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VIDEO NASTIES
Just some of the UK Newspaper headlines/stories leading up to the 1984 'VRA' (Video Recordings Act) becoming Law due to the 'Nasties' hysteria.
The 'Daily Mail' 1983.
Headlines like the one above were common place in the UK as the new medium of Home Video grew and grew, and more Video Players appeared in Britain's homes.
In this part of our journey through the 'Nasties' hysteria we shall take a look at just a few of the inflammatory Newspaper headlines and stories that assaulted the general public and the eager to please, easily led, Politicians.
'THE DAILY MAIL'-MAY 1982
"How High Street Horror is Invading the Home"
'TITBITS'-AUG 1982
"The Vile Side of Video"............."A vast number of ordinary Families feed happily on butchery, mutliation, rape, castration, cannibalism, mutilation of Women, and torture. It is now felt that unless the 'Obscene Publications Act' is invoked swiftly the problem will escalate".
'THE SUNDAY TIMES'-JAN 1983
"The Seduction of the Innocent"............."In some Families, apparently, children are deliberately being shown films of buggery, rape and mutilation. This, the 'National Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Children' believes, is a new form of cruelty. The Society consulted all it's Doctors and Psychiatrists, who are agreed that permanent damage could be dome to children's minds by such pornographic and sadistic material".
'THE DAILY MAIL'-AUG 1983
"Taken Over By Something Evil From the TV Set"...........In a news story a Dr Mathai says a boy has been "possessed by a Nasty".
'THE DAILY MIRROR'-SEPT 1983
An article states "Violent, sadistic and perverted video films are as great a danger to a child's mind as any infectious disease is to the body. High street retailers, so obsessed with profit that they have these films on their shelves, plumb the depths of greed".
'THE DAILY STAR-NOV1983
In a story about the publication of Dr Clifford Hill's 'Video Violence and Children' report it is declared that "Appalled researchers discovered that Video Nasties have replaced party games and conjurors at children's Birthday parties".
'THE DAILY MIRROR'-JAN 1984
"Pony Maniac Strikes Again"............A Policemen investigating sexual assualts on ponies is quoted blaming the crimes on a "Maniac who could be affected by Video Nasties or a new moon".
'THE DAILY EXPRESS'-MAR1984
"1 in 2 Children See Nasties".
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The 'VRA' is passed by parliament - july 6th-12th.
Illustrations/text copyright the respective Newspapers