I was thumbing through The Psychotronic Video Guide the other day when I stumbled upon an entry for this compilation. I had never heard of it, but it sounded intriguing. I checked the internet, and luckily for me, it was on YouTube. If you’re like me and you love compilations and clip show packages, check it out. It’s awesome!
Chuck (Chas Lawther) is a public access TV show host in Canada who is hanging out in the studio with his cameraman buddy Ryerson. He rummages through his collection of old cool videotapes and plays them for the audience. This is the kind of awesome television you used to see in the ‘80s.
The clips are mostly pop culture ephemera that have been expertly curated by Chuck. There’s rare music (like The Flamingos doing a rock number and a couple of old full-color Scopitones, which were kind of like the ‘60s predecessor to music videos), cartoons (Betty Boop and Superman), trailers (Monterey Pop, Earth vs. the Flying Saucers, and Calypso Heat Wave), a chapter from a Zorro serial where the masked hero goes up against a badass gold Aztec robot, classic Hollywood bloopers (most of which just feature Ronald Reagan saying “goddamn”), creepy ‘50s kids shows (it kind of looks like the Eisenhower era version of today’s brain rot), and an old PSA about syphilis. Chuck also gives you tips to care for your tapes and how to clean your VCR heads.
While Chuck’s Choice Cuts is nearly two hours long, it flies right by. The scenes where visitors drop by the studio and chit-chat with Chuck are easily the weakest bits, but they don’t detract from the fun. I mean where else are you going to see trailers for Gimme Shelter and Plan 9 from Outer Space in the same program?
All in all, this is an essential relic of the VHS era.
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