Blockbuster Video Is Back! In Miniature Form
Who remembers Friday nights combing the aisles of Blockbuster Video? Hovering around the new releases while the employees with the cart go up and down the aisle returning VHS’s to their rightful place. Waiting for that one copy of “Big Trouble In Little China” to come out. It was magic. And it’s back. In mini form. In England.
A Tribute to Blockbuster Video
Peter Goddard 39, is a self professed child of the 90’s and loved going to Blockbuster Video (didn’t we all?). So while some people in his neighborhood of Alderholt, England built tiny book library for people to check out books (also awesome). Peter went well beyond and did this:
The classic film fan spent weeks creating the DVD library out of an old record cabinet — complete with light-up sign and popcorn — before throwing open the tiny doors to his neighbors in the town of Alderholt, England.
He’s got a “Must See Movie” section as well as snacks for people – and even a gentle reminder to “rewind” your DVD’s on the shelf (I’ll admit we got my Mom with that a couple of times, she’d look for the rewind button on the DVD player). But let’s focus on Peter and his love of Blockbuster video (even in England – was there anywhere in the world that didn’t have a Blockbuster video? I should probably google that…here you go: at it’s peak Blockbuster had over 9,000 stores with over 65 million registered customers (that blockbuster card was in front of my drivers license)
Friday Nights At Blockbuster Video
Now obviously this doesn’t mean Blockbuster video is coming back…but when you look at how people celebrate retro (vinyl anyone?), maybe it’s not so far off to think folks with start building DVD collections and creating their very own Blockbuster Video in the basement, garage, or even by the curb. But let’s go back to those days, shall we?
I still remember going with my Dad to Blockbuster to pick out movies (once we convinced him that the laser disc player he bought was a complete waste of money). There was the candy/stale popcorn aisle that acted as a distraction from the goal: new releases. We’d walk up and see the latest film wasn’t there (the case was, but nothing behind it…such a tease when you want to watch “Romancing The Stone”). My move was to pick up the case, look at the back and then look back at the shelf – waiting for the “Blockbuster Elves” to come out from behind the wall and give me a special copy that they were holding for me…but if that didn’t work, you made this move:
The Blockbuster Hover
Friday nights and all the new releases are gone. Or are they? The return box was where all the smart Blockbuster Video folks went. We’d work in a slow circle, glancing at the box as people dropped off their movies (imagine musical chairs but with Harrison Ford). You could tell the employees were clearly irritated with us when we’d hover…but I didn’t care. There it was – Starman with Jeff Bridges and Karen Allen!
I’d ask if I could have it, they’d sigh and say “I’ve got to check it in first” – suddenly my elbows came out like Rick Mahorn boxing out for a rebound. This was my video. MY VIDEO. MINE. You’d leave Blockbuster like a conquering hero – making sure people saw what you had acquired, holding the video so the title would show. There was nothing like Blockbuster.
