talkietime

"What network broadcast this special in 1965?" According to an editorial review found on Amazon this was shown on NBC.

Jroden, Since you think this is around an hour in length this is not a short but a movie. You might have more luck posting your inquiry in the Information, Please! Forum.

The all-night diner scene shows Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters from Pennies From Heaven. Message was edited by: talkietime

Occasional problem on Comcast Portland Oregon.

Sandy, Time-shifting devices such as your DVD recorder should continue to function in the same way as they do now. The situation might change if TCM or cable or satellite services implement copyright protection that may restrict or prevent home-recording. This is a very real concern. Due to future uncertainties my suggestion is to record now all that you may want to have in your personal archive.

Ken, Recent advances in technology have brought forth legislation resulting in substantial change. Two Acts signed into law by Bill Clinton, The "No Electronic Theft" Act (1997) and The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (1998), and the Regulations and Agency decisions that implement these Acts (under the Bush Administration) have and continue to bring forth many changes in the marketplace. In earlier posts you have pointed out the realities of DRM. This has arisen due to technology that might allow reproduction of copyrighted material in the same quality as the original. It doesn't matter if we like it or not. To quote Walter Cronkite "that's the way it is." Message was edited by: talkietime

Fred, In earlier Information Please! posts in the "Gremlin" thread there are some discussions of this government boondoggle. In our household we have two older analog tuner TVs that are connected to antennas so we need government-approved converter boxes for OTA reception. Older analog tuner TVs connected to digital cable boxes do not require government converter boxes for continued functionality. Government-approved converter boxes employ a different tuning technology than do cable services. The government-approved converter boxes may not be substituted for converter boxes provided by cable companies. There are a variety of ways to obtain coupons for government-approved converter boxes. The NTIA website provides complete information: https://www.mydtv2009.gov On 1 January 2008 this website was so jammed that I tried the phone method. I knew that the phone method was doomed to failure as I was asked to say, not spell, my name and street address. Both may be spelled several ways so I knew this would prove problematic. Late in the morning I was able to submit my application online. The Coupons, actually similar to credit cards, arrived 4 March 2008. Here is some information found on the website: How do I get a coupon? Apply online or by phone. You may also mail in or fax a Coupon Application. You may request one coupon now and one later, but no more than two coupons per household are allowed. Coupon supplies are limited. Coupons expire 90 days after they are mailed. Requests must be received by March 31, 2009. Contact information is listed below. ONLINE www.DTV2009.gov BY PHONE 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009) TTY: 1-877-530-2634 (English) 1-866-495-1161 (Spanish) BY MAIL PO Box 2000 Portland, OR 97208 BY FAX 1-877-DTV-4ME2 Message was edited by: talkietime

No later than 18 February 2009 all full-power U.S. broadcast stations will cease analog broadcasting. Most analog broadcast stations already have one or more digital channels and digital sub-channels in operation. The shutdown of analog broadcasting (for those receiving TV signals with an antenna) is the reason behind the taxpayer subsidized coupon program for government-approved converter boxes. Low power analog CA and LP broadcast stations may continue to broadcast analog signals after 18 February 2009 but they are also expected to transition to digital broadcasting within specific time frames that have been individually determined. Cable will maintain some analog services, mainly passing-through local broadcast stations for customers through the end of 2012. The broadcast stations being passed through after 18 February 2009 are non-encoded digital and HD stations. ("Encoded" services are those that are "scrambled.") Much of cable service will be transitioning to digital in the near future but that will not have as severe an impact on viewers with digital cable boxes that convert digital signals to analog for those with analog TVs. Digital and High Definition cable boxes and Cable Cards remap and unscramble digital channels allowing one to watch HD programming on HD TVs. HD DVRs provided by a Cable service allow time-shifting to an internal hard drive but may prevent copying to DVD media. Satellite is already a digital-only medium. Digital satellite receivers convert digital signals to analog for those with analog TVs. High Definition satellite receivers allow one to watch HD programming on HD TVs. HD DVRs provided by a Satellite service allow time-shifting to an internal hard drive but may prevent copying to DVD media. High Definition is a sub-set of digital service. All High Definition is "digital," but not all "digital" is High Definition. There are no requirements for any broadcasters to provide High Definition service. Many broadcast stations are now offering one sub-channel in High Definition. Providing HD service is a market-based decision for broadcasters. Cable and satellite services are offering various networks in High Definition. There are no requirements for any Cable or Satellite network to provide High Definition service. Providing HD is a market-based decision for Cable or Satellite service providers. High Definition DVRs are designed to prevent the copying of HD programming, in that original quality, to external media (such as a DVD) to protect the rights of copyright holders. DVD recorders downconvert High Definition to Standard Definition for the same reason, preventing copyright infringement. Many wrongly assume that they have a "right" to copy the property of another. In certain circumstances the law provides for a "fair use" exemption from prosecution for those that copy the property of another for personal use.

Vallo13, "Starting February 2009 "All" TV/Cable/ Satellite will be broadcasted in High Def." Your observation needs some clarification. No later than 18 February 2009 all full-power U.S. broadcast stations will cease analog broadcasting. Most analog broadcast stations already have one or more digital channels and digital sub-channels in operation. The shutdown of analog broadcasting (for those receiving TV signals with an antenna) is the reason behind the taxpayer subsidized coupon program for government-approved converter boxes. Low power analog CA and LP broadcast stations may continue to broadcast analog signals after 18 February 2009 but they are also expected to transition to digital broadcasting within specific time frames that have been individually determined. Cable will maintain some analog services, mainly passing-through local broadcast stations for customers through the end of 2012. The broadcast stations being passed through after 18 February 2009 are non-encoded digital and HD stations. ("Encoded" services are those that are "scrambled.") Much of cable service will be transitioning to digital in the near future but that will not have as severe an impact on viewers with digital cable boxes that convert digital signals to analog for those with analog TVs. Digital and High Definition cable boxes and Cable Cards remap and unscramble digital channels allowing one to watch HD programming on HD TVs. HD DVRs provided by a Cable service allow time-shifting to an internal hard drive but prevent copying to DVD media. Satellite is already a digital-only medium. Digital satellite receivers convert digital signals to analog for those with analog TVs. High Definition satellite receivers allow one to watch HD programming on HD TVs. HD DVRs provided by a Satellite service allow time-shifting to an internal hard drive but prevent copying to DVD media. High Definition is a sub-set of digital service. All High Definition is "digital," but not all "digital" is High Definition. There are no requirements for any broadcasters to provide High Definition service. Many broadcast stations are now offering one sub-channel in High Definition. Providing HD service is a market-based decision for broadcasters. Cable and satellite services are offering various networks in High Definition. There are no requirements for any Cable or Satellite network to provide High Definition service. Providing HD is a market-based decision for Cable or Satellite service providers. High Definition DVRs are designed to prevent the copying of HD programming, in that original quality, to external media (such as a DVD) to protect the rights of copyright holders. DVD recorders downconvert High Definition to Standard Definition for the same reason, preventing copyright infringement. Many wrongly assume that they have a "right" to copy the property of another. In certain circumstances the law provides for a "fair use" exemption from prosecution for those that copy the property of another for personal use. Message was edited by: talkietime

Notice that two Dogville shorts, Hot Dog (1930) and College Hounds (1930) are included in Festival Of Shorts #7 scheduled to be shown twice in the coming days. The first showing is in the early morning hours of 3/8 between Rat Pfink and Only Angels Have Wings. The second showing is in the early morning hours of 3/11 between King Lear and Keep 'Em Rolling.

Movieman1957, For color recording the LP or better speed is best. Another possibility is that your DMR-ES35V is not set with a compatible setting for your TV. To check this go to FUNCTIONS, OTHER FUNCTIONS, SETUP, TV SCREEN. For detailed information see the Operating Instructions, page 18 (Selecting television type), page 21 (Removing Interference), page 37 (Video menu-Change picture quality, and page 68 (Progressive/Interlace). To reset the clock go to FUNCTIONS, OTHER FUNCTIONS, SETUP, CLOCK SETTINGS. From there you may set up your clock automatically or manually. If you no longer have the Operating Instructions these may be viewed/downloaded as a PDF file from the Panasonic Support website. This PDF file may be saved to your computer hard drive.

If you remember the TCM Happy Holidays promo a couple of months back that used a video clip from the Gold Diggers of 1933 "Pettin in the Park" sequence.

I keep my burned DVDs in large book-type albums. The most recently purchased albums each contain 320 DVDs. I bought five of these albums last spring at CompUsa for $9.99 each. The last one of these is now a little over half full so I'll be looking for more of these soon.

Laramie66, Again, the Blue-Ray situation has nothing to do with the marketplace supply of home-recording media. The link is to the right kind but that price is way too high. You will do better to purchase these discs at just about any of your local stores. If you want to order discs online you should get Taiyo Yuden DVD-R discs (not found in retail stores). This brand is generally considered to be the best. (Unless you will be burning DVD copies on a computer's DVD burner you need not be concerned with "X" speed ratings. Currently available DVD-R discs from good brands are fine for use on a DMR-ES35V.) Watch the Sunday newspaper ads at local chain stores and office supply stores (Office Depot, Staples, Office Max). Usually you will find spindles of 100 TDK or Maxell DVD-R discs on sale for under $25.00. Of course, spindles of 50 will be priced about half that price. Last week Office Max had Verbatim spindles of 100 DVD-R discs priced at $19.99. Don't purchase "store brands" or Memorex. Recently Costco had TWO spindles of 100 TDK DVD-R discs for the price of one $31.99, under $16.00 per spindle! Message was edited by: talkietime

Laramie66, You should occasionally monitor the process on your TV to determine that the DMR-ES35V is satisfactorily tracking the videotape. If you use the front panel copying control the videotape will play and the Panasonic will record until a videotape index mark or other "program break" is encountered. At that point the DVD will stop recording; the videotape will stop and then rewind briefly; the videotape will start playing and the DVD will restart recording as a new "title." This annoying process is characteristic of front panel copying. The menu-initiated copying process (or external VCR method of copying) provides for seamless DVD recordings, much to be prefered. My "selective" dubbing project copied material from around 1,900 home-recorded videotapes I had recorded over a twenty-year period. That dubbing project took about ten months, concluding in September 2007. From March 2007 onward there were usually at least four Panasonics running up to sixteen hours per day. Occasionally there were up to seven Panasonics running up to eighteen hours per day. My six most freqently used Panasonics average more than 3,000 recording hours per machine. To provide additional air circulation/cooling during the warm summer months I set up external cooling fans. Message was edited by: talkietime

Laramie66, Thank you for you kind words. To set or reset the default recording speed for EP press FUNCTIONS, OTHER FUNCTIONS, SETUP, DISC, SETTINGS FOR RECORDING, RECORDING TIME IN EP MODE, ENTER, then choose 6H or 8H, ENTER, then press RETURN two or three times to escape the Functions process. That information is found on pages 56-57 of the DMR-ES35V Operating Instructions. I have found that the most useful method to transfer videotaped recordings to DVD is through the menu initiated process. Press FUNCTIONS, COPY, and then customize the settings for Time Limited and/or Flexible Recording. That information is found on pages 46-49 of the Operating Instructions. I have found that some T-160 videotapes recorded at the EP speed may not track well on some DMR-ES35V VHS sections. If tracking adjustments (Channel UP/DOWN) do not overcome this problem it may be necessary to attach an older VCR to one of the DMR-ES35V Inputs and transfer your videotapes in that manner. That information is found on page 50 of the Operating Instructions. Keep in mind that most videotapes may record somewhat more than their capacity designation, say, an 8 hour tape may contain as much as 8:10 of recorded material. With the DMR-ES35V the absolute upper limit for recording to DVD is 8:00, even with Flexible Recording. For archival recording I regularly use TDK and Maxell DVD-R discs as reliable, inexpensive, and most compatible with other players/recorders. The move to Blu-Ray as the standard for high-end commercially recorded DVDs is not related to home recording of DVDs. While Blu-Ray DVD players may play home-recorded DVDs there are no recorders that home-record Blu-Ray discs.

LoTek, My reference to proofreading is the historic understanding of finding and correcting errors before printing, i.e., the Now Playing magazine. Perhaps I should have written "proofreading oversights" instead of "proofreading errors." Since you are a new poster to this Message Board I make this observation: The agenda you seem to espouse in your last paragraph and in the footer of your posting does nothing to enhance the discussion of classic movies, and, if anything, may dissuade some posters from interacting with you.

Kenneth, Here is a little piece of information that I just found in Wikipedia: "Since the DVDR format is a competing format to the DVD-R format, which is developed by the DVD Forum, it had not been approved by the DVD Forum, which claimed that the DVDR format was not an official DVD format until Jan 25, 2008."

In the old days AMC would sometimes run widescreen movies and the narrowscreen pan and scan version in the same evening. The first instance of an AMC widescreen showing that I still have is Spartacus (1960) shown on 3/20/92; the last was The Big Trail (1930) shown on 4/27/2001. Of course by 2001 AMC was well on its way into the abyss. One wonders if the average AMC viewer is discerning enough to know that when viewing a narrowscreen pan and scan job that they're just seeing a portion of the movie. With all the editing and commercials AMC viewers tolerate perhaps they've been dumbed down so much that they don't even care.

DVD-R disc specifications were developed to be backward compatible with earlier generations of DVD players. This is the reason that the DVD-R format is the most widely compatible. Once in a while one may still encounter an older DVD player that may balk at DVD-R discs. DVD-RW discs are somewhat less compatible with some equipment than DVD-R discs. DVDR is a more recent format appearing in the marketplace in 2004. Some manufacturers have been slow to support this format; Toshiba comes to mind. DVDRW discs are somewhat less compatible with some equipment than DVD+R discs. With my Panasonics I use TDK or Maxell DVD-R discs for archival purposes. If it's worth recording it's worth keeping. I do not use DVDR, DVDRW or DVD-RW discs. While I don't number my burned DVDs in a way that will indicate a total, I estimate that I've burned more than 3,000 disks. I assign a date/finalizing order to each DVD, i.e., 080211B is the second DVD finalized today, 2/11/2008. These are kept in book-type albums, the most recent each hold 320 discs, with the whole archive occupying around five linear feet of shelf space. Message was edited by: talkietime

Now Playing's advantages far outweigh its defects. At a little more than one dollar per month it is well worth it. Occasionally TCM will change its programming. For that one may check the online schdule (click "Schedule" under the TCM banner at the upper left of this page). In recent months I have noticed more frequent proofreading errors. The correct information may usually be figured out by careful scrutiny of surrounding listings or accessing the online schedule.

Soundtrackers, I have experience with many Panasonics, including two examples of those manufactured in 2007. I can not recommend the current (2007) models due to bugs (some that have recently started appearing), design flaws, and, with combo recorders, the lack of essential dubbing features that are found in 2006 and some 2005 models. Pansonic combo recorders, DMR-ES35V (from 2006) and DMR-ES30V (from 2005) are full-featured and have performed well in my service. There are two other similar models, DMR-ES45V and DMR-ES46V (from 2006). All these have analog tuners that will continue to be useful when enslaved to a digital cable box. I would not hesitate to purchase any of these models if they may be found new or refurbished by Panasonic. Your present VCR may also be connected to any of these or to a DVD recorder that does not have a VHS section. One DVD recorder that has served well is the DMR-ES15 (from 2006). These sometimes may also be found new or refurbished by Panasonic. One model to avoid is the DMR-ES40V (from 2005). I have just checked Amazon finding new and refurbished DMR-ES35V combo recorders reasonably priced. New models come with the original one year warranty. Models refurbished by Panasonic come with a 90 day warranty. Again, I must repeat that my Panasonics purchased refurbished have performed well in very heavy use. Occasionally new or refurbished Panasonics appear on eBay or other online services. My Panasonics have been purchased new, refurbished and used. I have even purchased as-is parts machines and cannibalized them to keep those purchased used in service. In the Information Please! thread I gave the same advice with more detail: Panasonic's 2007 model combo recorders DMR-EZ37, DMR-EZ47, DMR-EZ475 are limited to a front panel control for dubbing. At first this seems quite user-friendly. The drawback is that this dubbing method is not really as user-friendly for SELECTIVE dubbing as it does not incorporate two essential features, Time Limited Dubbing/Copying and Flexible Dubbing/Copying as found on 2006 and some 2005 models. I have some experience with front panel copying/dubbing controls as it is one of two dubbing methods available on my earlier models. Front panel dubbing is satisfactory for occasional dubbing or copying an entire videotape without supervison, but the controls do not allow customized settings. Selective dubbing with front panel controls requires frequent supervision. And dubbing initiated from front panel controls stops and starts, dividing recordings into new titles whenever encountering videotape index marks or whenever it is deemed that one recording has ended and another begins. Sometimes a scene change or a commercial will cause a new title to be started. My recent dubbing project included home-recorded videotapes that I had recorded over a twenty-year period. I was selective in what I chose to preserve to DVD. During the ten month dubbing project, concluded in early September, I usually had four Panasonic combo recorders running sixteen hours per day. Sometimes as many as seven Panasonic combo recorders were running up to eighteen hours per day. These Panasonics, DMR-ES35V models (from 2006) and the similar DMR-ES30V models (from 2005) also feature menu-initiated dubbing that allows Time Limited Dubbing/Copying and Flexible Dubbing/Copying, the two essential features for such an extensive selective dubbing project. These features, accessed from the FUNCTIONS menu on the remote control, streamline selective dubbing through customized settings so the Panasonics may be left alone to do their work with very little supervision. This method of dubbing produces seemless recordings. Without Time Limited Dubbing/Copying and Flexible Dubbing/Copying my dubbing project would have occupied a much longer, labor-intensive committment. For selective dubbing there is very little advantage to a current Panasonic combo recorder. A less expensive Panasonic DVD recorder interconnected with an external VCR will perform the same function and allows for workarounds that emulate the essential dubbing features missing from current model Panasonic combo recorders. If facing an extensive selective dubbing project I would give consideration to these Panasonic combo recorders: DMR-ES35V, DMR-ES45V, or DMR-ES46V (all 2006 models). I have four DMR-ES35V models (and two of the similar DMR-ES30V models from 2005). I purchased some of these new, some refurbished and some used. These Panasonic models may sometimes be found on eBay or other online sources factory refurbished to new condition by Panasonic, with a 90-day Panasonic warranty, and at very reasonable prices. The refurbished models I have purchased have performed well and been very reliable. Used models do not have warranties.

My favorite TCM programming is early talkies through the film noir era. I generally do not care for movies produced after 1960, but there are some exceptions. With my Panasonics I record most black and white material at the EP speed (six hours per DVD). (Panasonics may also be set to record eight hours per DVD. Visit the SETUP menu to change the default EP speed to eight hours.) At the EP speed black and white picture quality is satisfactory and color picture quality is watchable but only of fair quality. For much better picture quality I use the LP speed (four hour per DVD) for black and white material of special merit and for very good color reproduction. Occasionally I may use the SP speed (two hours per DVD) or the Flexible Recording feature that fits or fills a DVD with a recording of specific length for best picture quality. Panasonics set to record at LP (four hours per DVD) or better give 500 lines of resolution. Other brands need to be set at SP (two hours per DVD) to give this resolution. This was an important factor in my purchase of Panasonic DVD recorders and combo recorders. In September 2007 I concluded a ten month project dubbing to DVD selected portions of my home-recorded time-shifted videotape archive going back to 1986. During this project there were usually four Panasonic DMR-ES30V and DMR-ES35V combo recorders running up to sixteen hours per day. Occasionally there were six or seven Panasonic combo recorders or DVD recorders and two Toshiba VCRs running up to eighteen hours per day. I also continued to time-shift from TCM and other cable services before, during and since the dubbing project. Currently I have twelve functional Panasonic DVD recorders or combo recorders, five in current daily use and seven reserved for standby use. Of my six most frequently used Panasonics the average utilization is 3,008 recording hours per machine (as of 5 February 2008). (I keep track of this information in order to maintain DVD drive hub, spindle and lens servicing and to monitor power supply electrolytic capacitor longevity in these machines. I do not keep track of play hour utilization as this is a far less demanding function as long as burned disc hub and spindle areas are kept clean.) One Panasonic, my first DMR-ES30V (a 2005 model) had a DVD drive failure after eleven months' use. That drive was replaced by Panasonic under warranty. That machine has more than 4,200 hours recording. Last month that machine was set aside for servicing and standby use. At some point I may rotate that machine back into regular service as it is a reliable performer. I use TDK, Maxell or Verbatim DVD-R media for archival use. Due to an excessive failure rate, one in every six blank discs, I do not use Memorex brand DVD-R discs.

Soundtrackers, I have never had difficulty recording any movies shown on TCM with Panasonic DVD recorders and combo recorders manufactured in 2005 and 2006. All these have analog tuners. Two of my Panasonics are enslaved to a Comcast digital cable box for the specific purpose of recording TCM. I also have one Panasonic DVD recorder with analog/digital tuning. This Panasonic, manufactured in 2007, is set up cable-ready (without a cable box) so it is not used to record TCM. I have some brief experience with a DVD combo recorder manufactured by Funai. These are marketed under several brand names, Magnavox, Sylvania, and others. I found that this combo recorder deemed a variety of programing from the digital cable box as "copyright protected" so it frequently refused to record. This combo recorder also found home-recorded videotapes (that I recorded from AMC in the early 1990's) as "copyright protected" and refused to copy the recording. I had no problem copying the very same recording with a Panasonic combo recorder. I contacted Funai Customer Support. They said that some of their products were overly sensitive and suggested that I return the product to Wal-Mart for exchange or refund. I took the refund. I have read many user comments or reviews that Sony DVD recorders are also very sensitive to copyright protection.

A number of matters mentioned in this current thread have been discussed in greater detail in this thread: http://forums.tcm.com/jive/tcm/thread.jspa?threadID=121656&start=30&tstart=0 The TCM "business model" that keeps TCM a viable business has been discussed between several posters, myself included, in posts appearing early on 1/27/2008. Comparisons with AMC, and its downfall, are found in earlier posts in that same thread. It is to be regretted that discussions of the old/new topic in that thread sometimes generated more heat than light.