Hey cinephiles,
This week’s episode is a little different—we hit the pavement. I filmed this one out in the city, right before work, and let the thrift gods take over. The goal was restraint. The result? A lot of sweat, a busted budget, and one jaw-dropping find that made it all worth it.
📺 Here’s what we unearthed this week:
What started as a mission for repertory theater picks turned into a full-blown VHS detour. Here’s what I walked away with:
🎞️ Steel Bands of Trinidad – A rare doc celebrating Carnival and the cultural roots of the steel band tradition.
🎞️ Shindig Presents Soul – Vintage live performances with Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Tina Turner, and Marvin Gaye.
🎞️ Shindig Presents Motor City Magic – More ‘60s soul greatness: The Temptations, The Supremes, Four Tops, and more.
🎞️ American Patchwork: Cajun Country – PBS gem on Southern folk music. Bonus points for the title: “Don’t Drop the Potato.”
🎞️ L’Enfant / Netherlands Dance Theater – Factory sealed French dance performance tape. $3.99 well spent.
Oh—and I did manage to find one of the films on my repertory wish list:
🎞️ La Collectionneuse (1967) – From Éric Rohmer’s Six Moral Tales. But instead of the solo title, I walked away with the entire Criterion set.
Got a favorite from the stack? Curious about the Steel Bands of Trinidad, or that Cajun Country gem? Hit reply and let me know what you’d like me to dive deeper into.
💬 THRIFT THOUGHT OF THE WEEK
Sometimes, you won’t get to see that film you love, or missed out on unless your butt is planted in the seat. Physical media matters. But sometimes, only a dark theater and a glowing screen will do.
🛎️ COMING UP
Tuesday’s drop will cover the rest of this haul, and Sunday’s Two for the Shelves will be a Faustian double feature you won’t want to miss.
Until then,
Stay curious and keep digging,
—E. A. Bland
Seen any of these? Got a favorite forgotten title hiding on your own shelf? Drop it in a reply—I’m always hunting.
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