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http://sf.theboard.net/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl Passenger Information >> Boarding Deck - Forward Section >> Analog Memories - VHS, BETA etc. http://sf.theboard.net/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1383761740 Message started by L.A. Connection on Nov 6^th, 2013 at 1:15pm

Title: Analog Memories - VHS, BETA etc.
Post by L.A. Connection on Nov 6^th, 2013 at 1:15pm

This was a thread on an older version of the board. Memories of VHS, BETA and other analog tech like LPs.

Today, the biggest behemouth of the Analog movie era has announced that they are history - Blockbuster Video:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/06/blockbuster-closing_n_4226735.html

I always hated HATED Blockbuster because of their predatory practices in running Mom & Pop video stores out of business. It was to the extent where Blockbuster would go to a small town and find out where the most successful indie video store was and locate their store nearby - sometimes even right next door or across the street!

Still, a part of me is still nostalgic for the video store era, and the passing of 'big blue' is another large tombstone.

Title: Re: Analog Memories - VHS, BETA etc.
Post by da_Bunnyman on Nov 6^th, 2013 at 11:39pm

Those who were around for VHS watched as video rental stores were invented, were literally everywhere and now they've vanished.

Only equivalent I can think of from past generations might be TV antennas on houses.

Title: Re: Analog Memories - VHS, BETA etc.
Post by L.A. Connection on Nov 7^th, 2013 at 4:00pm

One of my most striking early memories of Video Stores.

I'm out in the desert working in the early-80s. Tiny town. Gas station, greasy diners, post office - you know the gig. Everything closes by 9pm.

I'm driving along and there's a large well-lit store. Big glass windows so you can see inside. It's a video store. Here in the middle of nowhere was a Blockbuster sized store with rows and rows of videos (and this was before Blockbuster was a chain). It was like a spaceship had landed in this podunk town. A bizarre and surreal experience.

Title: Re: Analog Memories - VHS, BETA etc.
Post by kirok on Nov 8^th, 2013 at 7:27am

i had just graduated from college in 1980. i had a modest trust fund windfall. the vcr was a brand new commodity. i thought of perhaps renting tapes to vcr owners. i saw a small display in a convenience store of tapes and thought "it's to late. some one thought of it before me"

Title: Re: Analog Memories - VHS, BETA etc.
Post by L.A. Connection on Nov 8^th, 2013 at 12:35pm

kirok wrote on Nov 8^th, 2013 at 7:27am:

But, a lot of early video store guys made a mint. There could have been a whole chain of Kirok Lasers & Tapes! Like this guy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Atkinson_%28video_rental_businessman%29

Title: The End: Analog Memories - VHS, BETA etc.
Post by L.A. Connection on Nov 12^th, 2013 at 3:50pm

The last documented rental at Blockbuster = THIS IS THE END, the apocalyptic comedy from this past summer. Note: there are still around 50 'Zombie' Blockbusters doing rentals that are franchise owned.

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/nov/12/blockbuster-final-rental-this-is-the-end

Title: The last VCR: Analog Memories - VHS, BETA etc.
Post by L.A. Connection on Jul 20^th, 2016 at 12:25pm

The last Japanese manufacturer of VCRs - Funai - has announced that they will no longer make them. It's been a long road since Sony and JVC started making commercial VCRs in the 70s.

A chapter ends.

http://mentalfloss.com/article/83427/japan-will-make-its-last-ever-vcr-month