About this season
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.
Episodes (26)
1. Bicentennial Fever
Aired 4 July 2013 • 19 min
Because nothing says "Happy 200th, America" like crappy "collectibles", Up With People and bizarre Government films.
2. Record Ripoffs
Aired 18 July 2013 • 22 min
Featuring such great (non-)hits from the likes of Hairy Nielsen, BAAB, William Turkey and many, many more! Order today!!!
3. VHS Vault Vol. 2 (Fashion Videos)
Aired 1 August 2013 • 26 min
What do you mean Ben is fashion-challenged?
4. Archive LaserKaraoke Party! (LaserKaraoke)
Aired 15 August 2013 • 27 min
Seeing as the Archive somehow managed to hit the 30 episode mark, it seemed like a good time to throw a nice, little (tax-deductible) party. Plus, Ben sings a viewer poll-selected song (a move that was instantly regretted by all who voted).
5. Number Stations (And Other Radio Oddities)
Aired 29 August 2013 • 20 min
Covert broadcasts...and how to decode them (your results may vary).
6. The EAS Zombie Hoax of 2013
Aired 12 September 2013 • 16 min
Or, as Ben likes to call it, the Max Headroom Incident's annoying, less creative little brother.
7. 8-Tracks (or, The Care & Feeding Of Your 8-Track)
Aired 20 September 2013 • 16 min
And Ben thought it would just be another cool toy for his collection. How naive...
8. VHS Vault Vol. 3 (Gambling Videos)
Aired 26 September 2013 • 27 min
Learn to gamble--Archive style! God help us...
9. Kiddie Disco Records
Aired 14 October 2013 • 28 min
Come visit the Archive Children's Disco before it's condemned!
10. Halloween Special 2013 (Italian Dance Party/Son of Halloween Riffs)
Aired 24 October 2013 • 30 min
Forced to discuss his fourth knockoff Disco record in a row, Ben has a slight meltdown.
11. Format Wars Vol. 2 (Pre-Betamax)
Aired 7 November 2013 • 14 min
VHS vs. Beta? How 1977...
12. VHS Vault Vol. 4 (VCR Games)
Aired 21 November 2013 • 22 min
Ben's still having nightmares about being forced to play charades with Rich Little.
13. QUBE Interactive TV
Aired 5 December 2013 • 22 min
An interesting, but (unsurprisingly) failed, early attempt at multimedia interactivity.
14. A Bargain Bin Christmas (or, Ben's Holiday Hits!)
Aired 19 December 2013 • 25 min
Five forgotten holiday albums that will...more than likely remain forgotten.
15. Infomercials
Aired 2 January 2014 • 20 min
Have you ever wanted to make "melons" in real estate? If so, you've come to the right place!
16. Industrial Musicals (or, The Archive Sells Out!)
Aired 16 January 2014 • 29 min
...because salesmen need the comfort of knowing that their product is truly the answer to all problems (consumerist OR existential).
17. Educational Film Salute (or, The Stock Footage Special!)
Aired 23 January 2014 • 17 min
Don't screw with Jam Handy!
18. Teknikel Diffikultees (Technical Difficulties)
Aired 6 February 2014 • 22 min
The Archive is currently experiencing technical difficulties...LOTS of them...and Ben refuses to take responsibility. So there.
19. PSA's (or, The More You Know, The Less You Understand)
Aired 20 February 2014 • 24 min
If V.D. really is for everybody, why don't I have it?
20. Interstitials
Aired 6 March 2014 • 18 min
...because only Ben would be stupid enough to devote an entire regular Archive episode to between-show filler.
21. A Tour of the Archive (or, roll up for the Magical, Mysterious Archive Tour)
Aired 20 March 2014 • 38 min
Alternate Title: Why Ben should never make a full "behind-the-scenes" episode. Alternate Title #2: Ben stammers for 38 minutes. Alternate Title #3: Why Ben will never get a date.
22. More Record Rip-Offs
Aired 3 April 2014 • 31 min
The Archive gathers together all your favorite '70's hits--then realizes that the major labels, the RIAA, etc. would have our nuts in a sling over it. More ripoff records it is then! All 70's edition!
23. Test Cards (and Patterns)
Aired 17 April 2014 • 14 min
Wait, there's a logic to all this?
24. Going Analog
Aired 1 May 2014 • 24 min
It's time for a few changes in Archiveland.
25. Weather Warnings
Aired 8 May 2014 • 19 min
***THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A ***SEVERE FALSE NOSTALGIA WARNING*** FOR YOUR AREA UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE***
26. VHS Vault Vol. 5 (Y2K Apocalypse Party!)
Aired 29 May 2014 • 27 min
Alternate Title: How to Survive an Unprovoked Attack From Your Electric Mixer.