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What was your summer like? Mine was as changeable as the weather! First, I gained some wonderful memories during my vacation in Ireland (What an island!). Then, I lost a gall bladder in the hospital. That was less wonderful. And when you waste away on a sofa, slightly battered and at loose ends, you start to read even more. Thus, a headline caught my eye that I would have likely missed under normal circumstances: My old video rental store, to which I was once a loyal and regular customer, was about to close forever—the last of its kind in my area. Time for a swansong to a dear old friend!
The day I got my first VCR, I was overjoyed! Equipped with four video heads, it was THE status symbol, and pride and joy, of any child's room back in the day—along with the computer, naturally. I record, therefore I am! Status considerations quickly took a backseat, as I could finally record anything and everything that was on TV, while being either asleep or away. But first, I had to slog through the manual. My VCR was built by Mitsubishi—and as easy to program as an interstellar spaceship. After a few attempts, I was left with a delightful blend of unwanted test images, gardening instructions and newscasts. Things started to improve when ShowView (VCR Plus+, G-Code, VideoPlus+) was introduced. From there on, all I had to do was type in a short code to record a program. It was a lifesaver.
After a tough struggle, I nonetheless began to master the device—only to realize how limited TV was back then. Yes, we had cable but current movies were still nowhere to be found. Those were mostly playing elsewhere, which is why video rental stores became a place of great longing. The latest Hollywood blockbusters, rare classics or ostracized genres like action and horror flicks, rentals saved many evenings—provided the goods were available. Even my grandma appreciated the classics from the "good old times". During my university years, video rental even became a source of income for me. A store in an infamous area around a railway station was looking for staff to man the counter during the night, so I worked the night shift for quite a while. There wasn't a single robbing—a miracle for which I have no explanation to this day. Maybe, I just looked too pathetic.
The advent of the internet saw the gathering of the first gray clouds. Although the venerable 14.4 kbit/s modems available at the time were anything but ideal to download movies (unless you were willing to spend weeks), images and animations were within reach, and quickly drove home an uncomfortable truth: Anything digital can be copied. And the more popular the material, the more quickly it will spread on the internet. As lines got faster, the age of internet piracy began. For the first time, rental and sales figures slumped, accompanied by the silent hope that law enforcement agencies would quickly put and end to this scourge. Said agencies quickly learned that the decentralized and somewhat anonymous nature of the internet didn't help matters. Filesharing applications, Usenet and file hosting services provided plenty of options to download much sought-after movies, turning privacy into a viable, para-professional, business.
The video industry's response was dumber than even skeptics had predicted. Bizarre copy protection methods, easy pickings for crackers but a maddening nuisance for ordinary users, were introduced to take the fight out of video pirates. The fact that most movies were duplicated at the pressing plant or even before and then leaked to the internet was completely ignored. Many DVD players or computer disc drives were suddenly unable to read the new discs, driving users to piracy even more. Some movies were only rented out reluctantly and with a warning that they may not play in most devices because of their copy protection. Others became available in stores long after they played in theaters and had already been forgotten by the masses. But the ubiquitous file sharing sites usually had all the latest flicks, giving new meaning to the term home cinema.
There was another advantage to file sharing: With downloads, viewers no longer had to leave their cozy sofas to get their movies. In contrast, those unlucky souls who had to wade through rain after work to get their videos (only to repeat the process two days later to return them) worked hard for their entertainment. But it wasn't file sharing alone that would spell the end for video stores. As DSL connections got faster, a legal alternative began to emerge: streaming. While more expensive and devoid of qualified staff or useful recommendations, streaming still offered a way to watch movies instantly and without leaving one's living room. For a monthly fee, users still didn't get every movie they wanted but gained access to a sizable, and commercial-free, collection. Today, self-produced series are becoming premium products, thanks to the likes of Netflix, HBO and Amazon Prime, as they offer a means of weaving ever more intricate plot lines and hooking viewers for hours on end.
And thus, video rental stores have become no more than an afterthought, a dying breed. Places that were once filled with dads cheered on by their families upon presenting the latest and greatest flicks are now falling into desolation. Expert advice given on a one-to-one basis, a matter of honor at my store, is now dished out by powerful algorithms. Weekend bargains, usually sold out within minutes, have turned into shelf-warmers. Personnel cutbacks are commonplace. In rural areas, a few stores are managing to keep the flag flying thanks to a lack of fast internet connectivity, while the last surviving city-based stores are putting all their hopes into extra-cheap bargains, porn flicks and large sales sections. This weekend will be the last time I walk through the double doors and browse through the neatly and thematically arranged sections. Maybe, I'll find a nice Blu-ray, make my way to the counter and close a very personal chapter in the entertainment industry for good.
What I would like to know: When was the last time you set foot in a video rental store? Do you have any memories worth sharing?
We had a VCR (with a wired remote) and the first movie we bought was "The Last Starfighter". The last time I went to a Cinema was for a Monty Python movie years ago. Used a rental store for all the old movies until it closed. We buy DVDs of movies that we want to see but there aren't many. We had a Netflix subscription but after watching "Shetland", "Wallender" and "Hinterland" we found that there was nothing else, so we let it lapse. The free-to-air broadcasters in Oz (ABC/SBS - and the commercials) all have on-demand streaming services that are (currently) free so a Chromecast works well.
The truth is that most movies are crap. Overrated. Way too violent. Gratuitous bullshit.
I never went to video rental stores much. The last time I went to see a movie in a theater was long ago. Just two days ago I took a look at an old rental place in the town near my chalet. "For rent". Empty, like the movies they rented. A friend gave me a huge box of VHS tapes and I watch some of them at the cottage (where I have no internet). Again, all crap. I'd rather watch Youtubes or read a book, and there's always a way to stream for free, but mostly no thanks. I realize that most people are movie fans, and I will admit that once in a while a good movie is a great experience, but you wont ever catch me binge watching any series like Game of Thrones for 8-9 hours.
Glad to see you're back in action Sven. Keep up the good work.
I also rarely discover gems among the "blockbusters"; there are simply too many remakes and sequels. Indy movies or smaller productions is where I'm more likely to find what I'm looking for.
All Video Rental stores in my area closed many years ago. That's progress I suppose. Hope your health issues get better :-(
I was actually in a video rental store Friday night(Aug 30th). Been going to the same store since 1989 when it first opened. Family owned and operated.
They've survived by constantly adapting to changes. Having a large selection of movies and games that can be rented monthly, as well as selling a lot of pop culture merchandise. They go out of their way to get to know the needs of their customers and make regulars feel like friends.
Hi Sven, nice to see your name again in my e'mail.
I have lots of video store memories, the thrill of setting up a video player, driving to the nearest new store and being offered a copper, bronze, or gold membership , each with varied special rental prices.
The first one I borrowed was Conan The Barbarian with Arnold Schwartzenegger and watching while sitting in a comfortable lounge chair at home.
I still have friends who owned a video store far from where I lived but waiting too long to try to sell two years ago was too late, they closed the store at a great monetary loss.
Outside our local shopping mall stands a machine which dispenses DVD movies and many of these machines have, in part replaced the video stores.
The fact remains that I have never see anyone use one.
The Internet, Netflix, VPN and buying on-line or mail-order generally rule over the movie-watching public in our current society.
One benefit for many in Australia are several alternatives to local TV with the low quality, deplorable content and the annoying surplus of woeful advertising.
Dear Sven,
First & foremost the good news: now that you've been through it, you won't ever have to do it again :)
Still, go easy on fat food, as your body no longer enjoys large enough a reserve of fat-melting fluids ...
Second: are you sure you meant to write "turning PRIVACY into a viable, para-professional, business"?
And back to the subject of your current column:
* Even in the good old days of Blockbuster and similar (larger or more modest such venues) I wasn't a big fan of their services: many a time the tapes were not well enough preserved and created jams in my expensive VCR, DVDs were scratched (and even had one with plum jam on it - lucky me that I saw this prior to inserting it into my -- at the time -- Denon player).
* On the other hand, being a huge fan of movies (oldies and new alike, historical and Disney, classic ballet and thrillers, big stars and new revelations, documentaries and Sci-Fi, ...), I started long ago building my own video library (VHS, DVD, Blu-ray, 4K, 3D, ...) mostly purchased from Amazon (but not only), carefully chosen to get the ones with the best additional material ("making of", interviews, commentaries, ...), sometimes the extras being way longer than the feature itself.
* Do I use streaming (Netflix, PrimeVideo, ...)? Of course I do and I sometimes "binge" through 8-10 chapters of a season, but whenever I really want to treat myself I pop a great disk in my Oppo player and enjoy every bit of the movie I just selected along with all the extra info available on that disk.
Do I miss the rental stores? Not really - never been a fan, though they were quite popular with many of my neighbors and friends.
Be well & keep up the good blogging,
Eric
Thank you for your suggestions. I'll be taking it slow for the time being. Not as easy as it sounds considering the many BBQ invites at the moment but I think I'll manage to exercise moderation for once. :)
Dear Sven,
I sympathise with your status...however, here in the U.K.
as regards used DVDs/ Films, we are saved by having the "Exchange Shops". They sell 2nd hand DVDs, Blue Rays and other Game Formats. Prices for films for instance vary on whether or not they are recent. The older the cheapest (apart from say very classical films) or DVD series derived from the TV.
VCR are generally only found in Charity shops or specialised places. The "Exchange" Shops also sell Computers, Mobile Phones and other Media items.
All this in the UK, in every town and City. I am not advertising, but I use them extensively as I rarely go to the Cinema and then after the big screen, a few weeks or months I can buy the Film on DVD/Blue Ray at a reasonable price.
The media world has certainly changed since the closure of the shops which hired DVD Films just for one or two nights....
Not yet at the nostalgic point...I still have a brand new VCR Machine, some new Tapes and who knows they may come in handy one day!!!!!.
Swiss Guy who lives in London/UK
Hello Sven, good article. I don't think I've been in a video store for at least 30 years. For quite a while we were renting Blu-ray discs (and streaming) from Netflix, but starting about a year ago, we received several defective discs that would play the movie for awhile, maybe half-way through or farther, and then quit. This was a good way to ruin a Sunday afternoon so we quit the rental and just used the streaming from several sources. Occasionally I buy a disc from Amazon these days but it's usually just to get the quality. So now we have hundreds of discs and many avenues of streaming. Sorry about the gall bladder.
JRS
My first VCR was a Betamax. Video stores back then had to carry both VHS and Beta tapes. I used a Beta camera and recorded many family outing. Never got around to transferring to DVD.
Yesterday at a garage sales I found a working Sony Sl-400 VCR for $10.
Memory are coming back now trying to record to DVD which is fast becoming outdated.
Time do change.
its a few years since I was in a video store I still have a video machine and a large amount of videos I still watch them now and again friends who have cameras films I have put them on dvds
HI Sven, sorry to hear about the medical problem. Gall bladders are no fun. The last time I was in a video store was about 30 years ago! The store was in downtown of a city in central Massachusetts. I walked in and looked around at the stock and Oops! There was Debbie doing Dallas and a whole lot of other places. Haven't been in a video store since. Now, I order thru Amazon and occasionally at the local supermarket. Good health, bh
Many thanks. The need for this type of surgical procedure has become somewhat of a tradition in my family. :) I should be fine in a couple of days!
I entered every video store I've seen closing until now there aren't any in order to browse and buy DVD's. Because they were so inexpensive I bought many movies I might never have seen and have discovered I was wrong to avoid some of them. Most rewarding are the extra features on DVD's with production commentary. You don't get that on a download, and as an artist myself and movie fan there are often fabulous production features that are as good as or better than the movie, or, they make it obvious that the film editor messed up and ruined what should have been a much better movie. Stores that formerly sold used DVD's have given up on them too, so again An afternoon browsing turned up many a gold mine of great DVD's, movies and TV show collections.
If I lose the internet but don't lose power in the coming of Dorian the selection of movie entertainment is vast.
Another Sven masterpiece. You covered that story accurately and interestingly. As I am an unknown music composer trying to promote my music with everything I can afford, I find the masters of marketing have completely seduced the public, not only in the video and movie entertainment industry, but also the music "industry"... so much so that I doubt most creators are now barely able to make a living. I see it as a cultural destruction myself. Convenient for the consumer but a destruction of the creators. Catering now for the mass mind and a destruction of the special categories of product. There may be advantages to the shortcut methods of gaining one's entertainment but in the end it is an unwillingness to give a fair exchange. Netflix may be a phenomenal creator now, but in the future, I wonder if they will be on of the last ones standing.
I'm surprised that there are any still open at all. I haven't seen one in years. There was a time there were many of them in my area. I stopped using them when Netflix started their mail delivered disc rentals. BTW, they still do it. I do on occasion rent Blu-rays on Redbox. Redbox seems to still be fairly popular.