Episodes List

Ep.1 Donny Osmond - Soldier of Love (Michael Bay Salute)

Air Date: 2012-07-26

Michael Bay directed music videos? That would explain a lot.

Ep.2 National Anthem Conspiracy Theory

Air Date: 2012-08-23

This video has been censored by "The Man" for your pleasure.

Ep.3 Everlasting Love

Air Date: 2012-09-20

What the hell would make this overplayed moldy-oldie count as an oddity? Find out...

Ep.4 The Max Headroom Incident of 1987 (Commentary)

Air Date: 2012-10-18

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).

Ep.5 Sounds to Make You Shiver

Air Date: 2012-10-31

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!

Ep.6 TV Sign-Offs (Commentary)

Air Date: 2012-12-13

An informal discussion of the TV Sign-Offs episode.

Ep.7 Emergency Broadcast Salute (Commentary)

Air Date: 2013-02-07

Something about February always gets Ben thinking about Civil Defense Broadcasting.

Ep.8 Freedom is a Hammer (Album Review)

Air Date: 2013-03-07

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.

Ep.9 American EXXXtasy (Commentary)

Air Date: 2013-04-04

Perhaps the Archive's most infamous episode needed a little more context. Maybe not. Nevertheless, it got it anyway--the context, that is.

Ep.10 Greetings From the Stars (Sort Of)

Air Date: 2013-05-02

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.

Ep.11 Ask the Archive

Air Date: 2013-05-30

An informal Q & A session. Yep, that's about it.

Ep.12 Archive Riffs: Petaluma Chicken

Air Date: 2013-06-06

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).

Ep.13 Local TV Special (Commentary)

Air Date: 2013-06-13

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.

Ep.14 Archive Riffs: Greedy Humpty Dumpty

Air Date: 2013-06-20

Ben riffs the sole survivor of his childhood Public Domain VHS collection.

Ep.15 VHS Vault Vol. 1 (Amvest Video) (Commentary)

Air Date: 2013-06-27

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.

Ep.16 Archive Riffs: Say No to Strangers

Air Date: 2013-07-25

Learn to take the safe way to school (but only if you have to walk through Chinatown).

Ep.17 National Anthem Conspiracy Theory (Redux)

Air Date: 2013-08-22

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.

Ep.18 Halloween Special 2012 (Commentary)

Air Date: 2013-10-17

An all-too-brief look back at the Archive's first Halloween special.

Ep.19 Hallmark Presents: Spooky Sounds

Air Date: 2013-10-31

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.

Ep.20 Archive Riffs: Dining Together

Air Date: 2013-11-28

Chain Aunt Phyllis to the family piano and enjoy an old-fashioned Thanksgiving.

Ep.21 Christmas Special 2012 (A Fair Use Christmas) (Commentary)

Air Date: 2013-12-12

A much-maligned commentary to a forgotten Archive episode.

Ep.22 Archive Riffs: A Christmas Fantasy

Air Date: 2013-12-24

Because nothing says "Christmas" quite like creepy wax figures and a bargain-basement Bing Crosby.

Ep.23 TV DX-ing

Air Date: 2014-01-09

...because the local stations suck.

Ep.24 Archive Riffs: Live & Learn

Air Date: 2014-01-30

Sid Davis would like to remind you that he loves his wallpaper and hates your child.

Ep.25 Archive Riffs: Cigarette Commercials

Air Date: 2014-02-27

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).

Ep.26 Backwards Masking (Commentary)

Air Date: 2014-03-27

Everything Ben has to say about the Backwards Masking episode in a mere 12 minutes!

Ep.27 A Nice Pair (of early, European VCR's)

Air Date: 2014-04-24

Can your heart take the sheer sex appeal of the Philips N1500? No (prescription) pills necessary!

Ep.28 Blooper Reel

Air Date: 2014-05-15

Alternate Title: Why The Archive isn't terribly conducive to outtake specials.

Ep.29 VHS Vault Vol. 5 - Y2K (Commentary)

Air Date: 2014-06-05

One of those rare occasions where there was a little TOO much to say in an episode.

Ep.30 Archive Riffs: Atomic Alert (Elementary Edition)

Air Date: 2014-06-12

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.

Ep.31 Ben's Junk: Sony Super Betamax

Air Date: 2014-06-19

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.

Ep.32 Ben's Junk: VideoNow PVD Player

Air Date: 2014-06-23

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.

Ep.33 Format Wars 2 (COMMENTARY)

Air Date: 2014-07-03

By request, Ben discusses "Format Wars". By unilateral action, Ben discusses both "Format Wars" videos in one convenient (for him) commentary.

Ep.34 Ben's Junk: VHS Camcorder (RCA CC285)

Air Date: 2014-07-31

A "by request" Ben's Junk. Taking a look at the camcorder used to film "Going Analog" and "Y2K Apocalypse Party".

Ep.35 The Great Archive Treasure Hunt (Commentary)

Air Date: 2014-08-28

Who'da thunk the making of this episode AND the episode itself was about rediscovery?

Ep.36 Ben's Junk: Tascam Cassette Portastudio

Air Date: 2014-09-25

Perhaps a too-personal installment of Ben's Junk. Don't take that the wrong way...

Ep.37 Halloween Special 2013 (Commentary)

Air Date: 2014-10-09

Must be that magic time of year again when Ben lazily dusts off the previous year's Halloween episode for a commentary.

Ep.38 Ben's Junk : 8-Track/Cassette "Adaptor"

Air Date: 2014-11-20

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!

Ep.39 Ben's Junk: Multi-System VHS VCR (Hitachi VT-M768EM)

Air Date: 2014-12-04

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?!?

Ep.40 Ben's Junk: JVC S-VHS VCR (S7600U)

Air Date: 2014-12-18

The long-awaited conclusion to the two-part Ben's Junk VHS extravaganza. Does this count as the climax?

Ep.41 Ben's Junk: LaserKaraoke/Laserdisc Player (Pioneer CLD-S304)

Air Date: 2015-01-08

Two episodes of LaserKaraoke and still no demonstration of the machine? Yeah, I'm kinda slow...

Ep.42 1-900 ARCHIVE Vol. 2 (Commentary)

Air Date: 2015-01-22

A dual commentary for both 1-900 ARCHIVE volumes. WARNING: Wrestling aficionados may not like what I have to say.

Ep.43 The DuMont Network (Deleted Game Show Segment)

Air Date: 2015-02-05

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.

Ep.44 Ben's Junk: Handheld Electronic Games

Air Date: 2015-03-05

Pouring some additional salt in the gamer wounds...

Ep.45 Ben's Junk: B-Movies & cult Classics

Air Date: 2015-04-02

Slightly bastardizing the usual Ben's Junk format--but not Ben's Junk itself (that'd hurt).

Ep.46 Ben Tries Finnish Candy

Air Date: 2015-04-30

...and welcome to (probably the only edition of) "Ben Tries"!

Ep.47 Ben's Junk: WebTV Box

Air Date: 2015-05-28

A day late, a dollar short--you know the deal.

Ep.48 The Death of Analog TV (Commentary)

Air Date: 2015-06-11

Little did I know... NOTE: If you don't like my dry, rambling (and stutter-heavy) commentaries, you might wanna skip this one.

Ep.49 Ben's Junk: Super 8 Sound Projector (Sears Sound II - Model 9258)

Air Date: 2015-06-18

Nothing but the cutting edge in home video technology in Archive-land!

Ep.50 Archive Riffs: Self-Conscious Guy

Air Date: 2015-06-25

I'm so vain, I KNOW I think this short is about me...

Ep.51 Oddity Archive: Episode 78.4 - VHS Vault Vol. 6 (How's Your Sex Life?) (COMMENTARY)

Air Date: 2015-07-02

I really wanted to be hypnotized! Seriously!

Ep.52 (Unofficial) Ben's Junk: Philips CD-I (model 220)

Air Date: 2015-07-09

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.

Ep.53 Ben's Junk: 8-Track (and related) Oddities

Air Date: 2015-08-06

Just going through some (relatively) recent additions to the Archive's 8-track (and associated) pile.

Ep.54 Ben's Junk: Sony DT-30 (External VCR Timer)

Air Date: 2015-09-03

DVR? Two-week advance recording? Wusses.

Ep.55 Ben Tries Bonomo's Turkish Taffy

Air Date: 2015-09-17

Made as a thank you to the viewer who sent this. A thank you for not sending us any Magic Clown ephemera, that is.

Ep.56 Ben's Junk: Rejuvenique Revisited (plus Contest!)

Air Date: 2015-10-01

Looking back on the mental and physical scars sustained while making the Rejuvenique episode--and the mask too.

Ep.57 Halloween Special 2014 (Archive Wares: Rejuvenique) (Commentary)

Air Date: 2015-10-15

Recounting one of the Archive's more memorable production experiences.

Ep.58 An Overly Nostalgic Halloween (or, For The Want of a Pail)

Air Date: 2015-10-29

I hate it when my ideas for holiday specials fall through...

Ep.59 For The Want of a Pail (Conclusion)

Air Date: 2015-10-31

Ep.60 Ben's Junk: Fisher-Price PXL 2000 Camcorder

Air Date: 2015-11-12

Discussing what was arguably the most difficult restoration project I’ve (successfully) undertaken. Special thanks once again to Stephen Greer for his generous donation.

Ep.61 Ben Tries (Thanksgiving Edition) (or, Ben tries Australian Stuff)

Air Date: 2015-11-26

'Cause, you know, Thanksgiving, food...it all makes sense.

Ep.62 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Air Date: 2015-12-10

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.

Ep.63 Archive Riffs: A Christmas Dream

Air Date: 2015-12-24

The Archive dusts off a minor (albeit severely butchered) art-house classic. Merry Christmas!

Ep.64 Ben's CED Collection (Deleted Segment from CED Episode)

Air Date: 2016-01-14

Filmed for inclusion on the CED episode (Episode 92), but left off for time.

Ep.65 Ben's Junk: Guitars! Guitars!! Guitars!!!

Air Date: 2016-01-28

Ben geeks out about guitars for 25 minutes. Watch at your own peril.

Ep.66 Ben's Junk: Ben's Philips CD-I Collection

Air Date: 2016-02-11

Let’s just say it all just kind of fell into my lap.

Ep.67 Ben's Junk: Philips CD-I Peacekeeper Revolver

Air Date: 2016-03-10

As promised, here's the second installment on the CD-I collection. Was it worth the wait?

Ep.68 Ben's Junk: Ben's (Incomplete) Comedy LP Collection

Air Date: 2016-03-24

The one time where it's ok to giggle at Ben's Junk.

Ep.69 Ben's Junk: Fisher-Price Movie Viewer

Air Date: 2016-04-07

It takes a steady hand to run one of these. Unfortunately, that's something I sorely lack.

Ep.70 Ben's Junk: Commodore 64 (& Peripherals)

Air Date: 2016-05-05

A wise man once said: “Save the big (stuff) for Ben’s Junk—it needs all the help it can get.”

Ep.71 Ben's Junk: Sony TT-100 Tuner/Timer (for U-Matic)

Air Date: 2016-05-19

Sometimes it takes a while for Ben's Junk to get in motion.

Ep.72 Commodore 64 (Commentary)

Air Date: 2016-06-02

Admittedly, a very stream-of-consciousness commentary here, but a(n apparently) necessary one.

Ep.73 Ben's Junk: VCR Co-Pilot

Air Date: 2016-06-09

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.

Ep.74 Archive Riffs: Fox Hour Promotional Reel

Air Date: 2016-06-16

Taking a look at a (rather cryptic) promo reel for a series of silent, educational two-reelers.

Ep.75 Record Ripoffs (Commentary)

Air Date: 2016-06-23

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.

Ep.76 Ben's Junk: Magnavox Odyssey 2 (Video Game Console)

Air Date: 2016-06-30

A look at one of the many competitors to the Atari 2600.

Ep.77 Ben's Junk: Colecovision Video Game Console

Air Date: 2016-07-14

Discussing another bit of donated junk--'cause, you know, everybody apparently wants a hand in Ben's Junk.

Ep.78 Ben's Junk: (Some Of) Ben's Vinyl Collection

Air Date: 2016-08-11

Lately, I've been getting asked quite a bit about my music collection. All I can say is, be careful what you wish for.

Ep.79 "The Voice" Module (for Magnavox Odyssey 2)

Air Date: 2016-08-25

Oh-oh, won’t you tell me again…and again…and again…

Ep.80 Flexplay Disposable DVD Update

Air Date: 2016-09-08

Taking another stab at the now-infamous "zombie" disc.

Ep.81 Ben's Junk: Fisher-Price Star Station Sing-Along Machine

Air Date: 2016-09-22

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.

Ep.82 Fisher-Price PXL-2000 Camcorder (Commentary)

Air Date: 2016-10-20

Yeah, there were some ghosts in the camera—or were they gremlins?

Ep.83 Ben's Junk: bob (Another Nanny Box)

Air Date: 2016-11-03

ACTUAL (paid) TESTIMONIAL: Parenthood turned out to be a real bitch and we were totally unprepared. Thanks bob!

Ep.84 Ben's Junk: DVD Recorder (Panasonic DMR-E55)

Air Date: 2016-11-17

Another weapon in the Archive’s—well, archiving arsenal.

Ep.85 Ben's Junk: Gemmy Douglas Fir Talking Christmas Tree

Air Date: 2016-12-15

Well, I already discussed Big Mouth Billy Bass. Might as well finish the 90’s/Gemmy/Talking Novelty Item concept.

Ep.86 Ben's Junk: Ben's Comic Book Collection

Air Date: 2017-01-12

Superheroes? What are those?

Ep.87 Ben's Junk: Learn To Solder Kit

Air Date: 2017-02-23

A soldering kit for kids? Yeah, that about fits my skillset.

Ep.88 Ben’s Junk: MD Walkman (Minidisc Addendum)

Air Date: 2017-03-09

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.

Ep.89 Ben's Junk: RCA Selectavision CED Player (SGT 250)

Air Date: 2017-03-23

I was downright embarrassed by my old CED Player (see the CED episode). Obviously, an upgrade was in order.

Ep.90 Ben's Junk: Ben's Audiophile Albums

Air Date: 2017-04-06

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.

Ep.91 Ben's Junk: Vtech Socrates Educational Video System

Air Date: 2017-05-04

(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?

Ep.92 Ben's Junk: Videocipher II Plus/Manhattan Cable TV Box

Air Date: 2017-05-18

A couple of obsolete, useless (to me) bits of Pay-TV history—so, of course, I bought them.

Ep.93 Ben's Junk: go reader (Audiobook Device)

Air Date: 2017-06-08

Ben helps save the environment—with bad audiobooks on a cheap, low-capacity, unalterable mp3 player!

Ep.94 Archive Riffs: Dear Miss Gloria

Air Date: 2017-06-15

I’m ready for my mail, Mr. DeMille.

Ep.95 DBX Noise Reduction System (Commentary)

Air Date: 2017-06-22

Effectively tackling the three “(100% showtune-free) Musical March” episodes all at once. Who’da thunk old audio gear could be so controversial?

Ep.96 Ben's Junk: Las Vegas Vacation (1997)

Air Date: 2017-06-29

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.

Ep.97 Ben's 10 Favorite Albums (Part 1)

Air Date: 2017-07-13

Alternate Title: God, Ben! Don’t you listen to anything from this century?!?!

Ep.98 Ben's 10 Favorite Albums (Part 2)

Air Date: 2017-07-27

Remember kids, these are MY favorite albums, not yours. If there’s any overlap, consider it a happy accident.

Ep.99 Ben's Junk: MFSL Geo-Tape (Azimuth Alignment Cassette)

Air Date: 2017-08-10

A slightly askew edition of Ben’s Junk. Let’s rectify that situation.

Ep.100 Ben's Junk: DBX Cassettes (DBX Addendum)

Air Date: 2017-08-24

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.

Ep.101 Ben's Junk: MFSL Geo-Disc (Turntable Cartridge Alignment Tool)

Air Date: 2017-09-07

…and the great Archive A/V tune-up continues.

Ep.102 Ben’s Junk: (New) Speed Calibration Cassette

Air Date: 2017-09-21

The Archive kicks it up a notch—or at least about one-fifth of one.

Ep.103 Ben's Junk: CVS One-Time-Use Video Camcorder

Air Date: 2017-10-05

Remember the single-use 35mm camera? How ‘bout a single-use camcorder?

Ep.104 Conelrad (Halloween Special 2016) (Commentary)

Air Date: 2017-10-19

The Archive gets nostalgic for nukes…

Ep.105 Ben’s Junk: The World of Yesterday (Classic Hollywood Fanzines)

Air Date: 2017-11-02

Ben gets nostalgic for nostalgia—he’s meta like that.

Ep.106 Ben's Junk: Realistic Phono Pre-Amp (Model 42-2109)

Air Date: 2017-11-16

Taking a look at an external preamp for the turntable—largely only because the cool kids are into it.

Ep.107 Ben's Junk: Vidicraft Vidimate Video Enhancer (Model VDM300S)

Air Date: 2017-11-30

An especially dull (or sharp) edition of Ben’s Junk—it’s capable of both.

Ep.108 Ben's Junk: Star Shower Laser Light

Air Date: 2017-12-14

Ben gets ambitious with his Christmas lights—in that, he’s putting any up at all.

Ep.109 Ben's Junk: Sankyo Dualux Dual8 Projector (Model 2000H)

Air Date: 2017-12-27

…or, Telecine redux.

Ep.110 Ben's Junk: Allsop 3 Orbitrac Record Cleaning System

Air Date: 2018-01-11

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.

Ep.111 Ben's Junk: JVC KD-A6 Cassette Deck

Air Date: 2018-01-25

Ben’s second new (to him) cassette deck in a year. What makes this one so special?

Ep.112 Ben's Junk: Discwasher Compact Disc Cleaner

Air Date: 2018-02-08

Taking a look at (possibly) the first-ever CD cleaner/repair thing to ever hit the market. Is it a lost classic?

Ep.113 Ben's Junk: Royal Disc Repair System

Air Date: 2018-02-22

The second installment on CD cleaning/repair devices. Is it Royally good or Royal garbage?

Ep.114 Ben's Junk: The Archive HQ Bookshelf

Air Date: 2018-03-08

What’s that thing with the face in the background? This, and many (well, a few) other questions will be answered at long last!

Ep.115 Ben’s Junk: MP32C64 Adapter (Commodore Datasette Substitute)

Air Date: 2018-03-22

Let’s commit a bit of Luddite blasphemy, shall we?

Ep.116 Archive Thrifting #1: Impromptu Investigations

Air Date: 2018-04-05

Testing out a new, potential subseries—and hitting every conceivable pothole along the way.

Ep.117 Archive Thrifting #2: Arc of a (Dumpster) Diver

Air Date: 2018-04-19

…figured I’d better shoot at least one episode in Beautiful Downtown Aurora before leaving.

Ep.118 Ben's Junk: K-Tel Record Selector

Air Date: 2018-05-03

At last! Ben reviews a K-Tel product!

Ep.119 Ben's Junk: Teac V-770 Cassette Deck

Air Date: 2018-05-17

The MCS deck kinda got fried. Time for another fixer-upper!

Ep.120 Discovision Dead Sides

Air Date: 2018-05-31

Let’s unearth some (unintentional) pre-DVD Easter Eggs…

Ep.121 Ben's Junk: ABC Talking Monday Night Football (Board Game)

Air Date: 2018-06-21

An early, talking board game—whose (nearly) every move is dictated by a tiny record.

Ep.122 Archive Riffs: Selling Your Home?

Air Date: 2018-06-28

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!

Ep.123 Archive Thrifting #3: Beautiful Downtown Aurora's Last Stand

Air Date: 2018-07-05

…because I totally needed a bunch more junk to try and pack up.

Ep.124 Ben's Junk: Rocketfish Wireless Rear Speaker Kit

Air Date: 2018-08-02

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.

Ep.125 Ben's Junk: Audio Technica AT-LP120 Turntable (Early Thoughts)

Air Date: 2018-08-16

Already went over to a direct-drive cassette deck, might as well do the same with vinyl…

Ep.126 Ben's Junk: Ben's Makeshift Bedroom Stereo System

Air Date: 2018-08-30

Looking into the most intimate areas of Ben’s…half-baked stereo system.

Ep.127 Ben's Junk: Ramsey FM Transmitter (Further Experiments)

Air Date: 2018-09-13

Sergei’s Catacomb of Classics in stereo, anyone?

Ep.128 Ask The Archive Live (9/14/2018)

Air Date: 2018-09-17

The Archive’s first livestream since 2014…and just as lo-fi as ever.

Ep.129 Archive Thrifting #4: Elvis Sightings

Air Date: 2018-09-26

Archive Thrifting®: Now in ESTEREO!!!

Ep.130 Archive Thrifting #5: Low Money Hu$tla

Air Date: 2018-10-11

A mere 3½ months in the making!

Ep.131 Sounds of Terror! (Halloween Album Review)

Air Date: 2018-10-25

The return of the Halloween album reviews! Now in screaming, spooktacular stereo!

Ep.132 Ben's Junk: Pac-Man Fever (Pac-Man Mini Arcades)

Air Date: 2018-11-08

I’ve got search-for-a-reissue-of-the-original-Pac-Man-arcade-game fever…it’s driving me crazy.

Ep.133 Archive Riffs: Thanksgiving Commercials

Air Date: 2018-11-22

A (non-filling) seven-course meal of Turkey Day commercialism!

Ep.134 NES Classic Edition (The Last Word?)

Air Date: 2018-12-06

So, what is the Oddity Archive guy doing with a reissue console?

Ep.135 Christmas LaserKaraoke (Deleted Segment)

Air Date: 2018-12-24

A little stocking stuffer of yuletide caterwauling—er, caroling!

Ep.136 Ben's Junk: Nagaoka MP-110H Phono Cartridge

Air Date: 2019-01-03

New year, more audio kit. It’s tradition, ya know?

Ep.137 Ben's Junk: Sega Pico ("Edutainment" Console)

Air Date: 2019-01-10

Time to learn…that edutainment consoles rarely end well.

Ep.138 Ben's Junk: SNES Classic Edition (Belated) First Impressions)

Air Date: 2019-01-24

Wait, didn’t we already cover this? Talk about déjà vu…

Ep.139 Ben’s Junk: Tyco VideoCam (Another Kiddie Camcorder)

Air Date: 2019-01-31

Ben’s recovering from a virus (and middle-ear dysfunction). Sounds like a good time to do a (kiddie) camcorder review.

Ep.140 Archive Riffs: Valentine’s Day Commercials (A Semi-Romantic Tale)

Air Date: 2019-02-14

We’re just a bunch of old softies…with a taste for bent story arcs.

Ep.141 Archive Thrifting #6: Frostbite Falls

Air Date: 2019-02-28

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”!

Ep.142 Ben's Junk: Ronco Mr. Microphone

Air Date: 2019-03-14

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…

Ep.143 Ben’s Junk: GAF 3100S Super 8 Film Projector

Air Date: 2019-03-28

Another fixer-upper? In Archiveland? Never!!!

Ep.144 Ben's Junk: The Big Reel (Film Collector’s Magazine)

Air Date: 2019-04-11

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.

Ep.145 Discovision/Laserdisc Quirks (An Informal Discussion)

Air Date: 2019-04-25

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).

Ep.146 Discovision Dead Sides Vol. 2

Air Date: 2019-05-09

DVD Easter Eggs? Nah, way too easy.

Ep.147 Ben’s Junk: VGA Converters/Public Domain CD-ROMs

Air Date: 2019-05-23

A double dose of turn-of-the-millennium PC goodness!

Ep.148 Ben’s Junk: Innovative Technologies ITNS-500 Slide “Scanner”

Air Date: 2019-06-13

After a long delay…well, I’ve got some good news and some bad news.

Ep.149 Archive Riffs: Clutch Cargo (Big “X”, Pts. 4 & 5)

Air Date: 2019-06-20

The Archive finally gets to “see the X”! Spoiler: It’s a rock.

Ep.150 Mystery 8mm Films/The Ballad of Ben & 8mm (Commentary)

Air Date: 2019-06-27

Let’s see if we can’t clear up some misconceptions about this episode…

Ep.151 Archive Thrifting #7: Wii, Wii, All The Way Home

Air Date: 2019-07-04

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.

Ep.152 Record Ripoffs Commercial Parodies (Vols. 1–9)

Air Date: 2019-07-18

New from K-Smell Records, it’s all those irritating moments that lead off each Record Ripoffs episode in one convenient package! ORDER NOW!!!

Ep.153 Ben's Junk: Video Action Magazine (Issue #1: December, 1980)

Air Date: 2019-08-01

Readin’ and dreamin’ ‘bout those Archivisms that’ll probably never happen.

Ep.154 Bennytronics Guitar Noise Experiment (Analog, Circa 1980-style) (COMPLETE SEGMENT)

Air Date: 2019-08-09

All seven minutes of the Archive’s low-grade, wannabe Frippertronics experiment! Earplugs are highly recommended.

Ep.155 Ben's Junk: Ben's Laserdisc Collection (2019 Edition)

Air Date: 2019-08-15

Uh, oh. Ben’s geeking out again. Get comfy.

Ep.156 Fostex X-14/Ben's Music "Career": The Gear

Air Date: 2019-08-29

…or, how Ben unwittingly jumped on the “lo-fi” bandwagon.

Ep.157 Ben's Junk: Whippany Rhythm Master (Circa 1972 Drum Machine)

Air Date: 2019-09-12

Who says Ben’s got no rhythm? He’s got 10 of them!

Ep.158 Ben's Junk: Burns Theremin

Air Date: 2019-09-26

…or, The Space-Age Sounds of the Oddity Archive! (now available on vinyl and 3¾ips reel)

Ep.159 Archive Thrifting #8: Break IT You Pay For IT

Air Date: 2019-10-10

Featuring our very Special Guest: Zippy The Chimp!

Ep.160 Haunted House (Halloween SFX Album Review)

Air Date: 2019-10-24

Can your heart (or better yet, head) stand a trip through this haunted house? No, seriously, this is our most headache-inducing one yet.

Ep.161 Telesound 13 (Moog/Realistic Concertmate MG-1)

Air Date: 2019-11-06

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.

Ep.162 Ben's Junk: Realistic Concertmate (Moog) MG-1 Synthesizer

Air Date: 2019-11-07

Whatdaya mean you forgot you had a Moog? Also, synth snobs need not apply.

Ep.163 Ben's Junk: Sony DCR-TRV320 Digital8 Handycam (Video8 Addendum)

Air Date: 2019-11-21

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.

Ep.164 Ben's Junk: Archer Video Processor/Stabilizer (Model 15-1272A)

Air Date: 2019-12-05

Guaranteed to keep this (internet) video from rolling!

Ep.165 Algorithmic Audio Mastering (CloudBounce Review)

Air Date: 2019-12-09

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.

Ep.166 Archive Thrifting #9: Christmas Confidential

Air Date: 2019-12-12

Just your standard, good, old-fashioned, combustible, unnerving, overpriced Country Christmas…

Ep.167 Archive Riffs: Boxing Day Commercials (er, Adverts)

Air Date: 2019-12-26

Celebrating the true meaning of Boxing Day… a whole lotta furniture and carpet sales.

Ep.168 MovieCD

Air Date: 2020-01-09

A would-be full-fledged video format episode…which got curtailed by (amazingly enough) a lack of computer stuff at Archive HQ.

Ep.169 Ben's Junk: Cult VHS (& A Few DVD's) (2020 Edition)

Air Date: 2020-01-23

An informal stroll few some cherry-picked titles from Ben’s (somewhat unintentional) collection of B-Movies and Cult Classics.

Ep.170 Ben's Junk: Behringer U-Phoria UMC404HD Audio Interface

Air Date: 2020-02-06

…or, what happens when ol’ Benny-boy decides he needs more than 2 microphone inputs.

Ep.171 Ben's Junk: Behringer neutron (analog, Monophonic) Synthesizer

Air Date: 2020-02-20

Yes, I bought another synth. Yes, I swatted myself on the nose with a rolled-up newspaper over my lack of self-control.

Ep.172 F.D.G. (Oddity Archive Sign-Off Muzak)

Air Date: 2020-03-02

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.

Ep.173 Ben's Junk: Industrial Laserdiscs/ Anderic (Reproduction) Service Remote

Air Date: 2020-03-05

Lookin’ under the hood of Ben’s laserdisc player (quite appropriately) with some General Motors discs.

Ep.174 Ben's Music "Career", Vol. 4.5: Greetings From Elderbush Gulch Multitracks (An Addendum)

Air Date: 2020-03-19

Benny-boy’s (non-accredited) Audio School is now in session!

Ep.175 Enhanced CD's (& other multimedia CD's) (an informal chat)

Air Date: 2020-04-02

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.

Ep.176 Ben's Junk: The OA (semi-)Supercomputer/OA Recording Studio Redux

Air Date: 2020-04-16

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.

Ep.177 Ben's Junk: Sony SLO-325 Industrial Betamax

Air Date: 2020-04-30

Time to take a bet(t)a look at the Archive’s first Betamax—from before the Archive even existed (in every sense).

Ep.178 Ben's Junk: 1953 & 1956 Hoffman Television Catalogs

Air Date: 2020-05-14

A genuine televisual feast.

Ep.179 Ben's Junk: Tiger Quiz Wiz

Air Date: 2020-05-28

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

Ep.180 Ben Minnotte - Switched-On Pavanned (Moog Instrumental)

Air Date: 2020-06-03

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.

Ep.181 Ben Minnotte - The Happy Moog (Gets Stuck In Rush Hour) ("Moog" Instrumental)

Air Date: 2020-06-05

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.

Ep.182 Ben's Junk: First Alert FTR-960R Time-Lapse VCR (+ Time-Lapse Tape)

Air Date: 2020-06-18

The Archive gets secure...or just paranoid.

Ep.183 Archive Riffs: Moving Up To Amateur Radio

Air Date: 2020-06-25

OA calling CQ, hopefully DX, lookin’ for the QT on the DL while TCB.

Ep.184 Archive Thrifting #10: Before We Were SO Rudely Interrupted

Air Date: 2020-07-02

Archive Thrifting is a magical tool of last resort…Why? Because it NEVER fails!

Ep.185 Ben's Junk: Sony U-Matic & Industrial Betamax Wired Remotes

Air Date: 2020-07-09

…or, Ben’s weirdest pet-project to date! (kerchunk)

Ep.186 The Battle At Elderbush Gulch (2020 Redux)

Air Date: 2020-07-20

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.

Ep.187 Archive Thrifting #11: This Can Not Be The Right Price Deal

Air Date: 2020-07-23

Ep.188 Ben's Junk: Pioneer RH-65 8-Track Deck

Air Date: 2020-08-06

Meet the Archive’s new (to us) 8-track deck…

Ep.189 Ben's Junk: Denon UD-M30 CD Receiver

Air Date: 2020-08-13

A rare, intimate, bedroom edition of Ben’s Junk…

Ep.190 Pavanned (Documentary Style) (Vaporwave?)

Air Date: 2020-08-24

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.

Ep.191 In Your Hands (Violin & "Mellotron" Thing)

Air Date: 2020-08-24

Representing the dry, yet thoughtful end of Episode 200...

Ep.192 Ep. 200 Rebuttal & Deleted Scenes

Air Date: 2020-08-27

Ok, time for my side of the story...

Ep.193 Nitrogené (Synth Instrumental)

Air Date: 2020-09-10

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.

Ep.194 Ben's Junk: JVC HR-S7600U S-VHS ET VCR (REVISITED)

Air Date: 2020-09-24

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.

Ep.195 Ben's Junk: Buster Keaton Video Collection

Air Date: 2020-10-08

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…

Ep.196 Archive Thrifting #12: (Not-So) Scary Deals

Air Date: 2020-10-22

It’s the first Archive Thrifting Spooktacular! Strangely enough, it’s probably one of the least scary Thrifting episodes to date.

Ep.197 Ben's Junk: (New) Polaroid 600 Film (& old camera(s))

Air Date: 2020-11-05

You can keep your fancy digital cameras, thank you very much.

Ep.198 Ben's Junk: (Some of) Ben's Audiocassette Collection

Air Date: 2020-11-19

A slow-speed ramble for a slow-speed format.

Ep.199 Ben's Junk: (New) Dubreq Stylophone

Air Date: 2020-12-03

We be stylin’…stylus(in’), that is…y’all.

Ep.200 Archive Thrifting #13: Deck The Hauls

Air Date: 2020-12-17

Fillin’ up the ol’ one-horse open sleigh with…some junk.

Ep.201 Ben's Junk: (some of) Ben's Vinyl Collection Vol. 2

Air Date: 2021-01-28

Time to get back in the groove! (dodges tsunami of rotten produce)

Ep.202 Ben's Junk: Sega Genesis Mini (Miniature Game Console)

Air Date: 2021-02-11

Finishing up the trilogy of belatedly-acquired, nostalgically-motivated miniature video game consoles…

Ep.203 Home Video Recording, 1972-Style (or, Ben's Complete U-Matic Rig)

Air Date: 2021-02-25

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.

Ep.204 Ben's Junk: Toshiba 20AF43 CRT TV

Air Date: 2021-03-11

No one should ever get this excited over something this mundane… Or, this CRT is 20 AF…y’all.

Ep.205 Archive Thrifting #14: (Non-)Luck of the (Non-)Irish

Air Date: 2021-03-18

You’ll be green with envy over these finds…or not.

Ep.206 Phonies (Answering Machine Greetings)

Air Date: 2021-04-01

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

Ep.207 Archive Riffs: A Taxing Set of Commercials (Tax Day Special)

Air Date: 2021-04-15

It’s time to get down to business in Archiveland!

Ep.208 Ben's Junk: GPX Digital TV Tuner + Recorder

Air Date: 2021-04-29

Can a (relative) cheapie from Menard’s drag the Archive’s off-air recording capabilities (kicking and screaming) into the 21st century? Sort of…

Ep.209 A Geeky Evening With Benny-Boy

Air Date: 2021-05-13

A late-night, low-light, romantic fishing expedition with everybody’s favorite Oddity Archivist…fishing for ArchiveAnnex material, that is.

Ep.210 Ben's Junk: ClonerAlliance Box Pro (Video Capture Device)

Air Date: 2021-05-27

Could it be I’ve finally stumbled onto the rightful heir of the VCR? Looks like it…

Ep.211 Ben's Junk: JVC HM-DH30000U & Mitsubishi HD-HS2000u D-VHS VCR's

Air Date: 2021-06-10

A double-(4)-header of D-VHS (when possible) goodness!

Ep.212 Episode 200 (Behind The Box) (Commentary)

Air Date: 2021-06-17

If ever an OA episode needed a commentary track, it’s this one…

Ep.213 Archive Thrifting #15: Out Of This World Deals

Air Date: 2021-06-24

Featuring deals so far outta sight, they’re outta mind!

Ep.214 Ben's Junk: Akai GX-220 Reel-To-Reel Audiotape Deck

Air Date: 2021-07-08

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.

Ep.215 History of VHS (COMPLETE SERIES)

Air Date: 2021-07-15

You wanted a history lesson? You got a history lesson!

Ep.216 Ben's Casino Travelogue (Deleted Segment From How I Spent My Summer VIII)

Air Date: 2021-07-29

The Archive delivers its first real travelogue…granted, it was all of a half-hour away from home, but still.

Ep.217 Archive Thrifting #16: La Cage Aux Thrifting

Air Date: 2021-08-05

Thrifting can be a real drag…but not when Ben’s around!

Ep.218 VCR Cleaning (A Public Service Video)

Air Date: 2021-08-19

A bit of VHSMR for everyone…

Ep.219 Channel Update (9/2021) (Sony AV-3600 Update, Sencore VA62, etc.)

Air Date: 2021-09-02

There’s plenty in the OA oven right now, just none of it is rising.

Ep.220 VCR Rabbit Revisited

Air Date: 2021-09-09

I got things just a hare wrong the first time around, so let’s hop to another round of tests…

Ep.221 Ben's Junk: Video Store Regulars (& Memories)

Air Date: 2021-09-23

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.

Ep.222 Ben’s Junk: Wolverine Moviemaker Pro 8mm & Super8 Film Scanner

Air Date: 2021-10-07

A half-hour Ben’s Junk? You might say the machine caused it to run reely long.

Ep.223 Archive Thrifting #17: Spooktacular Savings

Air Date: 2021-10-21

Get a witches shawl on and find a broomstick you can crawl on…and go thrifting with Benny-boy! (snap, snap)

Ep.224 Thereminiature/Pavanned (Version 6.66)

Air Date: 2021-10-31

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)

Ep.225 Ben's Junk: Sony Digital Mavica (Model MVC-FD73) (Floppy Disk Digital Camera from 1999)

Air Date: 2021-11-04

Finally getting into this newfangled digital camera stuff…whatdaya mean you can’t get 3.5” floppies anymore?!?

Ep.226 Ben's Junk: Coolmusic Ring Modulator (& other FX) ("Max Headroom" Hijacker Voice)

Air Date: 2021-11-18

Does Ben really think he’s better than Chuck Swirsky? That freakin’ liberal…

Ep.227 Ben's Junk: Christmas TV VHS & DVD's

Air Date: 2021-12-02

‘Tis the season…for holiday specials. Here’s some of my favorites…

Ep.228 Archive Thrifting #18: Shortwave Santa

Air Date: 2021-12-16

Run, run Rudolph…towards another pile of junk!

Ep.229 Ben’s Music “Career” (The Complete Saga)

Air Date: 2021-12-30

Move over, “History of the Eagles”. There’s a new rock doc opus in town…

Ep.230 Ben's Junk: Keyfax Update/Pioneer GGF1381 Laserdisc Service Remote/Discovision Dead Sides Vol. 3

Air Date: 2022-01-06

Going down a mental rabbit hole…in the most Archivian way possible.

Ep.231 The Wire (via Sony PCM-701ES, Betamax)

Air Date: 2022-01-12

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.

Ep.232 Ben's Junk: VuPoint Digital Video Converter (or, the circa 2010 YouTube video device)

Air Date: 2022-01-20

Feeling nostalgic for those early YouTube potato video captures? I’ve got just the scratch for that itch…

Ep.233 Ben's Junk: The Clapper

Air Date: 2022-02-03

At long last, Ben’s Junk gets the clap…per.

Ep.234 Laserdisc Laser Rot

Air Date: 2022-02-17

A little mythbusting (and philosophizing)…OA style.

Ep.235 Ben's Junk: Magnus Chord Organ

Air Date: 2022-03-03

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.

Ep.236 Ben's Junk: Blonder-Tongue BTX-111 "Ultraverter" (& ONTV Box Update)

Air Date: 2022-03-17

An addendum to the “Prehistoric UHF” episode…and the “ONTV/Pay TV Vol. 2” episode—about three years too late.

Ep.237 Ben's Junk: Prog & Metal VHS, Beta & Laserdiscs

Air Date: 2022-03-31

For those about to rock (in 11/4 time), we salute you…

Ep.238 Ben's Junk: Newtek Calibar (A Pen-Sized Test Pattern Generator)

Air Date: 2022-04-14

Ben recreates the best TV program of all time—the color bars!

Ep.239 A BENefit for a new computer…or a loose Ask The Archive

Air Date: 2022-04-22

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.

Ep.240 Ben's Junk: Hotronic AP41 (Frame Synchronizer & Time Base Corrector)

Air Date: 2022-04-28

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.

Ep.241 The “Can I Remember It?” stream (or, a smaller BENefit)

Air Date: 2022-05-07

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.

Ep.242 CD Frustrations & Easter Eggs

Air Date: 2022-05-12

A casual chat…if only because the prospect of the sixth “Ben’s Junk” in a row was too much to bear.

Ep.243 A Tour of the New OA Computer Rig (OA Computer Tour 2022)

Air Date: 2022-05-19

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.

Ep.244 Ben's Junk: Sony CVM-51UW and Panasonic WV-BM990 CRT Monitors

Air Date: 2022-06-02

CRT’s are for squares…which we proudly are.

Ep.245 The Eraser Laserdisc Experiment

Air Date: 2022-06-23

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.

Ep.246 Archive Thrifting #19: Radios, Radios

Air Date: 2022-06-30

Got a new phone (not by choice)…which means a new camera…which means…test drive time!

Ep.247 Archive Riffs: Hey, Stop That!

Air Date: 2022-07-07

It’s a(n apparent) fine line between deep expressionism and wonky student film.

Ep.248 Ben's Junk: Midland WR400 NOAA Weather Radio (& other Radio Ramblings)

Air Date: 2022-07-14

Mother Nature: (throws flash floods, tornadoes, derechos and blizzards at Archive HQ) Ben: I get the hint already! Geez…

Ep.249 Ben's Junk: Sony SRF-A100 AM/AM Stereo/FM Portable Radio

Air Date: 2022-07-20

A truly nice little radio (especially on the AM front)…and a nice little prelude to the OA 10th Anniversary episode.

Ep.250 Archive Thrifting #20: Fair(mont) (St.) Clouds over Mankato

Air Date: 2022-07-28

Taken while shooting the AM Stereo episode. If nothing else, it was the least sticker-shock-intensive part of the trip.

Ep.251 Ben Repairs: Radio Shack Executive Stress Eliminator

Air Date: 2022-08-04

Testing out a potential, new occasionally recurring thing in which I undertake minor repairs on some item…and, as always, mock it a bit.

Ep.252 Sony Videocorders Update (CV-2100 & AV-3600) (8/2022)

Air Date: 2022-08-18

…and the single most challenging project I’ve ever taken on…continues to kick my butt. Share in the frustration, won’t you?

Ep.253 Ben's Junk: Tyler Portable TV (model TTV701-7)

Air Date: 2022-09-01

Hope you like fussy, fidgety, unintuitive setups…and 45-minute Ben’s Junks.

Ep.254 Ben's Junk: Sears Whisper-Matic IV (& Victorian-Era Theater Slides)

Air Date: 2022-09-15

Hey Buddy, wanna see some early 20th century movie theater slides? Didn’t think so.

Ep.255 Ben's Junk: Ben's Blackhawk Films Collection (minus the videotapes)

Air Date: 2022-09-22

…or, Ben gets nostalgic for other people’s nostalgia.

Ep.256 Ben's Junk: Sony Trinitron PVM-1343MD (Professional Video Monitor)

Air Date: 2022-10-06

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.

Ep.257 Archive Thrifting #21: We Already Have Halloween At Home

Air Date: 2022-10-20

Mom, can we buy some Halloween? (see title for answer)

Ep.258 Benny M.'s TV Party (Commentary)

Air Date: 2022-10-24

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.

Ep.259 Halloween Special 2022 Blooper Reel

Air Date: 2022-11-03

…or, as some might call it, “Ben’s Final Descent Into Madness”.

Ep.260 Ben's Junk: Telemeter Pay TV Box (Circa 1960)

Air Date: 2022-11-17

It’s (apparently) a fine line between your TV and a taxi meter…

Ep.261 Ben's Junk: Favorite (and/or Notable) Christmas Albums

Air Date: 2022-12-01

Even old scrooge Benny-boy has those Christmas tunes that get his foot (arrhythmically) a-tappin’.

Ep.262 Archive Thrifting #22: Christmas In Elbonia

Air Date: 2022-12-15

The merriest* thrifting video of the year! *FACT CHECK: Mostly false.

Ep.263 Archive Thrifting #23: Holiday Hangover

Air Date: 2022-12-29

Old year, old junk. Poetic, ain’t it?

Ep.264 Magna-Guard (or, Copy-Protection, Vol. 3)

Air Date: 2023-01-05

And the quest for that form of copy protection that’ll make my VCR burst into flames continues…

Ep.265 Ben's Junk: RCA BW003 (1978 Home Video Camera)

Air Date: 2023-01-19

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.

Ep.266 Ben's Junk: Forbidden KLAK (via the Archer Multiple Video Distribution System)

Air Date: 2023-02-02

You wanted more Oddity Archive…After Dark? Here ya go. Just don’t expect anything too hot.

Ep.267 Ben's Junk: Realistic (Radio Shack) FM Wireless Lavalier Microphone System (Circa 1988)

Air Date: 2023-02-23

For those looking to up their YouTube microphone game…had such a thing existed in 1988.

Ep.268 Ben's Junk: (Some of) Ben's TV-on-DVD Collection

Air Date: 2023-03-09

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…

Ep.269 Ben's Junk: Hitachi Visionbook Pro 7560 Laptop (or, My 1st, failed attempt at a Windows 98 Rig)

Air Date: 2023-03-23

…because I MUST get my Diamond Rio loaded (ideally, with Diamond Rio songs)!

Ep.270 Ben's Junk: Ben's Mad Magazine Stash

Air Date: 2023-04-06

What—Me Ramble?

Ep.271 Noelle's Mystery Tapes (& Channel Update - 4/2023)

Air Date: 2023-04-20

Some like roses on a date, some like candy. Benny-boy likes uncatalogued analog magnetic media.

Ep.272 Ben's Junk: 80's Music Videos (on Laserdisc)

Air Date: 2023-05-04

Oddity Archive and MTV have a momentary cease-fire to appreciate some 80’s tuneage.

Ep.273 Ben's Ugly A/V Rack

Air Date: 2023-05-18

Hey! Nice rack, Benny-boy! (snicker)

Ep.274 Betacam SP (1st Test...From A Newbie's Perspective)

Air Date: 2023-05-22

A ferric-oxide (or metal, depending on the tape) baptism…by fire.

Ep.275 Christmas Morning on a June Evening (or, Mail Day From Tyrone)

Air Date: 2023-06-22

Hope you have your June tree up (ideally, something deciduous), 'cause we're about to celebrate Christmas in June.

Ep.276 Archive Thrifting #24: The Delicate Sound of Thrifting

Air Date: 2023-07-06

Some things don’t come easy…like the first thrifting video of 2023 (more than halfway into the year, no less).

Ep.277 Ben's Junk: X-10 Videosender (another VCR Rabbit-esque device)

Air Date: 2023-07-13

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.

Ep.278 Revenge of the Sony AV-3600 Videocorder (1st Test)

Air Date: 2023-07-20

Some people’s sinuses come back from Arizona…my AV-3600 came back from Arizona—arguably the same headache.

Ep.279 Archive Thrifting #25: 3M (Moderate Minnesota Madness)

Air Date: 2023-08-10

Celebrating the 25th OA Thrifting video by doing one in Minnesohta, doan ‘cha know?

Ep.280 Fix It or Forget It? (NEC S-VHS Deck)

Air Date: 2023-08-10

It’s everybody’s favorite new (not quite) nerdy game show…Fix It or Forget It!!!

Ep.281 Ben's Junk: 1966 (partial) Zenith Phonevision Pay TV Box

Air Date: 2023-08-24

The Archive phones it in…phoneVISION, that is.

Ep.282 Ben's Junk: SelecTV Pay TV Box

Air Date: 2023-09-07

Oddity Archive®: Only for the most SelecTiVe viewers!

Ep.283 Ben's Junk: ClonerAlliance ViewLite AV (Video Capture Device)

Air Date: 2023-09-21

A little device with a lot of potential…but does it live up to it?

Ep.284 Ben's Junk: Sears Du-All Eight (8mm Viewer/Editor)

Air Date: 2023-10-05

Well, it does du all, I’ll give it that…

Ep.285 Archive Thrifting #26: Indian Summer

Air Date: 2023-10-12

Dragging out the Summer a little longer…whether you like it or not.

Ep.286 Ben's Junk: Sharp VL-E47 "Viewcam" (Video8 Camcorder, circa 1995)

Air Date: 2023-11-30

Oddity Archive®: Now in glorious Hi-Fi Mono!

Ep.287 Archive Thrifting #28: Scandalous Santa

Air Date: 2023-12-14

Just hear those cash tills jing-a-ling’—ring-ting-tinga-ling…

Ep.288 Archive Thrifting #29 (Christmas Leftovers)

Air Date: 2023-12-28

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.

Ep.289 Ben's Junk: Ben's Rifftrax DVD & Blu-Ray Collection

Air Date: 2024-01-04

Looking at the Rifftrax collection…with only minimal snark…which may very well go against the laws of riff comedy.

Ep.290 Ben's Junk: Denon RCD-N10 CD Receiver

Air Date: 2024-01-18

…because Benny-boy apparently goes through mini stereos like (insert absurdly famous pop star) goes through boyfriends.

Ep.291 Ben's Junk: Magnavox H2160MW9 (or, Exploring Someone's Old Personal DVR)

Air Date: 2024-01-25

The tech geek equivalent of rummaging through someone’s medicine cabinet…

Ep.292 Ben's Junk: Wometco Home Theatre (WHT) Pay TV Decoder Box

Air Date: 2024-02-15

Archiveco Home Theatre®: Now serving Lawn Guyland & New Joisey!

Ep.293 Ben’s Junk: ClearClick Video2USB/ A Tour of Ben’s Livestream Setup

Air Date: 2024-02-22

Some livestreamers run PC games…Benny-boy likes to run Betamax tapes.

Ep.294 How To Unstretch Video (via HandBrake)

Air Date: 2024-02-29

For us old fartknockers that haven’t yet warmed up to stretch-o-vision…

Ep.295 Ben's Junk: Laser Video File Laserdisc Catalog (Mid-1992)

Air Date: 2024-03-14

Thumbing through the catalog of the hottest new video format (by OA standards).

Ep.296 Ben's Junk: Some More of Ben's Audiocassette Collection (Mystery Box!)

Air Date: 2024-03-21

Come on down to Crazy Benny’s for…a bunch of audiocassettes that you probably don’t care about.

Ep.297 Magnavox H2160MW9 Personal DVR/DVD Recorder UPDATE (A Failure)

Air Date: 2024-03-28

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.

Ep.298 Ben's Junk: Videolok (VCR Anti-Theft Device)

Air Date: 2024-04-11

Inconvenience and mildly annoy those evil VCR thieves with the Videolok!

Ep.299 Ben's Junk: Rhoades Teledapter (TV Stereo Simulator)

Air Date: 2024-04-18

Don’t wanna wait for Stereo TV’s to be invented? Here ya go!

Ep.300 Windows 98 Laptop Update (4/2024)

Air Date: 2024-04-25

The saga continues. On and on…and on…and on…

Ep.301 CD Rot Rant

Air Date: 2024-05-09

Benny-boy’s (non-accredited) Physical Media Studies class is now in session!

Ep.302 Ben A.'s Mystery Tapes (A Not-So-Livestream)

Air Date: 2024-05-16

An unintentional episode of Oddity Archive…After Dark…in the most literal sense.

Ep.303 Windows 98 Laptop Update (5/2024) (She Lives!)

Air Date: 2024-05-23

Ben christens his newly-functional laptop…by playing a little Slim Whitman.

Ep.304 Ben's Junk: Whole House FM Transmitter 3.0

Air Date: 2024-06-20

Ben’s 3(.0)rd attempt at FM, Part 15-legal microbroadcasting! Let’s see if it’s the charm…

Ep.305 Ben Vs. The Cursed U-Matic Tape

Air Date: 2024-06-27

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…

Ep.306 Archive Thrifting #30: Wet Fireworks

Air Date: 2024-07-04

Spend the 4th of July the American way…shopping for junk.

Ep.307 Ben's Junk: A Tower of Vidicraft

Air Date: 2024-07-11

(with apologies to Frank Sinatra) …’cause it’s Vidicraft, wicked Vidicraft. And, although I know it’s strictly taboo…

Ep.308 Quasar Great Time Machine (Round 2?)

Air Date: 2024-08-01

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.

Ep.309 Ben's Junk: My First DVD's

Air Date: 2024-08-08

Something I never thought I’d have…warm, gooey nostalgia for the Y2K era.

Ep.310 Ben's Junk: JamC@m Digital Camera

Air Date: 2024-08-15

A trip back to the late-90’s. Of course, that means being unnecessarily EXTREEEEME!!!! (insert dorky camera zoom)

Ep.311 Archive Thrifting #31: Summer's End

Air Date: 2024-08-22

The little brats are finally back in school. Let’s go thrifting…

Ep.312 More Fun With Moldy U-Matic Tapes

Air Date: 2024-09-05

Mold®: Now available in yellow and brown!

Ep.313 Ben's Junk: :CueCat Barcode Scanner

Air Date: 2024-09-12

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.

Ep.314 Ben's Junk: Sencore "Little Huey" Test Pattern Generator

Air Date: 2024-09-19

A color bar generator called “Little HUEy”. No, it’s not a Norm MacDonald joke…I think.

Ep.315 Ben's Junk: Casio CMD-10 watch

Air Date: 2024-10-10

Keep losing that remote control? Perhaps there’s just too many gosh-darn buttons? We’ve got a (borderline-toy) solution for you!

Ep.316 Ben's Junk: Laserviews Laserdisc Magazines

Air Date: 2024-10-17

I set out to discuss laserdiscs and wound up on a tear about various movies. Ain’t that always the way?

Ep.317 Archive Thrifting #32: Halloween Hootenanny

Air Date: 2024-10-24

Grab yer pardner, do-si-do…and go thrifting with ol’ Benny-boy!

Ep.318 Halloween Special 2023 (Season of the Wince) (Commentary)

Air Date: 2024-10-28

Discussing the great swindle that is my little parody of “Halloween III”…and mustaches.

Ep.319 Ben's Junk: Realistic (Radio Shack) Astronaut 8 Radio

Air Date: 2024-11-09

A radio that’ll send you into outer space…8 times!

Ep.320 Ben's Junk: Down Beat Magazine (10/23/1975)

Air Date: 2024-11-14

An Up Beat (by my standards) look at an issue of Down Beat magazine. Now, excuse me while I clap out-of-rhythm…

Ep.321 Ben’s Junk: Thanksgiving Traditions (and not-so-traditions)

Air Date: 2024-11-21

You can get anything you want at Benny-boy’s (non-existent) Restaurant…

Ep.322 Ben’s Junk: VHS is Life Mold Cleaning Rig REDUX

Air Date: 2024-12-05

A product so nice, I had to review it twice…

Ep.323 Archive Thrifting #33: Christmas Clutter

Air Date: 2024-12-12

Out in the stores there’s so much clutter/Let’s listen to Benny-boy groan and mutter…

Ep.324 Ben’s Junk: Epiphone ED-100NS Acoustic Guitar

Air Date: 2024-12-26

My first steel string acoustic guitar…which was even cheaper than the ones Esteban was hawking on TV at the time.

Ep.325 Ben’s (Failed) Gimmick CD (A Rant)

Air Date: 2025-01-09

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.

Ep.326 Ben’s Junk: NuReality Vivid 3D (Mock Surround Sound Processor)

Air Date: 2025-01-16

Mono reprocessed for stereo? How quaint. How ‘bout stereo reprocessed for surround sound?

Ep.327 Ben's Junk: Optoma PK320 Pico Pocket Projector

Air Date: 2025-01-23

Benny-boy covers a projector…but not a film projector. Blasphemy, I know.

Ep.328 Albums I Love (That I’m Supposed To Hate)

Air Date: 2025-02-27

…because it’s (apparently) cool to be contrarian.

Ep.329 Monkeeing Around

Air Date: 2025-03-06

Hey, hey…the Ben’s Junk items I was gonna cover fell through. Let’s get nostalgic.

Ep.330 Ben’s Junk: Sony eMarker (SoundHound before SoundHound)

Air Date: 2025-03-13

You’ve heard of “oddware”, right? This is outright “deadware”.

Ep.331 DiscoVision Dead Sides Vol. 5

Air Date: 2025-03-20

Easter Eggs are earned, my friend…

Ep.332 Ben’s Junk: RCA RC5230Z DIVX/DVD Player (More “Deadware”)

Air Date: 2025-03-27

Fulfilling another one of my utterly pointless life missions…almost.

Ep.333 25 Pounds of Laserdiscs (Mail Day From Paul C.)

Air Date: 2025-04-10

True Archive® excitement, doled out by the pound…

Ep.334 Ben's Junk: Half A Halloween Movie Collection

Air Date: 2025-05-01

Let’s celebrate (Halfway to) Halloween with…half a Halloween movie franchise collection.

Ep.335 Ben’s Junk: APF TV Fun (“Sportsarama” Model)

Air Date: 2025-05-08

Sportsarama®: Somehow even less convenient than scheduling an actual game of tennis (or hockey or handball)!

Ep.336 Pre-Recorded SuperBeta (and some minor mythbusting)

Air Date: 2025-05-17

With all the hype about the 50th anniversary of the Betamax home video format, let’s not forget the 40th anniversary of…SuperBeta(max).

Ep.337 Ben’s Junk: Sears Tele-Games Pinball Breakaway (Atari Video Pinball)

Air Date: 2025-05-23

I always wanted a pinball machine…

Ep.338 State of the Archive Address/General Chat/Q&A (5/30/2025)

Air Date: 2025-06-05

Ep.339 Ben’s Junk: (Some of) Ben’s Vinyl Collection Vol. 3

Air Date: 2025-06-12

77 LP’s (and a stray 45) in an hour. Now, THAT is efficiency…

Ep.340 A Lot of Cartrivision (A Prelude?)

Air Date: 2025-06-19

Some people take in stray dogs and cats. I (apparently) take in stray early home video tapes.

Ep.341 Thrifting Delivery (Mail Day From Nick S.)

Air Date: 2025-06-26

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!

Ep.342 Ben's Junk: The Worst (and Ben's First) Portable TV

Air Date: 2025-07-03

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.

Ep.343 State of the Archive Address (7/2025)

Air Date: 2025-07-17

WARNING: This update includes some unpleasant and frank medical discussion which may upset some viewers. Please watch at your own discretion.

Ep.344 OA Update (7/28/2025)

Air Date: 2025-07-28

Hot off the presses--recorded overnight. Let's just say things are moving a bit quickly right now.

Ep.345 Ben’s Junk: Sony Color Watchman (FDT-5BX5)

Air Date: 2025-07-31

The most un-portable portable TV of all time! I like it anyway.

Ep.346 Ben's Junk: Boyalink Wireless Lavalier Microphone

Air Date: 2025-08-14

Ain’t no microphone gonna tie me down!

Ep.347 OA Update (8/18/2025)

Air Date: 2025-08-18

This should be the last of these update videos…

Ep.348 These DVD-R’s are JUNK!/Another Cursed Tape?

Air Date: 2025-08-21

Rotting DVD-R’s and shedding videotapes? Must be Archiveland.

Ep.349 Ben’s Junk: Laserdisc Acquisitions (2019-2025)

Air Date: 2025-08-27

Yes, more shiny, 12-inchers…laserdiscs, that is. Get your mind out of the gutter.

Ep.350 Ben’s Junk: Robins Cassette Erase-Tab Remover

Air Date: 2025-09-04

…because a plain old screwdriver was just too gosh darn simple.