Customer profile
What was the name of your video store?
Intourist
Where was the store located?
Berlin, (Germany)
When did you start shopping at this store?
1986
Describe your video store - what did it look like? What were its distinguishing
features?
This was the electronics section of the state run hard currency store. If you had West German marks or US dollars you could shop here. Selection was based on what the State could make a lot of money on as well as the political climate.
What were the employees and/or owners like, and what kinds of interactions
did you have with them? What particularly memorable exchanges or events
do you remember?
Employees were more or less like anyone with a guaranteed job...
What other services/products did the store offer besides the rental or sale
of videos? Did this change over time?
Since this was a department of the store you could also get State-approved music tapes and records as well as videos. After '89 a better selection appeared but then we could shop elsewhere.
What video formats did the store offer (i.e. VHS, Beta, Laserdisc)? Where were
different formats kept in the store?
VHS, Beta and V-2000. V-2000 was on it's way out by the time I remember going there. I think Beta kept going till the end or at least 1989...
In addition to mainstream Hollywood movies, what other kinds of videotapes
(for example children's, exercise, or X-rated) did the store rent/sell? Where were these
videos found in the store, and how often did you rent or purchase them?
A lot of product from the Eastern countries, Russia Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria etc... You could get Western product if it was 'revolutionary' enough or innocuous enough for State approval. Not a chance on sex tapes though. No sex in the East...
Did you tend to rent or buy videos? Why?
I don't recall leasing a tape mostly used the VCR for getting West Berlin TV. We did buy some movies I think...
During the period that you shopped at this store, what changes did you see?
I was too young to notice any major changes other than the usual every once in a while store display changes.
Is this store still open? If not, when did it close?
I think reunification finished them off. There's something else there now but I haven't looked lately live on the other side of Berlin now...
In your own words, tell the story of your first VCR/video player. Where
and when did you buy it, and why did you decide to make the purchase?
Sony SL-HF 950ES. The deluxe Beta VCR. Had stereo HiFi and all the Western channels. This was my parents VCR. I purchased an SL-F1 outfit VCR - tuner - camera at the flea market with my Bat Mitzvah money about 10 years ago. Later I got a BMC-500 camcorder that recently died.
Did you ever rent a VCR or other hardware (a camera, for instance)? If so,
how often and why?