This past March, Matt from Dinosaur Dracula uploaded a video as part of his ongoing Retro Commercials series that I would absolutely classify as a “gem.” Especially given how so many of us hold old local cable footage so near and dear.
The video is a clip of a 1992 Staten Island Video Billboard. The SIVB (no one called it that) was a local cable channel that would display community events and local ads in a visual style akin to the UK’s old teletext service. With graphics that can only be described as MS Paint-y.
The Video Billboard service hd everything from ads:
To friendly notices:
And even the ferry schedule:
Click the video below to watch the whole thing and then head on over to Dino Drac for an absolute treasure trove of nostalgic videos and photo essays.
Vin Forte is a writer. He also hosts the ‘Any Time with Vin Forte’ podcast. He is currently working on an anthology of short stories due out later this year.
