Title: Short Takes!  Vol. 1

Date: 1981

Description: A compilation of fun fragments.

Comments:

When I bought my first VCR in 1980 I paid more than $800.00 for that new fangled piece of machinery, a huge purchase for me—and not just economically.  The darn thing’s size and weight was about the same as a medium hard sided suitcase filled with books.  But, without cassettes to record on, it was just a big, expensive digital clock.  Blank two hour VHS tapes averaged an additional expense of $20.00 apiece, so, it just wasn’t feasible to record every episode every day in its entirety. 

Those early decks weren’t perfect either.  You had to start recording a minute or two in advance to avoid picture break up and those rainbow colored streaks over the part you really wanted.  Then afterward, you had to let it run a few minutes longer or the next time you recorded you risked accidentally dubbing over part of the previous recording because the tapes always backed up a little when ejected.  Because of this, when I recorded my appearances on the show, I additionally managed to capture some charming moments of Wall, Lad, Pat and others (like Sandy Gibbons here), as well.  It breaks my heart that the missing parts are probably forever gone.  What remains, however, salvaged and preserved here for posterity, are fragments that can still bring a smile.