The product is a rare 1981 RCA CED Video Disc of Raiders of the Lost Ark, 1981, PG, 1h 55m run time.

In 1936, archaeologist Indiana Jones is tasked by Army Intelligence to help locate a legendary ancient power, the Ark of Covenant, before the Nazis get it first.

Dr. Indiana Jones, a renowned archeologist and expert in the occult, is hired by the U.S. Government to find the ark of the covenant, which is believed to still hold the Ten Commandments. Unfortunately, Hitler's agents are also after the ark. Indy and his ex-flame Marion escape from various close scrapes in a quest that takes them from Nepal to Cairo.

The RCA Videodisc version of 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' is acclaimed for its thrilling adventure, iconic characters, and blend of action and humor. Harrison Ford's Indiana Jones is celebrated for charm and charisma. Steven Spielberg's direction and John Williams' score enhance the immersive atmosphere. Themes of ancient artifact quests, good versus evil, and discovery thrill audiences. Practical effects and miniatures are ingenious, solidifying its classic status. The film's influence on the action-adventure genre and popular culture is significant.

Capacitance Electronic Disc (CED) was an analogue video disc playback system developed by RCA, using a special stylus and high-density groove system similar to phonograph records. The name ‘SelectaVision’ was RCA’s early brand name for the CED system and was also used for some early RCA brand VCRs.

The 12-inch discs were crafted using PVC blended with carbon to allow the disc to be conductive, and a thin layer of silicone was applied to the disc as a lubricant. Discs were stored in a caddy from which the disc was extracted by the player. CEDs could store 60 minutes of video per side, so almost all films needed to be flipped over at some point.

CED players, because they have fewer precision parts than a VCR, cost about half as much to manufacture. The discs themselves could be inexpensively duplicated, stamped out on slightly-modified audio record presses. Since CEDs were a disc-based system, they did not require rewinding. Early discs were generally monaural, but later discs included stereo sound.

RCA estimated that the number of times a CED could be played back, under ideal conditions, was 500. Since the CED system used a stylus to read the discs, it was necessary to regularly change the stylus in the player to avoid damage to the disc. When a disc began to wear, video and audio quality would severely decline.

First conceived in 1964, by which time it was released in 1981 it was already outmoded by LaserDisc, and by Betamax and VHS videocassette recording formats. Sales for the system were nowhere near projected estimates (although the discs themselves sold well), and in 1984, player production ended with discs ending production in 1986. Over 270 titles were released in the UK.

This RCA Videodisc I notice a smudge on the disk and there may be scratches on the disk. The casing has some wear on both the front and the back. I do not have a player so I cannot vouch for whether the disk plays or not. You are buying as is.

Please see photos and ask questions before purchasing this RCA Videodisc. 

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