This week I’ve got for y’all sort of a curated collection of oddities I’ve found over the past few months, and while everything I share here has something interesting about it, these have proven to be some of my favorite pickups as of late.
To start us off, I’ve got for you a behind-the-scenes food photography tape featuring two Washington D.C. legends in their respective businesses. Fred Maroon is one of the more decorated modern American photographers of our time and someone whose book Maroon on Georgetown has been in my collection since I started photography. I found out about him through an old, unlisted Youtube video from maybe 2009 where a photographer and vlogger I enjoyed following visited a gallery of Maroon’s in D.C.. Getting to see someone who’s photos I’ve studied for such a long time working on camera was really interesting and it’s no surprise that this guy is known world-wide —he’s really good at his job!
Saving the best for second, I’ve got this 1994 Cadillac tape that would have been included with the purchase of your new Eldorado from the dealership. This is exactly the kind of tape I look for. It’s got incredible cheesy music, great graphics and on screen text, two people doing a voiceover at the same time and so much information and visuals of the car itself. We even get some information on the Gold Key Club!
Following that, is something very odd. As always it’s the item with the perfect cover art that tends to be a little bit of a let down, but come on with a name like Stopping Satan’s Home Invasions and a cover like this, how could I possibly pass this up!
While it did turn out to be merely a 2014 sermon split across two audio CD’s, I’ve recently been in contact with a handful of readers who have been asking for me to post more stuff like this! Turns out I’m not the only one who enjoys listening to obscure religious stuff on occasion. Big thanks to my aunt (also a reader of this blog) for nudging me into picking this up at the thrift store. Everyone deserves to see this cover.
The last two tapes are something extra special, but you’ll have to scroll down to see what they are! I hope y’all enjoy this edition of Virtual Channel Surfing. Let’s get right into the tapes!
Photographing Food As Art
with Jean-Louis And Fred J. Maroon
1989 | Runtime 60 Minutes
For more than two years, AVA's video camera documented actual cooking, styling, shooting and editing sessions during the creation of Jean-Louis: Cooking with The Seasons, "a book that launches food photography into new era."
Learn how three outstanding artists combine their very different talents as they freely share techniques and philosophies in this entertaining educational video which you will want to watch over and over again.
Internationally renowned photographer Fred Maroon whose studio is in Georgetown, D.C. His work is exhibited in permanent collections throughout the world. This is Maroon's eighth book.
Two-star Michelin chef Jean-Louis Palladin of Jean-Louis at The Watergate Hotel, Washington, D.C. His exquisite creations are a feast for the eyes as well as the palate.
Master of acrylic design Jeffrey Bigelow, creator of magnificent and functional art that is displayed in his showroom at the Design Center, Washington, D.C. and elsewhere throughout the country.
Directed, recorded and edited by 20-year veterans of NBC, this 55-minute video is a must-have for connoisseurs and students of design, as well as the culinary and photographic arts.
1994 Cadillac Eldorado Information Tape
1994 | Runtime 25 Minutes
Stopping Satan’s Home Invasions
by Pastor Perry Stone
2014 | Runtime 2.5 Hours
CD1
CD2
Home invasions are increasing! However, the worst home invasion is when Satan's agents move into your home attempting to kill, steal and destroy the hearts, souls and lives of your loved ones! On this two hour audio CD, Perry reveals nine spiritual keys the old time saints used to defeat the enemy in every area of their lives, and stop Satan from entering their homes. On the second disc, Perry reveals how to stop feeding unclean spirits and how to "starve the adversary." He exposes the seven home invaders Christians are battling. This is a very urgent message that all Christians need to hear and implement in their own families!
Evangelist Perry Stone Jr. is founder and president of Voice of Evangelism Outreach Ministries in Cleveland, TN. He has produced an extensive library of books, CDs and DVDs, and hosts Manna-fest, a weekly television program airing on hundreds of Christian stations nationwide. The Voice of Evangelism has a Monthly Message CD club, Partner Strike Force, and a bi-monthly magazine, which is mailed out across the nation.
The Laura Norman Method Of Reflexology
2000 | Runtime 55 Minutes
This video contains:
•An introduction to the art and science of reflexology.
•Accessible graphics to understand the basic principles of reflexology
• 30 easy to use relaxation techniques
•50 hand, finger and thumb techniques to engage specific reflexes for body areas, organs and glands
• A basic protocol of techniques that engages the reflexes for all systems of the body
Nationally Certified Reflexologist, is author of the best selling book, Feet First: A guide to Foot Reflexology (now in its 17th printing). She is considered an international leading authority on reflexology and established the comprehensive Laura Norman Method of Reflexology Training Program based in New York City with Satellite programs throughout the United States. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Boston University and holds three Masters degrees from Adelphi University. Laura graduated from the Swedish Institute and is a New York State Licensed Massage Therapist. Laura Norman & Associates, Reflexology Center based in New York City, offers lectures and training programs throughout the country to schools of massage and nursing, as well as to institutions such as hospitals and universities. Laura has worked with celebrities and athletes to improve performance, to prevent injuries and to help facilitate the healing process. Laura regularly appears on national television, radio and is frequently featured in newspapers and magazines.
Frank Patterson: Ireland’s Golden Voice
1988 | Runtime 60 Minutes
FILMED ON LOCATION IN:
Achill Island, Co. Mayo Tipperary - Galway-Knock - Dublin - Clare - Wicklow (Special Thanks To Bunratty Folk Park and The Abbey Tavern)
PROGRAM SEQUENCE:
1. Maggie
2. Galway Bay
3. Little Bridget Flynn
4. Fields Of Athenry
5. The Mason's Apron (The Cassidys)
6. My Irish Molly O (Frank & The Cassidys)
7. Away From The Roll Of The Sea
8. Tipperary So Rare
9. The Last Rose Of Summer (Eanan)
10. An Irish Lullaby (Tooraloora) (Frank & Eily)
11. The Marino Waltz (Eanan)
12. Lady Of Knock, Queen Of Ireland
13. Red Sails In The Sunset
14. Memory (CATS)
15. Danny Boy
16. How Great Thou Art
Well, that’s it for this week! I hope you enjoyed the tapes! If you’re looking for more, please check out my page on Archive.org for the full list of digitized media. If you have any questions, feel free to send me a message right here or drop a comment below. If you haven’t already, please check out the list below for all previous installments of Virtual Channel Surfing or any of my other previous posts here. Thanks so much for checking out this week’s edition of Diptych!
See you soon!
—Forrest
Virtual Channel Surfing
Some of my most vivid memories of television from growing up are from sleepless nights and groggy early mornings. We, as a family, always had a cable package, so finding something even at those earliest hours wasn’t difficult, but finding something enjoyable really took some surfing.
Virtual Channel Surfing #2
It’s after midnight, and you’ve just awoken after falling asleep earlier than you would have liked. The TV is on, but what you were watching before has devolved into “Paid Programming” (infomercials). Being simultaneously groggy and wide awake, you start flipping through channels, but nothing catches your eye. You settle for garbage, once again.
Virtual Channel Surfing #3
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Late Night Sleepycore
You feel the familiar sense of abrupt horror as you jolt awake. The misery of the dream you’d been experiencing quickly leaves your brain as you’re left with just the anxious lump in your throat. The clock on the VCR is blinking “12:00 A.M.”. Had the power gone out or did you forget to set it again? You can’t quite remember what you were watching before…
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Virtual Channel Surfing #6
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Virtual Channel Surfing #8
This week, fate itself has decided on the programming I have to share with y’all! I was pulling a few tapes and head cleaners off the shelves of a thrift store out on Buffalo Trail in Morristown, Tennessee, and the employee let me know that the tapes were free! On a previous occasion there, I was able to snatch up an entire box of home-recorded movies (…
So! Many! Truffles!