Laserdisc Essentials – LD History 101

Laserdisc. To some, a legend – a beloved, nostalgia-drenched gateway to film appreciation and home theater addictions. To others, a punchline – a failed piece of video history synonymous with all that is foolish and out of fashion. To yet others, a mystery – an intriguing niche format that slipped by in the night while the unsuspecting masses remained steeped in the video cassette experience.

So why is this deceased home video format still being talked about today, when it gave up the shiny ghost over a decade ago? Culturedog Sam Hatch aims to answer that question, but as with any journey it is most wise to start at the beginning. Who knew that laserdisc (and by extension, CD, DVD, Blu-ray, etc.) was spawned from one man’s chance encounter with a seemingly unimportant microscopic experiment by a pair of German engineers? Or that Bing Crosby played a part in the whole sordid affair? Or that Leonard Nimoy had a magical talking rock?

So gather ‘round Spock’s magic rock, fire up your vintage Magnavision consoles, and prepare to embark on a guided journey through time and space as Sam reminisces about the unlikely origins of our favorite silvery oddity – the Laserdisc!

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Intro music: "Anger Mgmt." by Sever the Drama.
http://www.severthedrama.com

This episode is brought to you by the word "ribald” and the phrase “Videodisk, or VD for short!”

Видео Laserdisc Essentials – LD History 101 канала Culturedog