Customer profile
What was the name of your video store?
The Reel Shop
Where was the store located?
Orinda, California (United States)
When did you start shopping at this store?
1982
Describe your video store - what did it look like? What were its distinguishing
features?
Both Beta and VHS inventory, just about equal number of titles for both formats (slighttly more Beta until about 1985). As was common then, machines for both formats were also available to rent. A handfull of Laserdiscs were also available tward the end of the decade (no CEDs though).
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?
Quite friendly, run by the owner. Later he had an assistant ot two, but was a small shop in a small town so he seemed to pretty much know each customer by sight.
What other services/products did the store offer besides the rental or sale
of videos? Did this change over time?
When the store folded in 1988 it sold all its hardware and software to the customers. Prior to that it did not sell any software, just some snacks at the counter.
What video formats did the store offer (i.e. VHS, Beta, Laserdisc)? Where were
different formats kept in the store?
Store was divided into two categories: Beta on one side, VHS on the other. Later in the decade he had a small alrea with a dozen or so laserdiscs. A printed list of the inventory was availble on request, which certail makde life easier for selections... all the arguments could be accomplished at home!
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?
No adult inventory that I recall, but a fair number of Disney and various other childrens animated material. A handfull of excersise and sports how-to tapes. The specifics I don't clearly recall - at that time I was just wathing the mainstream. One or two films a week was the norm, usually over weekends.
Did you tend to rent or buy videos? Why?
Always rent, as they didn't sell. Even if they did, costs were high enough that we probably wouldn't have for the most part.
During the period that you shopped at this store, what changes did you see?
Around 1986 I think he stoped purchasing new titles on Beta, but retained the existing inventory.
Is this store still open? If not, when did it close?
If memory serves, the ceased operation circa 1988 & sold the premesis to a jewelry store.
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?
The same video store, actually. He was selling some of his older high milage machines. We picked up a Sanyo Betacord for $100 around 1984. Made sense, as we no longer would have to lug a rental machine home and back again every week! And thus we were also introduced to the wonders of time-shifting.
Did you ever rent a VCR or other hardware (a camera, for instance)? If so,
how often and why?
We didn't rent any camera equipment at that time - as the local shops didn't have them available. We did, though, have access to one much earlier. A parent was able to borrow an EIAJ camera and recorder from work for a few days in 1976. B&W 1/2" reel-to-reel tape!