The Death of the Video Rental
RIP Blockbuster
The Day of the Video Rental Store is Dead - RIP Blockbuster
Ok, so you're reading the title of this entry and thinking one of two things, or both. #1; I'm jumping the gun, Blockbuster isn't officially dead yet. Or you're thinking #2; Duh, video rental stores have been dead or dying for years. Before you scoff at this article hear us out because although it's common knowledge on both fronts, it's sad nonetheless...
Think about this. The video stores are dead. Blockbuster is going to die, it's just a matter of when. How does this relate to horror your asking? Well as a kid growing up in the 80's the video store is where horror was born. You lived and died by box art and local video stores recommending titles to you. It was the glory days for non commercial horror.
Those days have been long ago memories but it's taking the recent Blockbuster news for it to really sink it. Something that will die and never be brought back. 50 years from now it will be something not even thought about. Like TV shows that have no re-runs kids and adults will forget about how things were. Not completely of course but it will be in the same category as old records or the once popular horse and buggy.
Ok, so you're reading the title of this entry and thinking one of two things, or both. #1; I'm jumping the gun, Blockbuster isn't officially dead yet. Or you're thinking #2; Duh, video rental stores have been dead or dying for years. Before you scoff at this article hear us out because although it's common knowledge on both fronts, it's sad nonetheless...
Think about this. The video stores are dead. Blockbuster is going to die, it's just a matter of when. How does this relate to horror your asking? Well as a kid growing up in the 80's the video store is where horror was born. You lived and died by box art and local video stores recommending titles to you. It was the glory days for non commercial horror.
Those days have been long ago memories but it's taking the recent Blockbuster news for it to really sink it. Something that will die and never be brought back. 50 years from now it will be something not even thought about. Like TV shows that have no re-runs kids and adults will forget about how things were. Not completely of course but it will be in the same category as old records or the once popular horse and buggy.
According to a report by 24/7 Wall St, ten companies are likely to no longer be around in 2011. Some brands on the list include RadioShack, Kia, T-Mobile and Blockbuster.
Blockbuster was the national leader in the video rental business for nearly two decades. But after losing another $65 million last quarter, the company is now considering bankruptcy. Meanwhile, Redbox and Netflix continue to perform well.
No one knows officially what will happen to the once mighty Blockbuster. A company that came in and mutilated the small locally owned mom and pop "movie houses" of the day. At one time in our town alone we had 6 video rental stores, 6! You'll never see that again. Gone are the days of spending 3 hours looking for perfect film art to jump out at you, that's all done online now.
Blockbuster has tried to "Red Box' things up but it isn't having near the success nor is its small online home delivery setup that they borrowed from Netflix. A case of too little to late we think. Someone beat them to the punch much like the small business owner did in the early days. Only this time the mighty company is failing because of bad business decisions and poor movie selections. The proverbially case of a "dose of their own medicine" so to speak. A whole country of past mom and pop video store owners with just a hint of a smile on their face no doubt.
Good or bad I am going to miss the smell of walking into those stores. I'm going to miss the different sections to browse, the rare titles that one store may have and another may not. Of course we all knew this day was coming but now that's its on the horizon it certainly makes one long for a "please be kind, rewind" sticker on a giant VHS clam shell case. Here is somebody looking at the past, knowing the future is brighter but missing the one on one experience with that mom and pop owner that many generations after us will never get the privilege to witness.
Blockbuster was the national leader in the video rental business for nearly two decades. But after losing another $65 million last quarter, the company is now considering bankruptcy. Meanwhile, Redbox and Netflix continue to perform well.
No one knows officially what will happen to the once mighty Blockbuster. A company that came in and mutilated the small locally owned mom and pop "movie houses" of the day. At one time in our town alone we had 6 video rental stores, 6! You'll never see that again. Gone are the days of spending 3 hours looking for perfect film art to jump out at you, that's all done online now.
Blockbuster has tried to "Red Box' things up but it isn't having near the success nor is its small online home delivery setup that they borrowed from Netflix. A case of too little to late we think. Someone beat them to the punch much like the small business owner did in the early days. Only this time the mighty company is failing because of bad business decisions and poor movie selections. The proverbially case of a "dose of their own medicine" so to speak. A whole country of past mom and pop video store owners with just a hint of a smile on their face no doubt.
Good or bad I am going to miss the smell of walking into those stores. I'm going to miss the different sections to browse, the rare titles that one store may have and another may not. Of course we all knew this day was coming but now that's its on the horizon it certainly makes one long for a "please be kind, rewind" sticker on a giant VHS clam shell case. Here is somebody looking at the past, knowing the future is brighter but missing the one on one experience with that mom and pop owner that many generations after us will never get the privilege to witness.
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