Remember those skull-and-crossbones style warnings printed on record sleeves that ominously warned that “home taping is killing music”? If only they could have foreseen the digital grim reaper that’s descended on physical media over the last decade or so. Streaming still hasn’t taken enough of a shape for us to reliably know for sure where it’s going. But the world of digital media already has more than its fair share of horror stories. Purchased movies disappearing from libraries. Subscriber content unceremoniously dropped into streaming oblivion. And let’s not ignore the subpar visual quality afforded by streaming services. Is it any wonder that a growing number of physical media holdouts are revitalizing Blu-Ray, DVD, vinyl records, and even VHS cassette media? Yes, even VHS. And as these establishments prove, LA has a thriving community of VHS cassette-devout.
Understanding the VHS Cassette Collector
Look hard enough and you can find collectors of pretty much anything. But you don’t need to look too hard to find a passionate VHS collector. At face value, the VHS may be relegated to an awkward home video medium without the longevity and convenience of physical digitized formats like DVDs and Blu-Rays.
But there’s a certain richness to analog media; a depth that gets lost in the transition to digital formats. Add in a heaping helping of nostalgia. And a dash of “this was never made available on DVD or Blu-Ray.” Now you’re starting to see the appeal of the VHS cassette.
The fascination with analog was even enough to inspire its own niche of science fiction called cassette futurism. It envisions a future in which analog technology triumphed over digital. Star Wars, Alien, and Blade Runner all offer popular visions of an analog future. But we’re not talking about cassette futurism today. We’re talking about cassette presentism… specifically here in LA.
Where to Find VHS Tapes in Los Angeles
If you’re already among the VHS cassette-converted, you likely already know the spots we’re covering today. But for those just getting that collector’s itch, we present three LA establishments sure to satisfy your VHS cassette-collecting needs. Two are bonafide institutions of LA culture and the third is well on its way.
Vidiots
4884 Eagle Rock Blvd
Patty Polinger and Cathy Tauber, the founders of Vidiots, have been working so long at the VHS cassette game that they’ve been renting out tapes since they were brand-new technology! Opening in 1985 in Santa Monica, Vidiots was a true blessing to westside cinephiles until its closure in 2017. Community adoration still can’t pay Santa Monica rent, unfortunately. During its initial run, the shop transitioned to a nonprofit, indicating its founders’ passion for film and the community over profit.
So, it was a pleasant surprise when, in June 2023, Vidiots reopened inside the Eagle Theater in Eagle Rock. These days, Vidiots’ inventory consists mostly of Blu-Ray and DVD media. But they also offer plenty of VHS cassette options for analog addicts. In addition, Vidiots’ new 11,000-square-foot location makes use of the 250-seat theater with regular events.
CineFile Video
11280 Santa Monica Blvd
Vidiots hit “play” on the VCR so that CineFile could hit “fast-forward”. A true legend among LA’s countless movie buffs, CineFile Video quickly built a loyal clientele after opening for business in 1999.
Of course, its placement beside the arthouse Nuart Theatre didn’t hurt. Today, it’s the self-proclaimed “last movie store in LA where you can buy, sell, trade, rent or donate your DVD, Blu-Ray, vinyl, VHS, and laserdiscs.”
But like Vidiots, CineFile was nearly absorbed unceremoniously in LA’s commercial landscape. Fortunately, Sebastian Mathews, owner of Touch Vinyl, bought the struggling video store in 2013. Today, they offer an inventory of over 47,000 films in various media (including VHS cassette) for rent and, in many cases, purchase.
Whammy!
2514 ½ Sunset Blvd (rear basement)
The new kid on the block is arguably the most exciting for VHS cassette collectors. Whammy! deals exclusively in analog media, a shared passion of husband and wife founders Jessica Gonzales and Erik Varho. Since 2022, they’ve been doing a lot more than providing a new space to peruse rare, obscure, and classic VHS tapes. Rather, they’ve been educating their community on the unique benefits of analog technology. Tucked away behind an unassuming basement entry, the space is split between the shop and a 50-person capacity theater ideal for intimate screenings and community events.
Whammy! is undoubtedly more committed to analog media than its predecessors. This becomes further clarified when you learn of Gonzales’s non-profit TAPE, an acronym for Teach, Archive, Preserve, Exhibit. TAPE offers hard-to-find analog equipment such as VCRs and video cameras to the public for rent. But they also provide courses on analog-to-digital preservation techniques and related topics, promoting posterity at the community level.
Home Movie Day at Whammy!
Tying into TAPE’s mission, Whammy! will be hosting a community event on Saturday, August 24 dubbed Home Movie Day. It will offer the public a rare opportunity to bring their old home videos to Whammy! for potential preservation. Experts will be on hand to analyze VHS cassette degradation, give tips on cleaning and maintenance, and digitize material when possible. People are encouraged to book an appointment to ensure Whammy! staff will be able to accommodate everyone.
As Whammy! has illustrated, the passion for VHS cassette collecting has progressed beyond simply scouring flea markets and yard sales for an original copy of Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. But organizations like TAPE are nurturing a thriving analog community. Not by helping them rewind, but rather by showing them a path forward into real cassette futurism.
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