. They still make laserdiscs, right?

Adult Party Albums

The most risque episode of the Archive since...the last one.

Disposable DVD's (DIVX & Flexplay)

The Archive attempts to preserve some (intentionally) disposable culture. It was inevitable.

Commodore 64

It’s the 100th episode of the Archive and the expectations are high. Guess we better do something good and commercial.

VHS Vault Vol. 9 (Your New Computer & You)

Can you really become “techno-hip” all because of a computer chip?

How I Spent My Summer III

A little success, a little failure, a little intrigue, a little frustration. In other words, your standard between-season break for Ben.

Record Ripoffs Vol. 6 (98% 70's-free!)

…dragging the Record Ripoff concept kicking and screaming out of the 70’s. What the hell was I thinking?!?

Home Shopping Channels

Have your credit cards handy because we're about to launch our own Home-Shopping-type channel! What could possibly go wrong?

LaserKaraoke Vol. 4 (+ VHS Karaoke Vol. 1)

Crank it up and sing along! The madness will naturally follow.

Ben's Random Audiocassette Haul

Oddity Archive®: Now in ULTRA lo-fi!

Talking House Transmitter Redux (or, Part 15 Microbroadcasting: The Final Chapter?)

Oddity Archive: Your home for absurd, costly and borderline-useless “broadcast” experiments since 2015!

The Official Oddity Archive Guide To Retro A/V

…because I haven’t REALLY opened myself up to mass criticism for a long time now.

Betamax

The Archive takes it to the max--the Betamax, that is.

Conelrad (Halloween Special 2016)

This is your Civil Defense announcer speaking (er, typing) with a VERY important message. But first, this nearly 27-minute Oddity Archive episode. NOTE: Yes, I’m well aware that the LP’s discussed in the video have nothing to do with the Conelrad broadcasting stuff—just humor me, will ya?

VHS Vault Vol. 10 (Learning With The Stars)

…because as we all know, learning is most fun with famous people.

Top 10 Gaming Turkeys (of the 80's and 90's)

Another Thanksgiving episode? Must be time to unload some more proverbial turkeys (now more cynically than ever)!

The Official Oddity Archive® Idiot’s Guide To A/V Transfer

The second (and hopefully final) installment in the Archive’s “Idiot’s Guide” how-to series.

Christmas Special 2016 (A Musical Masochist's Christmas)

The most deep-hurtingest Christmas ever!

VideoGuide (+2 other early Interactive Program Guides)

Looking at the Interactive Program Guide’s especially awkward adolescence.

Local TV Vol. 5 (More Local Commercials)

Bargain Bennie is having his all-time biggest sale on local (and regional) TV commercials! Get ‘em before they’re gone!

VHS Vault Vol. 11(D-I-V-O-R-C-E)

‘Tis the season for love—and love gone down the garbage disposer.

Random Kiddie Records

Crank up the Fisher-Price turntable!

Minidisc

It’s (100% showtune-free) Musical March (read: Audio Geek March, “Musical March” is just a lot catchier) in Archiveland! Let’s kick it off with a little reevaluation of a format that I’ve bashed in the past.

Ben Vs. The Reel-To-Reel

Oddity Archive®: Now with new Superlife® coating!

DBX Noise Reduction System

And welcome to the Oddity Archive…the show that rapidly contracts and expands—but clearly not rapidly enough.

Ben's Random Reel-To-Reel Haul

A mere 5 years in the making! You’d never know it though…

Useless VHS Tapes

No, this isn’t about those 100 million (or more) copies of “Titanic” and “Jerry Maguire”—useless as they are.

Going (Proto-)Mobile! (Sony Data Discman & Apple Newton)

With all this talk of so-called “mobile devices” these days, it seemed worth taking a look into.

How I Spent My Summer VII (A Change of Plans)

Well, my (working) Summer Vacation turned into a (working) Summer Staycation…

Record Ripoffs Vol. 10 (A Tribute To...)

Featuring some of the genuine leg ends of Rock N’ Roll!

Oddity Archive: Behind The Box (A Documentary)

A film made especially for the occasion by Swedish documentarian Hans Krullitzer.

Early Color Film (but not Technicolor)

Either the all-time most beautiful or most psychedelic episode of the Archive…we’re not sure.

History of VHS, Vol. 3 (S-VHS)

It’s not just VHS…it’s SUPER VHS!

Cheesy Logos

Just when you thought the Archive couldn’t possibly get any more tacky…

Pioneer Promotional Laserdiscs

Looking at a trio of (slightly misguided) discs touting Pioneer Laserdiscs and Home Theater gear…

VHS Vault Vol. 17 (Vampires & Pumpkins) (Halloween Special 2020)

Life has gotten so tangled lately. As such, let’s roll things back to the absolute (commercial) basics of Halloween…

Benny's Birthday Bash

You’re not getting older. Just crazier…

OA Lost Classics (or, The Ones That Got OA)

Spending Thanksgiving with some prime, succulent, deep cuts of…the Archive.

The Ballad of Raymond Rohauer

With (backhanded, insincere) apologies to Hunter S. Thompson: Film Preservation is a cruel and shallow nitrate ditch, a long celluloid hallway where good films rot. That’s just the negative side.

Christmas Special 2020 (Chunks of Christmas Coal)

It’s a Vinyl and VHS Christmas! It’s not anywhere near as cool as it sounds…

PSA's Vol. 2 (or, Only You Can Prevent PSA's)

Myasthenia is better than Yourasthenia. So there.

Prehistoric Videotape (The Road To Quadruplex)

…or, how Bing Crosby’s golf game launched a technological revolution.

Ben's Music "Career", Vol. 5 (Minn-Knot/The End?)

Benny-boy’s unintentional swan song…or is it?

Ben Vs. The Space-Race Tapes

Uh-oh. Benny-boy's playing preservationist again...

Ben Vs. The Wheel Of Fortune TV Play-Along

Cheap Radio Thrills

Oddity Archive®: Where the thrills are cheap as radio, and radio is cheap as thrills…

Weather Warnings Vol. 2 (Looks Like We're In For Nasty Weather)

The Oddity Archiveland Service (OAS) has issued a WEATHER WARNING…warning.

KeyFax Rides Again (Teletext in the U.S.)

Teletext: Not just for Europeans anymore! Well, not really…

VHS Vault Vol. 18 (So You wanna Be A Rock N' Roll Star)

…well, listen now to what the Archive says!* *Apologies to The Byrds

Gag Reels

A serious dissertation on the dangers of workplace stress and how to cope with it…using pure silliness.

How I Spent My Summer IV (Ben Vs. Laserdisc Audio & Turntable Tune-up)

12 inches of Archivian goodness!

How I Spent My Summer VIII (Ben Vs. The Sony AV-3600 Videocorder)

...because cassettes are for poseurs.

Record Ripoffs Vol. 11 ('80's Hits: Woodgrain & Neon)

Some of the most grody tunes we’ve ever covered fer sure, fer sure.

USA Networkisms (A Willfully Premature Eulogy)

Let us take an all-night flight to remember why USA once was “America’s Favorite Cable Network”…

Random CD's

Whatdaya do when you’ve had your fill of analog media? Start hittin’ the ones and zeros…

Silent Treatment (A Celebration of Silent Movie Day)

Benny-boy celebrates the first annual Silent Movie Day by…talking at great length about the silents. Nobody ever accused him of being sharp…

Dodgy Demo DVD's

As of this posting, we’re right on the edge of the 25th anniversary of the introduction of the DVD. Guess it’s finally ripe for Archivedom…

Benny M.'s TV Party (Halloween Special 2021)

“Benny & The Bot”…coming this fall to KLAK…whether Ben likes it or not. NOTE: Just consider this a 20-minute art film.

Bad '80's Syndicated Sitcoms

Benny the Script Doctor makes a housecall regarding some bad sitcoms.

OA's Greatest Commercials

10 ads (or series thereof) selected by viewers. Any turkeys in this Thanksgiving episode are purely coincidental.

FBI Film Raids & Betamax Blues

Ah, the good, old days. Back when owning a 16mm film or recording something off the TV could get you a visit from the Feds. Good times…

Christmas Special 2021 (A Good Ol' Archive Christmas)

Archivisms roasting on an open fire…

PCM Audio on Videotape (Betamax, VHS & U-Matic)

Hey buddy, wanna hear my (horribly impractical) mixtape?

Overplayed Commercials (1960's - 2001)

100% pure, shameless, unfettered nostalgia, courtesy of the Oddity Archive®

Valentine's Day Special 2022 (It's A Love Thing)

Learn all about the fine art of meeting Ben!

Vinyl Potpourri Vol. 3 (Gimmick Records)

Vinyl Potpourri is back! It’s a (1,885 second) miracle!

Prehistoric UHF (Early UHF TV in the U.S.)

A solid-state tuner is recommended for the viewing of this OA episode…in some way we haven’t figured out yet.

Cult VHS Distributors Vol. 2 (Sinister Cinema & Vestron Video)

Another (belated) salute to the bottom of the Mom-and-Pop video rental store barrel!

VHS Vault Vol. 19 (Business Scams)

It’s time for the New $25,000 Pyramid…scheme.

Radio Stunting

Times are changing and KLAK-AM needs to keep up. As such, let’s look at some gimmicks (stunts) used by other radio stations to plug their new formats…

Ben Vs. The Massey-Ferguson Tapes

Taking a leisurely, country stroll through the (cowpie-laden) great audiovisual pasture…

Early MP3 Players (Diamond Rio & RCA Lyra 2)

Oddity Archive®: Now available in 64kbps mp3!

In Search of AM Stereo (or, How I Spent My Summer IX)

…or, the OA’s (slightly-belated) 10th Anniversary Special.

Record Ripoffs Vol. 12 (Gon' Country)

The Archive finally presents some 100%-pure, down-home musical manure!

Bad(?) '90's Syndicated Sitcoms

This episode is dedicated to those that say we don’t do TV stuff anymore. Maybe we shouldn’t…

The Ballad of Peter Lemongello

Slim Whitman? Blech. Boxcar Willie? Poseur. Only the original TV album guru will do.

The Warped Afterlives of Metropolis & Phantom of the Opera (Silent Movie Day 2022)

Just how close are we to seeing what moviegoers saw in the 1920’s? In these two cases, as it turns out, not very.

8mm (& Super 8) Souvenir Films

We’re all goin’ on a…(quiet, mellow) Autumn Holiday…

The Phantom of the Archive (Halloween Special 2022)

Watch horror films, keep Archiveland strong, keep Benny-boy (in)sane.

VHS Vault Vol. 20 (High-Concept Videos)

It’s a friend! It’s a companion! It’s a lifestyle! It’s…supremely annoying…

Oddity Archive's Greatest Hits (according to YouTube)

After 10 years, I guess it’s time for the inevitable “Greatest Hits” package…

Ben Vs. The Elmo Super 8 Camera (or, Super 8 Film in 2022)

Super Oddity Archive®: Now with 50% MORE image than Standard Oddity Archive®! Which is 95% LESS image than HD Oddity Archive®…

Christmas (C)Rapping (Christmas Special 2022)

Christmas wrapping is so lame—we’re into Christmas Rapping around here!

(Bad) Movie-Based Sitcoms

…because (as we know) what works for 90 minutes once will ALWAYS work for 30 minutes on a regular basis.

Weather Warnings Vol. 3 (Winter Edition)

Snowbound. Let’s sleep in today…and tomorrow…and the day after…and the day after that…

Pointless Products (or, As Seen On TV Commercials, Vol. 2)

The new & improved Oddity Archive®! Now cracks those pesky filberts!

Laserdisc Video Magazines (or, Video Magazines, Vol. 2)

A true horror show—just not in the way you’d expect.

Disco Beaver From Outer Space (& other Early Cable TV-isms)

Finally (partially) fulfilling that long wished-for Archivism—beavers—specifically, disco beavers.

Philips CD-I Vol. 2 (More Revelations)

You won’t believe your CD-I’s!!!

Mad Magazine...'s Forays Into Other Media

The Archive drops some MAD flava in your ear…

VHS Vault Vol. 21 (How To Outwit THE MAN)

Don’t let THE MAN bring you down. That’s what Oddity Archive® is for…

The Early Betamax (& others) Subculture

Pourin’ one out (er, unraveling a tape) for our vidiot homies…

American Forces Network (AFN) TV Ephemera

The OA celebrates Memorial Day with some genuine WTF from the AFN (AFRTS). Presented on the DL of course, ‘cause we gotta think OPSEC.

Ben Vs. The Quasar Great Time Machine

Ever wonder what it would’ve been like if Rube Goldberg designed a VCR? Neither did I.

In Search of AM Stereo REDUX (or, How I Spent My Summer X)

Quite possibly the ultimate “headphone” episode of OA…for realsies this time.

Record Ripoffs Vol. 13 (At The Movies)

The Archive finds itself caught in a celluloid jam…

Random (Video) Reel-To-Reel

The Archive does a little home video archaeology…

Odditytoberfest (A Smorgasbord of Musical Meatballs)

Time to fill up on bratwurst and get down to that fonky, fonky, meut-sick!

VHS (& Betamax) Public Domain Oddities (Silent Movie Day 2023)

Public Domain stuff, VHS, weird music, surrealist humor--your Oddity Archive® bingo card should be 80% full from this one episode alone!

Season of the Wince (Halloween Special 2023)

Everybody loves a trilogy…and here’s the last piece of it.

Great Comedians (Not-So-Great Sitcoms)

Even the comedy gods (and goddesses) have their off days…

Ben's Favorite OA Episodes

You’ve heard of turkey coma, right? This one’ll give you Archive coma.

VHS (& Beta) Vault Vol. 22 (Meet Your New VCR)

Learn all about the ins and out of SCMPF (Simply Can’t Muster Proper Functionality) for your newfangled VCR thing!

Cruel Yule (Christmas Special 2023)

‘Twas a few days before Christmas and all through the Archive/A Benny-boy was stirring, to madness he’ll drive…

TBS Networkisms

An episode that’ll make you want to yell “TB-Yes”!

Cable In The Classroom/Channel One News

Today’s Oddity Archive® may be taped (analog only) for classroom use until December 31, 2024. After December 31, 2024, all copies must be wiped or destroyed…and don’t think we don’t have the means of finding out if you didn’t.

Local TV Vol. 9 (Commercials, Go Fourth)

Oddity Archive® lights up your TV’s* with the ads that please!** *A computer screen will also suffice. **As long as your expectations are suitably low.

Random Audiocassettes Vol. 4 (Cheese N' Sleaze)

The chocolate and peanut butter of the Archive, together at last in the same episode!

TV Record Offer Greats (Slim Whitman & Boxcar Willie)

The episode where cardboard boxes and BoxCars collide…at last!

Archive Thrifting #34: Getting Back On The Horse

Consider this a “soft-launch” of Season 14 of OA. I’m finally off the sidelines and…things are as dusty as ever.

KLAK Goes Commercial (Halloween Special 2025)

KLAK has had to take on a few advertisers*. Tough times, ya know… *Yes, YouTube, this is a joke. This is NOT a sponsored video.

Random (Video) Reel-To-Reel Vol. 2 (Leftover Turkeys)

The OA equivalent of popcorn, pretzel sticks and jellybeans as a Thanksgiving feast…

Christmas Hams (Christmas Special 2025)

The Archive serves up some true Christmas Hams…with a side of Duck A La Wronge.

Prehistoric A&E

The Archive takes the high road…to a dead-end.

The "Checkerboard" Sitcoms of 1987

…because three hours a night of late 80’s primetime TV lameness just wasn’t enough!

United Artists Theatre Laserdiscs (1991-94)

Well, it’s Oscar season. Let’s pretend current Hollywood doesn’t exist.

Local TV Vol. 10 (A Fifth of Commercials)

Another round of classic local TV bliss delivered in easy-to-digest 30-second bites…

Ben Vs. Digital Music (Vol. 1: 1999-2001)

Yes, teenaged Benny-boy managed to blindly stumble into the “digital music revolution” circa Y2K. No, he did NOT turn into a cyberpunk warrior—he just became a prematurely grouchy old man.

Emergency Broadcast Salute Vol. 3 (Changes)

It’s the 300th “regular” OA episode. Let’s make some noise…albeit not necessarily PLEASANT noise.

Local TV Vol. 11 (Lottery Game Shows)

Time to get lucky! In the financial sense, that is…

Building the Perfect Home Theater (for the 1990's, that is)

The first OA episode to be THX-certified! Ten Hungry Xylophones, that is.

How I Spent My Summer XI (Sold(i)ering On...)

“Fun” Project. “Fun” Time.* *According to the uber-cheap DIY FM transmitter I bought.