The Wonder Cinema
Join hosts, filmmaker Brian Henry Martin and historian Dr. Sam Manning as they wonder about cinema in Northern Ireland. Series One reveals the remarkable story of the Ritz cinema in Belfast, while Series Two explores the rise and fall of videotape in Northern Ireland.
The Wonder Cinema
Say Yes To VHS, Ep 5: Play - The Wonder of the Video Shop
In the fifth episode of Say Yes to VHS, recorded live from Queen's Film Theatre in Belfast, Brian and Sam press play on a discussion about the wonder of the video shop.
As home video grew in popularity in the late 1970s and early 1980s, businesses such as newsagents and electronic shops opened their own video libraries, renting VHS and Betamax tapes to meet growing consumer demand. Soon after, dedicated video shops became a viable business model, with the number of these premises in Northern Ireland increasing from 89 in 1985 to 248 in 1990.
Independent shops, such as Agnes and Sandy's Video Library or Topper's Video Shack, were joined by branches of XtraVision, the largest chain on the island of Ireland. By the late 1980s, falling video prices led customers to start buying 'sell through' copies rather than renting them.
Brian recalls his memories of the video shop in 1980s Belfast, emphasising them as community spaces that offered a wide range of films. And after everyone had watched a VHS screening of The Princess Bride, we invited the audience to share their own video shop memories.
Links
The Northern Ireland Screen Digital Film Archive, '80s Tech!' collection
Written and presented by Dr Sam Manning and Brian Henry Martin
Music by Score Draw Music
https://thewondercinema.buzzsprout.com
Welcome to the Wonder Cinema Podcast.
where we wonder about cinema.
I'm filmmaker and film critic Brian Henry Martin.
and I'm Cinema Historian and author Dr. Sam Manning.
Welcome to Series 2, where we'll be wondering about the remarkable story of home video in Northern Ireland.
The rise and fall of videotape, from format wars to video nasties, piracy, paramilitaries and the wonder of the video shop.
So we want you to...
SAY YES TO VHS.
