actv

Vast Wasteland From the Vault 124 - Pyramid Awards /  by Mark

This is footage from ACTV's 1991 Pyramid awards, where we won (actually tied for) the Best Series award.

This is, unfortunately, our final episode for now. I have about 20 shows left, but the 3/4" tape deck has given up the ghost. If I ever get access to a similar deck, I will get them out to you. (Also, if anyone knows how to fix one of these, or has one I can borrow...)

Enjoy!

Vast Wasteland From the Vault 123 - Fairs and Theme Parks II /  by Mark

Before Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and even the Internet, there was Public Access Cable. Return with us now to Columbus, Ohio in the 1990s for the journal of pop culture.

It’s part two of the team’s memories of festivals, fairs, parks, and all that jazz.

You may notice that part of the opening is missing. This brings me to the fact that video tapes don’t last forever. I’m working my way through the remaining 3/4” tapes, and several of them appear to be shot. I’ll see what else I can find, but the end is coming faster than I had planned. Of course, it could be the 40+ year old video player…

Thanks to TVsStevePatrick for the updated theme!

Vast Wasteland From the Vault 122 - Summer Movie Review '98 /  by Mark

Before Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and even the Internet, there was Public Access Cable. Return with us now to Columbus, Ohio in the 1990s for the journal of pop culture.

After spending half the show on tangents, the team goes over the big hits—Godzilla, Armageddon, Zorro, Avengers, Blade…

Thanks to TVsStevePatrick for the updated theme!

Vast Wasteland From the Vault 121 - Famous Final Episodes /  by Mark

Before Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and even the Internet, there was Public Access Cable. Return with us now to Columbus, Ohio in the 1990s for the journal of pop culture.

Don’t worry—it’s not the final episode of this series, but a review of famous finales. (Of course, if my tape player gives up the ghost, the end will be closer than planned).

Thanks to TVsStevePatrick for the updated theme!

Vast Wasteland From the Vault 120 - Lost in Space /  by Mark

Before Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and even the Internet, there was Public Access Cable. Return with us now to Columbus, Ohio in the 1990s for the journal of pop culture.

The team covers both the original series and the new (in 1998) movie.

You may notice the video quality is better (although the audio tracking is worse). I am now working through the final set of tapes, and these are the original 3/4" masters that were broadcast back then (up to now, the tapes came off the air). We’ll see how long the ancient 3/4” player (W.D. originally bought it at a library sale) will hold out.

Thanks to TVsStevePatrick for the updated theme!

Vast Wasteland From the Vault 119 - New Action Shows /  by Mark

Before Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and even the Internet, there was Public Access Cable. Return with us now to Columbus, Ohio in the 1990s for the journal of pop culture.

The team covers a plethora of mostly syndicated action shows popping up, plus rants on rabbit ears and how networks used to commit to shows, darn it!

Thanks to TVsStevePatrick for the updated theme!

Vast Wasteland From the Vault 118 - Star Wars II /  by Mark

Before Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and even the Internet, there was Public Access Cable. Return with us now to Columbus, Ohio in the 1990s for the journal of pop culture.

It was too big a topic for a single episode, so the team continue to review the space opera phenomenon. At one point, there’s a reference to “Vast From the Vault”. Hmmm….

Thanks to TVsStevePatrick for the updated theme!

Vast Wasteland From the Vault 117 - Star Wars /  by Mark

Before Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and even the Internet, there was Public Access Cable. Return with us now to Columbus, Ohio in the 1990s for the journal of pop culture.

As the the films were re-released in the late 90’s, the team reviewed the space opera phenomenon.

Thanks to TVsStevePatrick for the updated theme!

Vast Wasteland From the Vault 116 - TV Influences II /  by Mark

Before Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and even the Internet, there was Public Access Cable. Return with us now to Columbus, Ohio in the 1990s for the journal of pop culture.

The team returns to the topic of TV shows that influenced them over the years. Various tangents follow.

Thanks to TVsStevePatrick for the updated theme!

Vast Wasteland From the Vault 115 - TV Influences /  by Mark

Before Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and even the Internet, there was Public Access Cable. Return with us now to Columbus, Ohio in the 1990s for the journal of pop culture.

The team does a wandering overview of the TV shows that influenced their lives. It wandered so much that it became a two-parter (continued next time).

Thanks to TVsStevePatrick for the updated theme!

Vast Wasteland From the Vault 114 - Concerts /  by Mark

Before Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and even the Internet, there was Public Access Cable. Return with us now to Columbus, Ohio in the 1990s for the journal of pop culture.

W.D. and Marty talk about concerts they attended in Columbus and Cincinnati. The opening is a bit funky—I wasn’t there, and I had the tape with the standard opening.

Thanks to TVsStevePatrick for the updated theme!

Vast Wasteland From the Vault 113 - Darryl Banks II /  by Mark

Before Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and even the Internet, there was Public Access Cable. Return with us now to Columbus, Ohio in the 1990s for the journal of pop culture.

Green Lantern artist (and local) Darryl Banks make a second appearance. Not sure about the dark background—either the curtains were out being cleaned or we were trying to be artsy.

Thanks to TVsStevePatrick for the updated theme!

Vast Wasteland From the Vault 112 - Ornament Collecting /  by Mark

Before Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and even the Internet, there was Public Access Cable. Return with us now to Columbus, Ohio in the 1990s for the journal of pop culture.

My wife Mindy stops by as a special guest host to talk Christmas ornament collecting. This was a precursor to her co-hosting "How I Got My Wife to Read Comics" on SFPPN.

Thanks to TVsStevePatrick for the updated theme!

Vast Wasteland From the Vault 111 - Elections '96 /  by Mark

Before Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and even the Internet, there was Public Access Cable. Return with us now to Columbus, Ohio in the 1990s for the journal of pop culture.

The team remembers a time when elections were cut and dried—should Trix the Rabbit get the cereal or not? Also included is a long tangent on paper straws.

Thanks to TVsStevePatrick for the updated theme!

Vast Wasteland From the Vault 110 - Grab Bag Oct '96 /  by Mark

Before Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and even the Internet, there was Public Access Cable. Return with us now to Columbus, Ohio in the 1990s for the journal of pop culture.

The team couldn’t come up with a main topic, so bring out the Grab Bag!

Thanks to TVsStevePatrick for the updated theme!

Vast Wasteland From the Vault 109 - Fall TV '96 /  by Mark

Before Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and even the Internet, there was Public Access Cable. Return with us now to Columbus, Ohio in the 1990s for the journal of pop culture.

The team goes over the new fall shows (from 25 years ago). We do a similar thing on “From the Pop Culture Bunker”, also available on SFPPN.

Thanks to TVsStevePatrick for the updated theme!

Vast Wasteland From the Vault 108 - Toys and Collecting /  by Mark

Before Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and even the Internet, there was Public Access Cable. Return with us now to Columbus, Ohio in the 1990s for the journal of pop culture.

The team pulls out some classic toys for your enjoyment.

This is the first episode I’m publishing after the death of Wil Neal, and this episode is accidentally appropriate in two ways. Wil was a toy fanatic (his last job was at a toy store), plus this episode was originally aired at a point that Public Access in Columbus was on the verge of shutting down (always a constant threat).

Thanks to TVsStevePatrick for the updated theme!

Vast Wasteland From the Vault 107 - Christmas '97 /  by Mark

Before Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and even the Internet, there was Public Access Cable. Return with us now to Columbus, Ohio in the 1990s for the journal of pop culture.

It’s the holiday season, and the team yammers on for a half hour of yule topics. (We got a couple of copyright hits from YT on this episode. The music actually drowns us out at times—just a bad idea all around).

Thanks to TVsStevePatrick for the updated theme!

Vast Wasteland From the Vault 106 - Homeschooling & Babylon 5 /  by Mark

Before Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and even the Internet, there was Public Access Cable. Return with us now to Columbus, Ohio in the 1990s for the journal of pop culture.

In a rare two topic episode, Marty and W.D. invite friend and crew member Mary Hooker-Myers to discuss homeschooling (she did it for her kids, and won an award for a program on the subject), following that up with 90’s sci-fi show Babylon 5.

Thanks to TVsStevePatrick for the updated theme!