The first time I remember hearing about VHS (Video Home System) tapes while I was in Colombia in 1982. I remember the young people that we missionaries worked with debating the pros and cons of VHS vs Betamax . . . and I was pretty clueless about either one. Of course, as missionaries, we did not have time in our schedules for watching movies or television. The closest we ever came to watching a movie was when we would gather a family or group of people together to watch a filmstrip about Jesus Christ or another gospel topic, the soundtrack being provided by a cassette tape player.
After I returned home in 1983, I soon learned about the wonders of VHS. A popular weekend activity at that time was to rent a VHS player and a movie or two for a day for about $25 or so. DH and I and a group of friends would gather together in someone's apartment for a fun evening of watching movies. The guys would rent the VHS player and the movies and would usually fix dinner too . . . hamburgers or pizza or something simple, and we would enjoy an evening of James Bond and/or Trinity. You could probably tell that the guys chose the movies too . . . but that's ok, it made for a fun group date, and was less expensive than going to the movie theater and out to eat when everyone chipped in together.
It wasn't too long after we married that we bought our own VCR and started collecting our own VHS tapes. We currently have two working VCR players and a nice large collection of movies, but oddly enough, I don't think we actually own any James Bond or Trinity movies.
What are your memories of VHS? or Betamax? James Bond? or Trinity?
This sounds like a really fun group activity back in a time when life was simpler and more enjoyed! Most of us eventually had VHS players and acquired collections of movies. I don't really enjoy re-watching something I've already seen, unless it is outstanding, while Papa Bear is fine with repeats. I love Netflix now for an inexpensive and easy way to view more movies without worrying about return dates, or going to the store to choose them or drop them off.
ReplyDeleteWe too enjoy the Netflix selections now and are spoiled with being able to watch several seasons of a show in several weeks instead of years. Now that the children are all grown and life is a bit less busy DH and I tend to watch more shows now than we ever did with children at home.
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