Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to In The Balcony. We hope you enjoy your visit.

You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. Plus, you'll be eligible for the monthly $1 million prize. (Not really.)

Join our community!

If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Spy Smasher (1942); Combined threads
Topic Started: Nov 10 2005, 10:36 PM (1,459 Views)
rodney
Member Avatar
Charter Member
[ *  *  * ]
I was really hoping that KINO would do this one.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
AndyFish
Member Avatar
Movie Watcha Foist Class
[ *  *  * ]
Me too.
But I'll grab the SS copy when it's released.
I hope he doesn't have that weird pink color over the credits like the AC Comics version did.
www.andytfish.com
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
The Batman
Member Avatar
Charter Member
[ *  *  * ]

Tinting or not, I'm happy with the AC Comics release until someone like Kino possibly releases it on Blu-Ray.

Life is too short and I still have many serials (never mind films and TV series) yet to watch for the first time.


Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
rodney
Member Avatar
Charter Member
[ *  *  * ]
Ironically, this is the exact serial that Eric referred to in his pinned post at the top of the old Squadron message board saying something to the effect of, "Until there is an official release of this serial, the only legal way to get a copy of it is to buy the VHS and burn the DVD yourself".

Which begs the question...is Paramount licensing titles to the Squadron? I mean...I'm 98% sure they aren't, but I'm happy to be proven wrong.

My how times have changed.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
The Batman
Member Avatar
Charter Member
[ *  *  * ]

Valid points, Rodney. I'd be curious to hear the explanation.

Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Pa Stark
Charter Member
[ *  *  * ]
Laughing Gravy
Apr 30 2018, 07:14 PM
Again, I'll be happy to burn a copy for anybody if someone wants to send me one.
No thank you.
Honest and Lovable Pa Stark
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Laughing Gravy
Member Avatar
Look for In The Balcony on Facebook!
[ *  *  * ]
Suit yourself.
"I'm glad that this question came up, because there are so many ways to answer it that one of them is bound to be right." - Robert Benchley
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
rodney
Member Avatar
Charter Member
[ *  *  * ]
I utilized the archive.org Wayback machine to find Eric's post. Funny how nothing is lost on the internet.


How to Get a Legal, Free DVD Copy of SPY SMASHER and others
Lead [-]


avatar



Posts: 5840

28-Apr-07 06:46

Cosmic Administrator






Last night I lay in bed looking up at the stars in the sky and I thought to myself, where the heck is the ceiling.
Remove this ad

1) Put your VHS copy of your chosen Republic Home Video VHS release -- all of which are the highest quality versions ever released of those titles -- into your VCR. (If you need a Republic Home Video serial VHS tape, buy it from eBay or half.com or another used videotape vendor).

2) Connect the video and audio outputs of the VCR to your DVD recorder. (If you don't have a DVD recorder, go get one at Circuit City, Target or Best Buy; their prices are dropping every month.)

3) Hit RECORD, then STOP when the chapter's over.

4) Repeat step 3 for each additional chapter till the serial is complete.

Most serials will fit on 2 blank DVDs at SP speed; sometimes it's necessary to record a few chapters at LP if you are working with a longer or 15 chapter serial.

You will then own a DVD copy of something just as good as those being currently offered for 20 or 30 dollars online which were made from exactly the same master -- a Republic Pictures Home Video VHS tape or laserdisc, done it completely legally, and saved money too.

You can do the same thing for yourself -- also completely legally -- with any other Republic VHS or laserdisc release. And the results will be just as good as what those who are offering DVDs online would deliver to you. Because they are making their DVDs the same way.

Yes, I assure you, without exception, EVERY release of MYSTERIOUS DOCTOR SATAN or SPY SMASHER or G-MEN VS. THE BLACK DRAGON or KING OF THE TEXAS RANGERS or THE CRIMSON GHOST you see offered by anyone on DVD, on any website, or anywhere else, has been made the same way -- from the same VHS or laserdisc copy that you probably already own. "Digitally remastered" = baloney in the case of all those Republic serial DVDs people are hawking at $30 a pop. They'd like to part you with your hard-earned cash for something you could have created yourself for about 40 cents if you already owned your own Republic Pictures Home Video copy of what they're trying to sell you.

If you want to save money and not support bootleg DVD sales at the same time, you can do just that. Even if you have to buy an original VHS copy at half.com for $10, you've saved $20 from the price of that bootleg they want to sell you. Is it really worth $20 just to get that DVD cover?

Remember, also, the more legitimate the serial-buying community looks, the more likely it will be that we will see legitimate releases of so-far-unseen serials come from the studios.

Happy recording!
Attached to this post:
Attachments: SS.jpg (151.45 KB)
Edited by rodney, May 2 2018, 04:03 AM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Pa Stark
Charter Member
[ *  *  * ]
MY VHS/DVD player will play tapes, but the screen still show DVD mode, so maybe it's time to get a DVD recorder. I went to best buy, but they don't carry them anymore. Any recommendations on where to get one, and any models you recommend?
Honest and Lovable Pa Stark
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
rodney
Member Avatar
Charter Member
[ *  *  * ]
Pa Stark
May 2 2018, 09:17 AM
MY VHS/DVD player will play tapes, but the screen still show DVD mode, so maybe it's time to get a DVD recorder. I went to best buy, but they don't carry them anymore. Any recommendations on where to get one, and any models you recommend?
I don't think you can really buy them anymore. Mine is pretty much on its last legs as well. My post was a quote of something Grood said about Spy Smasher in 2007.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
The Batman
Member Avatar
Charter Member
[ *  *  * ]
Pa Stark
May 2 2018, 09:17 AM
MY VHS/DVD player will play tapes, but the screen still show DVD mode, so maybe it's time to get a DVD recorder. I went to best buy, but they don't carry them anymore. Any recommendations on where to get one, and any models you recommend?

Pa, I would post this question in one of the following threads:


Ask JazzGuyy


Information, please!


Jazzy will be your best bet to getting the best answer on this one.


Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
turan38
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
[ *  *  * ]
Pa Stark
May 2 2018, 09:17 AM
MY VHS/DVD player will play tapes, but the screen still show DVD mode, so maybe it's time to get a DVD recorder. I went to best buy, but they don't carry them anymore. Any recommendations on where to get one, and any models you recommend?
I don't understand what you mean by "the screen shows DVD mode." If your VCR is okay and your PC includes a dvd writer (as most do) you can get an analog-to-digital video converter. You play back the video which the converter streams to the PC as a digital file. You then use software to burn the DVD. They also make units that will transfer Blu-ray as well, but an extra piece of hardware (signal splitter) is needed to strip the copy protection. The actual hardware DVD recorders I see on Amazon all appear to be used. A good forum resource for information on all this is at https://www.videohelp.com/
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
JazzGuyy
Member Avatar
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
[ *  *  * ]
Grood was certainly wrong about one thing. A number of the Republic serials had LaserDisc masters and those masters on LaserDiscs had much better resolution than VHS. I believe CheezyFlicks have used LaserDisc sources for all the DVD of Republic serials they have put out since all of their releases I have seen were for Republic serials put out on LaserDisc. I suspect that other gray market outfits have used the LDs too. I converted all my LD Republic serials to DVD type files.
TANSTAAFL!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
JazzGuyy
Member Avatar
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
[ *  *  * ]
turan38
May 2 2018, 01:02 PM
Pa Stark
May 2 2018, 09:17 AM
MY VHS/DVD player will play tapes, but the screen still show DVD mode, so maybe it's time to get a DVD recorder. I went to best buy, but they don't carry them anymore. Any recommendations on where to get one, and any models you recommend?
I don't understand what you mean by "the screen shows DVD mode." If your VCR is okay and your PC includes a dvd writer (as most do) you can get an analog-to-digital video converter. You play back the video which the converter streams to the PC as a digital file. You then use software to burn the DVD. They also make units that will transfer Blu-ray as well, but an extra piece of hardware (signal splitter) is needed to strip the copy protection. The actual hardware DVD recorders I see on Amazon all appear to be used. A good forum resource for information on all this is at https://www.videohelp.com/
You don't even need a DVD writer on your computer. All you need is one of these gadgets (https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=vhs+to+digital+file+converter&tag=geminipcstand-20&index=aps&hvadid=33784239352&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=e&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_64x1ka2a3p_e). As long as your VHS player has video/audio outputs and your computer has USB inputs, you are good to go. You would have to have both a very old VHS machine and computer to not have these.

You get a digital file which you can play or your computer or, if you have a fairly new TV or DVD or Blu-Ray player, you can put the file on a USB memory stick and plug it into a USB connector on either your TV or DVD/Blu-Ray player and play the file on your computer. If you want to get fancy, you can use a video editing program to create chapter menus and do other stuff too. There are free versions of such programs available.
TANSTAAFL!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Pa Stark
Charter Member
[ *  *  * ]
Thanks for all the advice, gang, but I was asking about transferring tapes to DVD. Turan, what I meant was if my player is in DVD mode, and I haven't started playing a DVD, it would say "_DVD" on the screen, but it continues to show that while I have a tape playing, so I can't view the tape.

Jazzy, I did see those devices on Amazon, but don't know which one to choose. Any recommendations? With one of those devices would I be able to watch a tape, and would I get good quality transfer to DVD. Also, how easy are they to set up and operate.

BTW, today is 16 years since I retired from the post office. Last thing I did was I went to the public address system for the building with a CD player, and broadcast to the entire building, "Take This Job And Shove It." I had a friend videotape me doing it, so that is one video I want to put on Youtube. I shook hands with my long suffering supervisor, and told him, "This is the happiest day of your career."
Honest and Lovable Pa Stark
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Continued Next Week · Next Topic »
Add Reply