Video Watchdog’s Digital Library

Posted on by

Long before there was a CultTVman website and hobbyshop, I was a fan of science fiction, fantasy, horror and other obscure movies and TV shows.    That’s where the name CultTVman came from, and I am happy to say that I still love these movies.   I know many visitors to this site share my interests in cult films, TV shows, and video.   And I expect that many of you have at least heard of Video Watchdog magazine.

I’ve been a regular reader of Video Watchdog almost since the magazine started.   Sometime around 1990, Twin Peaks was a new TV show, changing the face of television.    I was one of the many people hooked on the program.   It was at this time that I picked up my first copy of Video Watchdog magazine.  Issue 2 featured an article called The Annotated Twin Peaks.   The magazine also featured review after review of the very cult movies I had grown to love.   Video Watchdog was a magazine that presented serious reviews, analysis, and articles about these movies, television shows, and the people that made them.    I’ve been a loyal reader ever since.

Since 1990, Tim and Donna Lucas have published 175 issues of Video Watchdog and they are still growing strong.  Recently they’ve taken the leap to digital platforms, offering digital versions of the current issue for free.   There is even an iPhone app!   The digital versions have interactive content including trailers, audio clips, and online content.   It is a very impressive presentation.   You can read more about these digital versions on the Video Watchdog website

On top of all this, Tim and Donna have launched a Kickstarter fundraiser to build a digital library of their back issues.   The project has the support of people like Joe Dante, John Landis, Leonard Maltin and many others in the entertainment industry.    If you are interested in classic cult, horror, and science fiction, I would encourage you to to help support this project.    There are opportunities to contribute a little or a lot and the rewards have broad appeal.  You can start with a package of the first 10 issues.   Or there are packages such as the “Sci-Fi Sampler” or “Horror Picks” containing the best of these genres.   So I encourage you the check out the Video Watchdog Kickstarter program.

You might say that Video Watchdog helped to put the “Cult TV” in “CultTVman.”   I’ve chipped in and  I’m wishing Tim and Donna the best with this project.   I hope you can help too.