Customer profile
What was the name of your video store?
On Track Video
Where was the store located?
Romney, West Virginia (United States)
When did you start shopping at this store?
1983
Describe your video store - what did it look like? What were its distinguishing
features?
Store was located in a small town, in an old general store front on the main street. Sign included the store name as well as a graphic of unrolled movie film. Believe there was also a older movie camera. Store itself was designed on a limited budget to resemble a historical movie theatre (pre-mega movie theatres). Inside there was a popcorn machine and rows of wooden shelves that contained empty VHS video boxes, numbered for easy retrieval. Movie posters also lined what little wall space was available, as well as front of the counter area. This store also sold floor-model televisions and VCRs, the latter which were relatively new to the region.
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?
The owner/operators were generally friendly and small town folk. Beyond being helpful and professional, the interactions were limited to discussing new video availability and such. No particularly memorable exchanges come to mind.
What other services/products did the store offer besides the rental or sale
of videos? Did this change over time?
The store also sold floor-model televisions and VCRs. As VCRs became more readily available and affordable, this practice stopped. About this same time, the local convenience stores (High's/7-Eleven) and grocery stores started carrying videos. Eventually, the video store itself went out of business. That would have been approximately 1986.
What video formats did the store offer (i.e. VHS, Beta, Laserdisc)? Where were
different formats kept in the store?
VHS, Beta and Laserdisc. And now that you mention it, this store also sold Laserdisc players early on. These selections were much more limited but on display pretty much in the middle of the store, along one of the "walkways".
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?
The store carried various genres (horror, drama, action) through-out the store. Sometimes grouped together, sometimes not. They had a section of discounted rentals ($1/night) at the back of the store. Prices were marked by colored dots, upon which the 'catalog' number was written. My recollection is that most if not all were Hollywood or Disney-type movies. Don't recall any X-rated videotapes. We rented one or two every Friday evening, watching sometime over the coming weekend and returning 1st thing Monday morning.
Did you tend to rent or buy videos? Why?
At that time, renting was more affordable than buying. Renting also provided a better range of movie availability. However, we still favored the movie theatre for the overall experience over watching videos. Today, we prefer purchasing select DVDs upon release as it's cheaper than the theatre. We've also given up rentals as purchasing, in the limited quantity we buy, is also more convenient.
During the period that you shopped at this store, what changes did you see?
TV, VCR and Laserdisc player sales ceased. Beta and Laserdisc, which had limited availability, stopped being offered. The popcorn machine went by the wayside. Original owner/operators were replaced by hired staff. Selection increased. Videotape sales started. Competition at other stores increased.
Is this store still open? If not, when did it close?
No, again believe it was in the 1986-1987 timeframe.
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?
Purchased my first VCR from a base exchange in 1985; my first 'big' purchase. Bought it because it was affordable and used it to record various television shows. They encouraged its purchase as they already had one and wanted another in the house to dub tapes with.
Did you ever rent a VCR or other hardware (a camera, for instance)? If so,
how often and why?
No. Although I had some friends rent a cam-corder around 1989. I had departed the area and they had recreated and filmed memorable events that we shared. They dubbed this to VHS and sent me a copy.