Customer profile
What was the name of your video store?
Camera Bug and Video
Where was the store located?
Waterford, Michigan (United States)
When did you start shopping at this store?
1984
Describe your video store - what did it look like? What were its distinguishing
features?
It was the only rental store at the time. There were no Big Fish yet. It had a Back Room too. Very fascinating.
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 employees were neither friendly nor unfriendly. Of course, I was in my early teens.
What other services/products did the store offer besides the rental or sale
of videos? Did this change over time?
Cameras and camera equipment - it changed to more VHS rental over time.
What video formats did the store offer (i.e. VHS, Beta, Laserdisc)? Where were
different formats kept in the store?
VHS only
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 had a back room containing very R rated horror films - and then a curtained back room IN the back room that contained pornography. I rented the R flicks - but never went past the curtain.
Did you tend to rent or buy videos? Why?
Rent - the videos were way too expensive for my blood (early teens and all).
During the period that you shopped at this store, what changes did you see?
The store expanded and offered more VHS than camera equipment - and then, when the Blockbuster opened, the employees grew surly and obviously annoyed at the customers. And then they closed.
Is this store still open? If not, when did it close?
Closed due to Blockbuster.
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 first VCR my family owned was a silver VTR (video tape recorder!) with a wired remote (which slowly stopped working the more we used it). It rewinded and fast-forwarded very slowly and it wasn't able to pause on that flash frame on the demon's face in the Excorcist... or that certain Fast Times at Ridgemont High scene (not that I ever tried). First video I can recall renting... First Blood and My Tutor (the power went out and my brother and I couldn't get the tape out and we were very worried that the parents would be around when the power came back on).
Did you ever rent a VCR or other hardware (a camera, for instance)? If so,
how often and why?