there are a number of points i would like to make, with regards to releases
1) how expensive is it to pay actors and make new shows, versus restoring film that is already present ?
2) i think most of the HTFers are thinking about all the old people who want them back for nostalgic reasons. and no doubt these are the people who will be the first purchasers. but i am actually thinking of the far greater percentage of people who have never even heard of the show before, like the farmer's daughter, or ozzie and harriet, or most of the old shows. even bonanza is not known to the majority of 30-year olds. the restoration process is only done once.
3) i talk to lots of young people. many of them are almost as sick and tired of today's society as i am. i think they would love to see some of this "old-fashioned" stuff, with better morality, better acting, better writing, etc. of course, it may take a little bit of advertising to get the snowball rolling down the mountain !!
4) not all of the old shows are good, but i would say that most of them are pretty good, and well worth the investment of restoration. i remain confident about their eventual releases.
I love your points, Jimmy. I really do. And no one wants more old releases (especially b&w ones) as much as I do. But from what I gather the only way it's going to happen is either via an advocate in high places (i.e. someone who owns/works at one of the companies pushing hard for older stuff) AND/OR a sugar-daddy (someone who will fund the restoration because they are likely a fan as well). But I don't believe there are enough consumers who will buy Farmer's Daughter to sell the proposition to a company without one of the other factors I listed above also being involved. Heck, the only reason we have Ozzie & Harriet is because Sam Nelson (a family member with some skin in the game) got heavily involved.
Gary "but I sure hope your points prove out to be true and we see more classic releases - believe me I hope you are correct" O.