# With Prof. Bricker's Time Machine and a DVR, What Would You Record? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 30, 2008, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-prof-brickers-time-machine-and-a-dvr-what-would-you-record/454804 "2008-06-30T19:40:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2008, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-prof-brickers-time-machine-and-a-dvr-what-would-you-record/454804/61 "2008-07-02T22:00:52Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] I remembering seeing, in elementary school, a Britannica-style career-exploration short film starring - I kid you not - William Shatner. It was really, really good. I’ve never been able to find any other mention of it, on [IMDb.com](http://IMDb.com) or anywhere else. [/QUOTE] This sounds like one of the “American Enterprise” educational films, all of which starred Shatner and cover individual aspects of American commerce and business. I can’t find too many mentions of it online, but it looks like a few university libraries have it. [Maricopa Community Colleges](http://library.maricopa.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=K21M359088Y25.847024&profile=rsc2&uri=full%3D3100001~!179327~!0&booklistformat=#focus)’s website claims to have the entire series on videocassette, for instance, and their listing gives a lot of information one could use to do further searches in other libraries. I find isolated titles in the series listed online at various public and school libraries here and there. You might yet be able to find it and watch it again! ---
**Author:** ![Plynck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Plynck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plynck)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2008, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-prof-brickers-time-machine-and-a-dvr-what-would-you-record/454804/62 "2008-07-02T22:37:08Z")
[QUOTE=commasense] Also from the same period, PBS’ [_Great American Dream Machine_](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0066665/), which as I recall it was a mix of commentary and satire on current events and the American persona. Unfortunately, since I’m an old fart now, I don’t recall many details, only that I really liked the show. [/QUOTE] This is the damndest thing. I was just talking with someone about that show just last night. We were talking about the first SNL cast, and I mentioned that Chevy Chase had also appeared on GADM. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-prof-brickers-time-machine-and-a-dvr-what-would-you-record/454804/63 "2008-07-03T01:07:11Z")
This may qualify as something that was funny as a child but doesn’t hold up to time, but I’d like to see the ABC Muppet/Sesame Street/Electric Company [Out to Lunch Special](http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Out_to_Lunch) from 1974 again. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-prof-brickers-time-machine-and-a-dvr-what-would-you-record/454804/64 "2008-07-03T05:01:45Z")
[QUOTE=Student Driver] This sounds like one of the “American Enterprise” educational films, all of which starred Shatner and cover individual aspects of American commerce and business. I can’t find too many mentions of it online, but it looks like a few university libraries have it. [Maricopa Community Colleges](http://library.maricopa.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=K21M359088Y25.847024&profile=rsc2&uri=full%3D3100001~!179327~!0&booklistformat=#focus)’s website claims to have the entire series on videocassette, for instance, and their listing gives a lot of information one could use to do further searches in other libraries. I find isolated titles in the series listed online at various public and school libraries here and there. You might yet be able to find it and watch it again! [/QUOTE] Hey, thanks! ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-prof-brickers-time-machine-and-a-dvr-what-would-you-record/454804/65 "2008-07-03T06:18:12Z")
[QUOTE=Sassy] Max Headroom! [/QUOTE] If you mean the sci-fi drama from 1986 drama, AOL has a few episodes online for viewing. > **[AOL Video - Serving the best video content from AOL and around the web](https://www.aol.com/video/)** > > The AOL.com video experience serves up the best video content from AOL and around the web, curating informative and entertaining snackable videos. ---
**Author:** ![audit1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@audit1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audit1)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-prof-brickers-time-machine-and-a-dvr-what-would-you-record/454804/66 "2008-07-03T07:20:39Z")
Metropolis may have been found in Buenos Aires. See Aint-it-cool for the news. A full report is supposed to come Thursday ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-prof-brickers-time-machine-and-a-dvr-what-would-you-record/454804/67 "2008-07-03T12:02:41Z")
Very interesting. The Ain’t It Cool News directs you to this site, with the story: [http://www.zeit.de/online/2008/27/metropolis-vorab-englisch](http://www.zeit.de/online/2008/27/metropolis-vorab-englisch) See also: [METROPOLIS Rebuilt!! Fritz Lang's Long-Missing, Full-Length Edit Has Finally Been Located!!](http://www.aintitcool.com/node/37324) I read an interview with Fritz Lang done in the 1960s, where he lamented that people hadn’t seen the complete film since the first year. He said it was much longer. This new reel would have to have a LOT of extra scenes to make that true. I hope so. I’ve always wanted to see 11811’s foray into Yoshiwara, or what the hell The Tall Man was supposed to be doing. ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-prof-brickers-time-machine-and-a-dvr-what-would-you-record/454804/68 "2008-07-03T13:11:23Z")
[QUOTE=commasense] _America, Inc. Jean Shepherd’s America No Whistles, Bells, or Bedlam Shepherd’s Pie Phantom of the Open Hearth The Great American Fourth of July and Other Disasters The Star-Crossed Romance of Josephine Cosnowski Jean Shepherd on Route 1… and Other Major Thoroughfares The Great American Road Racing Festival Ollie Hopnoodle’s Haven of Bliss_ [/QUOTE] I was just coming in here to mention Jean Shepherd’s America. That and another PBS show that pretty much made up my Tuesday night viewing as a kid, “The Great American Dream Machine.” ETA : Which I see now someone has already mentioned. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-prof-brickers-time-machine-and-a-dvr-what-would-you-record/454804/69 "2008-07-03T22:13:30Z")
[QUOTE=Peter Morris] As long as we’re saving movies, how about : - the missing scenes from Metropolis … [/QUOTE] [Ask you ye shall receive](http://www.zeit.de/online/2008/27/metropolis-vorab-englisch). ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-prof-brickers-time-machine-and-a-dvr-what-would-you-record/454804/70 "2008-07-03T22:18:53Z")
Oh, wow. I look forward to seeing the full version. 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-prof-brickers-time-machine-and-a-dvr-what-would-you-record/454804/71 "2008-07-03T22:48:48Z")
•The camera footage from some of the [Operation Aphrodite](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Aphrodite) missions. •The original broadcast of _The Man With the Flower in His Mouth_ from the BBC…in 1930, using the [Baird system](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Logie_Baird) (What a marvel of the ages!). •The complete series of [The Legend of Calamity Jane](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Calamity_Jane). Not that it’s a lost classic or nothin’…I just want to see it, for curiosity’s sake. 😃 P.S.—Hurrah for the Metropolis footage! ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2008, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-prof-brickers-time-machine-and-a-dvr-what-would-you-record/454804/72 "2008-07-04T01:37:48Z")
[QUOTE=garygnu] [Ask you ye shall receive](http://www.zeit.de/online/2008/27/metropolis-vorab-englisch). [/QUOTE] I’d use the time machine to win the lottery. (My last wish came true. It’s worth a try at least) ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2008, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-prof-brickers-time-machine-and-a-dvr-what-would-you-record/454804/73 "2008-07-04T08:04:42Z")
I’d get a good DVR recording of the moon landing and settle the question of “one small step for [a] man” with digital quality. I don’t know if it was broadcast on television, but if any part of it was, then the Kennedy assassination would go on the TiVO too. Plus, I’d want all the episodes of _The Carol Burnett Show_, _A Complete and Utter History of Britain_, and _At Last the 1948 Show_. I’d also put on the DVR the first version of _The Wizard of Oz_ ever broadcast on television, plus the original theatrical cut of same, to wave in the faces of all the “Dark Side of the Floyd” believers. It’d be nice to get the original _War of the Worlds_ broadcast in digital too, come to think of it. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2008, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-prof-brickers-time-machine-and-a-dvr-what-would-you-record/454804/74 "2008-07-04T20:31:00Z")
If I had a magic time machine and a DVD-R I’d tape: Marc Summers **Mystery Magical Special**. I’ve been able to find less than 5 minutes of it online I’d also tape all the aired episodes of **[All Souls](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Souls_(TV_series))**. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-prof-brickers-time-machine-and-a-dvr-what-would-you-record/454804/75 "2008-07-05T15:06:21Z")
How’s about a series that cannot be brought out till issues over music rights are sorted out, I’d like to tape Dark Skies for one. ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-prof-brickers-time-machine-and-a-dvr-what-would-you-record/454804/76 "2008-07-05T16:07:15Z")
There are many things from the past I’d love to have on my DVR; some have already been mentioned. Since many of my favorite old shows show up from time to time on TV Land and other places, not to mention DVD collections (got F Troop last Xmas!), I’m taking a slightly different tack. The first time I saw Mel Brooks’ _The Producers_ on TV , circa the late '60s-early 70s, there was a different scene near the end of the film than the one we see now. Since we’ve all probably seen it, I won’t bother with spoiler boxes. As we see it now, when Max, Leo and Franz are planting the dynamite, Franz wonders aloud whether he has used the slow fuse or the quick fuse. He lights it and determines that it’s the quick fuse. By the time he realizes it, the fuse has burned and the theater blows up. In the version I saw way back when, they stomp out the “quick fuse”. In the next scene, they’re hooking up the dynamite to a detonator box. They go into the theater to check the dynamite. The drunk from the earlier bar scene comes ambling down the alley, sees the box, thinks it’s a shoeshine box, and places his foot firmly on the plunger. BOOM! No version I’ve seen in the past 30+ years has that scene–not on broadcast, basic cable or premium. If I could see it again, I could die happy. ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-prof-brickers-time-machine-and-a-dvr-what-would-you-record/454804/77 "2008-07-05T16:32:35Z")
[QUOTE=want2know] In the version I saw way back when, they stomp out the “quick fuse”. In the next scene, they’re hooking up the dynamite to a detonator box. They go into the theater to check the dynamite. The drunk from the earlier bar scene comes ambling down the alley, sees the box, thinks it’s a shoeshine box, and places his foot firmly on the plunger. BOOM! No version I’ve seen in the past 30+ years has that scene–not on broadcast, basic cable or premium. If I could see it again, I could die happy. [/QUOTE] Time to buy the DVD. From the IMDB write-up on alternate endings… > [@](#): > > The 2002 DVD release includes an alternate blow-up-the-theater sequence. Franz Leibkind stomps out “ze quick fuse” after lighting it. He then switches to electrical detonation from outside the building. This fails. When Leo, Max and Franz go back into the basement to see what went wrong, the drunk from the bar comes along. Thinking that the detonator handle is a shoeshine stand, he props his feet up on it… ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-prof-brickers-time-machine-and-a-dvr-what-would-you-record/454804/78 "2008-07-05T18:01:36Z")
[QUOTE=Student Driver] Time to buy the DVD. From the IMDB write-up on alternate endings… [/QUOTE] Sweet! Thanks, **Driver**! Note to self…get deposit back from Bricker for time machine plans… ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-prof-brickers-time-machine-and-a-dvr-what-would-you-record/454804/79 "2008-07-05T18:08:25Z")
Like others said, late 1940s television. Also, the three episodes of _It’s Academic!_ that I appeared on in 1984. My parents didn’t have a VCR then, so we have no record of it. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2008, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-prof-brickers-time-machine-and-a-dvr-what-would-you-record/454804/80 "2008-07-05T18:14:19Z")
[QUOTE=Max Torque] Me, I’d go back and record the first and only episode of [**Turn-On**](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turn-On), so I could see how bad it really was. They say it was so legendarily bad that at least one ABC affiliate stopped the broadcast _halfway through the premiere_, which I think would make it the shortest-lived TV series in history. [/QUOTE] Saw it. OK, you know the parts of Laugh-In where it was a bunch of short jerky sight gags and one liners, sometimes with a dancer in a bikini as the “continuety”? That was the whole show. :eek: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-prof-brickers-time-machine-and-a-dvr-what-would-you-record/454804.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-prof-brickers-time-machine-and-a-dvr-what-would-you-record/454804.md?page=5)