Customer profile
What was the name of your video store?
Bassendean video store
Where was the store located?
Bassendean, Other (Australia)
When did you start shopping at this store?
1979
Describe your video store - what did it look like? What were its distinguishing
features?
I remember it was a tiny store just surrounded with video covers. there where shelves to the roof(maybe not quite to the roof.But it did look like that when you where three)with the videos behind the counter. The man behind the counter was an extremely nice man, who was very knowledgable about films, and in the end started letting me get out rated R films, because i loved Horror and silly comedies so much(and he knew also my mum or dad would get it anyhow for me).Even ten years after I left for the country, he would still remember me. To close, without that man's influence and knowledge(and niceties), I more than likely would'nt love film as much as I do. Thank you very much!
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?
I remember also talking to him alot about horror films. We both loved the old hammer films and also the "new" stalker horror films(halloween, friday the 13th etc). I told him i'd love to own a video store one day or even work for him(which i didnt on both. But i do work in a movie theatre) and he said He'll see. But i ended up moving. Also as above.
What other services/products did the store offer besides the rental or sale
of videos? Did this change over time?
None at the time, it was 79. and over time i moved.
What video formats did the store offer (i.e. VHS, Beta, Laserdisc)? Where were
different formats kept in the store?
They had VHS and Beta. Half the store was for VHS and the other was Beta. Over 5 years the Beta section went down to about a quarter of the shop. Eventually Beta was never seen again.
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?
They hired everything( childrens, exercise, sports, comedies, horror/sci-fi, dramas, adult R rated porn, thrillers, and action)Each had its own area with the Horror and porn away from the others. Very conventional and also the Blue Print for all stores.
Did you tend to rent or buy videos? Why?
At the time you could only rent, with over time beion able to buy ex-rentals.
During the period that you shopped at this store, what changes did you see?
Like i said before Beta came and then went. Nearly in the same way DVDs are killing VHS. And also the store grew, in size and in members. It just stayed the same.
Is this store still open? If not, when did it close?
Sorry i couldnt tell you. Havent seen it in 7 years, but writing this makes me think i should go back and find out. Go see if that man still owns it and also see if he remembers me. I would'nt be surprised if he did>
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?
I think it was 1980 when we finally bought one. Basically my cousins had one and we would watch gorey horror films, which impressed my Dad, so he went and hired a VHS player. It must have taken him two hours before he came back from behind the TV from connecting it and finally we watched Blue thunder i think ,which i enjoyed at the time. Then about a year or two later my dad went and bought one, an Akai video player, which was cool Because it was black (which was a bit different at the time.everything was usually silver)and it worked better. a great day
Did you ever rent a VCR or other hardware (a camera, for instance)? If so,
how often and why?
as above