Archive-name: tv/british-comedy/general-faq/part4
URL: http://cathouse.org/BritishComedy/Info/a.c.b_FAQ/Part4.html
Posting-Frequency: every 14 days
Last-modified: 23 May 1995
Version: 2.01
alt.comedy.british FAQ
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Part 4: Buyer's Guide
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Version 2.01
Compiled by James Kew, j.kew@ic.ac.uk.
Copyright 1994, 1995 James Kew.
Reproduction in unaltered form for non-profit use is encouraged. Any other
reproduction is prohibited without permission. Vendor details are for
information only. I have no connection with any companies listed in this
FAQ. Do not bend, fold, spindle or mutilate.
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Contents
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1. Where can I buy copies of my favourite comedy?
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1. Where can I buy copies of my favourite comedy?
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A word about video: The PAL format used in the UK and elsewhere is
incompatible with the American NTSC format; British videotapes won't play
in American machines. A few multiformat machines are available in the
domestic market; there are also a number of services for format conversion,
but neither are cheap. Many BBC comedies are distributed under licence on
NTSC video by CBS/Fox or, more recently, by BBC/Lionheart TV, a BBC
Enterprises subsidiary. Call them for more info and a useful catalogue:
Lionheart Television
630 Fifth Avenue Suite 2220
New York, NY 10111
Tel: 212-705-9300
The following mail-order vendors sell NTSC tapes:
Critics' Choice Video
Telephone 1-708-775-3355 (information, Mon-Fri 0700-2100, Sat
0900-1700 CT), 1-800-367-7765 (orders, 24h; Spanish-speaker available
during hours above), 1-800-727-2900 (TDD, hours as above) or fax
1-708-775-3355. Critics' Choice Video, P.O. Box 749, Itasca, IL
60143-0749.
Fusion Video
Telephone toll-free 1-800-959-0061 or write Fusion Video, 17311 Fusion
Way, Country Club Hills, IL 60478-9906. Ask for their catalogue "The
British Video Collection".
Laughinghouse Video
Telephone 714-956-9032 (1030-1800 pacific time) or write P.O. Box
8572, Anaheim, CA 92812-0572. Email contact Michael Walsh
(MrWally@ix.netcom.com). Laughinghouse can import PAL-format videos
and provide a "free" NTSC copy. Their 500 page/6000 title British TV
and film catalogue costs $10, and includes a $5 discount coupon for
use on your first order. It's also available in a PC version (Windows
3.1, supports 16 colours, 256 preferred) at the same price. Also
available: import music, multimedia titles, and books (as yet no
catalogue).
Signals
Telephone toll-free, any time, 1-800-669-9696, or write Signals, WGBH
Educational Foundation, P.O. Box 64428, St. Paul, MN 55164-0428. They
accept major credit cards over the phone and take checks with mailed
orders. They have a few different catalogues; request the video
catalogue.
The Video Catalog
Telephone toll-free any time 1-800-733-2232 or write P.O. Box 64267
St. Paul, MN 55164-0267. They also offer a custom order service,
"Video Trackers". Call 1-800-71VIDEO (1-800-718-4336), toll-free
between 0700-0000 CT; if the title you want is currently available,
they'll find it for you.
Video Collectables
Telephone toll-free 1-800-268-3891 (USA), 1-800-387-5758 (Canada) or
write Video Collectables, 350 Newkirk Road, Richmond Hill, Ontario,
Canada L4C 3G7. They'll mail you a free catalogue.
You could also try calling your local PBS station, they may have tapes of
the show you want for sale.
BBC Video handle UK (PAL) releases of BBC shows on video; contact them for
information on current and upcoming releases:
BBC Video
BBC Enterprises Ltd
80 Wood Lane
London W12 0TT
Tel: 0181 576 2236 (Consumer Inquiry Line)
The BBC World Service Shop no longer does mail-order; a new service, BBC
Direct, operates a mail-order service but at present only for UK customers:
BBC Direct Limited
First Avenue
Globe Park
Marlow
Bucks SL7 1YA
Tel: 0800 258259
Fax: 0800 654653
The BBC Shop in Newcastle, UK, is recommended by several readers for fast
and helpful service, and will happily ship overseas. Videos are of course
in PAL format.
The BBC Shop
PO Box 1QX
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE99 1QX
UK
Tel: +44 191 222-0381
DSL sell BBC videos and BBC Radio and Audio Collection tapes; postage is
free in the UK, overseas orders are accepted:
DSL
PO Box 357
London SW19 8BT
U.K.
Fast Forward carry 16,000 titles; a catalogue is available for #2.99.
Fast Forward
Units 9/10, Sutherland Court
Tolpits Lane
Watford
Herts WD1 8SP
England
Tel: +44 1923 897080
Fax: +44 1923 896263
John Fitton has been recommended as a good source for UK-released PAL
videos; they also carry a lot of SF merchandise. Credit cards are accepted:
John Fitton (Books & Magazines)
1 Orchard Way
Hensall, Nr. Goole
North Humberside DN14 0RT
Tel: +44 1977 661048
Fax: +44 1977) 662501
PastelBlue sell cassettes, CDs, videos and computer games by email; send a
messages containing the line "HELP" to search@postel.demon.co.uk for more
information. They accept overseas orders and credit cards (with an approval
procedure).
http://www.demon.co.uk/pastel/
British comedy books can often be ordered through your local bookstore; ask
them about it. The following bookstores have been recommended by readers of
this FAQ:
Cinema Books
4753 Roosevelt Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105
Tel: 206-547-7667
The Good Book Guide specialises in shipping books overseas from the UK, and
also carry a range of video (PAL only) and cassette tapes. Subscription to
their monthly catalogue costs #22 UK, #26 Europe, and #31 outside Europe;
you don't need to be a subscriber to take advantage of their service.
The Good Book Guide
24 Seward Street
London EC1V 3GB
U.K.
Tel: +44 171 490 9905 (orders) or +44 171 490 9900 (customer
service)
Fax: +44 171 490 9908
Other UK bookstores you could try are:
Blackwell's Extra
50 Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BQ
U.K.
Tel: +44 1865 792792
Fax: +44 1865 261355
Dillons Direct
PO Box 1992
Epping
Essex CM16 6YB
Tel: 0345 125704 (UK, local rate), +44 171 439 9921 (overseas
orders)
Fax: 01992 524552 (UK), +44 171 494 1313 (overseas)
YOUR INPUT IS REQUESTED! If you've had success or a bad experience with a
source listed here, or if you're discovered a great source that's not
listed here, let me know!
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James Kew, j.kew@ic.ac.uk, May 1995
_____________________________________________________________________________
James Kew Vauxhall, London
"You know, I'm longing to hear about your tadpoles. Hang on a minute while I
slip into a gossamer trenchcoat." -- E.L. Wisty's Tadpole Expert fantasy
(
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