Ben Minnotte
Director
Oddity Archive (2012)
Specials
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.
Released July 5, 2012
Episode 28 min
10+
Genres: Comedy, Documentary, History
Keywords: mdblist.has-trailer, tmdb.cardboard-box, tmdb.hidden-face, tmdb.technology, tmdb.broadcasting
Network: YouTube
Country: United States
Languages:
English
S0E3 - Everlasting Love
What the hell would make this overplayed moldy-oldie count as an oddity? Find out...
Sept. 20, 2012, midnight
S0E4 - The Max Headroom Incident of 1987 (Commentary)
The first Archive Riffs episode. Ben tackles a supposed promotional film for the "Butter & Egg Days Festival" that the Rifftrax guys already did--but they don't know real art (like Ben does).
Oct. 18, 2012, midnight
S0E5 - Sounds to Make You Shiver
A nice, compact little review of one of the most (in)famous "drugstore" records ever released. Bet you thought we didn't have a copy!
Oct. 31, 2012, midnight
S0E6 - TV Sign-Offs (Commentary)
An informal discussion of the TV Sign-Offs episode.
Dec. 13, 2012, midnight
S0E7 - Emergency Broadcast Salute (Commentary)
Something about February always gets Ben thinking about Civil Defense Broadcasting.
Feb. 7, 2013, midnight
S0E8 - Freedom is a Hammer (Album Review)
At the time of the Conservative Folk Music episode, some of the artists discussed had yet to make their digital debuts. Naturally, Ben would want to take a look at the CD that rounds up the complete folk-rock works of Janet Greene.
March 7, 2013, midnight
S0E9 - American EXXXtasy (Commentary)
Perhaps the Archive's most infamous episode needed a little more context. Maybe not. Nevertheless, it got it anyway--the context, that is.
April 4, 2013, midnight
S0E10 - Greetings From the Stars (Sort Of)
Ever wanted to get an (impersonal) birthday greeting from Milton Berle? How 'bout an answering machine message from "Richard Simmons"? Yeah, didn't think so.
May 2, 2013, midnight
S0E11 - Ask the Archive
An informal Q & A session. Yep, that's about it.
May 30, 2013, midnight
S0E12 - Archive Riffs: Petaluma Chicken
The first Archive Riffs episode. Ben tackles a supposed promotional film for the "Butter & Egg Days Festival" that the Rifftrax guys already did--but they don't know real art (like Ben does).
June 6, 2013, midnight
S0E13 - Local TV Special (Commentary)
A commentary cut for the Local TV Special that was originally shelved due to a factual error regarding Indianapolis-based Horror Movie Host, Sammy Terry. Well, that and a couple of other brain farts.
June 13, 2013, midnight
S0E14 - Archive Riffs: Greedy Humpty Dumpty
Ben riffs the sole survivor of his childhood Public Domain VHS collection.
June 20, 2013, midnight
S0E15 - VHS Vault Vol. 1 (Amvest Video) (Commentary)
Recorded before the original episode premiered. Since then, we've learned that:
1. Audiofidelity Records started in the mid/late 1950's and issued some of the first stereo records.
2. Someone at Audiofidelity went berserk sometime in the '70's and started issuing pirated Beatles albums.
3. Those that signed up for the Kid Pics newsletter wound up on mailing lists for sleazy child beauty pageants (are there any other kind?).
Ben has since learned that:
1. Playing a record at 75% of it's original speed is equivalent to flattening the "key" by a fourth, not a flat-fifth.
2. Audio frequencies are exponential.
2. Ben cannot do math in his head.
June 27, 2013, midnight
S0E16 - Archive Riffs: Say No to Strangers
Learn to take the safe way to school (but only if you have to walk through Chinatown).
July 25, 2013, midnight
S0E17 - National Anthem Conspiracy Theory (Redux)
One of the Archive's earliest episodes seems to have gone missing. As such, Ben has been forced to remake it.
Or, this was Ben's (unsurprisingly, failed) submission to the ConBravo indie video showcase.
Aug. 22, 2013, midnight
S0E18 - Halloween Special 2012 (Commentary)
An all-too-brief look back at the Archive's first Halloween special.
Oct. 17, 2013, midnight
S0E19 - Hallmark Presents: Spooky Sounds
Given we followed up the first Halloween Special with a review of a "spooky sound effects" album, we figured it wouldn't hurt to do it again.
Oct. 31, 2013, midnight
S0E20 - Archive Riffs: Dining Together
Chain Aunt Phyllis to the family piano and enjoy an old-fashioned Thanksgiving.
Nov. 28, 2013, midnight
S0E21 - Christmas Special 2012 (A Fair Use Christmas) (Commentary)
A much-maligned commentary to a forgotten Archive episode.
Dec. 12, 2013, midnight
S0E22 - Archive Riffs: A Christmas Fantasy
Because nothing says "Christmas" quite like creepy wax figures and a bargain-basement Bing Crosby.
Dec. 24, 2013, midnight
S0E23 - TV DX-ing
...because the local stations suck.
Jan. 9, 2014, midnight
S0E24 - Archive Riffs: Live & Learn
Sid Davis would like to remind you that he loves his wallpaper and hates your child.
Jan. 30, 2014, midnight
S0E25 - Archive Riffs: Cigarette Commercials
Since we spent so much time with anti-smoking propaganda last time out, in the name of fairness, we thought we'd share some pro-smoking propaganda. Sorry, no dancing Luckies here (seriously, what can you say about it? Insert smart-ass comments below).
Feb. 27, 2014, midnight
S0E26 - Backwards Masking (Commentary)
Everything Ben has to say about the Backwards Masking episode in a mere 12 minutes!
March 27, 2014, midnight
S0E27 - A Nice Pair (of early, European VCR's)
Can your heart take the sheer sex appeal of the Philips N1500? No (prescription) pills necessary!
April 24, 2014, midnight
S0E28 - Blooper Reel
Alternate Title: Why The Archive isn't terribly conducive to outtake specials.
May 15, 2014, midnight
S0E29 - VHS Vault Vol. 5 - Y2K (Commentary)
One of those rare occasions where there was a little TOO much to say in an episode.
June 5, 2014, midnight
S0E30 - Archive Riffs: Atomic Alert (Elementary Edition)
Released about five minutes before the Conelrad system was established (and featuring some nice undercranking), 1951's Atomic Alert teaches you how to keep your nuclear experience nice and peaceful.
June 12, 2014, midnight
S0E31 - Ben's Junk: Sony Super Betamax
A new spin-off of the Archive in which a piece of equipment is discussed that either has already been discussed in greater detail or that simply wouldn't amount to even a minisode of Archive.
June 19, 2014, midnight
S0E32 - Ben's Junk: VideoNow PVD Player
The rejected pilot of Ben's Junk (for reasons that should become readily apparent fairly quickly).
This time out, Hasbro's failed attempt at a portable DVD player for kids.
June 23, 2014, midnight
S0E33 - Format Wars 2 (COMMENTARY)
By request, Ben discusses "Format Wars". By unilateral action, Ben discusses both "Format Wars" videos in one convenient (for him) commentary.
July 3, 2014, midnight
S0E34 - Ben's Junk: VHS Camcorder (RCA CC285)
A "by request" Ben's Junk. Taking a look at the camcorder used to film "Going Analog" and "Y2K Apocalypse Party".
July 31, 2014, midnight
S0E35 - The Great Archive Treasure Hunt (Commentary)
Who'da thunk the making of this episode AND the episode itself was about rediscovery?
Aug. 28, 2014, midnight
S0E36 - Ben's Junk: Tascam Cassette Portastudio
Perhaps a too-personal installment of Ben's Junk. Don't take that the wrong way...
Sept. 25, 2014, midnight
S0E37 - Halloween Special 2013 (Commentary)
Must be that magic time of year again when Ben lazily dusts off the previous year's Halloween episode for a commentary.
Oct. 9, 2014, midnight
S0E38 - Ben's Junk : 8-Track/Cassette "Adaptor"
SPOILER ALERT: Whoa-oh here it comes/Watch out boy, it'll chew them up/Whoa-oh here it comes/It's a tape eater!
Nov. 20, 2014, midnight
S0E39 - Ben's Junk: Multi-System VHS VCR (Hitachi VT-M768EM)
Finally, a VCR that can play all international formats! What do you mean, it only has mono sound?!? What you do mean I need converter boxes?!?
Dec. 4, 2014, midnight
S0E40 - Ben's Junk: JVC S-VHS VCR (S7600U)
The long-awaited conclusion to the two-part Ben's Junk VHS extravaganza. Does this count as the climax?
Dec. 18, 2014, midnight
S0E41 - Ben's Junk: LaserKaraoke/Laserdisc Player (Pioneer CLD-S304)
Two episodes of LaserKaraoke and still no demonstration of the machine? Yeah, I'm kinda slow...
Jan. 8, 2015, midnight
S0E42 - 1-900 ARCHIVE Vol. 2 (Commentary)
A dual commentary for both 1-900 ARCHIVE volumes. WARNING: Wrestling aficionados may not like what I have to say.
Jan. 22, 2015, midnight
S0E43 - The DuMont Network (Deleted Game Show Segment)
The DuMont episode ran ridiculously overlong (gotta love that molasses-slow early TV!). Here is a deleted segment giving an overview on the Game Shows aired on the DuMont Network.
Feb. 5, 2015, midnight
S0E44 - Ben's Junk: Handheld Electronic Games
Pouring some additional salt in the gamer wounds...
March 5, 2015, midnight
S0E45 - Ben's Junk: B-Movies & cult Classics
Slightly bastardizing the usual Ben's Junk format--but not Ben's Junk itself (that'd hurt).
April 2, 2015, midnight
S0E46 - Ben Tries Finnish Candy
...and welcome to (probably the only edition of) "Ben Tries"!
April 30, 2015, midnight
S0E47 - Ben's Junk: WebTV Box
A day late, a dollar short--you know the deal.
May 28, 2015, midnight
S0E48 - The Death of Analog TV (Commentary)
Little did I know...
NOTE: If you don't like my dry, rambling (and stutter-heavy) commentaries, you might wanna skip this one.
June 11, 2015, midnight
S0E49 - Ben's Junk: Super 8 Sound Projector (Sears Sound II - Model 9258)
Nothing but the cutting edge in home video technology in Archive-land!
June 18, 2015, midnight
S0E50 - Archive Riffs: Self-Conscious Guy
I'm so vain, I KNOW I think this short is about me...
June 25, 2015, midnight
S0E51 - Oddity Archive: Episode 78.4 - VHS Vault Vol. 6 (How's Your Sex Life?) (COMMENTARY)
I really wanted to be hypnotized! Seriously!
July 2, 2015, midnight
S0E52 - (Unofficial) Ben's Junk: Philips CD-I (model 220)
The original "demo" segment in the CD-I episode ran long. REALLY LONG! This is the complete, intended segment shamelessly re-purposed as a "Ben's Junk" episode.
July 9, 2015, midnight
S0E53 - Ben's Junk: 8-Track (and related) Oddities
Just going through some (relatively) recent additions to the Archive's 8-track (and associated) pile.
Aug. 6, 2015, midnight
S0E54 - Ben's Junk: Sony DT-30 (External VCR Timer)
DVR? Two-week advance recording? Wusses.
Sept. 3, 2015, midnight
S0E55 - Ben Tries Bonomo's Turkish Taffy
Made as a thank you to the viewer who sent this. A thank you for not sending us any Magic Clown ephemera, that is.
Sept. 17, 2015, midnight
S0E56 - Ben's Junk: Rejuvenique Revisited (plus Contest!)
Looking back on the mental and physical scars sustained while making the Rejuvenique episode--and the mask too.
Oct. 1, 2015, midnight
S0E57 - Halloween Special 2014 (Archive Wares: Rejuvenique) (Commentary)
Recounting one of the Archive's more memorable production experiences.
Oct. 15, 2015, midnight
S0E58 - An Overly Nostalgic Halloween (or, For The Want of a Pail)
I hate it when my ideas for holiday specials fall through...
Oct. 29, 2015, midnight
S0E59 - For The Want of a Pail (Conclusion)
Oct. 31, 2015, midnight
S0E60 - Ben's Junk: Fisher-Price PXL 2000 Camcorder
Discussing what was arguably the most difficult restoration project I’ve (successfully) undertaken.
Special thanks once again to Stephen Greer for his generous donation.
Nov. 12, 2015, midnight
S0E61 - Ben Tries (Thanksgiving Edition) (or, Ben tries Australian Stuff)
'Cause, you know, Thanksgiving, food...it all makes sense.
Nov. 26, 2015, midnight
S0E62 - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
What's with the box? Who's that creepy guy in the intro? Is Chuck Swirsky really a freakin' nerd? Those questions (and more) will be answered in this video.
Dec. 10, 2015, midnight
S0E63 - Archive Riffs: A Christmas Dream
The Archive dusts off a minor (albeit severely butchered) art-house classic. Merry Christmas!
Dec. 24, 2015, midnight
S0E64 - Ben's CED Collection (Deleted Segment from CED Episode)
Filmed for inclusion on the CED episode (Episode 92), but left off for time.
Jan. 14, 2016, midnight
S0E65 - Ben's Junk: Guitars! Guitars!! Guitars!!!
Ben geeks out about guitars for 25 minutes. Watch at your own peril.
Jan. 28, 2016, midnight
S0E66 - Ben's Junk: Ben's Philips CD-I Collection
Let’s just say it all just kind of fell into my lap.
Feb. 11, 2016, midnight
S0E67 - Ben's Junk: Philips CD-I Peacekeeper Revolver
As promised, here's the second installment on the CD-I collection. Was it worth the wait?
March 10, 2016, midnight
S0E68 - Ben's Junk: Ben's (Incomplete) Comedy LP Collection
The one time where it's ok to giggle at Ben's Junk.
March 24, 2016, midnight
S0E69 - Ben's Junk: Fisher-Price Movie Viewer
It takes a steady hand to run one of these. Unfortunately, that's something I sorely lack.
April 7, 2016, midnight
S0E70 - Ben's Junk: Commodore 64 (& Peripherals)
A wise man once said: “Save the big (stuff) for Ben’s Junk—it needs all the help it can get.”
May 5, 2016, midnight
S0E71 - Ben's Junk: Sony TT-100 Tuner/Timer (for U-Matic)
Sometimes it takes a while for Ben's Junk to get in motion.
May 19, 2016, midnight
S0E72 - Commodore 64 (Commentary)
Admittedly, a very stream-of-consciousness commentary here, but a(n apparently) necessary one.
June 2, 2016, midnight
S0E73 - Ben's Junk: VCR Co-Pilot
I already discussed this one back on the VCR Ephemera episode, but didn't have one, so I couldn't test it. Let's rectify that situation.
June 9, 2016, midnight
S0E74 - Archive Riffs: Fox Hour Promotional Reel
Taking a look at a (rather cryptic) promo reel for a series of silent, educational two-reelers.
June 16, 2016, midnight
S0E75 - Record Ripoffs (Commentary)
A look at the first installment (and, to a lesser degree, the subsequent installments) of the recurring Record Ripoffs series. This is a commentary I’ve been wanting to do for awhile.
June 23, 2016, midnight
S0E76 - Ben's Junk: Magnavox Odyssey 2 (Video Game Console)
A look at one of the many competitors to the Atari 2600.
June 30, 2016, midnight
S0E77 - Ben's Junk: Colecovision Video Game Console
Discussing another bit of donated junk--'cause, you know, everybody apparently wants a hand in Ben's Junk.
July 14, 2016, midnight
S0E78 - Ben's Junk: (Some Of) Ben's Vinyl Collection
Lately, I've been getting asked quite a bit about my music collection. All I can say is, be careful what you wish for.
Aug. 11, 2016, midnight
S0E79 - "The Voice" Module (for Magnavox Odyssey 2)
Oh-oh, won’t you tell me again…and again…and again…
Aug. 25, 2016, midnight
S0E80 - Flexplay Disposable DVD Update
Taking another stab at the now-infamous "zombie" disc.
Sept. 8, 2016, midnight
S0E81 - Ben's Junk: Fisher-Price Star Station Sing-Along Machine
Fairly recent for an Archivism—let’s take a look at how the current generation of middle and high-schoolers grew up to be such narcissists.
Sept. 22, 2016, midnight
S0E82 - Fisher-Price PXL-2000 Camcorder (Commentary)
Yeah, there were some ghosts in the camera—or were they gremlins?
Oct. 20, 2016, midnight
S0E83 - Ben's Junk: bob (Another Nanny Box)
ACTUAL (paid) TESTIMONIAL: Parenthood turned out to be a real bitch and we were totally unprepared. Thanks bob!
Nov. 3, 2016, midnight
S0E84 - Ben's Junk: DVD Recorder (Panasonic DMR-E55)
Another weapon in the Archive’s—well, archiving arsenal.
Nov. 17, 2016, midnight
S0E85 - Ben's Junk: Gemmy Douglas Fir Talking Christmas Tree
Well, I already discussed Big Mouth Billy Bass. Might as well finish the 90’s/Gemmy/Talking Novelty Item concept.
Dec. 15, 2016, midnight
S0E86 - Ben's Junk: Ben's Comic Book Collection
Superheroes? What are those?
Jan. 12, 2017, midnight
S0E87 - Ben's Junk: Learn To Solder Kit
A soldering kit for kids? Yeah, that about fits my skillset.
Feb. 23, 2017, midnight
S0E89 - Ben's Junk: RCA Selectavision CED Player (SGT 250)
I was downright embarrassed by my old CED Player (see the CED episode). Obviously, an upgrade was in order.
March 23, 2017, midnight
S0E90 - Ben's Junk: Ben's Audiophile Albums
For all the overpriced hunks of plastic in my possession, it’s kind of a wonder that this segment of my record collection is so small.
April 6, 2017, midnight
S0E91 - Ben's Junk: Vtech Socrates Educational Video System
(conversation overheard at VTech, 1988)
Boss: What’s a name that sounds good and smart for our quasi-educational video game console? Engineer: Um, Socrates! Boss: Is he smart?
Engineer: Yeah.
Boss: Perfect! What’s for lunch?
May 4, 2017, midnight
S0E92 - Ben's Junk: Videocipher II Plus/Manhattan Cable TV Box
A couple of obsolete, useless (to me) bits of Pay-TV history—so, of course, I bought them.
May 18, 2017, midnight
S0E93 - Ben's Junk: go reader (Audiobook Device)
Ben helps save the environment—with bad audiobooks on a cheap, low-capacity, unalterable mp3 player!
June 8, 2017, midnight
S0E94 - Archive Riffs: Dear Miss Gloria
I’m ready for my mail, Mr. DeMille.
June 15, 2017, midnight
S0E95 - DBX Noise Reduction System (Commentary)
Effectively tackling the three “(100% showtune-free) Musical March” episodes all at once. Who’da thunk old audio gear could be so controversial?
June 22, 2017, midnight
S0E96 - Ben's Junk: Las Vegas Vacation (1997)
A decidedly different installment in the Ben’s Junk series. This time, I take a(n admittedly lengthy) stroll down memory lane about a family vacation from 20 years earlier.
June 29, 2017, midnight
S0E97 - Ben's 10 Favorite Albums (Part 1)
Alternate Title: God, Ben! Don’t you listen to anything from this century?!?!
July 13, 2017, midnight
S0E98 - Ben's 10 Favorite Albums (Part 2)
Remember kids, these are MY favorite albums, not yours. If there’s any overlap, consider it a happy accident.
July 27, 2017, midnight
S0E99 - Ben's Junk: MFSL Geo-Tape (Azimuth Alignment Cassette)
A slightly askew edition of Ben’s Junk. Let’s rectify that situation.
Aug. 10, 2017, midnight
S0E100 - Ben's Junk: DBX Cassettes (DBX Addendum)
When researching the DBX episode, as best as I could gather, there were no (legit) pre-recorded DBX-encoded audiocassettes. Turns out there was a line of Classical tapes.
Aug. 24, 2017, midnight
S0E101 - Ben's Junk: MFSL Geo-Disc (Turntable Cartridge Alignment Tool)
…and the great Archive A/V tune-up continues.
Sept. 7, 2017, midnight
S0E102 - Ben’s Junk: (New) Speed Calibration Cassette
The Archive kicks it up a notch—or at least about one-fifth of one.
Sept. 21, 2017, midnight
S0E103 - Ben's Junk: CVS One-Time-Use Video Camcorder
Remember the single-use 35mm camera? How ‘bout a single-use camcorder?
Oct. 5, 2017, midnight
S0E104 - Conelrad (Halloween Special 2016) (Commentary)
The Archive gets nostalgic for nukes…
Oct. 19, 2017, midnight
S0E105 - Ben’s Junk: The World of Yesterday (Classic Hollywood Fanzines)
Ben gets nostalgic for nostalgia—he’s meta like that.
Nov. 2, 2017, midnight
S0E106 - Ben's Junk: Realistic Phono Pre-Amp (Model 42-2109)
Taking a look at an external preamp for the turntable—largely only because the cool kids are into it.
Nov. 16, 2017, midnight
S0E107 - Ben's Junk: Vidicraft Vidimate Video Enhancer (Model VDM300S)
An especially dull (or sharp) edition of Ben’s Junk—it’s capable of both.
Nov. 30, 2017, midnight
S0E108 - Ben's Junk: Star Shower Laser Light
Ben gets ambitious with his Christmas lights—in that, he’s putting any up at all.
Dec. 14, 2017, midnight
S0E109 - Ben's Junk: Sankyo Dualux Dual8 Projector (Model 2000H)
…or, Telecine redux.
Dec. 27, 2017, midnight
S0E110 - Ben's Junk: Allsop 3 Orbitrac Record Cleaning System
It’s no secret that the LP’s discussed on Archive were usually (presumably) buried in someone’s backyard. Naturally, we’re open to any new method of cleaning them up.
Jan. 11, 2018, midnight
S0E111 - Ben's Junk: JVC KD-A6 Cassette Deck
Ben’s second new (to him) cassette deck in a year. What makes this one so special?
Jan. 25, 2018, midnight
S0E112 - Ben's Junk: Discwasher Compact Disc Cleaner
Taking a look at (possibly) the first-ever CD cleaner/repair thing to ever hit the market. Is it a lost classic?
Feb. 8, 2018, midnight
S0E113 - Ben's Junk: Royal Disc Repair System
The second installment on CD cleaning/repair devices. Is it Royally good or Royal garbage?
Feb. 22, 2018, midnight
S0E114 - Ben's Junk: The Archive HQ Bookshelf
What’s that thing with the face in the background? This, and many (well, a few) other questions will be answered at long last!
March 8, 2018, midnight
S0E115 - Ben’s Junk: MP32C64 Adapter (Commodore Datasette Substitute)
Let’s commit a bit of Luddite blasphemy, shall we?
March 22, 2018, midnight
S0E116 - Archive Thrifting #1: Impromptu Investigations
Testing out a new, potential subseries—and hitting every conceivable pothole along the way.
April 5, 2018, midnight
S0E117 - Archive Thrifting #2: Arc of a (Dumpster) Diver
…figured I’d better shoot at least one episode in Beautiful Downtown Aurora before leaving.
April 19, 2018, midnight
S0E118 - Ben's Junk: K-Tel Record Selector
At last! Ben reviews a K-Tel product!
May 3, 2018, midnight
S0E119 - Ben's Junk: Teac V-770 Cassette Deck
The MCS deck kinda got fried. Time for another fixer-upper!
May 17, 2018, midnight
S0E120 - Discovision Dead Sides
Let’s unearth some (unintentional) pre-DVD Easter Eggs…
May 31, 2018, midnight
S0E121 - Ben's Junk: ABC Talking Monday Night Football (Board Game)
An early, talking board game—whose (nearly) every move is dictated by a tiny record.
June 21, 2018, midnight
S0E122 - Archive Riffs: Selling Your Home?
Rather serendipitously, just in time to move, we’ve unearthed a promo video for an item that we’ve used on Archive many times—namely, the Talking House Transmitter. Talk about timing!
June 28, 2018, midnight
S0E123 - Archive Thrifting #3: Beautiful Downtown Aurora's Last Stand
…because I totally needed a bunch more junk to try and pack up.
July 5, 2018, midnight
S0E124 - Ben's Junk: Rocketfish Wireless Rear Speaker Kit
There were a precious few hallmarks of the old Archive HQ that I did NOT want to carry over. Speaker wire running all over the room was one of them.
Aug. 2, 2018, midnight
S0E125 - Ben's Junk: Audio Technica AT-LP120 Turntable (Early Thoughts)
Already went over to a direct-drive cassette deck, might as well do the same with vinyl…
Aug. 16, 2018, midnight
S0E126 - Ben's Junk: Ben's Makeshift Bedroom Stereo System
Looking into the most intimate areas of Ben’s…half-baked stereo system.
Aug. 30, 2018, midnight
S0E127 - Ben's Junk: Ramsey FM Transmitter (Further Experiments)
Sergei’s Catacomb of Classics in stereo, anyone?
Sept. 13, 2018, midnight
S0E129 - Archive Thrifting #4: Elvis Sightings
Archive Thrifting®: Now in ESTEREO!!!
Sept. 26, 2018, midnight
S0E130 - Archive Thrifting #5: Low Money Hu$tla
A mere 3½ months in the making!
Oct. 11, 2018, midnight
S0E131 - Sounds of Terror! (Halloween Album Review)
The return of the Halloween album reviews! Now in screaming, spooktacular stereo!
Oct. 25, 2018, midnight
S0E132 - Ben's Junk: Pac-Man Fever (Pac-Man Mini Arcades)
I’ve got search-for-a-reissue-of-the-original-Pac-Man-arcade-game fever…it’s driving me crazy.
Nov. 8, 2018, midnight
S0E133 - Archive Riffs: Thanksgiving Commercials
A (non-filling) seven-course meal of Turkey Day commercialism!
Nov. 22, 2018, midnight
S0E134 - NES Classic Edition (The Last Word?)
So, what is the Oddity Archive guy doing with a reissue console?
Dec. 6, 2018, midnight
S0E135 - Christmas LaserKaraoke (Deleted Segment)
A little stocking stuffer of yuletide caterwauling—er, caroling!
Dec. 24, 2018, midnight
S0E136 - Ben's Junk: Nagaoka MP-110H Phono Cartridge
New year, more audio kit. It’s tradition, ya know?
Jan. 3, 2019, midnight
S0E137 - Ben's Junk: Sega Pico ("Edutainment" Console)
Time to learn…that edutainment consoles rarely end well.
Jan. 10, 2019, midnight
S0E138 - Ben's Junk: SNES Classic Edition (Belated) First Impressions)
Wait, didn’t we already cover this? Talk about déjà vu…
Jan. 24, 2019, midnight
S0E139 - Ben’s Junk: Tyco VideoCam (Another Kiddie Camcorder)
Ben’s recovering from a virus (and middle-ear dysfunction). Sounds like a good time to do a (kiddie) camcorder review.
Jan. 31, 2019, midnight
S0E140 - Archive Riffs: Valentine’s Day Commercials (A Semi-Romantic Tale)
We’re just a bunch of old softies…with a taste for bent story arcs.
Feb. 14, 2019, midnight
S0E141 - Archive Thrifting #6: Frostbite Falls
Will our scrappy hero escape the clutches of the snow monster? Find out in our next installment: “Frosty The Slowman, or, Snow Thanks to You”!
Feb. 28, 2019, midnight
S0E142 - Ben's Junk: Ronco Mr. Microphone
Tagline: Ben: Hey, good lookin’! How ‘bout I pick you up later?
Attractive Lady: (smacks Ben so hard his fillings are rearranged)
Ben: But it worked for the guy in the commercial…
March 14, 2019, midnight
S0E143 - Ben’s Junk: GAF 3100S Super 8 Film Projector
Another fixer-upper? In Archiveland? Never!!!
March 28, 2019, midnight
S0E144 - Ben's Junk: The Big Reel (Film Collector’s Magazine)
While researching the recent VHS Distributors episode, I kept running into references to a publication known as the “Big Reel”. Turns out, it’s most (in)famous of the old film collector publications—and it’s easy to see why.
April 11, 2019, midnight
S0E145 - Discovision/Laserdisc Quirks (An Informal Discussion)
In a way, Laserdiscs never really outgrew their experimental phase. Here’s an informal, overview of SOME of the more idiosyncratic Laserdiscs out there (and/or their packaging).
April 25, 2019, midnight
S0E146 - Discovision Dead Sides Vol. 2
DVD Easter Eggs? Nah, way too easy.
May 9, 2019, midnight
S0E147 - Ben’s Junk: VGA Converters/Public Domain CD-ROMs
A double dose of turn-of-the-millennium PC goodness!
May 23, 2019, midnight
S0E148 - Ben’s Junk: Innovative Technologies ITNS-500 Slide “Scanner”
After a long delay…well, I’ve got some good news and some bad news.
June 13, 2019, midnight
S0E149 - Archive Riffs: Clutch Cargo (Big “X”, Pts. 4 & 5)
The Archive finally gets to “see the X”! Spoiler: It’s a rock.
June 20, 2019, midnight
S0E150 - Mystery 8mm Films/The Ballad of Ben & 8mm (Commentary)
Let’s see if we can’t clear up some misconceptions about this episode…
June 27, 2019, midnight
S0E151 - Archive Thrifting #7: Wii, Wii, All The Way Home
I was going a little stir crazy at the end of last season. So, naturally, I decided to add a little to my at-home clutter.
July 4, 2019, midnight
S0E153 - Ben's Junk: Video Action Magazine (Issue #1: December, 1980)
Readin’ and dreamin’ ‘bout those Archivisms that’ll probably never happen.
Aug. 1, 2019, midnight
S0E155 - Ben's Junk: Ben's Laserdisc Collection (2019 Edition)
Uh, oh. Ben’s geeking out again. Get comfy.
Aug. 15, 2019, midnight
S0E156 - Fostex X-14/Ben's Music "Career": The Gear
…or, how Ben unwittingly jumped on the “lo-fi” bandwagon.
Aug. 29, 2019, midnight
S0E157 - Ben's Junk: Whippany Rhythm Master (Circa 1972 Drum Machine)
Who says Ben’s got no rhythm? He’s got 10 of them!
Sept. 12, 2019, midnight
S0E158 - Ben's Junk: Burns Theremin
…or, The Space-Age Sounds of the Oddity Archive! (now available on vinyl and 3¾ips reel)
Sept. 26, 2019, midnight
S0E159 - Archive Thrifting #8: Break IT You Pay For IT
Featuring our very Special Guest: Zippy The Chimp!
Oct. 10, 2019, midnight
S0E160 - Haunted House (Halloween SFX Album Review)
Can your heart (or better yet, head) stand a trip through this haunted house? No, seriously, this is our most headache-inducing one yet.
Oct. 24, 2019, midnight
S0E162 - Ben's Junk: Realistic Concertmate (Moog) MG-1 Synthesizer
Whatdaya mean you forgot you had a Moog? Also, synth snobs need not apply.
Nov. 7, 2019, midnight
S0E163 - Ben's Junk: Sony DCR-TRV320 Digital8 Handycam (Video8 Addendum)
Since we were already talkin’ Video8, it only seemed right to cover the Archive’s first camcorder…not to mention, a piece of gear still (as of this episode, at least) in regular use around Archive HQ.
Nov. 21, 2019, midnight
S0E164 - Ben's Junk: Archer Video Processor/Stabilizer (Model 15-1272A)
Guaranteed to keep this (internet) video from rolling!
Dec. 5, 2019, midnight
S0E165 - Algorithmic Audio Mastering (CloudBounce Review)
Can online audio mastering render audio mastering engineers obsolete? The short answer: No. Having said that, it’s not as bad as you’d think.
Dec. 9, 2019, midnight
S0E166 - Archive Thrifting #9: Christmas Confidential
Just your standard, good, old-fashioned, combustible, unnerving, overpriced Country Christmas…
Dec. 12, 2019, midnight
S0E167 - Archive Riffs: Boxing Day Commercials (er, Adverts)
Celebrating the true meaning of Boxing Day… a whole lotta furniture and carpet sales.
Dec. 26, 2019, midnight
S0E168 - MovieCD
A would-be full-fledged video format episode…which got curtailed by (amazingly enough) a lack of computer stuff at Archive HQ.
Jan. 9, 2020, midnight
S0E169 - Ben's Junk: Cult VHS (& A Few DVD's) (2020 Edition)
An informal stroll few some cherry-picked titles from Ben’s (somewhat unintentional) collection of B-Movies and Cult Classics.
Jan. 23, 2020, midnight
S0E170 - Ben's Junk: Behringer U-Phoria UMC404HD Audio Interface
…or, what happens when ol’ Benny-boy decides he needs more than 2 microphone inputs.
Feb. 6, 2020, midnight
S0E171 - Ben's Junk: Behringer neutron (analog, Monophonic) Synthesizer
Yes, I bought another synth. Yes, I swatted myself on the nose with a rolled-up newspaper over my lack of self-control.
Feb. 20, 2020, midnight
S0E173 - Ben's Junk: Industrial Laserdiscs/ Anderic (Reproduction) Service Remote
Lookin’ under the hood of Ben’s laserdisc player (quite appropriately) with some General Motors discs.
March 5, 2020, midnight
S0E174 - Ben's Music "Career", Vol. 4.5: Greetings From Elderbush Gulch Multitracks (An Addendum)
Benny-boy’s (non-accredited) Audio School is now in session!
March 19, 2020, midnight
S0E175 - Enhanced CD's (& other multimedia CD's) (an informal chat)
Please note that this episode may not run correctly unless your monitor is running at a minimum of 256 colors and your system has at least 12MB of available RAM.
April 2, 2020, midnight
S0E176 - Ben's Junk: The OA (semi-)Supercomputer/OA Recording Studio Redux
Well, my last attempt at a semi-regular home audio recording rig failed…and my regular laptop is on its last legs. Here’s my attempt at solving both issues at once.
April 16, 2020, midnight
S0E177 - Ben's Junk: Sony SLO-325 Industrial Betamax
Time to take a bet(t)a look at the Archive’s first Betamax—from before the Archive even existed (in every sense).
April 30, 2020, midnight
S0E178 - Ben's Junk: 1953 & 1956 Hoffman Television Catalogs
A genuine televisual feast.
May 14, 2020, midnight
S0E179 - Ben's Junk: Tiger Quiz Wiz
Question #196.5: What is the Quiz Wiz lacking?
Multiple Choice:
A. An objective
B. A reward
C. Entertainment value
D. All of the above
May 28, 2020, midnight
S0E182 - Ben's Junk: First Alert FTR-960R Time-Lapse VCR (+ Time-Lapse Tape)
The Archive gets secure...or just paranoid.
June 18, 2020, midnight
S0E183 - Archive Riffs: Moving Up To Amateur Radio
OA calling CQ, hopefully DX, lookin’ for the QT on the DL while TCB.
June 25, 2020, midnight
S0E184 - Archive Thrifting #10: Before We Were SO Rudely Interrupted
Archive Thrifting is a magical tool of last resort…Why? Because it NEVER fails!
July 2, 2020, midnight
S0E185 - Ben's Junk: Sony U-Matic & Industrial Betamax Wired Remotes
…or, Ben’s weirdest pet-project to date! (kerchunk)
July 9, 2020, midnight
S0E187 - Archive Thrifting #11: This Can Not Be The Right Price Deal
July 23, 2020, midnight
S0E188 - Ben's Junk: Pioneer RH-65 8-Track Deck
Meet the Archive’s new (to us) 8-track deck…
Aug. 6, 2020, midnight
S0E189 - Ben's Junk: Denon UD-M30 CD Receiver
A rare, intimate, bedroom edition of Ben’s Junk…
Aug. 13, 2020, midnight
S0E192 - Ep. 200 Rebuttal & Deleted Scenes
Ok, time for my side of the story...
Aug. 27, 2020, midnight
S0E194 - Ben's Junk: JVC HR-S7600U S-VHS ET VCR (REVISITED)
Since I had S-VHS and VCR’s on the brain already (moreso than usual), it seemed like the right time to revisit one of the early, ultra-wonky Ben’s Junk topics.
Sept. 24, 2020, midnight
S0E195 - Ben's Junk: Buster Keaton Video Collection
October 4, 2020 marked the 125th anniversary of comedian/filmmaker Buster Keaton’s birth. Consider this the Archive’s (slightly belated and rambling) tribute to one of the greats…
Oct. 8, 2020, midnight
S0E196 - Archive Thrifting #12: (Not-So) Scary Deals
It’s the first Archive Thrifting Spooktacular! Strangely enough, it’s probably one of the least scary Thrifting episodes to date.
Oct. 22, 2020, midnight
S0E197 - Ben's Junk: (New) Polaroid 600 Film (& old camera(s))
You can keep your fancy digital cameras, thank you very much.
Nov. 5, 2020, midnight
S0E198 - Ben's Junk: (Some of) Ben's Audiocassette Collection
A slow-speed ramble for a slow-speed format.
Nov. 19, 2020, midnight
S0E199 - Ben's Junk: (New) Dubreq Stylophone
We be stylin’…stylus(in’), that is…y’all.
Dec. 3, 2020, midnight
S0E200 - Archive Thrifting #13: Deck The Hauls
Fillin’ up the ol’ one-horse open sleigh with…some junk.
Dec. 17, 2020, midnight
S0E201 - Ben's Junk: (some of) Ben's Vinyl Collection Vol. 2
Time to get back in the groove! (dodges tsunami of rotten produce)
Jan. 28, 2021, midnight
S0E202 - Ben's Junk: Sega Genesis Mini (Miniature Game Console)
Finishing up the trilogy of belatedly-acquired, nostalgically-motivated miniature video game consoles…
Feb. 11, 2021, midnight
S0E203 - Home Video Recording, 1972-Style (or, Ben's Complete U-Matic Rig)
Only about seven years in the making…
With the occasional small liberty, a recreation of the first, commercially-available home videotape recording setup in North America. Depending on your perspective, it’s either hardcore or half-baked.
Feb. 25, 2021, midnight
S0E204 - Ben's Junk: Toshiba 20AF43 CRT TV
No one should ever get this excited over something this mundane… Or, this CRT is 20 AF…y’all.
March 11, 2021, midnight
S0E205 - Archive Thrifting #14: (Non-)Luck of the (Non-)Irish
You’ll be green with envy over these finds…or not.
March 18, 2021, midnight
S0E206 - Phonies (Answering Machine Greetings)
Just when you thought the Archive couldn’t get any more phake…
April 1, 2021, midnight
S0E207 - Archive Riffs: A Taxing Set of Commercials (Tax Day Special)
It’s time to get down to business in Archiveland!
April 15, 2021, midnight
S0E208 - Ben's Junk: GPX Digital TV Tuner + Recorder
Can a (relative) cheapie from Menard’s drag the Archive’s off-air recording capabilities (kicking and screaming) into the 21st century? Sort of…
April 29, 2021, midnight
S0E209 - A Geeky Evening With Benny-Boy
A late-night, low-light, romantic fishing expedition with everybody’s favorite Oddity Archivist…fishing for ArchiveAnnex material, that is.
May 13, 2021, midnight
S0E210 - Ben's Junk: ClonerAlliance Box Pro (Video Capture Device)
Could it be I’ve finally stumbled onto the rightful heir of the VCR? Looks like it…
May 27, 2021, midnight
S0E211 - Ben's Junk: JVC HM-DH30000U & Mitsubishi HD-HS2000u D-VHS VCR's
A double-(4)-header of D-VHS (when possible) goodness!
June 10, 2021, midnight
S0E212 - Episode 200 (Behind The Box) (Commentary)
If ever an OA episode needed a commentary track, it’s this one…
June 17, 2021, midnight
S0E213 - Archive Thrifting #15: Out Of This World Deals
Featuring deals so far outta sight, they’re outta mind!
June 24, 2021, midnight
S0E214 - Ben's Junk: Akai GX-220 Reel-To-Reel Audiotape Deck
Of course, I had to pick up a rare and unusual deck for a tape cleaning rig. Also, not to be confused with the Akai GX-220D.
July 8, 2021, midnight
S0E216 - Ben's Casino Travelogue (Deleted Segment From How I Spent My Summer VIII)
The Archive delivers its first real travelogue…granted, it was all of a half-hour away from home, but still.
July 29, 2021, midnight
S0E217 - Archive Thrifting #16: La Cage Aux Thrifting
Thrifting can be a real drag…but not when Ben’s around!
Aug. 5, 2021, midnight
S0E218 - VCR Cleaning (A Public Service Video)
A bit of VHSMR for everyone…
Aug. 19, 2021, midnight
S0E219 - Channel Update (9/2021) (Sony AV-3600 Update, Sencore VA62, etc.)
There’s plenty in the OA oven right now, just none of it is rising.
Sept. 2, 2021, midnight
S0E220 - VCR Rabbit Revisited
I got things just a hare wrong the first time around, so let’s hop to another round of tests…
Sept. 9, 2021, midnight
S0E221 - Ben's Junk: Video Store Regulars (& Memories)
Most people would rent a video once…Benny-boy was just insane enough to rent the same tapes over and over…then eventually buy them.
Sept. 23, 2021, midnight
S0E222 - Ben’s Junk: Wolverine Moviemaker Pro 8mm & Super8 Film Scanner
A half-hour Ben’s Junk? You might say the machine caused it to run reely long.
Oct. 7, 2021, midnight
S0E223 - Archive Thrifting #17: Spooktacular Savings
Get a witches shawl on and find a broomstick you can crawl on…and go thrifting with Benny-boy! (snap, snap)
Oct. 21, 2021, midnight
S0E225 - Ben's Junk: Sony Digital Mavica (Model MVC-FD73) (Floppy Disk Digital Camera from 1999)
Finally getting into this newfangled digital camera stuff…whatdaya mean you can’t get 3.5” floppies anymore?!?
Nov. 4, 2021, midnight
S0E226 - Ben's Junk: Coolmusic Ring Modulator (& other FX) ("Max Headroom" Hijacker Voice)
Does Ben really think he’s better than Chuck Swirsky? That freakin’ liberal…
Nov. 18, 2021, midnight
S0E227 - Ben's Junk: Christmas TV VHS & DVD's
‘Tis the season…for holiday specials. Here’s some of my favorites…
Dec. 2, 2021, midnight
S0E228 - Archive Thrifting #18: Shortwave Santa
Run, run Rudolph…towards another pile of junk!
Dec. 16, 2021, midnight
S0E230 - Ben's Junk: Keyfax Update/Pioneer GGF1381 Laserdisc Service Remote/Discovision Dead Sides Vol. 3
Going down a mental rabbit hole…in the most Archivian way possible.
Jan. 6, 2022, midnight
S0E232 - Ben's Junk: VuPoint Digital Video Converter (or, the circa 2010 YouTube video device)
Feeling nostalgic for those early YouTube potato video captures? I’ve got just the scratch for that itch…
Jan. 20, 2022, midnight
S0E233 - Ben's Junk: The Clapper
At long last, Ben’s Junk gets the clap…per.
Feb. 3, 2022, midnight
S0E234 - Laserdisc Laser Rot
A little mythbusting (and philosophizing)…OA style.
Feb. 17, 2022, midnight
S0E235 - Ben's Junk: Magnus Chord Organ
After last week’s video, I had to seek a 600-second miracle of my own. It seems to involve turning into a less-charming Daniel Johnston.
March 3, 2022, midnight
S0E236 - Ben's Junk: Blonder-Tongue BTX-111 "Ultraverter" (& ONTV Box Update)
An addendum to the “Prehistoric UHF” episode…and the “ONTV/Pay TV Vol. 2” episode—about three years too late.
March 17, 2022, midnight
S0E237 - Ben's Junk: Prog & Metal VHS, Beta & Laserdiscs
For those about to rock (in 11/4 time), we salute you…
March 31, 2022, midnight
S0E238 - Ben's Junk: Newtek Calibar (A Pen-Sized Test Pattern Generator)
Ben recreates the best TV program of all time—the color bars!
April 14, 2022, midnight
S0E240 - Ben's Junk: Hotronic AP41 (Frame Synchronizer & Time Base Corrector)
It takes a lot to keep Ben’s Junk together…‘cause Ben’s Junk ain’t no good when it’s distorted and out-of-sync.
April 28, 2022, midnight
S0E242 - CD Frustrations & Easter Eggs
A casual chat…if only because the prospect of the sixth “Ben’s Junk” in a row was too much to bear.
May 12, 2022, midnight
S0E244 - Ben's Junk: Sony CVM-51UW and Panasonic WV-BM990 CRT Monitors
CRT’s are for squares…which we proudly are.
June 2, 2022, midnight
S0E245 - The Eraser Laserdisc Experiment
Tackling one of the great urban legends of the Laserdisc format. Are there any “good” copies of Eraser? And, no, I’m not referring to the film itself.
June 23, 2022, midnight
S0E246 - Archive Thrifting #19: Radios, Radios
Got a new phone (not by choice)…which means a new camera…which means…test drive time!
June 30, 2022, midnight
S0E247 - Archive Riffs: Hey, Stop That!
It’s a(n apparent) fine line between deep expressionism and wonky student film.
July 7, 2022, midnight
S0E248 - Ben's Junk: Midland WR400 NOAA Weather Radio (& other Radio Ramblings)
Mother Nature: (throws flash floods, tornadoes, derechos and blizzards at Archive HQ)
Ben: I get the hint already! Geez…
July 14, 2022, midnight
S0E249 - Ben's Junk: Sony SRF-A100 AM/AM Stereo/FM Portable Radio
A truly nice little radio (especially on the AM front)…and a nice little prelude to the OA 10th Anniversary episode.
July 20, 2022, midnight
S0E250 - Archive Thrifting #20: Fair(mont) (St.) Clouds over Mankato
Taken while shooting the AM Stereo episode. If nothing else, it was the least sticker-shock-intensive part of the trip.
July 28, 2022, midnight
S0E251 - Ben Repairs: Radio Shack Executive Stress Eliminator
Testing out a potential, new occasionally recurring thing in which I undertake minor repairs on some item…and, as always, mock it a bit.
Aug. 4, 2022, midnight
S0E252 - Sony Videocorders Update (CV-2100 & AV-3600) (8/2022)
…and the single most challenging project I’ve ever taken on…continues to kick my butt. Share in the frustration, won’t you?
Aug. 18, 2022, midnight
S0E253 - Ben's Junk: Tyler Portable TV (model TTV701-7)
Hope you like fussy, fidgety, unintuitive setups…and 45-minute Ben’s Junks.
Sept. 1, 2022, midnight
S0E254 - Ben's Junk: Sears Whisper-Matic IV (& Victorian-Era Theater Slides)
Hey Buddy, wanna see some early 20th century movie theater slides? Didn’t think so.
Sept. 15, 2022, midnight
S0E255 - Ben's Junk: Ben's Blackhawk Films Collection (minus the videotapes)
…or, Ben gets nostalgic for other people’s nostalgia.
Sept. 22, 2022, midnight
S0E256 - Ben's Junk: Sony Trinitron PVM-1343MD (Professional Video Monitor)
A rather unprofessional look at a truly professional piece of gear. Such is the Archive… And, yes, “Junk” is used in the loosest way possible here.
Oct. 6, 2022, midnight
S0E257 - Archive Thrifting #21: We Already Have Halloween At Home
Mom, can we buy some Halloween? (see title for answer)
Oct. 20, 2022, midnight
S0E258 - Benny M.'s TV Party (Commentary)
I think I have some ‘splainin’ to do regarding this one. NOTE: I recorded this back in early June (2022) as a fail-safe in case the thrifting episode I was trying to make fell through. Some of the points discussed here are now outdated.
Oct. 24, 2022, midnight
S0E259 - Halloween Special 2022 Blooper Reel
…or, as some might call it, “Ben’s Final Descent Into Madness”.
Nov. 3, 2022, midnight
S0E260 - Ben's Junk: Telemeter Pay TV Box (Circa 1960)
It’s (apparently) a fine line between your TV and a taxi meter…
Nov. 17, 2022, midnight
S0E261 - Ben's Junk: Favorite (and/or Notable) Christmas Albums
Even old scrooge Benny-boy has those Christmas tunes that get his foot (arrhythmically) a-tappin’.
Dec. 1, 2022, midnight
S0E262 - Archive Thrifting #22: Christmas In Elbonia
The merriest* thrifting video of the year! *FACT CHECK: Mostly false.
Dec. 15, 2022, midnight
S0E263 - Archive Thrifting #23: Holiday Hangover
Old year, old junk. Poetic, ain’t it?
Dec. 29, 2022, midnight
S0E264 - Magna-Guard (or, Copy-Protection, Vol. 3)
And the quest for that form of copy protection that’ll make my VCR burst into flames continues…
Jan. 5, 2023, midnight
S0E265 - Ben's Junk: RCA BW003 (1978 Home Video Camera)
Please inspect Ben’s Junk for damage before use…and let it warm up for awhile…and don’t point it at anything bright for more than a second or two. You know what, forget it.
Jan. 19, 2023, midnight
S0E266 - Ben's Junk: Forbidden KLAK (via the Archer Multiple Video Distribution System)
You wanted more Oddity Archive…After Dark? Here ya go. Just don’t expect anything too hot.
Feb. 2, 2023, midnight
S0E267 - Ben's Junk: Realistic (Radio Shack) FM Wireless Lavalier Microphone System (Circa 1988)
For those looking to up their YouTube microphone game…had such a thing existed in 1988.
Feb. 23, 2023, midnight
S0E268 - Ben's Junk: (Some of) Ben's TV-on-DVD Collection
For how much TV I watched when I was younger, it’s a wonder my brains didn’t completely leak out of my ears. See the beginning of the de-evolution of Benny-boy here…
March 9, 2023, midnight
S0E269 - Ben's Junk: Hitachi Visionbook Pro 7560 Laptop (or, My 1st, failed attempt at a Windows 98 Rig)
…because I MUST get my Diamond Rio loaded (ideally, with Diamond Rio songs)!
March 23, 2023, midnight
S0E270 - Ben's Junk: Ben's Mad Magazine Stash
What—Me Ramble?
April 6, 2023, midnight
S0E271 - Noelle's Mystery Tapes (& Channel Update - 4/2023)
Some like roses on a date, some like candy. Benny-boy likes uncatalogued analog magnetic media.
April 20, 2023, midnight
S0E272 - Ben's Junk: 80's Music Videos (on Laserdisc)
Oddity Archive and MTV have a momentary cease-fire to appreciate some 80’s tuneage.
May 4, 2023, midnight
S0E273 - Ben's Ugly A/V Rack
Hey! Nice rack, Benny-boy! (snicker)
May 18, 2023, midnight
S0E274 - Betacam SP (1st Test...From A Newbie's Perspective)
A ferric-oxide (or metal, depending on the tape) baptism…by fire.
May 22, 2023, midnight
S0E275 - Christmas Morning on a June Evening (or, Mail Day From Tyrone)
Hope you have your June tree up (ideally, something deciduous), 'cause we're about to celebrate Christmas in June.
June 22, 2023, midnight
S0E276 - Archive Thrifting #24: The Delicate Sound of Thrifting
Some things don’t come easy…like the first thrifting video of 2023 (more than halfway into the year, no less).
July 6, 2023, midnight
S0E277 - Ben's Junk: X-10 Videosender (another VCR Rabbit-esque device)
Coming right at the end of the usefulness for something like this. Let’s see if it’s too little, too late…or right on time.
July 13, 2023, midnight
S0E278 - Revenge of the Sony AV-3600 Videocorder (1st Test)
Some people’s sinuses come back from Arizona…my AV-3600 came back from Arizona—arguably the same headache.
July 20, 2023, midnight
S0E279 - Archive Thrifting #25: 3M (Moderate Minnesota Madness)
Celebrating the 25th OA Thrifting video by doing one in Minnesohta, doan ‘cha know?
Aug. 10, 2023, midnight
S0E280 - Fix It or Forget It? (NEC S-VHS Deck)
It’s everybody’s favorite new (not quite) nerdy game show…Fix It or Forget It!!!
Aug. 10, 2023, midnight
S0E281 - Ben's Junk: 1966 (partial) Zenith Phonevision Pay TV Box
The Archive phones it in…phoneVISION, that is.
Aug. 24, 2023, midnight
S0E282 - Ben's Junk: SelecTV Pay TV Box
Oddity Archive®: Only for the most SelecTiVe viewers!
Sept. 7, 2023, midnight
S0E283 - Ben's Junk: ClonerAlliance ViewLite AV (Video Capture Device)
A little device with a lot of potential…but does it live up to it?
Sept. 21, 2023, midnight
S0E284 - Ben's Junk: Sears Du-All Eight (8mm Viewer/Editor)
Well, it does du all, I’ll give it that…
Oct. 5, 2023, midnight
S0E285 - Archive Thrifting #26: Indian Summer
Dragging out the Summer a little longer…whether you like it or not.
Oct. 12, 2023, midnight
S0E286 - Ben's Junk: Sharp VL-E47 "Viewcam" (Video8 Camcorder, circa 1995)
Oddity Archive®: Now in glorious Hi-Fi Mono!
Nov. 30, 2023, midnight
S0E287 - Archive Thrifting #28: Scandalous Santa
Just hear those cash tills jing-a-ling’—ring-ting-tinga-ling…
Dec. 14, 2023, midnight
S0E288 - Archive Thrifting #29 (Christmas Leftovers)
From that part of the Archive that’s a bit like that old take-out in the back of your fridge…that you forgot about.
Dec. 28, 2023, midnight
S0E289 - Ben's Junk: Ben's Rifftrax DVD & Blu-Ray Collection
Looking at the Rifftrax collection…with only minimal snark…which may very well go against the laws of riff comedy.
Jan. 4, 2024, midnight
S0E290 - Ben's Junk: Denon RCD-N10 CD Receiver
…because Benny-boy apparently goes through mini stereos like (insert absurdly famous pop star) goes through boyfriends.
Jan. 18, 2024, midnight
S0E291 - Ben's Junk: Magnavox H2160MW9 (or, Exploring Someone's Old Personal DVR)
The tech geek equivalent of rummaging through someone’s medicine cabinet…
Jan. 25, 2024, midnight
S0E292 - Ben's Junk: Wometco Home Theatre (WHT) Pay TV Decoder Box
Archiveco Home Theatre®: Now serving Lawn Guyland & New Joisey!
Feb. 15, 2024, midnight
S0E293 - Ben’s Junk: ClearClick Video2USB/ A Tour of Ben’s Livestream Setup
Some livestreamers run PC games…Benny-boy likes to run Betamax tapes.
Feb. 22, 2024, midnight
S0E294 - How To Unstretch Video (via HandBrake)
For us old fartknockers that haven’t yet warmed up to stretch-o-vision…
Feb. 29, 2024, midnight
S0E295 - Ben's Junk: Laser Video File Laserdisc Catalog (Mid-1992)
Thumbing through the catalog of the hottest new video format (by OA standards).
March 14, 2024, midnight
S0E296 - Ben's Junk: Some More of Ben's Audiocassette Collection (Mystery Box!)
Come on down to Crazy Benny’s for…a bunch of audiocassettes that you probably don’t care about.
March 21, 2024, midnight
S0E297 - Magnavox H2160MW9 Personal DVR/DVD Recorder UPDATE (A Failure)
Trying to bulk dump the contents of the DVR. Here’s how NOT* to do it…
*No Hard Drives were harmed in the making of this episode. It was reinstalled and all material is still 100% intact.
March 28, 2024, midnight
S0E298 - Ben's Junk: Videolok (VCR Anti-Theft Device)
Inconvenience and mildly annoy those evil VCR thieves with the Videolok!
April 11, 2024, midnight
S0E299 - Ben's Junk: Rhoades Teledapter (TV Stereo Simulator)
Don’t wanna wait for Stereo TV’s to be invented? Here ya go!
April 18, 2024, midnight
S0E300 - Windows 98 Laptop Update (4/2024)
The saga continues. On and on…and on…and on…
April 25, 2024, midnight
S0E301 - CD Rot Rant
Benny-boy’s (non-accredited) Physical Media Studies class is now in session!
May 9, 2024, midnight
S0E302 - Ben A.'s Mystery Tapes (A Not-So-Livestream)
An unintentional episode of Oddity Archive…After Dark…in the most literal sense.
May 16, 2024, midnight
S0E303 - Windows 98 Laptop Update (5/2024) (She Lives!)
Ben christens his newly-functional laptop…by playing a little Slim Whitman.
May 23, 2024, midnight
S0E304 - Ben's Junk: Whole House FM Transmitter 3.0
Ben’s 3(.0)rd attempt at FM, Part 15-legal microbroadcasting! Let’s see if it’s the charm…
June 20, 2024, midnight
S0E305 - Ben Vs. The Cursed U-Matic Tape
A quick experiment evolves (er, devolves) into a borderline documentary…on the subject of cleaning mold off an old ¾” “U-Matic” videotape. And they say OA isn’t mainstream…
June 27, 2024, midnight
S0E306 - Archive Thrifting #30: Wet Fireworks
Spend the 4th of July the American way…shopping for junk.
July 4, 2024, midnight
S0E307 - Ben's Junk: A Tower of Vidicraft
(with apologies to Frank Sinatra)
…’cause it’s Vidicraft, wicked Vidicraft. And, although I know it’s strictly taboo…
July 11, 2024, midnight
S0E308 - Quasar Great Time Machine (Round 2?)
After making the Great Time Machine episodes in 2023, I was offered another unit in exchange for transferring some tapes. I may not have gotten the better part of that deal.
Aug. 1, 2024, midnight
S0E309 - Ben's Junk: My First DVD's
Something I never thought I’d have…warm, gooey nostalgia for the Y2K era.
Aug. 8, 2024, midnight
S0E310 - Ben's Junk: JamC@m Digital Camera
A trip back to the late-90’s. Of course, that means being unnecessarily EXTREEEEME!!!! (insert dorky camera zoom)
Aug. 15, 2024, midnight
S0E311 - Archive Thrifting #31: Summer's End
The little brats are finally back in school. Let’s go thrifting…
Aug. 22, 2024, midnight
S0E312 - More Fun With Moldy U-Matic Tapes
Mold®: Now available in yellow and brown!
Sept. 5, 2024, midnight
S0E313 - Ben's Junk: :CueCat Barcode Scanner
Truly from the audiovisual litterbox, an impractical solution to a problem that didn’t/doesn’t exist.
Or, Benny-boy officially becomes a cat herder...and hoarder.
Sept. 12, 2024, midnight
S0E314 - Ben's Junk: Sencore "Little Huey" Test Pattern Generator
A color bar generator called “Little HUEy”. No, it’s not a Norm MacDonald joke…I think.
Sept. 19, 2024, midnight
S0E315 - Ben's Junk: Casio CMD-10 watch
Keep losing that remote control? Perhaps there’s just too many gosh-darn buttons? We’ve got a (borderline-toy) solution for you!
Oct. 10, 2024, midnight
S0E316 - Ben's Junk: Laserviews Laserdisc Magazines
I set out to discuss laserdiscs and wound up on a tear about various movies. Ain’t that always the way?
Oct. 17, 2024, midnight
S0E317 - Archive Thrifting #32: Halloween Hootenanny
Grab yer pardner, do-si-do…and go thrifting with ol’ Benny-boy!
Oct. 24, 2024, midnight
S0E318 - Halloween Special 2023 (Season of the Wince) (Commentary)
Discussing the great swindle that is my little parody of “Halloween III”…and mustaches.
Oct. 28, 2024, midnight
S0E319 - Ben's Junk: Realistic (Radio Shack) Astronaut 8 Radio
A radio that’ll send you into outer space…8 times!
Nov. 9, 2024, midnight
S0E320 - Ben's Junk: Down Beat Magazine (10/23/1975)
An Up Beat (by my standards) look at an issue of Down Beat magazine. Now, excuse me while I clap out-of-rhythm…
Nov. 14, 2024, midnight
S0E321 - Ben’s Junk: Thanksgiving Traditions (and not-so-traditions)
You can get anything you want at Benny-boy’s (non-existent) Restaurant…
Nov. 21, 2024, midnight
S0E322 - Ben’s Junk: VHS is Life Mold Cleaning Rig REDUX
A product so nice, I had to review it twice…
Dec. 5, 2024, midnight
S0E323 - Archive Thrifting #33: Christmas Clutter
Out in the stores there’s so much clutter/Let’s listen to Benny-boy groan and mutter…
Dec. 12, 2024, midnight
S0E324 - Ben’s Junk: Epiphone ED-100NS Acoustic Guitar
My first steel string acoustic guitar…which was even cheaper than the ones Esteban was hawking on TV at the time.
Dec. 26, 2024, midnight
S0E325 - Ben’s (Failed) Gimmick CD (A Rant)
The OA soundtrack album was SUPPOSED to be the most tricked-out CD of all time…of course, things didn’t pan out. And, yes, this may very well be the geekiest, most jargon-heavy discussion I’ve ever given.
Jan. 9, 2025, midnight
S0E326 - Ben’s Junk: NuReality Vivid 3D (Mock Surround Sound Processor)
Mono reprocessed for stereo? How quaint. How ‘bout stereo reprocessed for surround sound?
Jan. 16, 2025, midnight
S0E1 - Donny Osmond - Soldier of Love (Michael Bay Salute)
Michael Bay directed music videos? That would explain a lot.
July 26, 2012, midnight
S0E2 - National Anthem Conspiracy Theory
This video has been censored by "The Man" for your pleasure.
Aug. 23, 2012, midnight
S0E88 - Ben’s Junk: MD Walkman (Minidisc Addendum)
Like clockwork, I get my hands on a MD Walkman with a mic input just after I finish making the Minidisc episode. I swear it's a conspiracy.
March 9, 2017, midnight
S0E128 - Ask The Archive Live (9/14/2018)
The Archive’s first livestream since 2014…and just as lo-fi as ever.
Sept. 17, 2018, midnight
S0E152 - Record Ripoffs Commercial Parodies (Vols. 1–9)
New from K-Smell Records, it’s all those irritating moments that lead off each Record Ripoffs episode in one convenient package! ORDER NOW!!!
July 18, 2019, midnight
S0E154 - Bennytronics Guitar Noise Experiment (Analog, Circa 1980-style) (COMPLETE SEGMENT)
All seven minutes of the Archive’s low-grade, wannabe Frippertronics experiment! Earplugs are highly recommended.
Aug. 9, 2019, midnight
S0E161 - Telesound 13 (Moog/Realistic Concertmate MG-1)
The first new piece of music I've written and released since 2012. As a challenge to myself, I tasked myself with creating a song using nothing but my old Moog/Realistic Concertmate MG-1 synthesizer--which is a REAL challenge given that I'm not a synth geek and my keyboard skills are dodgy at best. It also had to sound like something that could've been made and released around the time the synth was made (circa 1982). As such, effects are used sparingly and are confined to the basics (read: EQ, reverb & compression). Written as part of my ongoing attempts at creating some new, original incidental music for Oddity Archive. NOTE: Just in case you couldn't tell, the synth pics shown are NOT representative of the patches used.
Nov. 6, 2019, midnight
S0E172 - F.D.G. (Oddity Archive Sign-Off Muzak)
Now you can enjoy a classic OA sign-off without all that pesky talking and technical junk! F.D.G. = Fully Digital Gunk? Faulty Daily Gherkins? Make up your own acronym.
March 2, 2020, midnight
S0E180 - Ben Minnotte - Switched-On Pavanned (Moog Instrumental)
In honor of the "Switched-On Archive" episode, I figured I'd make two pieces of music, one to represent both extremes of the trend of late '60's/early '70's Moog Synthesizer albums--the good and the "bad". This rendition of the Archive's usual theme song is intended to salute/work within the realm of the album that (unwittingly) started it all, Wendy Carlos' "Switched-On Bach" (1968). This was created entirely on a Moog MG-1 and was done strictly within the realm of what was possible in the late '60's and early '70's. Keeping in spirit with the original, monophonic synths of the '60's, I used NONE of the polyphonic settings.
June 3, 2020, midnight
S0E181 - Ben Minnotte - The Happy Moog (Gets Stuck In Rush Hour) ("Moog" Instrumental)
My half-salute to/half-parody of those especially tacky late '60's/early '70's Moog Synthesizer albums. The cheese factor goes to 11 here. This was created...without a Moog. Instead, I used a Behringer Neutron monophonic synth (more potential whiz-bang sound effects than my Moog MG-1) and a circa 1972 Whippany Rhythm Master. This was recorded with the general limitations of this period of recording gear.
June 5, 2020, midnight
S0E186 - The Battle At Elderbush Gulch (2020 Redux)
Initially intended as a full-band "electric" tune, but recorded as a folk piece back in 2004. Sixteen years later, I'm finally getting around to an electric version--albeit with some slightly cinematic modifications.
July 20, 2020, midnight
S0E190 - Pavanned (Documentary Style) (Vaporwave?)
I was informed that the regular version was too upbeat and concise for the Episode 200 OA documentary. This was my best attempt at making it as dreary and hazy as possible.
Aug. 24, 2020, midnight
S0E191 - In Your Hands (Violin & "Mellotron" Thing)
Representing the dry, yet thoughtful end of Episode 200...
Aug. 24, 2020, midnight
S0E193 - Nitrogené (Synth Instrumental)
Somehow I started with what I thought was a pretty cool-sounding canned rhythm (running through a guitar delay pedal) and wound up with a Jean-Michel Jarre pastiche. No idea how I got there.
Sept. 10, 2020, midnight
S0E215 - History of VHS (COMPLETE SERIES)
You wanted a history lesson? You got a history lesson!
July 15, 2021, midnight
S0E224 - Thereminiature/Pavanned (Version 6.66)
0:01 - Thereminiature (featuring Sty Lo Phone) (A bit of B-Movie cheese) 1:36 - Pavanned (Version 6.66) (A half parody of/half tribute to the Alan Parsons Project)
Oct. 31, 2021, midnight
S0E229 - Ben’s Music “Career” (The Complete Saga)
Move over, “History of the Eagles”. There’s a new rock doc opus in town…
Dec. 30, 2021, midnight
S0E231 - The Wire (via Sony PCM-701ES, Betamax)
Not so much chosen for musical content, but because of the long spaces between phrases and major volume drops. Shame it isn't more EQ'd, this'd the ultimate stress test for a PCM unit otherwise.
Jan. 12, 2022, midnight
S0E239 - A BENefit for a new computer…or a loose Ask The Archive
Flying by the seat of Benny's ripped (by wear and tear) jeans using only an iPad and his (half-)wit to try and raise money for a new computer.
April 22, 2022, midnight
S0E241 - The “Can I Remember It?” stream (or, a smaller BENefit)
A little (non-alcoholic) wine, a little song...which'll all cease if the price is right. Otherwise, we'll chat and I may pick a techie brain or two.
May 7, 2022, midnight
S0E243 - A Tour of the New OA Computer Rig (OA Computer Tour 2022)
Please note, these are the statements of an analog-brained lunatic and are probably woefully inaccurate. In other words, never give an analog brain a computer.
May 19, 2022, midnight
S0E327 - Ben's Junk: Optoma PK320 Pico Pocket Projector
Benny-boy covers a projector…but not a film projector. Blasphemy, I know.
Jan. 23, 2025, midnight
S0E328 - Albums I Love (That I’m Supposed To Hate)
…because it’s (apparently) cool to be contrarian.
Feb. 27, 2025, midnight
S0E329 - Monkeeing Around
Hey, hey…the Ben’s Junk items I was gonna cover fell through. Let’s get nostalgic.
March 6, 2025, midnight
S0E330 - Ben’s Junk: Sony eMarker (SoundHound before SoundHound)
You’ve heard of “oddware”, right? This is outright “deadware”.
March 13, 2025, midnight
S0E331 - DiscoVision Dead Sides Vol. 5
Easter Eggs are earned, my friend…
March 20, 2025, midnight
S0E332 - Ben’s Junk: RCA RC5230Z DIVX/DVD Player (More “Deadware”)
Fulfilling another one of my utterly pointless life missions…almost.
March 27, 2025, midnight
S0E333 - 25 Pounds of Laserdiscs (Mail Day From Paul C.)
True Archive® excitement, doled out by the pound…
April 10, 2025, midnight
S0E334 - Ben's Junk: Half A Halloween Movie Collection
Let’s celebrate (Halfway to) Halloween with…half a Halloween movie franchise collection.
May 1, 2025, midnight
S0E335 - Ben’s Junk: APF TV Fun (“Sportsarama” Model)
Sportsarama®: Somehow even less convenient than scheduling an actual game of tennis (or hockey or handball)!
May 8, 2025, midnight
S0E336 - Pre-Recorded SuperBeta (and some minor mythbusting)
With all the hype about the 50th anniversary of the Betamax home video format, let’s not forget the 40th anniversary of…SuperBeta(max).
May 17, 2025, midnight
S0E337 - Ben’s Junk: Sears Tele-Games Pinball Breakaway (Atari Video Pinball)
I always wanted a pinball machine…
May 23, 2025, midnight
S0E338 - State of the Archive Address/General Chat/Q&A (5/30/2025)
June 5, 2025, midnight
S0E339 - Ben’s Junk: (Some of) Ben’s Vinyl Collection Vol. 3
77 LP’s (and a stray 45) in an hour. Now, THAT is efficiency…
June 12, 2025, midnight
S0E340 - A Lot of Cartrivision (A Prelude?)
Some people take in stray dogs and cats. I (apparently) take in stray early home video tapes.
June 19, 2025, midnight
S0E341 - Thrifting Delivery (Mail Day From Nick S.)
Well, I haven’t really been able to go thrifting in the better part of a year. Time for the thrifting to come to me!
June 26, 2025, midnight
S0E342 - Ben's Junk: The Worst (and Ben's First) Portable TV
Taking a look at quite possibly the world's last working Action-brand portable TV. Last, not because it's rare or anything, it's just THAT poorly made.
July 3, 2025, midnight
S0E343 - State of the Archive Address (7/2025)
WARNING: This update includes some unpleasant and frank medical discussion which may upset some viewers. Please watch at your own discretion.
July 17, 2025, midnight
S0E344 - OA Update (7/28/2025)
Hot off the presses--recorded overnight. Let's just say things are moving a bit quickly right now.
July 28, 2025, midnight
S0E345 - Ben’s Junk: Sony Color Watchman (FDT-5BX5)
The most un-portable portable TV of all time! I like it anyway.
July 31, 2025, midnight
S0E346 - Ben's Junk: Boyalink Wireless Lavalier Microphone
Ain’t no microphone gonna tie me down!
Aug. 14, 2025, midnight
S0E347 - OA Update (8/18/2025)
This should be the last of these update videos…
Aug. 18, 2025, midnight
S0E348 - These DVD-R’s are JUNK!/Another Cursed Tape?
Rotting DVD-R’s and shedding videotapes? Must be Archiveland.
Aug. 21, 2025, midnight
S0E349 - Ben’s Junk: Laserdisc Acquisitions (2019-2025)
Yes, more shiny, 12-inchers…laserdiscs, that is. Get your mind out of the gutter.
Aug. 27, 2025, midnight
Network: YouTube
Episode Runtime: 28 min.
Season Runtime: 8240 min.
Released: July 5, 2012
Last Air Date: Nov. 27, 2025, midnight
Status: Returning Series
Certification: NR / 10+
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