THE ART OF JUNK: DAN KINEM of VHSHITFEST

One of the things I enjoy hunting for the most are VHS Horror movies. They are very special to me as the Video Store was one of my favorite places growing up. In my region I met a guy who made a documentary about VHS Collecting titled ADJUST YOUR TRACKING named Dan Kinem and I discovered Dan collects and hunts for MUCH more than just VHS. I asked Dan a few questions and here's how it went

JUNKWORLD: IMAGINE WE ARE ALIENS... WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS YOU WANT US TO KNOW ABOUT YOU?

DAN: I want them to know how much I cherish art of all kinds and how I am open-minded when it comes to any form of art or media. I also want them to know how much I love archiving and collecting old things of all types and how important it is.

JUNKWORLD: HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE THE WORD "JUNK"?

DAN: Junk is the stuff that most people look over at a store, but that makes my eyes light up (for the most part).

JUNKWORLD: YOU TRAVELED THE COUNTRY PROMOTING THE MOVIE "ADJUST YOUR TRACKING"... WHAT ARE SOME INTERESTING THINGS YOU DISCOVERED ABOUT AMERICA IN THE PROCESS?
DAN: The stories are endless. I learned how important it is to market and build a fanbase. I also learned just how few video stores are left out there. I learned never to go searching for big foot in Northern California, too.

JUNKWORLD: MOST PEOPLE KNOW YOU IN REGARDS TO VHS COLLECTING. YOU COLLECT MUCH MORE. TELL US ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS YOU SEARCH FOR.

DAN: I collect so much shit. I go after 1990-1995 Simpsons stuff, WWF stuff (not action figures), New Kids on the Block stuff, Alf, 90210, Baywatch, Dinosaurs, Married with Children, VCR games, 80s/90s Nickelodeon, Criterion Collection DVDs, Something Weird DVDs, vintage clothes (mostly 80s and 90s), horror memorabilia, and so much more. Basically if it's interesting to me, or weird, or obscure, or cool, or merchandise from something I love or grew up with then I will buy it.

JUNKWORLD: WHAT IS YOUR HOLY GRAIL... YOUR MOST ELUSIVE SCORE THAT HAS ELUDED YOU AND YOU ARE YET TO FIND?

DAN: Well, it was the Streets of Death clamshell but I just got it a couple days ago. I would say maybe the Nickelodeon computer they put out in the 90s or a cheap Simpsons arcade system.

JUNKWORLD:  WHAT DRAWS YOU TO SEARCH FOR THESE THINGS? CAN YOU PIN-POINT WHERE IT BEGAN?

DAN: I have always been into collecting things since I was a kid. I had lots of toys, movies, and video games growing up. I think I truly love interesting things, but I love the hunt even more so. The thrill of finding something you never expected to find somewhere is the best feeling in the world. You are on thrift store number three, have been digging through the shirts for hours and your arm is about to fall off, and one of the last things on the rack is a vintage Simpsons shirt. There's nothing better than that. It gets my blood pumping.

JUNKWORLD: WHAT IS THE FURTHEST/WILDEST EXCURSION YOU HAVE EVER TAKEN TO MAKE A SCORE?

DAN: Well, I have traveled around the country to hunt for tapes. I drove all the way to Colorado from PA to go to a store. I've dug through a store that was destroyed in Katrina and the roof had caved in. There were literally wild animals roaming around it.

JUNKWORLD: IS THERE ONE REALY UNIQUE ITEM YOU HAVE THAT YOU FEEL IS EXTRA SPECIAL? IF SO, WHY?

DAN: I have a clamshell for Tales from the Quadead Zone that has original artwork that no one has seen before. No one knows where the release came from and I think there might only be one copy out there. I could mention cool, really unique things all day but that one is probably the most unique and hard to find. I am the only person in the world who has it.

JUNKWORLD: TELL US ABOUT THE LAST TIME YOU WERE VIOLENTLY ILL. AS MUCH DETAIL AS POSSIBLE PLEASE!

DAN: Violently ill? Probably 8 years ago I ate this chicken teriyaki TV dinner and it made me so sick. That was the last time I threw up and one of the only times actually. But currently I am super sick, but I wouldn't quite give it the "violently ill" label.

JUNKWORLD: DO YOU HAVE ANY FUTURE PROJECTS PLANNED?

DAN: I want to continue putting out obscure movies on VHS. I also want to start the VHShitfest movie review book. And lastly, I want to start a new movie.

JUNKWORLD: LAST WORDS? THE FLOOR IS YOURS...

DAN: Please go and support VHShitfest. Buy some products from http://adjustyourtracking.com and tell your friends!

OUTCAST MENTALITY AND JUNK

All my life I have been different. I have been drawn to things that are "weird" or thought stuff no one else liked or cared about was cool and didn't really care what anyone thought about me. I was an OUTCAST. I was someone that I felt didn't fit into society and was someone no one wanted. That's why my forearms read "OUTCAST MENTALITY", something I have learned in life makes me a unique person and is not necessarily a negative thing.

I see JUNK as stuff no one wanted. Items that were discarded. Clothes and fashions ppl felt were out-dated or they no longer had use for. Toys and video games someone got bored with or "outgrew" and got rid of or packed away in the corner of the basement or attic. Records and music they thought were dated or no longer liked. All this stuff ends up on the shelves or racks of the Thrift Store, auction, or whatever other second-hand type outlet it may have ended up at.

I think to myself that its possible that I feel a connection with these items. I feel that they are "Outcasts" like myself. They are just looking for a second chance, for someone to accept them (ever see Toy Story 3??). Maybe I'm looking into this too deeply and I'm just nuts? Either is possible! Whatever the reason I feel most of us have a reason we are drawn to certain things in life. I have enjoyed searching for and resurrecting these items someone didn't want for a good portion of my life.

WHATEVER reason YOU have for thrifting or buying vintage/unique stuff may be different. That's what makes Junk so fascinating, fun, and timeless!

BEST TOYS EVER: MATTEL "MAD SCIENTIST" TOYS...

In the 80's they made all kinds of sweet toys that would prob never make it to the market today due to the outrage parents would probably have over them. In the late 80's MATTEL unleashed a line of toys that for me was one of the coolest, grossest, and most sure to offend parents line of toys ever to exist: MAD SCIENTIST!

The most memorable for me were the MONSTER LAB and DISSECT AND ALIEN sets. The MONSTER LAB set was prob the coolest. You took little bones, put them together to make a monster skeleton, then added the Monster Flesh (green putty-like stuff) and then eyes or whatever else you wanted and you had your monster.... but he was totally DOOMED! Next you prepared the Vat where he would meet his horrible fate! The Vat was full of something you made w water and a powder that DISSOLVED THE MONSTER FLESH when you put your monster in the vat! OUCH! It simulated an acid vat. VERY cool, cruel, and gross! I loved it!

DSISECT AN ALIEN was more popular and is better remembered. You had a big Alien w a Clear, hollowed rubber body. You inserted his plastic organs (as well as slime), stitched him up, and then ripped him open and tore his guts out! It was training grounds for future surgeons AND serial killers alike! A very desirable toy at the time. EVERY kid (well, boy kids) wanted this one for Christmas or Birthday that year.

Smash em!!!

There were many more Mad Scientist toys. There were the little toys that featured molds and the Putty or "Living Ice" (which didn't work very well) to create little monsters. There were also other kits like the ne where you made your own purple slime, then filled the bodies of little 4 legged monsters so you could smash them and watch their limbs and head fly off and their slime/guts ooze out. There was a dress-up kit, bendy action figures, and even a cartoon. This line of toys faded into
obscurity eventually. I feel like this line should be be revived for modern children. To find The Monster Lab is kinda useless as you don't have access to the Monster Flesh or any of the powder and it had MANY small parts so finding one w ALL parts in tact is rather difficult. Dissect An Alien is a good find because all you need to do is add new slime and its good to go! Some of the other kits required the Ice or Flesh stuff that is difficult to replicate. Id like to at least have Dissect An Alien for my son as I feel he would have a lot of fun with it... prob a smuh fun as I had with it back in the day!!!

Heres a video via You Tube of one of the commercials. "TOO GROSS! TOO YUCKY!" Very cool still today!

WHAT IS JUNK?????

When most people think of JUNK they think of something that no one would want. And they are right! I see JUNK as something someone didn't want. Sometimes the item will end up in a landfill and SOMETIMES the items end up in a Thrift/Second Hand Store, Auction, or it finds its way to some other means to be reused and recycled where it gets another chance at being used and loved.

This blog is dedicated to all things JUNK. I spend a lot of time searching for junk. I search for certain as well as random things. The things I specifically search for are VHS (horror, action, and trash movies mainly), TOYS, VIDEO GAMES, MUSIC (cd, vinyl, cassette), and CLOTHING. That's not to say that I don't often stumble upon OTHER items that I find I need to buy.

BUT DO I REALLY NEED IT? Of course not! These items are not life and death. They are not necessity. They are not food, water, or toilet paper. Then why do I spend so much time searching and so much $$$ buying them? The answer is very simple:

IT MAKES ME HAPPY

Many of the items I buy are items I remember from the past. Most are from my childhood. Others are unique items that I want to have or wear to set myself apart from everyone else in society who are buying all their new/current/and same goods. Junk is unique. Most items are not easily found. it takes effort to sift through things until you find what you are looking for. Often it takes YEARS to find that ONE very special item you have been searching and searching for. I find it satisfying to find stuff for friends and family... esp stuff I don't have much interest in (like Pittsburgh Steelers stuff for my Steeler fan friends!)

Junk is fun. Junk is wonderful. Junk is addictive. I will be posting stuff about many different types of junk here. If you want to follow me on Instagram my name is JUNK.WORLD

Much more coming son!