BLOCKBUSTER VIDEO - Life in America

[@Fla5thgenTryMe]

So much nostalgia for blockbuster. My father raised me and every Friday we'd go rent 2 movies and game.

[@beegee22]

What great memories!

[@KN-op3et]

The 90's are still alive in Bend, Oregon! Home of the last Blockbuster!

[@onefatstratcat]

I still have about 20 VHS tapes I purchased from our local BB as they went out of business... and they still play!! :)

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

@@onefatstratcat I'm sure I still have hundreds.

[@bqkmg2037]

More like 80s (1985) when it started but continued into the 90s and early 00s..id say 80s/90s nostalgia LAST good decades.

[@robertmoir5695]

Do they still have Blockbuster video stores in Oregon Kenneth ?

[@LyudmilaRGVK]

@@onefatstratcat Often Video tapes have more volume than many DVD's.

[@bearforce187]

I agree, there was just something special about renting movies, especially on a Friday after work for the weekend. I remember maybe early 2000's here in Canada , you could get 2 new release movies, 2 bottles of coca cola and an extra large bag of popcorn for $9.99, seemed like a pretty good deal and better than paying to see one movie at the theater.

[@WhatsCookingTime]

its so true

[@razmd2504]

An european kid would never know how american life was

[@DrSkull1939]

It was special. Everything seems to be at your finger tips these days and no one seems to like being around other people( I'm talking even without Covid)

[@amyfisher6380]

20 years ago when I was living in Santa Monica, I’d go to the neighborhood Patty’s Pizza on the weekends and place an order to go. Then I’d go to the Blockbuster next door and browse and find a couple of movies to rent. My pizza would be ready by the time I was done at Blockbuster. Good times.

[@bearforce187]

Those simple times were the best, I use to do something similar to that as well, sadly those days are long gone.

[@06colkurtz]

Cool. Beta or VHS?

[@drizzt8965]

@@06colkurtz I started with a Beta, wrong choice.... I do miss these simple times though.

[@kennethhardesty8964]

Great way to relax for the weekend

[@kat35lulu88]

Sounds like an excellent weekend.......

[@mikeywestside8509]

I loved working at BBV. We would get 7 free rentals per week; as a 17 year old kid that was a big deal. When DVDs became widely used, I told my dad, "make sure to rewind before returning".

[@martinpennock9430]

Yup, I remember when the small mom and pop video stores started cropping up. Then came the Blockbuster chain, and changed everything. I remember the shift from VHS to DVD. All gone now. Remember when you could rent a movie, get the popcorn and snacks, all at Blockbuster! We're all Redbox now. Thanks again for a great video!

[@LyudmilaRGVK]

I remember in the early 1980's when I had the weekend off . I would rent a video machine and about 6 movies from Blockbuster and just stay home the whole weekend watching movies. It was great!

[@bostongirlsandy]

I miss Blockbuster. I miss walking into the store and searching for movies/VHS.

[@bretthibbs6083]

same here

[@nickhill8612]

I remember going to Block Buster was an event. Running to see the new releases and games. The bright lights and the smell of popcorn. Seeing friends and neighbors and friends you haven't talked to in awhile. That's interesting. I believe Coke had a chance to buy Pepsi. Pizza Hut had a chance to buy Dominos. Block Buster could have owned Netflix. Talk about hindsight being 20/20.

[@Fla5thgenTryMe]

Yup

[@nickhill8612]

@@Fla5thgenTryMe 🖒🖒

[@angeladay1534]

😂🤣📼🤣😄💖

[@Artessnow]

Don’t forget Barnes and Nobles had a chance to buy Amazon but they laughed Bezos out of their office.

[@niceguy60]

@@Artessnow Yeah ok so what happened next.

[@jimmyjames6267]

I was always loyal to the small mom and pop stores, they had movie nerds working who could answer any questions, and they always had big selection of classics

[@nicholasschroeder3678]

Exactly! I actually hated Blockbuster. They had oodles of junk, the place had all that harsh lighting, and they'd cream you if you were late.

[@catherinebreitfeller669]

Oh those were the days - rushing to BB to try to get the movie ya wanted & they were all rented !! 😩😩

[@angeladay1534]

Yep! Then, in Minneapolis, Minnesota in Uptown on Hennepin Ave., Hollywood Video was a few blocks down. If one place was out, normally the other would have it, or sometimes they would let you sign up to Reserve a copy, after it's been returned. They'd call you. 😆😂🤣😂📼📼📼🎥🕹️

[@Artessnow]

I remember literally waiting for the clerk to empty the return bin hoping the movie I wanted was there.

[@Sakja]

When I lived in NJ, I was a member of Palmer Video for years. I moved to Georgia in 1995 and became a member of Blockbuster. It's so nostalgic thinking about renting movies on Friday night. So many things have and will continue to change in the 21st century.

[@knytrydr73]

LOL! My family had a Palmer Video membership too!!

[@aimeefrosland5708]

I remember going to blockbuster when I was a kid! I used to love 💘 picking out movies 🎥 for kids!

[@daniel.d.roberts6850]

I miss Blockbuster, that was my childhood.

[@orangehoof]

Now that I know that Viacom bought it, I'm glad the business took a bath. But, here ya go. Entreprenuer sees a niche, starts a business, business expands to more and more stores. New man comes in and buys him out. Continues to expand the business beyond wildest dreams. Corporation buys out the second guy and essentially fails to recognize the changing marketplace, losing their shirts in the process while a new entreprenuer builds a better business. ((sigh)). The American dream goes full cycle. As hard as it is to believe, someday someone is going to come along and build a better business than Google or Amazon or Microsoft or Facebook and the assholes who lead those businesses now will lose most of the business they have now. Hard to imagine now but it will happen because it's always happened. I grew up with Sears, K-Mart, Radio Shack, etc. They were ubiquitous and they were titans. They're all pretty much defunct now and I would not have imagined it.

[@Fla5thgenTryMe]

Hopefully

[@noble604]

American banks pocketed almost $12 billion from overdraft fees alone last year. Fees, in general, make up about a quarter of their profit. Utility companies charge high late fees... and we know about credit cards. It’s a business model. Blockbuster thought they could ride that wave but movies aren’t utilities.

[@freddyhoyt1849]

I recently started watching your videos I love them all some of them bring back so many great memories thanks so much

[@angeladay1534]

I just found this site after watching some other old restaurant videos! So glad, you post positive things! 💖🏆🏆🏆🏆💯

[@thesteelecrusader7778]

I was probably the last generation to truly experience Blockbuster and renting movies and games.

[@njt002]

I was blown away the first time I entered Blockbuster. They had SO many copies in new movies. The local video store would be picked over in new releases but Blockbuster had an amazing selection of movies. Bigger was better when it came to Blockbuster.

[@volvoguy804]

When customers lost their rentals the prices they were charged to replace them was ridiculous.

[@sorryforthings72]

It’s called consequences…….

[@kallen868]

It was awful trying to get $ from delinquents who just didn't return. The Busta Karen's were the worst!

[@sprkl5d]

And Blockbuster actually would report you to credit agency if you owed a certain amount in late fees. It was rediculous.

[@DavesArchives]

Oh, man! Not sure if I should enjoy this during the weekend or watch it now!

[@ShiksaWithChutzpah1]

Ah my dear old Blockbuster Video. The good old days when you could enjoy looking at video box artwork and reading the plot synopsis on the back. Much more fun than scrolling through an online streaming menu. I got the Blockbuster DVD by mail service around 2009 until it shut down. I bought up lots of their VHS inventory when they began transitioning to DVD around 2003 or 04. Where I went to college in south Georgia there was also a Movie Gallery and Video Warehouse. Thank you for this video on your wonderful channel!! 💜

[@elcheapo5302]

My local Blockbuster was vacant for years...and still is...aside for roughly a month around this time each year when it becomes a Halloween store.

[@JennRighter]

Interesting that the founder and also the eventual owner held mutual respect for one another. Rare and nice to see.

[@wardenwilson6725]

I know there are still discs available, to buy, but you could rent any disc, and before that, vhs tapes. And Blockbuster always had the best selection. One thing discs had, that streaming and vhs tapes don't, are the special features. I miss them!

[@cdfreester]

Going to Blockbuster was also a social occasion. You'd see neighbors, friends, etc., and make friends with a clerk so you'd get the inside scoop on new movies to rent that were good but under the radar (Reservoir Dogs comes to mind). Imagine what the pandemic had been like if we had Blockbuster instead of streaming!

[@talfacprez]

I can also remember when some Blockbuster locations worked a deal with Radio Shack and sold Radio Shack products inside Blockbuster. Radio Shack was going downhill too so I guess they were both trying to boost each other's business, but it didn't work.

[@craigmergenthal9291]

Should have also merged with Sears and Kmart, so they could just form one giant failing conglomerate.

[@drizzt8965]

@@craigmergenthal9291 Lol

[@davidsquires154]

Back in the day, I remember Block Buster and came along Hollywood Video and Family Video. All 3 went out of business.

[@angeladay1534]

Our last Family Video closed this March, and I didn't know it. I missed the final warehouse sale! 😣😞😠😡

[@markd5625]

I had a customer in the early 90's in Dallas that had an opportunity to invest in Blockbuster but refused because when the offer was made, there were non-chain video rental stores on about every corner. She was pretty well to do and didn't seem too disappointed, but did comment on it was one that got away.

[@pamelamays4186]

I have fond memories of going to Blockbuster Video with my Mom when me and my kids would go spend a weekend with her. A few years ago I saw a Blockbuster Video Rental kiosk in a 99 Cent Store, which stuck me as a bit odd. 🤔

[@roydidlock1867]

We had Blockbuster Video here in Australia too. Our last operating store, located in Perth, Western Australia closed down in 2019. It was the second last Blockbuster store in the world. Its closure left only the store in Oregon, USA.

[@joelfrombethlehem]

Cool! I never knew Blockbuster's beginnings or early days. I used them many a time. I bought my 1st VHS HiFi VCR in Summer 1985. Blockbuster wasn't in my area yet, so I used some local video rental shops.

[@angeladay1534]

I used to rent one of those VCR's, didn't own one yet. Lots of times they were all rented out! That cancelled movie night. 🤢😭

[@drizzt8965]

@@angeladay1534 Same, such simple times.....

[@joelfrombethlehem]

@@angeladay1534 Same here, too.

[@jackhackett80]

Friday nights at grandmas in the late 80's. She would pick me up from school, let me rent anything but rated R films, and pick up a pizza next door at Little Caesars. Shit, I felt like Caesar when I visited grandma for the weekend

[@mdgraystone]

Blockbuster was so big and so successful I remember they practically had stores on every corner and then they expanded into the music industry with Blockbuster Music. That bombed in just a few years. And the rest is history.

[@joeheid4757]

Surprised to see Blockbuster started in 85. Seems like they were around before that.

[@christinewyatt246]

I thought so too. I would have guessed around 1978 or so….

[@WhatsCookingTime]

vcr prices didnt start to come down until then. when vcr first came out they were almost 1000 in the early 80s.. for example dvd machines were 150 bucks in 2000 less than 10 years later they were 20 bucks same principle

[@drizzt8965]

@@WhatsCookingTime The ability to watch a movie on demand in your home simply by pulling it off of your shelf was an unreal feeling, I remember. My first purchased movie was Back to The Future....

[@ClassicRideSociety]

Who remembers 🎥 Movie Gallery? We had a "Cruising USA" arcade in ours. I was also fond of those mom & pop video stores

[@stphinkle]

I remember them, also known as Hollywood Video in some markets and they also owned a store called Game Crazy. They were big in the late 1990s.

[@angeladay1534]

I miss going into a video store. 😢😭 It was the highlight of my Fridays after work. I still don't use Netflix. Sometimes, I can run across a Video rental store. I buy DVD's and finally bought a Rouku TV last year and internet this spring. We used to even rent Sega Genesis Games from Block Buster and Hollywood Video. Also, Mr. movie and Family Video store or even some other places. Just like I miss Musicland, Sam Goody's, Tower Records, Coconuts and other "Hands on" places. Hate shopping online! 😭💔🤢🤮

[@virus2003]

Back when you only had the box to judge your pick!

[@agostinodibella9939]

That’s amazing that one store survived!

[@AJ17_]

The documentary about it on Netflix is really good.

[@pattyheitzman8635]

I used to go to Blockbuster when I used to live in Palm City, Florida. We used to have a Blockbuster there.. I used to rent movies and buy candy there.

[@jaferguson49]

I owned a small video rental store in Texarkana in 94 and 95. Nothing huge, but was making a decent living. Then Blockbuster opened up in the area. I quickly went out of business. :)

[@ayerger1734]

I miss them!😥

[@gillboardman8998]

Blockbuster is THE reason I will not let anyone automatically debit my bank account anymore. The instant "late fees" of $79 per tape bounced many a check of mine back in the day. Dealing with the snarky kid manager to get my money back left a definite bad permanent taste in my mouth and my blood pressure has risen a couple dozen points just typing this. 😶 Needless to say I'm not a Blockbuster fan, but I did enjoy the Friday night ritual of movie and pizza in the 90's.👌

[@angeladay1534]

Awww! They tried to charge me replacement costs for about 7 videos, after I had already returned them. I finally got it straightened out.

[@ericletford1178]

I loved going to Blockbuster Video great place to rent movies and games

[@Madness832]

I can still remember when the Blockbuster opened, in South Boston, in 1989. First movie rented (on my dad's account since I was underage) was Back to the Future II. The only downside was the closin' of an independent video store, down the street. Actually, it was a convenience store that opened a video rental in an adjacent storefront. The former is still open, today. Edit: I was also a member of the original Netflix. Their service was (IMO) a blessin' & a curse. That is, they had a nice selection, but I can't count the number of broken discs I'd gotten! Kept requestin' stronger mailers!

[@Soul_Education]

How ironic! I just found my membership card from Blockbuster dated 1997😊

[@itinerantpatriot1196]

When I was married in the 90's, going to the dollar movie theater and letting our daughter pick out the weekend movie at Blockbuster were family entertainment rituals. Part of me misses the experience of perusing the shelves but to be honest streaming is far more convenient. I wonder what the group who laughed Netflix out of their office are up to these days. Oh well, can't get em all right I suppose.

[@jamesslick4790]

Yeh, "Crystal balls" are in short supply. I remember watching videos on a PC was a grainy postage stamp sized 1 minute clip with the sound woefully out of sync (and it was NOT that long ago!). Who coulda guessed streaming would get to where I'm watching 4K content on demand? And it took less time for that evolution than it did to go from normal black and white TV with mono sound to normal Color TV with stereo sound! We can laugh at Blockbuster's mistake NOW, only because were ARE IN the future.

[@drizzt8965]

@@jamesslick4790 Great comment!

[@erikdukes2505]

I have remembered of buying 📼 tapes, CDs, hot pickles and other stuff. From Block buster. My mom and grandma would often. Rent or buy many of the movies and shows. For free at no additional cost. Plus they mainly took my siblings and I out towards Blockbuster. My sister and I became satisfied with the hot pickles. Their hot pickles mainly consisted of 2 flavors. The two flavors were: normal and spicy. I always prefer the normal flavored hot pickles. Those were some of the joyful, wonderful memories I have recalled. Blockbuster definitely gave and conjugated me. With my family members tons of nostalgic recollections. Thank you so much for the company's history and story. This happened on regular basis. Throughout from the early to late 2000's. By the way, my birth year is 2000.

[@Londwar]

So this was the surprise video for today. Very cool. Thank you.

[@lonjanis6001]

Love these videos. Keep up the good work ♥️

[@dnguyen9747]

Thank you for a stroll down memory lane. One step for me entering adulthood was to own my own HiFi VCR and renting from Blockbuster. Back then, there were also other local video rental stores. I remember those. There was a time when you on a Friday night you and your friends would hit the Blockbusters first to get the New Releases before they're all gone, then stroll over to Barnes and Noble and try to act sophisticated perused books in the smart section, then head over to the Wherehouse and be cool and hip and discuss the latest album/cd releases. You were especially cool if you knew something about those imports. Lastly, at the end you crash at a Starbucks. This was life in the late 80's/ early 90's. We would do it all again Saturday but you would replace going to Blockbusters with return the new releases before the deadline and go to the matinees with your buddies during the day or a date at night.

[@TheFoodieCutie]

We never really went to blockbuster because we had local video stores but I fondly remember the video store. It was a unique experience for chit chat and seeing all the new releases. The stores all had that strange scent of the VHS tapes also!

[@mohabatkhanmalak1161]

There was one Blockbuster store in Henderson, West Auckland, New Zealand! Remember it very well with its yellow and blue ticket logo, all those years ago!

[@jamesslick4790]

I still rent movies on occasion, But now it's when I see something interesting in my local Redbox machine. Not nearly the same as wandering the aisles looking for some oddball thing that might grab my attention at Blockbuster or Hollywood Video, But for some of us, renting a physical movie is still a "thing".

[@angeladay1534]

Ditto! 📼

[@knytrydr73]

Yeah, I used to do that too. Wander the aisles of the store and find some crazy B-Movie I had never heard of! Good times!

[@brunobiava4833]

You know you are a certain age when after watching this you are already thinking that you have to rewind it before you take it back...

[@bertholini2810]

We had a Blockbuster in town. They had a new girl there (we had never seen her before), we turned in our 2 videos we had and went on to check other videos. When we were ready to check out and went up to the check out counter and the girl said, where are your videos from 3 days ago, my wife said those are turned in, the girl said I don't have them and you will have to be charged, my wife said..... honey we just dropped them right here. The girl behind the counter said.... nooooo, we'll have to charge you. Anyway, we left and never went back, about 2 years after that happened, Blockbuster closed.

[@noble604]

Now the cameras would help you 🙂

[@bertholini2810]

@@noble604 That's true. We had always dealt with 2 boys (they knew us/we knew them) but that girl was a real...... anyway, we got a dish thinger put on the house and that pretty well changed everything.

[@Artessnow]

It’s interesting that Blockbuster became the largest type of company of its kind but virtually vanished in one generation.

[@damageinc.5458]

I remember riding my bike with my brother all the time, to rent some Nintendo games. We always tried to beat them before they were due back. Good memories.

[@bushman2512]

I still have the Blockbuster popcorn bowl. The old store is now a beer store. Good company while it was in business. Good service good a staff.

[@boston......longtime7745]

Digital killed the video store!

[@kennethhardesty8964]

I remember waiting in line for someone to return a movie lol

[@angeladay1534]

Yes! 🙌🏽📼💖💛💛💛💛🏆

[@kennethhardesty8964]

@@angeladay1534 fun days when people didn’t hate each other and worked to earn their money

[@kennethhardesty8964]

@@angeladay1534 now we have the entitlement crowd

[@drizzt8965]

@@kennethhardesty8964 And it's just going to get worse my friend.....

[@angeladay1534]

@@kennethhardesty8964 I started babysitting and cleaning elderly ladies highrise apartments, when I was 11yrs old. As I got older, I got summer jobs in offices and after school restaurants. I always wanted to work. I would buy my own school clothes from age 14. It makes a difference, when you have to pay for things. It brings a sense of responsibility. I always took great care of my belongings, regardless if family or myself had purchased it. Attempted to share this with my 2 sons. Grandma and a great Aunt would go behind my back a buy them very expensive, clothes, games, gym shoes etc and let them wear them at their houses. I wholeheartedly, encouraged, each of my sons, to strive for a most, excellent, work ethic and the importance of a college & higher education and most importantly, bringing them with me to church. For them to build, their own personal relationship with GOD. Good morals are nearly obsolete in this day and time. My youngest son hung around the wrong people and was hit and killed on a highway, 6 yrs ago, he was 28yrs old. He left behind 6 children.

[@Porsche996driver]

Blockbuster also used to sell all kinds of movie snacks and candies. Sure they made a ton off just that. Late fees caused more speeding tickets too. People hated BB at the end. Reed Hastings has a great story developing Netflix from a crazy idea in his house.

[@SchardtCinematic]

I miss going to Block Buster and Hollywood video to rent movies. Those were the days. There are alot of 1990s mall stores I miss that no longer exist. The Camera Shop being one of them and Ritz Camera. Mine was located in my Boscovs at the mall

[@JennRighter]

I remember when you went really wanting to rent a movie but they were all already rented, lol. I don’t know why that’s my memory.

[@purberri]

One thing to learn as a business you have to stay on top of technology changes. I joined Netflix early on wish I had bought stock.

[@elwin38]

I used to rent video games for my son in the early 2000's.

[@photonotavailable7936]

In the greater Sacramento area, Hollywood Video was Blockbuster’s biggest competitor. Tower Video was another option.

[@williamm374]

There was Karma in Blockbuster's downfall. They resorted to ripping off customers with exorbitant late fees.

[@mdf3530]

Be kind. Rewind.

[@cwulfe1]

Never visited a Blockbuster. I worked on setting up small video rental stores with video database software that maintained customer info and rental software. I saw the pricing of what the video cost and what was charged after that decided never to rent a video unless asked to. At the time, cable TV still had a lot to offer or work and study was enough to keep me from TV, tape or cable.

[@jasonhummel3865]

Lots of good memories of Block Buster What a shame things change

[@tedgarrison8842]

When I worked at Blockbuster Video I could take home five videos each night. I worked at Blockbuster Video because they offered health care.

[@robertmoir5695]

I know I always enjoy videos like this Capturing great things of the past

[@Paramount531]

In the mid 80s, Blockbuster bought out a local San Diego chain called Video Library, which we liked a lot. Many people had bought a lifetime rental account with Video Library, after Blockbuster took over they told them to go pound sand nd wouldn't honor the memberships. I have always resented them for that and wasn't particularly sad when they crashed and burned. Our nearest Blockbuster was remodeled into a Discount Tire store.

[@choward5430]

My fondest Blockbuster moment occurred in the 90s. It was Friday and I took my three kids ages 6,8 and 10 to pick out their film. We walked the aisle and came upon "IT." I said, "you guys don't want to watch this one. That clown is bad." Well, they all lobbied to see it. I said, "DO NOT TELL YOUR MOM"! So off we go home, popcorn popped, drinks in hand and I plop in "IT." I had some office work to do so I didn't watch it with them. After about 20-30 minutes, I checked in on them and they were completely silent. Long story short, that night, they not only told their mom, but they were also all in our bed!

[@Gunrunner4532]

I love this story!

[@ultramaximusreviews]

When I was young we'd go to Mr. Video and then when we moved to Greenwood in the late 80s it was always Blockbuster.

[@jdon4447]

I remember waiting at the counter waiting for someone to return a 'new' release and the kids wanting a game and then hurrying to return before late fees.

[@Soxruleyanksdrool]

I was norn in 1968. Its wild to think that, as a young child in the 70s, there was no such thing as the video store. Then in the 80s and 90s video stores were everywhere. Now they are just about nonexistent. Replaced by the Redbox. If you are old enough, you have witnessed both the birth and death of an entire industry.

[@joshuasteele4498]

So many have a lot of Blockbuster memories, but I was only ever in one a few times. They were bit of a hike from my house, so they weren’t a thing for us. What we did have, in the same strip with our grocery store, was a Hollywood Video, which was the same kind of thing. I don’t remember them having much of an ad campaign, but they certainly got plenty of money from my family

[@eriks3260]

Always had fun on Friday night. Looking for that perfect movie!!!! I also bought tons of movies from them. In the movie bins!!!! I miss them

[@thomashazard525]

I had an online subscription to Blockbuster for a few years until 2013 when, as described in the video, it began to be shut down. At that time, I changed over to Netflix.

[@haircole]

I still have my blockbuster membership card 😳

[@hilltopmachineworks2131]

Me too.

[@noble604]

Me too!🤣 I came across it recently and still remember posing for the photo

[@desertpinevintage]

Makes me sad there’s no blockbusters

[@angeladay1534]

😢😭💔📼💯🌌🏆💖💖💖💖

[@RichardinNC1]

Blockbuster was THE thing to do during any family gathering. Beach trips or Christmas, we rented movies for the week. Browsing the stores was an evening thing right after dinner.

[@kallen868]

Working at the Busta during a major holiday or before a snowstorm was a total nightmare!

[@pianomaly9859]

I did use Blockbuster a few times, but was more partial to the mom and pop video store around the corner. Good times Friday or Saturday nights in the 80's, my wife and I with friends over, grabbing burgers, fries, shakes to go with the movies.

[@virus2003]

You ever spend an hour looking for a film and end up going home with nothing?

[@angeladay1534]

Yep!

[@DragonBlue68]

Back in the late 80s, Blockbuster took over Video Library in San Diego if I recall... I dumped them in the early 90s after the constant "late fees" -regardless of how early I returned them. It got to the point one had to personally hand-in the videos and be sure they checked them in in person😠

[@overworlder]

The one a couple of blocks from me only closed a few years ago. In the last few years they added an ice cream stand.

[@angeladay1534]

💔😢🌌

[@SantaFe19484]

I have a few memories of Blockbuster myself.

[@rijosigns]

man i lived in blockbuster in the 80's awesome!!!

[@OcotilloTom]

I was a Cop but worked part time in a "mom and pop" Video store in Novato, Calif (S.F. Bay Area) in the 90's.. I did it mostly because we got to see the movies free and we got a good deal on blank video tape which was $10.00 each at that time and got 10% off any electronic equip. we purchased. We also sold TV's, video recorders and the RCA Video Disk players which was a flop. I got to meet some interesting folks as customers like some from the popular rock groups like Journey, Huey Lewis and the News and Jefferson Starship and others. When visiting family elsewhere we would rent at Blockbuster.

[@johngparker557]

I love your show keep up the good work thank you very much keep smiling bye-bye

[@TC-tw5zk]

i went in my garage to clean found a blockbuster rental that was never returned....hmmm oh well to late

[@mdf3530]

They also tried competing with Redbox by licensing their name to NCR for the Blockbuster Express kiosks.

[@Jim-ie6uf]

My son, now 42, rented a game from BB many years ago and forgot to return it, until they called us week later. He had to pay all the past due fees.

[@getoffmydarnlawn]

In my neighborhood we had a few really great independent video rental stores that were closer than the nearest Blockbuster, I might be the only person in my circle who has never been in a Blockbuster. But everyone I know has great memories of the place, in fact I can't think of another chain of any type that garners such loyal and fond recollections.

[@GuitarAnthony]

Any huge company that thinks they can't crash should think about Blockbuster. Also the late fees were bad but looooooord those lost tape fees.

[@davidpearson3304]

And Kodak

[@bretthibbs6083]

I have so many great memories of going to blockbuster actually right now i just went back in time in my mind and I remember being at the checkout counter and trying to pick out popcorn and candy bars lol. They had probably the best selection of movies more so than other rental places. I didn't care for redbox at all poor selection of movies.

[@ObsessedCollector]

So wait, October 19, 1985 the 1st Blockbuster opened. Just one day after the NES was test marketed??? Wow!

[@garyhumphries348]

The best video stores I can remember were the mom and pop stores and we always had a few around and rented video's from those small private stores,they always had what we wanted.

[@robertmoir5695]

Great story Going back in time