The Bootleg Files: The Donna Summer Special

Posted on May 18, 2018 by Phil Hall

BOOTLEG FILES 638: “The Donna Summer Special” (1980 television special starring The Queen of Disco).

LAST SEEN: On YouTube.

AMERICAN HOME VIDEO: None.

REASON FOR BOOTLEG STATUS: Clearing music rights have prevented its reissue.

CHANCES OF SEEING A COMMERCIAL DVD RELEASE: Slim to non-existent.

By January 1980, Donna Summer was at the peak of her career. Dubbed “The Queen of Disco” by the entertainment media, her songs were in constant play on the radio and the music industry had showered her with awards. Her performance in the 1978 film “Thank God It’s Friday” elevated that forgettable B-movie to pop culture immortality with her rendition of the song “Last Dance,” which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
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The Bootleg Files: Tall, Tan and Terrific

Posted on May 11, 2018 by Phil Hall

BOOTLEG FILES 637: “Tall, Tan and Terrific” (1946 film starring Mantan Moreland).

LAST SEEN: On YouTube.

AMERICAN HOME VIDEO: On public domain labels.

REASON FOR BOOTLEG STATUS: A lapsed copyright.

CHANCES OF SEEING A COMMERCIAL DVD RELEASE: The original film materials are believed to be lost and the copyright expired, which limits the opportunity to properly restore this old flick.

The 1946 film “Tall, Tan and Terrific” is among the most peculiar films within the genre known as “race films”: all-black productions created exclusively for distribution to racially segregated cinemas during the Jim Crow era. The film itself is a forgettable mediocrity, but it is notable for bringing together a number of talented individuals who rarely received a proper chance to display their considerable talents.
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The Bootleg Files: A Special Tiny Tim

Posted on April 27, 2018 by Phil Hall

BOOTLEG FILES 636: “A Special Tiny Tim” (1970 television special).

LAST SEEN: On YouTube.

AMERICAN HOME VIDEO: None.

REASON FOR BOOTLEG STATUS: The program was never released in the U.S. for either broadcast or home entertainment audiences.

CHANCES OF SEEING A COMMERCIAL DVD RELEASE: Unlikely.

On January 22, 1968, American television viewers got their first view of Herbert Buckingham Khaury, an entertainer who appeared in the New York club scene for years under a variety of stage names before settling on Tiny Tim. The performer was featured on the premiere episode of “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In,” and with his long and flowing hair, large beaked nose and fluttery movements he made quite an impression. Tiny Tim came on stage, pulled a soprano ukulele from a shopping bag and began singing “A Tisket, A Tasket” and “On the Good Ship Lollipop” in an astonishing falsetto while funnyman Dick Martin looked on in astonishment. Although the response from the viewers’ mail was decidedly mixed, Tiny Tim was invited back two weeks later, performing “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” in the same eccentric style as his first appearance.

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The Bootleg Files: The Honeymooners – The REALLY Lost Debut Episodes

Posted on April 20, 2018 by Phil Hall

BOOTLEG FILES 635: “The Honeymooners – The REALLY Lost Debut Episodes” (1993 television special).

LAST SEEN: On YouTube.

AMERICAN HOME VIDEO: None.

REASON FOR BOOTLEG STATUS: The program was never re-released to home entertainment channels.

CHANCES OF SEEING A COMMERCIAL DVD RELEASE: Unlikely.

In 1993, fans of “The Honeymooners” were shocked to learn that some of the earliest episodes of the classic comedy were rediscovered after being presumed lost for more than 40 years. These episodes, which consisted of eight- to twelve-minute sketches performed on the “Cavalcade of Stars” variety program broadcast on the DuMont network, were presented during the spring at special screenings at the Museum of Television and Radio in New York and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. On October 30, 1993, six of the sketches were gathered into a Disney Channel special called “The Honeymooners – The REALLY Lost Debut Episodes.”

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The Bootleg Files: Ben Hur

Posted on April 13, 2018 by Phil Hall

BOOTLEG FILES 634: “Ben Hur” (1907 short film).

LAST SEEN: On YouTube and Internet Archive.

AMERICAN HOME VIDEO: It has been included in anthologies of early silent films.

REASON FOR BOOTLEG STATUS: A groundbreaking example of copyright infringement.

CHANCES OF SEEING A COMMERCIAL DVD RELEASE: It is out there, but why would you want to find it?

One of the most important films in the legal history of intellectual property is also one of the least interesting productions ever captured on camera. If anyone pays attention to this bad old movie today, it is strictly to appreciate its place in copyright protection and not to pay tribute to its artistry.
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The Bootleg Files: K-9000: A Space Oddity

Posted on April 6, 2018 by Phil Hall

BOOTLEG FILES 633: “K-9000: A Space Oddity” (1968 animated short).

LAST SEEN: On YouTube.

AMERICAN HOME VIDEO: None.

REASON FOR BOOTLEG STATUS: It is uncertain what the problem is with this title.

CHANCES OF SEEING A COMMERCIAL DVD RELEASE: Not likely.

Fifty years ago this week, Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey” had its theatrical premiere. It inspired controversy, debate and (for many moviegoers) a great excuse to get stoned in the cinema. It also inspired a cute animated short called “K-9000: A Space Oddity,” which was quickly produced and released within months of the Kubrick film.

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The Bootleg Files: The Mad, Mad, Mad Comedians

Posted on March 30, 2018 by Phil Hall

BOOTLEG FILES 632: “The Mad, Mad, Mad Comedians” (1970 Rankin/Bass animated television special).

LAST SEEN: On YouTube.

AMERICAN HOME VIDEO: None.

REASON FOR BOOTLEG STATUS: Most likely due to a rights clearance issue.

CHANCES OF SEEING A COMMERCIAL DVD RELEASE: Not likely.

During the 1960s, Rankin/Bass Productions enjoyed a skein of hit films and television specials, including “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Mad Monster Party?”, “The Little Drummer Boy” and “Frosty the Snowman.” In 1970, the studio put forth “The Mad, Mad, Mad Comedians,” which turned out to be their highest rated television show.
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