Obscure Classic TV Shows - Post Your Favorites! (1 Viewer)

[The 1960's]

The Third Man (1959-1965)
Stars Michael Rennie Jonathan Harris Naomi Chance Rupert Davies Roger Delgado Bek Nelson Oscar Beregi Jr. George Pastell Gerard Heinz André Mikhelson Laurie Main Ferdy Mayne John Holland Yvonne Romain Mai Zetterling​

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Harry Lime makes money dealing art and solves crime to save his life.

S01E12 Castle In Spain (May.26.1959)
Stars Michael Rennie Jonathan Harris Margaret Phillips Kurt Kreuger Violet Rensing John Banner Anthony Eustrel Mack Williams​

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Harry is trying to sell his Spanish Castle to a very wealthy woman but he soon finds himself being detained both by the police and by a Nazi war criminal.​

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S04E05 Hamburg Shakedown (Apr.27.1963)
Stars Michael Rennie Jonathan Harris Oren Curtis Oren Curtis Harold Dyrenforth Annie Fargue Jack Livesey​

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S04E08 The Portrait Of Harry Lime (May.18.1963)
Stars Michael Rennie Jonathan Harris Bernard Lee Neil McCarthy George Pravda Moira Redmond John Serret​

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S04E15 Bradford's Dream (Aug.10.1963)
Stars Michael Rennie Jonathan Harris John Bennett Ingrid Hafner Eric Pohlmann Susan Travers​

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S05E01 Question In Ice (Jun.27.1964)
Stars Michael Rennie Jonathan Harris Marius Goring Joanna Dunham John Crawford David Bauer Oliver Reed Patrick Troughton Vanda Godsell​

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When the body of Italian partisan who was last seen with Harry Lime during World War II is discovered at the end of a glacier, Harry returns to the Alps to face retribution from the agent's former compatriots.​

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[The 1960's]

Mark Saber aka Mystery Theater (1951-1953)
Stars Tom Conway James Burke Frank J. Scannell​

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The first Saber was on from October 1951 to June 1954. In this version, Inspector Saber was an Englishman who was a policeman on a big-city U.S. police department. He was assisted by his loyal, but thick-headed, assistant Sergeant Maloney in solving difficult crimes. When the show returned to the air in December 1955, it had a whole new cast. On this version, various Scotland Yard types would assist in solving difficult crimes, with Inspector Parker appearing more often than most.

S01E11 The Case of the Invisible Death (Dec.14.1951)
Stars Tom Conway James Burke Patricia Prest (uncredited)​

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S01E15 The Case of the Locked Room (Jan.11.1952)
Stars Tom Conway James Burke John Alvin​

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Saber and Malony investigate a supposed suicide by a man with everything to live for. The man apparently died in a locked room by gunshot - but why was the elevator out of service for no reason at the time of the man's death?​

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S02E04 The Case of the Hair of the Dog (Oct.27.1952)
Stars Tom Conway James Burke John Doucette Larry J. Blake Christine McIntyre James Craven Philip Van Zandt Louis Nicoletti Edward Clark Patricia Prest​

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Saber is on the case when criminal Morrie is found stabbed in a locked room. A suspect is arrested but the inspector finds it too easy. A number of other candidates appear, tied to the case by Lanie Winter's dog and it's fur.​

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S02E17 The Case of the Hanging Husband (Mar.02.1953)
Stars Tom Conway James Burke Patricia Prest (uncredited)​

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[The 1960's]

Banacek (1972-1974)
Stars George Peppard Ralph Manza Murray Matheson​

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The adventures of proud Polish-American freelance insurance investigator Thomas Banacek.

S01E01 Let's Hear It for a Living Legend (Sep.13.1972)
Stars George Peppard Stefanie Powers Madlyn Rhue Robert Webber John Brodie Ben Davidson Deacon Jones Tom Mack Gene Washington Clancy Williams Conrad Janis Michael Lerner Jock Mahoney Curt Gowdy Charlie Jones Marty Ingels Murray Matheson Ralph Manza Chuck Morrell Anitra Ford Colby Chester John Finnegan Russell Arms Peggy Walton-Walker Byron Morrow Bart Burns Bud Furillo Chris Forbes​

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When a football player vanishes from the field in full view of network cameras and a live audience, it's up to Banacek to figure out how his kidnappers spirited him away without a trace.​

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S02E01 No Stone Unturned (Oct.03.1973)
Stars George Peppard Christine Belford Gary Lockwood Don Stroud Scott Brady Candy Clark Murray Matheson Joe Maross Linden Chiles Ralph Manza Larry Pennell Peggy Walton-Walker​

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Discord at a museum when Man in Harmony, an 11' tall, 3-ton stone sculpture, disappears at its own unveiling. Banacek has two days to find out who walked off with it.​

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[Capt D McMars]

Sapphire & Steel (1979-1982)
Stars David McCallum Joanna Lumley David Collings​

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A special force of interdimensional operatives protect the universe from evil forces trying to gain a foothold by disrupting the timeline. The strange energy beings are assigned to cases, when and where needed, and materialise on Earth as humans, each with specialist abilities to ascertain and then solve the problems. The mysteries encountered by Sapphire, Steel and t... Read all

S01E01 Assignment One: Part 1 (Jul.10.1979)
Stars David McCallum Joanna Lumley Steven O'Shea​

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A pair of inter-dimensional operatives, Sapphire and Steel are two of multiple elements that assume human form and are sent to investigate strange events, where they appear to be engaged in guarding the continuing flow of time.​

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With Sapphire & Steel, it was kind of a X files/Astro version. But the thing I didin't like was the editing!! it seemed ot be broken up into 15 min portions and for me it brock the rhythm of the stories and adding recaps didn't help either. I'm not sure why BBC did this, but It could have been so much better with at least a half hour break?

 

[The 1960's]

With Sapphire & Steel, it was kind of a X files/Astro version. But the thing I didin't like was the editing!! it seemed ot be broken up into 15 min portions and for me it brock the rhythm of the stories and adding recaps didn't help either. I'm not sure why BBC did this, but It could have been so much better with at least a half hour break?

Actually CCP, I've never watched it and I'm unlikely to do so as I haven't acquired a taste for much of the alt-universe series. Perhaps someone else wiser than I will check in here and comment. Jeff?

 

[battlebeast]

Dead Like Me!

 

[The 1960's]

Harbor Command (1957-1958)
Stars Wendell Corey Bill Baldwin Casey Walters​

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The workings of the US Coast Guard Harbor Command. Another great ZIV television series!

S01E01 Camphor Tubes (Oct.11.1957)​

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Stars Wendell Corey Larry Thor Casey Walters Dale Van Sickel Ray Foster John Sorrentino Vance Skarstedt​

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Two smugglers are surprised by a harbor policeman, and shoot him down.Baxter gets to him, an old friend, in time to hear his last words, "Camphor Tubes". He soon realizes this is the method of hiding contraband the killers are using.​

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S01E02 Murder on Pier 7 (Oct.18.1957)
Stars Wendell Corey Gene Roth K.L. Smith Casey Walters Dale Van Sickel Byron Keith James Logan Bill Baldwin​

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A junkman and stevedore working in cahoots heist a crate of cameras and murder the night watchman. The perfect crime quickly unravels, however, as Captain Baxter and the Harbor Command connect the clues and close in.​

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S01E03 Boat Bomb (Oct.25.1957)
Stars Wendell Corey Ken Drake Casey Walters Richard O'Brien Troy Melton Joe Miksak Carolyn Ruth Pettit Frank Biro Bill Baldwin​

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A criminally insane sailor vows revenge on the ship captain who fired him. The madman has the technical skill to make good his threat, and rigs up a nitro-charged boat bomb while Captain Baxter scours the waterfront to prevent disaster.​

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S01E04 The Bag (Nov.1.1957)
Stars Wendell Corey Sydney Smith Charles Wagenheim Bing Russell Diane Brewster Jim Hayward Larry J. Blake William Boyett Stuart Whitman Paul Harber Robert Brubaker​

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Baxter and his men are in a race against time when a derelict steals a jar containing a highly combustible chemical that will burst into flame upon contact with air or water.​

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S01E05 Fisherman's League (Nov.08.1957)
Stars Wendell Corey Max Palmer Moody Blanchard Robert Brubaker Ed Nelson Lee Hall Carl Ritchie Casey Walters Dave Allen Eddie Bartell Dean Berg Bill Baldwin​

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When police break up a craps game, one of the arrested men is found to have two counterfeit $20 bills in his pocket. The Harbor Command and the Treasury Department track the money through seaman slated to leave port that day for Hong Kong to a pawnshop owner who claims to have never met the seaman.​

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[The 1960's]

S01E08 Counterfeit Money (Nov.29.1957)
Stars Wendell Corey Max Palmer Moody Blanchard Robert Brubaker Ed Nelson Lee Hall Carl Ritchie Casey Walters Dave Allen Eddie Bartell Dean Berg Bill Baldwin​

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When police break up a craps game, one of the arrested men is found to have two counterfeit $20 bills in his pocket. The Harbor Command and the Treasury Department track the money through seaman slated to leave port that day for Hong Kong to a pawnshop owner who claims to have never met the seaman.​

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S01E16 Harbor Mission (Jan 24, 1958)
Stars Wendell Corey Cheerio Meredith Jack Hogan Paul Gary Casey Walters Dennis Moore James Cotten Clark Howat James Waters Bill Baldwin Dick Johnstone​

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Three hoods who frequent Ma Sperling's Harbor Mission have been robbing local businesses. When one of them muffs a job the other 2 rub him out. When Ma finds some gems they stole, she may get rubbed out too.​

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S01E18 Contraband Diamonds (Feb.07.1958)
Stars Wendell Corey Brett King Darlene Albert Leonard Nimoy Casey Walters George Douglas William Bakewell William Bakewell Bill Baldwin​

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A small-time shipping company also helps smuggle diamonds for a gangster. When the shipper-turned-smuggler's brother finds out, he threatens to call the police, and is killed in a fight. Guilty over the murder, he wants to confess, but the gangster threatens his girlfriend.​

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S01E30 Shore Patrol (May.02.1958)
Stars Wendell Corey Rayford Barnes Gary Vinson William Swan Joan Lora Harry Fleer Clark Howat Casey Walters Ronnie Schell Bill Baldwin​

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When 4500 sailors from a U.S. Navy carrier task force return to port with six months of back pay in their pocket, they are ready for shore liberty - and the crooks and con men are waiting for them. The Harbor Patrol request assistance from the Navy's shore patrol when a sailor is stabbed in a bungled robbery and it appears that the crook are planning to dispose of the wounded man in the Pacific Ocean.​

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S01E33 Bum's Rush (May.23.1958)
Stars Wendell Corey Jack Littlefield Al Hopson Joan Marshall Joan Marshall Casey Walters Harry Monofrans Bill Baldwin​

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A waterfront bum spots a young couple throwing a young man into the San Francisco harbor, but is afraid to report it to the police because he was supposed to be covering for the night watchman who was playing poker. When the tycoon's death is reported in the newspaper, the watchman and the bum use the couple's license plate to trace the murderers and blackmail them. Meanwhile the harbor command investigates the murder.​

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Sadly this wonderful series is OPP. Check eBay or Amazon.
But purchase this before it’s really extinct!​

 

[Jeff Flugel]

With Sapphire & Steel, it was kind of a X files/Astro version. But the thing I didin't like was the editing!! it seemed ot be broken up into 15 min portions and for me it brock the rhythm of the stories and adding recaps didn't help either. I'm not sure why BBC did this, but It could have been so much better with at least a half hour break?

Actually, Sapphire & Steel (great show!) wasn't a BBC production, but was produced by ATV for the ITV network. The DVDs retain the ad break bumpers, which is what I think you're referring to when you say "15 minute portions" (for example, a title card reading "End of Part One," then fade to black, then fade-in to "Part Two," then the show resumes, etc.). As ITV was a commercial network all its shows had similar ad break bumpers. Hour shows generally had three ad breaks (three "parts" in other words) and half-hour shows (like S & S) had one. Companies like Network include most of these ad break bumpers as most fans seem to like them or want them included for "night of broadcast" nostalgia purposes.

 

[The 1960's]

The Mod Squad (1968-1973)
Stars Michael Cole Clarence Williams III Peggy Lipton​

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A trio of reformed juvenile delinquents work as undercover cops.

S01E01 The Teeth of the Barracuda (Sep.24.1968)
Stars Michael Cole Clarence Williams III Peggy Lipton Tige Andrews Fred Beir Brooke Bundy Lonny Chapman Noam Pitlik Addison Powell Gary Vinson Simon Scott Robert DoQui Larry Thor​

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After a fellow police officer is murdered, the trio gets involved to find his killers. During the investigation it is discovered the daughter of a local political candidate may be involved.​

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S02E01 The Girl in Chair Nine (Sep.23.1969)
Stars Michael Cole Clarence Williams III Peggy Lipton Tige Andrews Cesare Danova John Stephenson Veronica Cartwright Robert R. Cannon Sylvia Hayes Lillian Bronson Iris Rainer Gary Crabbe Angela Greene Bob Golden​

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Capt. Greer reluctantly enlists the aid of a psychic to help find a kidnapped coed.​

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S03E01 The Long Road Home (Sep.22.1970)
Stars Michael Cole Clarence Williams III Peggy Lipton Tige Andrews Anjanette Comer Lou Antonio Bruce Watson S. John Launer Garry Walberg​

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While staking out a warehouse robbery, Pete accidentally injures a young woman named Billie. Guilt-ridden, he falls in love with Billie, an aspiring folk singer with a hauntingly beautiful voice. Things become unexpectedly complicated when Billie's brother, Case, is one of the robbery suspects. Case learns that Pete is an undercover cop and, desperate for money, demands that Billie get the goods on Pete to lead them to a big robbery.​

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[Capt D McMars]

Actually, Sapphire & Steel (great show!) wasn't a BBC production, but was produced by ATV for the ITV network. The DVDs retain the ad break bumpers, which is what I think you're referring to when you say "15 minute portions" (for example, a title card reading "End of Part One," then fade to black, then fade-in to "Part Two," then the show resumes, etc.). As ITV was a commercial network all its shows had similar ad break bumpers. Hour shows generally had three ad breaks (three "parts" in other words) and half-hour shows (like S & S) had one. Companies like Network include most of these ad break bumpers as most fans seem to like them or want them included for "night of broadcast" nostalgia purposes.

I quess I'm not one of them, LOL!!

 

[smithbrad]

Interesting seeing that you just added the Mod Squad. While I figured it would have already been added, I came with the intent of adding it if not. I purchased the original VEI (39 disk) set back in 2013. I recall checking out the pilot at the time but not going further. I'm now thinking of working it into my next rotation.

VEI isn't always on top of my list with their releases, but looking back at Mod Squad, they did a really decent job. Most of the disks are only three episodes per disk (dual layer). They received excellent quality prints and all complete from what I can see. I'm looking forward to moving this into the next rotation. Now, the re-release that is really cheap only has half the number of disks, so I imagine those will be six to seven episodes per disk.

 

[HubbaBubbaKid]

Interesting seeing that you just added the Mod Squad. While I figured it would have already been added, I came with the intent of adding it if not. I purchased the original VEI (39 disk) set back in 2013. I recall checking out the pilot at the time but not going further. I'm now thinking of working it into my next rotation.

VEI isn't always on top of my list with their releases, but looking back at Mod Squad, they did a really decent job. Most of the disks are only three episodes per disk (dual layer). They received excellent quality prints and all complete from what I can see. I'm looking forward to moving this into the next rotation. Now, the re-release that is really cheap only has half the number of disks, so I imagine those will be six to seven episodes per disk.

i thought the same as most here about the less disc, more compression issue that you stated , which i think is mostly true on the whole (ie Mill Creek) , however, awhile back , i picked up the 39 disc set that you have even though i had the compact set already . i was going to sell off the compact set but wanted to compare them first . suprisingly , random episodes from all the seasons looked identical to me on both sets. i ended up keeping the 39 disc set bc of the special features but looking back, i would’ve preferred keeping the smaller set bc of space issues . i’m trying to replace all my large individual season complete sets with the compact all-in-ones (the bricks that everybody but me seems to hate)

the big question i have is does anyone know why this might be? does VEI use a larger capacity dvd or is their authoring of these discs allowing them to have more episodes per disc without the compression that is normally seen when too many episodes are crammed on it a la Mill Creek or is it just this particular set? i just got McMillan & Wife in the compact set but i can’t compare bc i don’t have the 21 disc set.

 

[The 1960's]

Interesting seeing that you just added the Mod Squad. While I figured it would have already been added, I came with the intent of adding it if not. I purchased the original VEI (39 disk) set back in 2013. I recall checking out the pilot at the time but not going further. I'm now thinking of working it into my next rotation.

VEI isn't always on top of my list with their releases, but looking back at Mod Squad, they did a really decent job. Most of the disks are only three episodes per disk (dual layer). They received excellent quality prints and all complete from what I can see. I'm looking forward to moving this into the next rotation. Now, the re-release that is really cheap only has half the number of disks, so I imagine those will be six to seven episodes per disk.

You know Brad before I posted Mod Squad, I looked on my shelves thinking I must have it already because it began in 1968, but surprise, I don't. But hey, now I do.

I wonder which set those are from as they look real good! I neglected to place this below my post.

The Mod Squad: The Complete Collection [DVD]​

i thought the same as most here about the less disc, more compression issue that you stated , which i think is mostly true on the whole (ie Mill Creek) , however, awhile back , i picked up the 39 disc set that you have even though i had the compact set already . i was going to sell off the compact set but wanted to test them out first . suprisingly , the episodes from random episodes of all seasons looked identical to me . i ended up keeping the 39 disc set bc of the special features but looking back, i would’ve preferred keeping the smaller set bc of space issues . i’m trying to replace all my large individual complete sets with the compact all-in-ones.

the big question i have is does anyone know why this might be? does VEI use a larger capacity dvd or is their authoring of these discs allowing them to have more episodes per disc without the compression that is normally seen when too many episodes are crammed on it a la Mill Creek.

You know Frankie I think, and Brad can chime in on this, that current day compression techniques have improved greatly from only a few years ago. I know this is true with current day Cable Satellite and OTA.

 

[smithbrad]

i thought the same as most here about the less disc, more compression issue that you stated , which i think is mostly true on the whole (ie Mill Creek) , however, awhile back , i picked up the 39 disc set that you have even though i had the compact set already . i was going to sell off the compact set but wanted to compare them first . suprisingly , random episodes from all the seasons looked identical to me on both sets. i ended up keeping the 39 disc set bc of the special features but looking back, i would’ve preferred keeping the smaller set bc of space issues . i’m trying to replace all my large individual season complete sets with the compact all-in-ones (the bricks that everybody but me seems to hate)

the big question i have is does anyone know why this might be? does VEI use a larger capacity dvd or is their authoring of these discs allowing them to have more episodes per disc without the compression that is normally seen when too many episodes are crammed on it a la Mill Creek or is it just this particular set? i just got McMillan & Wife in the compact set but i can’t compare bc i don’t have the 21 disc set.

Same disk capacity, same old DVD compression techniques. My guess is that it is: 1) related to the quality of the source elements and the fact these were shot on film. I find that compression has a greater impact on lower quality elements than higher quality elements. Shot on video is impacted more than shot on film. 2) three episodes a disk is a bit overkill, four episodes would have been just fine.

Being that the 39 disk set and the 20 disk set are from the same source elements, it really comes down to the screen size/seating distance ratio, the number of fast moving action scenes, and just how picky a viewer is as to how much of a problem the additional compression becomes. I'm happy to have the 39 disk set, I watch from a larger than average screen, but I could see the 20 disk set being acceptable.

 

[The 1960's]

I really enjoyed "The Lawless Years". I've seen it twice now. It surprised me when it had the five-parter "Louy K". I didn't think they did such a thing back then. In the end it was basically movie length. I enjoyed it so much that I actually ended up converting it to cut back on the over-the-top tinting on many of the episodes.

Brad I finally located my copy of The Lawless Years and I rewatched the Louy K: Part 1 through Part 5 all in one evening and I thank you for pointing out this one. Extremely violent, gripping story and perhaps the best role Paul Richards ever portrayed!

 

[Capt D McMars]

You know Brad before I posted Mod Squad, I looked on my shelves thinking I must have it already because it began in 1968, but surprise, I don't. But hey, now I do. View attachment 127778

I wonder which set those are from as they look real good! I neglected to place this below my post.

The Mod Squad: The Complete Collection [DVD]​

You know Frankie I think, and Brad can chime in on this, that current day compression techniques have improved greatly from only a few years ago. I know this is true with current day Cable Satellite and OTA.

in a shevled collection "Real Estate" or Space is a premium...with out expansion with is one of my problems since coming here!!!

 

[smithbrad]

in a shevled collection "Real Estate" or Space is a premium...with out expansion with is one of my problems since coming here!!!

Totally understand. When I built my dedicated room back in 2004 I decided to use the walls in the closet where I store the equipment as shelving. I went with seven rows built with DVD height and depth in mind. It totaled 42' length of space. I thought this will last me forever. A few years later I expanded to one of the walls outside the closet and added another 25'. A few years later I was back at it again, there was another two wall and corner to be conquered, giving me another 46'. I thought that is it, no more. But when that was full, I held firm. Instead of more shelving I ditched all the cumbersome TV case design and went slim with 6 disk cases and custom artwork. After all that I ran out of space again. I caved, one final wall space to conquer giving me another 25'. In the end, a total length of 138' for my collection. Unfortunately, the story does not end there. No more building, that's it, now what I have done is converted many of my TV sets onto single-layer 25 GB blu-ray disks using the Viva Elite 3-disk, 6-disk, a 10 disk cases and custom art. Saved a lot more space, but that's it. Now if something new comes in, something old has to go out. That's my stance and I'm sticking to it.

...and as far as what coming here as done to me? While my current profile says joined 2013, I actually first joined around 2003. I took a year hiatus between.

For an early look of my shelving back in 2004, see the bottom of post 88 in the Home theater section:
https://www.hometheaterforum.com/co...-system-the-htf-theaters-thread.370866/page-5

 

[The 1960's]

Now if something new comes in, something old has to go out. That's my stance and I'm sticking to it.

And I benefitted from that!

When my collection gets to the S's it extends to another room.

...and as far as what coming here as done to me? While my current profile says joined 2013, I actually first joined around 2003. I took a year hiatus between.

For an early look of my shelving back in 2004, see the bottom of post 88 in the Home theater section:
https://www.hometheaterforum.com/co...-system-the-htf-theaters-thread.370866/page-5

Nice looking home theater!!

 

[smithbrad]

Nice looking home theater!!

Thanks. Other then a few equipment upgrades and a lot more shelves in an adjacent room, it hasn't changed much in the last 18 years.