Oddities on tape

[8traxrule]

Security tapes ran at a slower speed to allow for more time per tape, and required special VCRs that could play at that speed.

If you were looking for oddities, check these out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Dan_bJZzwQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDGhFFRkJi8

Found these in a box of Betamax tapes I got from an Ebay seller, dating from the 70s.

[bgadow]

Originally Posted by 8traxrule

Security tapes ran at a slower speed to allow for more time per tape, and required special VCRs that could play at that speed.

If you were looking for oddities, check these out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Dan_bJZzwQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDGhFFRkJi8

Found these in a box of Betamax tapes I got from an Ebay seller, dating from the 70s.

Great stuff!

Something else I have: 3 or 4 cassette tapes (audio) recorded I believe in the late 80's, apparently a woman in her late 50's talking for a few minutes each day, which I think she intended for her daughter. It would probably be a good piece for This American Life or something like that. I got through at least half of the recordings & learned quite a bit about this mystery woman who worked as a barmaid at a VFW or American Legion (can't recall which) in the DC Metro area.

About 5 years ago I answered a freecycle posting for some free videotapes. It proved amazing. It was an estate being cleaned out & the deceased was a video recording hoarder. She taped & saved an unimaginable amount of stuff. The whole house was packed with VHS tapes, & I'm not exaggerating. I wish I'd take a picture. Just when you thought you'd seen it all you'd open a closet or another bedroom door & there were more. Lots of PBS & network documentaries, ranging from the late 80's on up. I packed my truck as tight as I could (and still be able to drive) & left hundreds, perhaps thousands, to be thrown away. I culled out the most interesting & found another freecycler to take the rest. Sadly, I've barely touched any of them.

[site123a]

Originally Posted by bgadow

About 5 years ago I answered a freecycle posting for some free videotapes. It proved amazing. It was an estate being cleaned out & the deceased was a video recording hoarder. She taped & saved an unimaginable amount of stuff. The whole house was packed with VHS tapes, & I'm not exaggerating. I wish I'd take a picture. Just when you thought you'd seen it all you'd open a closet or another bedroom door & there were more. Lots of PBS & network documentaries, ranging from the late 80's on up. I packed my truck as tight as I could (and still be able to drive) & left hundreds, perhaps thousands, to be thrown away. I culled out the most interesting & found another freecycler to take the rest. Sadly, I've barely touched any of them.

Your story made me think of this Craigslist ad.

https://www.craigslist.org/about/bes...283808412.html

[Electronic M]

Originally Posted by 8traxrule

Security tapes ran at a slower speed to allow for more time per tape, and required special VCRs that could play at that speed.

If you were looking for oddities, check these out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Dan_bJZzwQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDGhFFRkJi8

Found these in a box of Betamax tapes I got from an Ebay seller, dating from the 70s.

Those vids remind me of the first two EIAJ videotape reels I got with my decks...They were of a kids birthday party, some kids singing along to "boogie fever", "The Night Chicago Died", and some other mid 70's music (which was probably new when those tapes were made)...IIRC those two songs I had not heard till I got that tape so my mind still goes to those tapes when I hear those songs on the radio...

When I got my first U-matic deck I got lots of interesting tapes of off air stuff from the Chicago/Rockford area. I've got commercials for the NEW 1973 Mopar at some dealer. Normal TV shows, odd PBS stuff from the era, and a few odd ball tapes like "Alvin Fest" which was some college physics professors getting together to honor some Alvin fellow that was instrumental in some college's multi-million particle accelerator (at least I think that is what it was...It's been a few years since I watched it).

I've got some home beta tapes most were odd not much narration lots of landscape shots folks working on a cabin (IIRC in canaidia), some parties in people's houses etc. Much of it filmed by old folks who had little idea of how or why to use a camcorder........One of the better tapes they had it sitting near a TV playing part of an 80's Olympics. It recorded part of the screen for a while, then they SET THE CAMERA IN IT'S BAG STILL WHILE RECORDING black screen and audio from the TV!...It is like a day in the life of a video camera.

[WISCOJIM]

Not video, but audio...

I bought a high-end portable cassette recorder from a county auction once that still had a tape in it. The tape was of a convicted murderer practicing his speech for his sentencing hearing with all the apologies to the family and friends of the murder victim. Still have it around here somewhere...

.