Customer profile
What was the name of your video store?
Camera Video Showplace
Where was the store located?
Howell, New Jersey (United States)
When did you start shopping at this store?
1986
Describe your video store - what did it look like? What were its distinguishing
features?
It was extremely small. Sold beta and VHS at first. It was in a tepee-like building that eventually became a dentist's office.
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 don't remember the employees
What other services/products did the store offer besides the rental or sale
of videos? Did this change over time?
Nothing else. Eventually, when they moved to a bigger location, they added laser discs, video games, and posters.
What video formats did the store offer (i.e. VHS, Beta, Laserdisc)? Where were
different formats kept in the store?
Beta, VHS originally. Then added Laser. The formats were kept separately
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 children's and x-rated videos for rent. the x-rated were behind a beaded curtain. i was twelve and never went in the back.
Did you tend to rent or buy videos? Why?
rent because we had a lifetime membership.
During the period that you shopped at this store, what changes did you see?
the store moved several times to bigger locations.
Is this store still open? If not, when did it close?
the store closed about 2 years ago.
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 VHS player we had was a HUGE AKAI model. my dad bought it. and it still works nearly 20 years later.
Did you ever rent a VCR or other hardware (a camera, for instance)? If so,
how often and why?
my dad got us a camera (he got it in a barter deal) and the camera was separate from the "portable" VHS player. (you had to carry half a VCR on a shoulder strap and attach it via wire to the camera.)