[Janet MacD]

At last night’s meeting, Roy asked if I had ever seen the video Gary Burghoff - who played Radar O’Reilly in the wonderful TV show MASH - had made to promote stamp collecting. It was news to me, and very curious was I. Here are the preliminary results of my search for answers:

Gary Burghoff made the video in 1988. Apparently he visited several major stamp shows to promote the video.

He really was a collector. He was also a supporter of the Duck Stamp program in the US, and a duck stamp contest judge. 

You can buy the VHS tape on eBay for about $40 USC, but with Canada Post on strike, that doesn’t seem like a good option. I have found a free recording on YouTube. I have only watched the first three minutes, because I felt compelled to share the link with a wider audience. It is funny and kooky and a wonderful artifact of the 1980’s. As I mentally curate my “stuff”, I see this tape sharing a shelf with the 1970’s Stamp Album I was recently gifted - with Fonzie from Happy Days on the cover - and the VHS Guide to Windows 95 made by actors from Friends. Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/YaCE3uaBxWA?si=KZG5MAJWNjetim6e

[Hugh]

Gary Burghoff made the video in 1988. Apparently he visited several major stamp shows to promote the video.

He really was a collector. He was also a supporter of the Duck Stamp program in the US, and a duck stamp contest judge. 

Watched it last night with Janet. It was an excellent overview and would be a great introduction to philately and stamp collecting for people who are curious about the hobby or senior returning to the hobby of their youth. Production values are a bit dated (think 1980's) but it actually kinda neat to see Gary Burghoff outside of M.A.S.H. He mentions in the video that he is also specialized Aerophilately collector.

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Get some nachos or popcorn ... watch it with a new collector.

Cheers, Hugh