Stuff That’s Gone (Pittsburgh)
Picture: C+
Sound: C+ Extras: B- Main Program: B
The influential Things That Aren’t There Anymore
(reviewed elsewhere on this site) was going to be a tough act to follow for
public television station WQED to come up with, a show that has been duplicated
all over the nation and remained popular for years. Because Rick Sebak and his crew were continuing (and still
continue) to produce these great specials, Stuff That’s Gone (1994) is
practically its equal.
Though it focuses on Pittsburgh and surrounding areas,
this show will as much as any of these shows find wide-ranging ideas and once
common Americana that has sadly faded from the scene. There is the older Pittsburgh International Airport, a
then-modern set-up that was one of the largest of its kind until its
successor. Kept as a landmark, the
building sadly has asbestos inside, cutting down its practical use for the
future. The special only focuses on its
old days.
There are special radio shows, restaurants, amusement
parks, and an especially good segment on drive-ins, something we can really
appreciate at this site. At the time,
the biggest of seven the Warren family owned was still in operation. Sadly, an infamous chain that opens stores
more than Madonna used to change her look too has replaced it, but this show
fortunately captures what was a five-screener before it saw its end. The best part is when the patriarch claims
he had probably played Tobe Hooper’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre since its
1974 release more than anyone else in the country. That says something.
There was The Pittsburgh Maulers, the ill-fated USFL team
from the ill-fated USFL, who won an entire $1.00 in damages when it was proved
that the NFL had used unethical and otherwise shady tactics to help get them
out of the way. It was not like the
implosion of the XFL, as these people were somewhat serious. Ad campaigns and other memorabilia are dug
up that you will not see anywhere else.
Those other cities that had franchises will enjoy this part too.
Then there is the Winky’s Restaurant Chain. Winky’s was a once-ambitious chain that
tried to be Arby’s McDonald’s, Burger King and Wendy’s in one. Known initially for their 15-cents burgers
and 15-cents French fries, their promo campaign exclaimed “Winky’s makes you
happy to be hungry, Winky’s has a little bit more.” The buildings were even designed to look like the letter W. This author can assure you that the fries
were excellent every time, while the ads here are send ups of Westerns. Maybe we could see a national show on food
chains that are gone.
The full frame 1.33 X 1 image was produced on professional
NTSC video and looks good for its age, with the usual sock footage (usually
film) and stills we have come to expect from this series. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo is simple and
clear, again some of the best of its kind from a TV production. Extras include an extended interview with
radio personality Wendy King (13:49), a radio clip from her last Party Line
show on 8/14/69 (11:22) from a ¼-inch tape, The Little Train Robbery
silent film in its full (11.5 minutes) length and a segment on the defunct
Wolverine Toys and some of their products that have long outlived the
company. It begins at an antiques show
and runs 8:31. Add the promos for this
program, all the Pittsburgh Series programs and the Sebak/WQED national
programs and you have one of the best extras sections to date. This is a DVD series that never fails to
impress. Read more about it and other
titles at www.wqed.org and see for yourself.
- Nicholas Sheffo
