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{{Infobox company
{{One source|date=September 2019}}
| name=Video Yesteryear, Inc.
'''Video Yesteryear''' of [[Sandy Hook, Connecticut]] was the largest catalog retailer of [[public domain]] films on [[VHS]], [[Betamax]], and [[8mm film]] beginning in 1978. Originally known as Radio Yesteryear from 1967, the company distributed old radio shows on [[LP record]]s, [[audio cassette]]s, [[Reel-to-reel audio tape recording|reel-to-reel]], and, for a short time, [[8-track tape]]s.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=HiUEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22Video+Yesteryear%22&pg=PT49 ''Billboard'' magazine (November 10, 1979) via Google Books website]</ref>
| logo=
| type=Private
| founder=J. David Goldin
| founded={{start date and age|1965}} in [[Croton-on-Hudson, New York]]
| defunct={{end date and age|1998|12}}
⚫
| fate=Acquired by Audio Book Club, Inc.
| industry={{ubl|Mass media|Retail}}
}}
'''Video Yesteryear, Inc.''',<ref>{{cite web | date=n.d. | url=https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_ct/0608065 | title=Video Yesteryear, Inc. | publisher=OpenCorporates | archiveurl=http://archive.today/2024.04.26-041151/https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_ct/0608065 | archivedate=April 26, 2024}}</ref> was an American distributor and retailer of [[public domain]] films, archival radio shows, and film soundtracks. It was founded in 1965 by J. David Goldin, who originally operated the company from his home in [[Croton-on-Hudson, New York]], before moving to [[Sandy Hook, Connecticut]]. Formerly known as '''Radio Yesteryear''', the company distributed old radio shows on [[LP record]]s, [[audio cassette]]s, [[Reel-to-reel audio tape recording|reel-to-reel]], and, for a short time, [[8-track tape]]s. Beginning in 1978, the company began releasing [[public domain]] films on [[VHS]], [[Betamax]], and [[8 mm film|8&nbsp;mm film]].<ref name=moses />


==History==
Radio Yesteryear began to release radio shows in 1970 in LP form on their Radiola Records imprint. Later they released records under a second imprint called Sandy Hook Records, which was designated as a "music-only" label. They released music broadcasts and film soundtracks, and reissued commercial recordings that had been out of print for many years.
Video Yesteryear was founded as Radio Yesteryear in 1965<ref name=kemper /> by J. David Goldin (born October 20, 1942), out of his home in [[Croton-on-Hudson, New York]].<ref name=birdsall>{{cite book | last=Birdsall | first=Carolyn | date=2023 | url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Radiophilia/oF7FEAAAQBAJ | title=Radiophilia | publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing | page=182 | isbn=9781501374982 | via=Google Books}}</ref><ref name=angus>{{cite journal | last=Angus | first=Robert | date=April 1974 | url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Audio/Archive-High-Fidelity/70s/High-Fidelity-1974-04.pdf#page=81 | title=Old-Time Radio Is Alive and Well in a Croton-on-Hudson Garage | work=High Fidelity and Musical America | publisher=Billboard Publications | volume=24 | issue=4 | page=59–63 | via=World Radio History}}</ref>{{rp|59}} An enthusiast of radio since childhood, Goldin earned a bachelor's degree in radio production from [[New York University]], where he had worked as a disk jockey at [[WNYU]], the school's radio station.<ref name=umkc>{{cite web | last=Anonymous | date=n.d. | url=https://finding-aids.library.umkc.edu/agents/people/73 | title=Goldin, J. David | work=Special Collections and Archives Finding Aids | publisher=UMKC University Libraries | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608124346/https://finding-aids.library.umkc.edu/agents/people/73 | archivedate=June 8, 2023}}</ref> Following graduation, Goldin moved to [[Sitka, Alaska]], where he worked as a DJ and engineer at [[KSEW (Sitka, Alaska)|KSEW]], a low-power, multilingual radio station that broadcast in both English and [[Tlingit language|Tlingit]].<ref name=wilber>{{cite journal | last=Wilber | first=Del Quentin | author2=Lisa Rein | date=May 3, 2012 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/in-national-archives-thefts-a-radio-detective-gets-his-man/2012/05/02/gIQAN1chxT_story.html | title=The sleuth, the Babe and a radio mystery | work=The Washington Post | page=A1 | via=ProQuest}}</ref> It was at KSEW where he amassed his first hoard of 16-inch [[Electrical transcription|transcription discs]], taken with permission as the station no longer wanted them.<ref name=angus />{{rp|59}} Later, Goldin moved back to New York, where he worked as an engineer for a handful of larger radio companies, including [[WNBC]], [[WOR (AM)|WOR]], and the [[CBS Broadcast Center]].<ref name=concise>{{cite book | editor-last=Sterling | editor-first=Christopher H. | date=2010 | url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Concise_Encyclopedia_of_American_Rad/dmmLAgAAQBAJ | title=The Concise Encyclopedia of American Radio | publisher=Taylor & Francis | page=470 | isbn=9781135176846 | via=Google Books}}</ref><ref name=kemper>{{cite journal | last=Kemper | first=Steve | date=June 19, 1994 | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant-conversations-by-stev/31394199/ | title=Conversations: Reminiscing through recordings | work=The Hartford Courant | page=4 | via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> While working at these stations, Goldin acquired even more transcription discs, either from neglected storage areas or from veteran staff.<ref name=moses>{{cite book | last=Moses | first=Nancy | date=2015 | url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Stolen_Smuggled_Sold/ybEBCgAAQBAJ | title=Stolen, Smuggled, Sold: On the Hunt for Cultural Treasures | publisher=Rowman & Littlefield | isbn=9780759121942 | via=Google Books}}</ref>{{rp|54}}<ref name=wilber /> By the mid 1960s, he had several thousand transcription discs, at which point he decided to found Radio Yesteryear as a [[Mail order|mail-order]] service, selling audiotape copies of his archived transcription discs which he had dubbed to professional [[reel-to-reel tape]].<ref name=wilber /><ref name=angus />{{rp|60}}


Also in the late 1960s, Goldin was hired by [[Viva Records (U.S.)|Viva Records]] to produce a compliation of 1930s and 1940s radio show theme songs for nostalgic listeners. Titled ''Themes Like Old Times'' and released in 1969, the compilation proved highly popular, impacting ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]''{{'s}} top-selling LPs chart at number 23.<ref name=moses />{{rp|54}} This won him a contract with [[Columbia Records]] to produce ''W.&nbsp;C. Fields on Radio with Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy'' (1969), which earned a nomination for [[Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album|Best Comedy Recording]] at the [[12th Annual Grammy Awards|12th Annual Grammys]].<ref name=moses />{{rp|54}} Following these accolades, Radio Yesteryear then began releasing LPs of their own on their Radiola Records imprint.<ref name=umkc /> At the [[24th Annual Grammy Awards|24th Annual Grammys]], Radio Yesteryear's remaster of [[Orson Welles]]' 1944 reading of ''[[Donovan's Brain]]'' for [[Suspense (radio drama)|''Suspense'']] won an award for [[Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album|Best Spoken Word, Documentary or Drama Recording]].<ref name=wilber />
When LPs began to be phased out, Radiola and Sandy Hook became cassette-only formats. Shortly before the sale of the company, they started experimenting with the CD format.


Later, Radio Yesteryear formed a second imprint for LPs called Sandy Hook Records. This imprint was designated as a "music-only" label, as opposed to Radiola's focus on complete radio shows. Sandy Hook released music broadcasts and film soundtracks, and reissued commercial recordings that had been out of print for many years. When LPs began to be phased out, Radiola and Sandy Hook became cassette-only formats. Shortly before the sale of the company, they started experimenting with the [[Compact disc|CD]] format.
⚫
They released "custom tapes" of radio programs from their archive. For $12 per hour, a customer could select shows to add to their own collections. They also began a catalogue of shows called Goldin Radio Library which eventually contained hundreds of preselected shows on cassette. The "Goldin" spelling is from the name of the company founder, J. David Goldin.


⚫
They released "custom tapes" of radio programs from their archive. For $12&nbsp;per hour, a customer could select shows to add to their own collections. They also began a catalogue of shows called Goldin Radio Library which eventually contained hundreds of preselected shows on cassette.
⚫
They also started a cassette/CD reissue series called Stacks Of 78s that contained recordings from their collection of 78 rpm records. Most of these were out-of-print recordings that had been unavailable for many years. They made no effort at sound restoration; thus, some of the releases had a great deal of scratches and [[surface noise]].


⚫
They also started a cassette/CD reissue series called Stacks of 78s that contained recordings from their collection of 78&nbsp;rpm records.<ref>{{cite web | last=Frederick | first=R.&nbsp;D. "Gus" | first=Jim M. Whitty | date=n.d. | url=http://www.shellac.org/wams/wvendor4.html | title=Re-Recordings & Reissues: Your Source for New Old Music! | publisher=Wolverine Antique Music Society | archiveurl= | archivedate=}}</ref> Most of these were out-of-print recordings that had been unavailable for many years. They made no effort at sound restoration; thus, some of the releases had a great deal of scratches and [[surface noise]].
⚫
As Video Yesteryear, they are best known for presenting silent films at slower speeds than a standard 16mm projector would normally show, bringing the early films closer to their silent film running time. This process was known as Video Accu-Speed and described as a "prism optical" process. It unfortunately had the effect of making the film darker the closer it got to the edges. Their [[silent film]] releases also included original organ scores composed and performed by [[Rosa Rio]] (1902–2010), who had been a theatre organist during the silent era.


⚫
As Video Yesteryear, they are best known for presenting silent films at slower speeds than a standard 16&nbsp;mm projector would normally show, bringing the early films closer to their silent film running time. This process was known as Video Accu-Speed.<ref name=nyt>{{cite journal | last=Nichols | first=Peter | date=April 8, 1990 | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/427633702/ | title=Fast Forward: A Matter of Entrances and Exits | work=The New York Times | page=A32 | via=ProQuest}}</ref> Their [[silent film]] releases also included original organ scores composed and performed by [[Rosa Rio]] (1902–2010), who had been a theatre organist during the silent era.<ref name=kemper /> By 1990, Video Yesteryear's catalog number 1,200 films, including 350 silent films.<ref name=nyt />
⚫
The company was purchased by Audio Book Club in 1998.

The company was purchased by Audio Book Club, Inc., in December 1998 for an undisclosed amount.<ref name=feder>{{cite journal | last=Feder | first=Robert | date=December 16, 1998 | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/258527587/ | title=Channel 2 profits from ad that looks like news | work=Chicago Sun-Times | page=55 | via=ProQuest}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Companies based in Fairfield County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Companies based in Fairfield County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Retail companies established in 1967]]
[[Category:Retail companies established in 1965]]
[[Category:Film distributors of the United States]]
[[Category:Film distributors of the United States]]
[[Category:Newtown, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Newtown, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Retail companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Retail companies of the United States]]
[[Category:1967 establishments in Connecticut]]
[[Category:1965 establishments in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Home video distributors]]
[[Category:Home video distributors]]
[[Category:Home video companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Home video companies of the United States]]


{{US-film-company-stub}}

Revision as of 07:50, 26 April 2024

Video Yesteryear, Inc.
Company typePrivate
Industry
  • Mass media
  • Retail
Founded1965; 59 years ago (1965) in Croton-on-Hudson, New York
FounderJ. David Goldin
DefunctDecember 1998; 25 years ago (1998-12)
FateAcquired by Audio Book Club, Inc.

Video Yesteryear, Inc.,[1] was an American distributor and retailer of public domain films, archival radio shows, and film soundtracks. It was founded in 1965 by J. David Goldin, who originally operated the company from his home in Croton-on-Hudson, New York, before moving to Sandy Hook, Connecticut. Formerly known as Radio Yesteryear, the company distributed old radio shows on LP records, audio cassettes, reel-to-reel, and, for a short time, 8-track tapes. Beginning in 1978, the company began releasing public domain films on VHS, Betamax, and 8 mm film.[2]

History

Video Yesteryear was founded as Radio Yesteryear in 1965[3] by J. David Goldin (born October 20, 1942), out of his home in Croton-on-Hudson, New York.[4][5]: 59  An enthusiast of radio since childhood, Goldin earned a bachelor's degree in radio production from New York University, where he had worked as a disk jockey at WNYU, the school's radio station.[6] Following graduation, Goldin moved to Sitka, Alaska, where he worked as a DJ and engineer at KSEW, a low-power, multilingual radio station that broadcast in both English and Tlingit.[7] It was at KSEW where he amassed his first hoard of 16-inch transcription discs, taken with permission as the station no longer wanted them.[5]: 59  Later, Goldin moved back to New York, where he worked as an engineer for a handful of larger radio companies, including WNBC, WOR, and the CBS Broadcast Center.[8][3] While working at these stations, Goldin acquired even more transcription discs, either from neglected storage areas or from veteran staff.[2]: 54 [7] By the mid 1960s, he had several thousand transcription discs, at which point he decided to found Radio Yesteryear as a mail-order service, selling audiotape copies of his archived transcription discs which he had dubbed to professional reel-to-reel tape.[7][5]: 60 

Also in the late 1960s, Goldin was hired by Viva Records to produce a compliation of 1930s and 1940s radio show theme songs for nostalgic listeners. Titled Themes Like Old Times and released in 1969, the compilation proved highly popular, impacting Variety's top-selling LPs chart at number 23.[2]: 54  This won him a contract with Columbia Records to produce W. C. Fields on Radio with Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy (1969), which earned a nomination for Best Comedy Recording at the 12th Annual Grammys.[2]: 54  Following these accolades, Radio Yesteryear then began releasing LPs of their own on their Radiola Records imprint.[6] At the 24th Annual Grammys, Radio Yesteryear's remaster of Orson Welles' 1944 reading of Donovan's Brain for Suspense won an award for Best Spoken Word, Documentary or Drama Recording.[7]

Later, Radio Yesteryear formed a second imprint for LPs called Sandy Hook Records. This imprint was designated as a "music-only" label, as opposed to Radiola's focus on complete radio shows. Sandy Hook released music broadcasts and film soundtracks, and reissued commercial recordings that had been out of print for many years. When LPs began to be phased out, Radiola and Sandy Hook became cassette-only formats. Shortly before the sale of the company, they started experimenting with the CD format.

They released "custom tapes" of radio programs from their archive. For $12 per hour, a customer could select shows to add to their own collections. They also began a catalogue of shows called Goldin Radio Library which eventually contained hundreds of preselected shows on cassette.

They also started a cassette/CD reissue series called Stacks of 78s that contained recordings from their collection of 78 rpm records.[9] Most of these were out-of-print recordings that had been unavailable for many years. They made no effort at sound restoration; thus, some of the releases had a great deal of scratches and surface noise.

As Video Yesteryear, they are best known for presenting silent films at slower speeds than a standard 16 mm projector would normally show, bringing the early films closer to their silent film running time. This process was known as Video Accu-Speed.[10] Their silent film releases also included original organ scores composed and performed by Rosa Rio (1902–2010), who had been a theatre organist during the silent era.[3] By 1990, Video Yesteryear's catalog number 1,200 films, including 350 silent films.[10]

The company was purchased by Audio Book Club, Inc., in December 1998 for an undisclosed amount.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Video Yesteryear, Inc". OpenCorporates. n.d. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Moses, Nancy (2015). Stolen, Smuggled, Sold: On the Hunt for Cultural Treasures. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9780759121942 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ a b c Kemper, Steve (June 19, 1994). "Conversations: Reminiscing through recordings". The Hartford Courant: 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Birdsall, Carolyn (2023). Radiophilia. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 182. ISBN 9781501374982 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ a b c Angus, Robert (April 1974). "Old-Time Radio Is Alive and Well in a Croton-on-Hudson Garage" (PDF). High Fidelity and Musical America. 24 (4). Billboard Publications: 59–63 – via World Radio History.
  6. ^ a b Anonymous (n.d.). "Goldin, J. David". Special Collections and Archives Finding Aids. UMKC University Libraries. Archived from the original on June 8, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d Wilber, Del Quentin; Lisa Rein (May 3, 2012). "The sleuth, the Babe and a radio mystery". The Washington Post: A1 – via ProQuest.
  8. ^ Sterling, Christopher H., ed. (2010). The Concise Encyclopedia of American Radio. Taylor & Francis. p. 470. ISBN 9781135176846 – via Google Books.
  9. ^ Frederick, Jim M. Whitty (n.d.). "Re-Recordings & Reissues: Your Source for New Old Music!". Wolverine Antique Music Society.
  10. ^ a b Nichols, Peter (April 8, 1990). "Fast Forward: A Matter of Entrances and Exits". The New York Times: A32 – via ProQuest.
  11. ^ Feder, Robert (December 16, 1998). "Channel 2 profits from ad that looks like news". Chicago Sun-Times: 55 – via ProQuest.
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