Every year around October, whether or not I shoot for the 31 horror flicks in 31 days challenge, I always try to catch a few of my blind spots. This here is one of the more embarrassing ones; yes, I just watched Dracula for the very first time. Obviously, it was spectacular. Everything I'd hoped it would be.
Because I happen to own many of my blind spots on VHS, I decided to set my old television and VCR back up yesterday in preparation. I opened my 1993 Sears VCR, cleaned the heads with paper and alcohol, dusted it out, the normal maintenance to which VCR owners are accustom. I even played a couple of tapes in the background to ensure everything was running smoothly.
Then, today, I popped in Dracula. Kicked back with a cup of coffee and enjoyed the show. As the 'The End' popped up I started shimmying out from under the blankets, muttering to myself how I really should have watched this one sooner, and eventually knelt and tapped the 'eject' button. Then again, and again. And a few more times for... well, good measure, we'll call it, instead of frustration.
Alright, fine! I was frustrated. After all, I'd taken all the necessary precautions! But of course, this is old tech we're talking about... and you never know what it might do. Has a mind of its own, certainly.
Anyway, I got the trusty Phillips head screwdriver out and took her apart. Found the right gears. Turned them. Watched the tape rise itself up and eject while my index finger became covered in some ancient lubing. Cleaned the heads again, checked a few gears for cracks, found none, tried again and again and... Well, you get the point.
So that's that, I say, and go rummaging through the closets for a spare. I hook up the first one I find and she's dead as a doornail. Oh, well. The next I find, though, works like a charm... for now.
Thus commences my first day of October. Two VCRs headed for Salvation Army for someone more handy than I to tinker with, and one I'm putting an immense amount of faith in... because I think it's the last one I have!
Because I happen to own many of my blind spots on VHS, I decided to set my old television and VCR back up yesterday in preparation. I opened my 1993 Sears VCR, cleaned the heads with paper and alcohol, dusted it out, the normal maintenance to which VCR owners are accustom. I even played a couple of tapes in the background to ensure everything was running smoothly.
Then, today, I popped in Dracula. Kicked back with a cup of coffee and enjoyed the show. As the 'The End' popped up I started shimmying out from under the blankets, muttering to myself how I really should have watched this one sooner, and eventually knelt and tapped the 'eject' button. Then again, and again. And a few more times for... well, good measure, we'll call it, instead of frustration.
Alright, fine! I was frustrated. After all, I'd taken all the necessary precautions! But of course, this is old tech we're talking about... and you never know what it might do. Has a mind of its own, certainly.
Anyway, I got the trusty Phillips head screwdriver out and took her apart. Found the right gears. Turned them. Watched the tape rise itself up and eject while my index finger became covered in some ancient lubing. Cleaned the heads again, checked a few gears for cracks, found none, tried again and again and... Well, you get the point.
So that's that, I say, and go rummaging through the closets for a spare. I hook up the first one I find and she's dead as a doornail. Oh, well. The next I find, though, works like a charm... for now.
Thus commences my first day of October. Two VCRs headed for Salvation Army for someone more handy than I to tinker with, and one I'm putting an immense amount of faith in... because I think it's the last one I have!