Hot Slut Of The Day!
Blockbuster's VHS plastic case!
When I was at my aunt's house for Thanksgiving, one of my teenage cousins complained about opening a Netflix red envelope. You know, because opening an envelope is hard. I wanted to get all old on him by telling him to shut his mouth, because I remember when we had to work hard to rent a movie. I didn't say that, instead I acted like I was so ahead of him and said something like, "I know, that's why I stream all of my movies. I'm surprised you don't do that." But seriously, remember when we had to work hard (not really) to rent a movie from Blockbuster? A regular Friday night at Blockbuster usually went like this:
1. As soon as my mom parked the car, I'd run in and go directly to the "New Releases" section. If a big movie just came out, Blockbuster usually had dozens of copies of it. I'd check behind all the covers for an empty VHS plastic case. If there wasn't a VHS plastic case behind any of the covers, I'd move on to step 2.
2. I'd go to the cashier area and ask an employee if the movie I wanted was recently returned. They'd throw me an obligatory eye roll before pointing to a stack of returned VHS tapes they didn't put back on the shelves yet and tell me to look for myself. It usually wasn't there, so I'd go on to step 3...
3. Find another movie!
And then you had to remember to return it in 2 or 5 days. See, renting VHS tapes in the olden days was an ordeal. Youngins just don't know.
(Pic via Tumblr)
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MK♡, love stories like this!
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"CAUTION: Delusion ahead." MK
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I used to take my dog with me to Blockbuster. The employees let him come in, which was nice. He was a friendly puppeh and behaved better than the people leaving popcorn all over the floor. My younger pervier, self rented foreign films to see peen.
Don't forget the long assed lines to rent the VHS.
Submitted by dorian_graye on Wed, 12/05/2012 - 12:52pm.
I remember those! The adult section was in the back. LOL.
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"I think my butt looks too big in these jeans."
Submitted by Whamo on Wed, 12/05/2012 - 12:11pm.
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Kind of OT/ Love me some vinyls Wham! They used to be everywhere! Remember when flexi discs would come in magazines? They didn't sound nearly as good as standard 45s but collecting them was addictive.
There's a lossless digital format nowadays but listening to vinyls is still magical if you have a decent turntable like the one my brother owns. He has an impressive collection too.
It wasn't only the artwork, but artists would also put a lot of effort into choosing a track order on the vinyl. Of course, that was when people used to sit and listen through the entire record on both sides, and rarely skip tracks. Kids these days would never be bothered with that. :S
I remember watching a Faces of Death video that my older brother had rented (probably stolen). I was probably 10 at the time and traumatized after watching a few clips. Between that video and the Body Count casette tape he had terrified me.
Thank you, MK, for this walk down memory lane! Friday night at the video store, oh what I would give to go back to 1995, when I was 16/17 for one weekend!
You know how they had to take the yellow thing out so you could open the fucking VHS box? So one time they forgot to take mine out and I had to drive back to Blockbuster to have them take it out for me and they accused me of stealing it. I was like, "No, your staff is just stupid. Thanks!"
Submitted by Whamo on Wed, 12/05/2012 - 11:49am.
I miss Blockbuster. It is too bad by the time they figured out what was whirling around it was too late. We had some really nice people working at our local one. Also remember private owned ones. They always had that back room for porn.
Or so I've been told:)
Hey, I was out in the garage and asked Mr about this one box--"what is that" it's his old
turntable! We still use the receiver:)
Whamo, I have a son who is really into vinyls. When my step father died last year, my mother gave his massive collection to my son! He really scored with that.
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Success is a great deodorant ~ Liz
We never went to blockbuster growing up because it was too expensive, and we had the Albertsons video section, where rentals were a buck. After hs I started going to Hollywood Video, where you could stumble across awesome indies and i only had to pay a dollar of any late fee to rent again. I still owe them about 60 bucks, and I still have a blockbuster DVD from one of the few times I went a million years ago in my closet. It'll be worth something someday!
i can remember using the rental section at our grocery store and waiting forever for a copy of don't tell mom the babysitters dead. i finally got one only to find out it was broken and of course they didn't have another copy available...sigh. kids don't realize how good they've got it lol.
Whamo, Isn't it cool to see vinyl again? I used to save my babysitting money and shell out for a Japanese vinyl disk, usually mail-ordered from the classifieds in Trouser Press magazine. I sold a ton of my vinyl at a flea market years ago. But I kept the Japanese vinyl & a lot of the imports. I have a Japanese pressing of Nevermind the Bollocks!!!
Submitted by LoCoJo on Wed, 12/05/2012 - 12:46pm.
hahaha. My friend also would keep a friends-only collection of nasty or naughty pix that people dropped off. He said it was always half-funny, half-awkward when they came to pick them up.
Whaddya mean vinyl has to "come back?" Nothing but vinyl, tapes, and film cameras in my home. ;) I love my hi-fi that will continuously play a stack of 45s (7"s). It sounds fantastic.
And a new record store just opened up scross the street! My experience working at Blockbuster taught me to support the small business as much as possible. When my fave indie bookstore failed I swore off Amazon and Barnes & Noble forever!
Punk kids like me....
"This world is a whore."
Jack, one just openned up a few blocks from where I live. Maybe the mom and pop places are coming back?
"Let them all boil in their own hotdog juice." Deb 7/2012
Submitted by dorian_graye on Wed, 12/05/2012 - 12:52pm.
There is a locally owned DVD rental place 2 blocks from my apartment... they rock
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"A Muppet and his money are soon parted." ~ Lu32Cy (aka Lucifer Sam)
"I'm back. You're Welcome." ~ Kenny Powers
I was just thinking about this the other day. Does anybody remember when there used to be independently owned video stores? Is that showing my age too much? That was way back in the olden days before corporations starting homogenizing America and making it impossible for locally owned shops to compete with big business.
The locally owned video stores were the best. It was the only place I could find a copy of Pink Flamingos!
DP
Submitted by RandéSleepover on Wed, 12/05/2012 - 11:53am.
My friend used to run a successful one-hour photo-processing shop.
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My friend used to get her dirty pics developed at the one hour photo huts. I was surprised that they would develop the pics. And I was always like "bitch, get a Polaroid (like me)!"
Submitted by jack-n-the-hat on Wed, 12/05/2012 - 12:22pm.
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That reminds of of that Chris Rock's
"when was the last time you went to an ATM at three in the morning for a GOOD reason?"
I think we've both been there from the sounds of it. :)
Submitted by Darknight on Wed, 12/05/2012 - 11:54am.
LMAO @ taco bell employee asking jack "how are you?"
"Um full of regret and ready to make more bad decisions?"
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seeing how it is usually 4am when I go through there, yea, you're right....
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"A Muppet and his money are soon parted." ~ Lu32Cy (aka Lucifer Sam)
"I'm back. You're Welcome." ~ Kenny Powers
We've ALL been there. The taco bell drive of shame.
Submitted by luvsmekitty on Wed, 12/05/2012 - 12:12pm.
Submitted by Whamo on Wed, 12/05/2012 - 12:06pm.
Wasn't it basically like youtube clips of people getting smoked!?
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I think so! But we ended up renting a porn flick.
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LMAO!!
Submitted by movedtocomment on Wed, 12/05/2012 - 11:51am.
LOL Remember George and "Rochelle Rochelle" from Seinfeld.
ah yes.. A young girl's strange erotic journey from Milan to Minsk. Remember when George tried to rent Breakfast at Tiffany's because he didn't read the book for his book club..but the movie was out and he got the renter's info and ended up on their doorstep and they let him watch it with them? Yeah I'm a Seinfeld freak.
Submitted by Whamo on Wed, 12/05/2012 - 12:06pm.
Wasn't it basically like youtube clips of people getting smoked!?
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I think so! But we ended up renting a porn flick.
Submitted by RandéSleepover on Wed, 12/05/2012 - 12:05pm.
Submitted by Whamo on Wed, 12/05/2012 - 12:02pm.
It was like that but more arty. Maybe, as suggested by Instagram and vinyl records, it'll come back.
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I see a real resurgence of vinyl records actually. Some bands are releasing their new music on vinyl as well as a digital format.
I do like the idea of digital music and being able to carry around as much music as you can but with compressed digital sound you really do lose a certain quality to the sound.
Besides, there is nothing as cool as identifying an album by the artwork on the cover.
I hated those freaking VHS tapes....it would get stuck in the VCR....and break. My poor husband spent a lot of time taking the damn thing apart, to get the tape out of it.....
Submitted by luvsmekitty on Wed, 12/05/2012 - 11:50am.
Submitted by Whamo on Wed, 12/05/2012 - 11:38am.
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That is so funny about the swinging doors. Ours had the same. *squueeeeeeeek squeeek squeek*
My friend and I had to go in *that room* to get the Faces of Death movies and were like "well helloooo" once we were in there.
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LOL I remember hearing about that but I don't think I ever watched "Faces of Death"
Wasn't it basically like youtube clips of people getting smoked!?
Submitted by SANS FARDS on Wed, 12/05/2012 - 11:52am.
haha. I was like your cousin, except my movie of choice was Home Alone. I was OBSESSED. I wanted to BE Kevin McAllister, always outsmarting the bad guys with his Talkboy and his dad's platinum credit card.
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See, I would have been on board with that. I was like 7 though wtf did I care about an action flick with Keanu Reeves?
Submitted by Whamo on Wed, 12/05/2012 - 12:02pm.
It was like that but more arty. Maybe, as suggested by Instagram and vinyl records, it'll come back.
Submitted by RandéSleepover on Wed, 12/05/2012 - 11:53am.
Submitted by Whamo on Wed, 12/05/2012 - 11:49am.
Yeah, I guess business was so good they figured it would go on forever. My friend used to run a successful one-hour photo-processing shop.
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LOL, man digital killed that! Do you remember the little Kodak booths in the middle of the mall parking lots that you dropped your film off at? (or is this what you meant? :) )
SDR, thanks, i hadn't thought of that. I guess I'll relent and get the old man what he wants. I was looking forward to the hilarious calls i would get when he was trying to figure out the kindle. Might just do both.
LMAO @ taco bell employee asking jack "how are you?"
"Um full of regret and ready to make more bad decisions?"
Submitted by Whamo on Wed, 12/05/2012 - 11:49am.
Yeah, I guess business was so good they figured it would go on forever. My friend used to run a successful one-hour photo-processing shop.
Submitted by Chubby.Cox on Wed, 12/05/2012 - 11:50am.
When I was a wee chile I used to spend weekends with my cousin and every time we went to the video store she wanted to rent Speed EVERY FUCKING TIME. Once, I got fed up and started crying and threw a fit. It worked, I got to get a movie I wanted, but my cousin has hated me since.
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haha. I was like your cousin, except my movie of choice was Home Alone. I was OBSESSED. I wanted to BE Kevin McAllister, always outsmarting the bad guys with his Talkboy and his dad's platinum credit card.
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Submitted by P.T.Bull on Tue, 09/25/2012 - 10:33pm.
"This bitch is crazier than a pillowcase full of clear-level scientologist possums."
LOL Remember George and "Rochelle Rochelle" from Seinfeld.
P.S. I have a cousin who's not too bright, they charge her fees for not rewinding the DVD's.
When I was a wee chile I used to spend weekends with my cousin and every time we went to the video store she wanted to rent Speed EVERY FUCKING TIME. Once, I got fed up and started crying and threw a fit. It worked, I got to get a movie I wanted, but my cousin has hated me since.
Submitted by Whamo on Wed, 12/05/2012 - 11:38am.
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That is so funny about the swinging doors. Ours had the same. *squueeeeeeeek squeeek squeek*
My friend and I had to go in *that room* to get the Faces of Death movies and were like "well helloooo" once we were in there.
Submitted by RandéSleepover on Wed, 12/05/2012 - 11:12am.
Blockbuster's business has shrunk a bit since then--an object lesson about technology. Can't wait till it happens to Twitter.
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Rarely has a company as large and powerful as Blockbuster COMPLETELY missed the boat with new technology. They had the money to be on top of it, STOMP on anyone that tried to start up a streamline business or simply buy them out (like microsoft) but someone was too busy taking Blimp flying lessons to see their business was going down the shitter.
I used to work at a Cocksucker Video. Yea, the days of creating fake accounts so my friends with late fees could still rent...and removing late fees for strangers for the hell of it ($10 max we were allowed to remove per person).
The worst was when the film Kids was removed. It was too immoral to sell. We had to gather all the tapes to be sent out to be destroyed. Also there were special Blockbuster edits of movies that were unlike any other form of the flick. Gross corporate stuff.
I still go to my indie video store to thus day!
"This world is a whore."
Submitted by jack-n-the-hat on Wed, 12/05/2012 - 11:38am.
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That's hilarious!
I really need to watch it again soon. Wonder when Hollywood will remake it.
We didn't have a blockbuster- we had a local store called World Video. In the summer we would spend all day at the elks lodge pool, then we would go to either taco bell, Krystal, little caesers or some equally bad fast food, then we would go to World Video and rent a movie. My best friend and I loved Dirty Dancing so much that we rented it almost every weekend. I'm sure we could have bought about five copies for as much as we spent renting it but that never seemed to occur to our moms. We would go home and put on oversized t shirts and lay on our bean bag and watch tapes and eat Cheetos and Debbie cakes and drink kool aid. Oh the 80's.
Submitted by Ophelias evil twin on Wed, 12/05/2012 - 10:49am.
oh and forget about scene selection
so annoying was that grinding sound of rewind/fastforward and then you hoped for the best.
I remember my mom bought a Beta player. fucking BETA!!! there were like 10 movies to choose from and all the cool parents and kids in the VHS
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I bought BETA back when they cost fortune and got fucked when they went to VHS only.
Submitted by luvsmekitty on Wed, 12/05/2012 - 11:33am.
My best friend and I got an apt right out of high school and literally wore the tape out watching it. Just last month, at his son's bday party at chuck e cheese, we were trying to get his wife's attn from across the room and when she finally looked over we were doing that thing that RDJ and the other dude did when the girls were talking about breaking up with them at mall and you can see em in the background making faces and shit.... lol *finsky*
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"A Muppet and his money are soon parted." ~ Lu32Cy (aka Lucifer Sam)
"I'm back. You're Welcome." ~ Kenny Powers
Submitted by Uncle Brain-fart on Wed, 12/05/2012 - 11:08am.
haha, I used to love the Porn Section in Video Stores
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At my video store they had the porno sectioned off in a separate room. Now to get to that room they had those old timey swinging double doors like at western saloon circa 1870 the thing is the springs would SCREEEETCH when you when in there and keep screechin the two or three swings they took to stop. So you go in and sceeeeetch sceeeth sceetch Scr...AND if you tried to hold the door it was worst, you'd just prolong the screech to one obvious...."hey I'm going to be jerkin off in 1/2 hour" sound
I'll never forget when I was a kid and found my dad's collection of porn tapes when my parents went out of town... other than the weekend flying by, severe dehydration and loss of vision, one of the tapes got stuck in the VCR... learned how to take a $1,000 (yes, back then... I know) piece of equipment apart and put it back together.
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"A Muppet and his money are soon parted." ~ Lu32Cy (aka Lucifer Sam)
"I'm back. You're Welcome." ~ Kenny Powers
Submitted by jack-n-the-hat on Wed, 12/05/2012 - 11:21am.
Did you KNOW it is snowing in my room goddammit?
*bestfuckinmovie*
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It really is.
"You're stewed, butt wad!"
Ahhh, I could quote this movie all day.
we lost 2 Blockbusters!! (and a book store(Border Books) WTF? :'( I still have a VCR(2) though and a few liberrys!
~O..+~
"I want monaaaay!"- what HBB wants for Christmas
I remember when I was 18 and didn't yet have a car, there was one video store within walking distance, but it was still quite a hike. I kept returning VHS tapes late but figured they didn't care, because they were getting all kinds of revenue from my late fees. Finally they told me I'd been "blackballed." I had to ask them what that word meant. Shut my world down for a while, ha ha.
When we put movies on for my nieces and nephew that were originally from the VHS era (Disney movies) but now come in DVDs they start asking if something is wrong with the TV. Old school children's movies just don't resemble the new Shrek, Up, Cars, etc. animation of today.