Customer profile
What was the name of your video store?
el segundo video
Where was the store located?
el segundo, California (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?
The store was in an outdoor strip mall. It was not too large. Half the size of a normal blockbuster today. I remember it had tight and short ailses in the middle and one wall on the right as you walked in with new releases. Of course we always went there first as kids and my parents would go else where because in fact every movie was relatively new to video. I liked the smell because it was new but unique. Not something you wanted to smell anywhere else but that smell couldn't be duplicated. Obviously because of the product but again, as a kid you don't think about the intricacies of producing tapes and the odors they would produce. I think the most intriqueing part was the back room. You know the area that you couldn't go into. I remember when I didn't know what type of movies were back there and then I remember finding out and still not actually knowing what those movies were. I remember when the store got rid of that room and put a book out with a list of the adult titles. I still rmember ever knowing what those movies really were. I sort of know now from my days in a fraternity. The store was never changed drastically and never had any special look. Like colors or weird uniforms(hollywood video) or gimmicks in sales. They were straight up videos and only videos. I do remember when they had betas in an aisle then soon they were in the corner of a glass case.
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 didn't have much interaction as I was a kid. I do remember renting a movie once being afraid they would ID me for the R rating. They didn't and I don't remember the movie. Funny. I remember the feeling of getting away with something but not actually what it was for.
What other services/products did the store offer besides the rental or sale
of videos? Did this change over time?
They started with only renting videos. I rmember they did start selling them because my parents bought indiana jones raiders...the first one...and they di because they kept it for 2 weeks. I know eventually they carried popcorn and sodas and candy. That is all I remember them carrying.
What video formats did the store offer (i.e. VHS, Beta, Laserdisc)? Where were
different formats kept in the store?
They definitly had VHS and Beta...then beta went away. I think they had some laserdisc but those were like the porn movies and they were kept in a list.
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 excercise, childrens and educational. I know they sold the excercise videos because I remember them being expensive. More then I would have ever guessed they would cost.
Did you tend to rent or buy videos? Why?
rented. My father would never see a movie twice. "you already saw it. why would you want to see it again?" It would be a waste of time.
During the period that you shopped at this store, what changes did you see?
Not many. I stopped shopping there in 91.
Is this store still open? If not, when did it close?
I do know the answer to this.
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 bought one in 94 when I went to college because I did not have one and wanted one. The real story is my parents second one. Their first was literally the first model to come out I think by RCA. It cost $1000 or so dollars in the very early 80's. The second was not purchased to get in the game it was to get in the lead. RCA came out with this digital thing that was supposed to be the highest quality and the best thing available. It was nice but again I was young. My dad bought two. One for the family and one for him. They were around 500 '85 dollars. I can remember him spending a large amou nt of time programming it to record his shows instead of him having to watch live TV and waste the 3 minutes times 5 for an hour show watching commercials.
Did you ever rent a VCR or other hardware (a camera, for instance)? If so,
how often and why?
NO. I thought it was weird when I saw my friend's dad do this when I was there once. Why wouldn't they buy one? My dad might have chosen his VCR over the family dog if he was told to choose one or die. Actually there is no might to that staement.