Is there any way to turn off the on-screen display without using the remote (something we forgot to pack on this road trip)? Any way of using a readily available universal remote? Any hope of making this mess work out?

Martin,

Turn your camera to the VCR mode. Press the menu button. The VCR menu will appear in the view finder. Scroll down to Display Setup. Select Display Setup by pressing in on the iris/select dial. Scroll to displays, select that and then select off.

Hope this helps,

Bill

Note: Bill's tip regards the XL1S and not the XL1.