Amazing how quickly things change, right?

Vix

We had a chain in my neck of the woods called "Video Warehouse" that I preferred over blockbuster. The selection was MUCH bigger, they had fun and sometimes dumb and quirky videos. It's where I first saw the gem "Redneck Zombies". The people were also a lot nicer there in general.

A friend ran a small video store back in the late 1980s. He found me a VHS copy of Roger Rabbit when there were none in the area (and someone will ask, "Why VHS and not DVD?" No DVDs until 1997. Duh.). He worked for me as a guard, was a great guy on- and off-site. Unfortunately he passed away of heart failure at the age of 42 running a marathon. His wife ran the store by herself for another two years but by then the writing was on the wall.

I remember my small town mom & pop video rental store. I was good friends of the owner, when a new release movie was coming in, I could have a copy set aside that I would pick up after school. Keep in mind this was at a time when mom pop video stores were small and most only had just one copy of any movie. Also no one was allowed to pre pay or reserve a new release movie so I felt special.

Looking back at all the technological advances, the resulting 'Capitalism,' and 'Supply-and-Demand' businesses, it's no surprise we've seen what's happened. Online streaming/accnts. are perhaps the latest, and instead of the original intent to replace 'Cable' (A 'Service' that is bloated with perhaps 80% or higher crap no one wanted or cares a fig about), only to see individual platforms/channels now charge a 'Nominal fee,' and when you add up said platforms/channels, suddenly costs MORE than the damned 'Cable'?

Greed and sloth (Or let's be more gracious and just call it willful indifference?) by the Consumer always sees good ideas extorted/perverted.

I pay for three 'Channels' on my online accnt.. What a surprise when suddenly, THEY now have mandatory Commercial ads inserted into the shows I used to enjoy w/o them. I'll be cancelling those three next month (I've finally had enough of them/their BS). I know my lone accnt. doesn't mean jack to them.

When millions MORE cancel, then they start to pay closer attention (though that's hardly a guarantee they'll learn better).

What really griped me about 'Blockbuster' was that damned 'Rewind fee.' I couldn't COUNT the number of videos we'd bring home, only to find THEY hadn't been rewound! Which taught us right quick to check EVERY pkg. at the store, and *VIOLA*, any that were in that condition, we made the Staff set right, then-and-there. (Annoyed the hell outta them, which given their abysmal 'Customer Svc.' certainly contributed to that Company falling.)

Ah, well.

Thinking about our family Zenith, 19" B/W TV, complete with aluminum foil rabbit ear extensions, and the whole THREE channels we enjoyed (Four, once we got the 'PBS' signal).

Those were indeed the 'Good ole days!'

I really miss those days. I remember going to rental stores and getting VHS and games. You watch VHS tapes and see it referenced. Kids today will never understand it.

I remember blockbuster, used to have two in my home town, I miss my childhood ^w^