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 (24)
1. Microbroadcasting (or, Oddity Archive Goes Part 15)
Aired 16 July 2015 • 24 min
The Archive is back on YouTube! But, not without (desperately) seeking out some alternatives in the meantime.
2. Stereo Test Records (or, The Official Archive Stereo Test)
Aired 30 July 2015 • 24 min
Today's burning question: Is it pronounced "stare-eo" or "steer-eo"?
3. Nanny Boxes (TV Content Filters)
Aired 13 August 2015 • 19 min
Naughty words WITHOUT Oddity Archive® – 22 Naughty words WITH Oddity Archive® – 21
4. LaserKaraoke Vol. 3 (& VCD Karaoke Vol. 1)
Aired 27 August 2015 • 39 min
The 3rd annual Archive LaserKaraoke Party is on (sort of)!
5. CB Radio (or, Gonna Blow Your Doors In, Chicken Inspector!)
Aired 10 September 2015 • 24 min
Breaker for a short-short. This is the Oddity Archive. What's yer handle, good buddy?
6. VHS Vault Vol. 7 (It's My Party and I'll Sigh If i Want To)
Aired 24 September 2015 • 25 min
Oddity Archive®: Also available for birthday parties, weddings and bar mitzvahs.
7. Record Rip-offs Vol. 5 (Pickwick: Picked-Over)
Aired 8 October 2015 • 27 min
Recently, we came into a small jackpot of Pickwick albums. Given this label's long-standing history with the Archive, it only seemed appropriate to devote an entire episode to the king of all "drugstore" labels.
8. Fisher-Price PXL 2000 Camcorder (Halloween Special 2015)
Aired 22 October 2015 • 20 min
Oddity Archive: Now in high-pile carpetvision!
9. VCR Ephemera
Aired 5 November 2015 • 18 min
VCR Ephemera, or, Oddity Archive for beginners.
10. Action Max (VHS Video Game Console)
Aired 19 November 2015 • 20 min
I got a message from the Action Max. “I’m crappy. Hope you’re crappy, too.”
11. Prehistoric Pay-Per-View
Aired 3 December 2015 • 20 min
You wanted a history lesson, you got a history lesson. Hope you don't mind a really, really long slideshow.
12. Ben's Holiday Grab Bag (Christmas Special 2015)
Aired 17 December 2015 • 26 min
Some of you aren't singing. Don't think I can't tell.
13. VCR Rabbit (or, Microbroadcasting Vol. 2)
Aired 31 December 2015 • 32 min
The donations were multiplying like, well, rabbits. I figured y'all were trying to tell me something. (Did I really just type "y'all"? Heaven help me.)
14. Capacitance Electronic Discs (or, CED's)
Aired 7 January 2016 • 23 min
Movies pressed on records? Should've waited for the 21st century (the hipsters would love it).
15. VHS Vault Vol. 8 (More VCR Games)
Aired 21 January 2016 • 24 min
Lots of effort for little (or no) reward? Sounds about right for the Archive.
16. Prevue Channel(s)
Aired 4 February 2016 • 24 min
The Oddity Archive® keeps you up to date with what’s hot—as long as the system doesn’t crash—again.
17. Airline Safety Videos
Aired 18 February 2016 • 19 min
Dramamine? Check. Airsick bag? Check. My confidence? Nope.
18. Ham Radio (A Beginner's Perspective)
Aired 3 March 2016 • 23 min
...or, Ben vs. Another Expensive Hobby or, Ben cures the hams or, Ben was already a total ham. Why make it worse?
19. Calibration & Test Laserdiscs
Aired 17 March 2016 • 25 min
The Oddity Archive® strives to provide the best and latest in home theater tune-ups. They still make laserdiscs, right?
20. Adult Party Albums
Aired 31 March 2016 • 23 min
The most risque episode of the Archive since...the last one.
21. Disposable DVD's (DIVX & Flexplay)
Aired 14 April 2016 • 29 min
The Archive attempts to preserve some (intentionally) disposable culture. It was inevitable.
22. Commodore 64
Aired 28 April 2016 • 33 min
It’s the 100th episode of the Archive and the expectations are high. Guess we better do something good and commercial.
23. VHS Vault Vol. 9 (Your New Computer & You)
Aired 12 May 2016 • 28 min
Can you really become “techno-hip” all because of a computer chip?
24. VHS Game Consoles Vol. 2 (Captain Power & Interactive Vision)
Aired 26 May 2016 • 29 min
It’s been a long and difficult season. Let’s end it with something fun (if I can figure out how to assemble these toys, that is).