Memories of Blockbuster are a fine example of a generation gap. I hated Blockbuster. It was a shameless, corporate takeover of the video rental industry, populated by mom and pop stores and small chains.
I started visiting video stores long before Blockbuster opened their first monstrosity in my city. The Friday/Saturday night visits were always immense fun. Browsing the VHS covers, seeing all the bizarre horror and borderline adult films was an experience. I’d spend hours just browsing, then end up renting something I’d seen a dozen times before.
Choice wasn’t limited but typically they only had a few copies of each film, unlike the Blockbuster method of having a wall with a million copies of whichever blockbuster crap just came out.
When the first Blockbuster opened, I went to check it out and it was such a sterile, soulless store. 10k copies of Jurassic Park or whatever. None of the cool horror flicks I’m used to seeing elsewhere. Overpriced candy and drinks.
It’s weird seeing people reminisce about Blockbuster, but I guess that’s what they grew up with. Feels like they missed out, that the experience was hijacked by corporate goons.
Tarantino talked about how Blockbuster strategically opened a store near the store he worked in back in the day. So it was a deliberate attempt to put small video stores out of business.
People reminisce about malls the same way, not having experienced the decline of the high street and downtown areas, filled with unique businesses. Malls, then Walmart, literally destroyed the soul of small town America.
I’m happy that Netflix killed Blockbuster. They deserved it. And I’m happy that Amazon and online shopping are killing malls.
xvxvx•3w ago
I started visiting video stores long before Blockbuster opened their first monstrosity in my city. The Friday/Saturday night visits were always immense fun. Browsing the VHS covers, seeing all the bizarre horror and borderline adult films was an experience. I’d spend hours just browsing, then end up renting something I’d seen a dozen times before.
Choice wasn’t limited but typically they only had a few copies of each film, unlike the Blockbuster method of having a wall with a million copies of whichever blockbuster crap just came out.
When the first Blockbuster opened, I went to check it out and it was such a sterile, soulless store. 10k copies of Jurassic Park or whatever. None of the cool horror flicks I’m used to seeing elsewhere. Overpriced candy and drinks.
It’s weird seeing people reminisce about Blockbuster, but I guess that’s what they grew up with. Feels like they missed out, that the experience was hijacked by corporate goons.
Tarantino talked about how Blockbuster strategically opened a store near the store he worked in back in the day. So it was a deliberate attempt to put small video stores out of business.
People reminisce about malls the same way, not having experienced the decline of the high street and downtown areas, filled with unique businesses. Malls, then Walmart, literally destroyed the soul of small town America.
I’m happy that Netflix killed Blockbuster. They deserved it. And I’m happy that Amazon and online shopping are killing malls.