We take a trip down memory lane by celebrating National VCR Day on June 7. Though thousands of movies are available today on platforms like Netflix, there was a time when simply watching a film was a special occasion. This included purchasing or renting a VHS tape from the video store — and no, these were not available at a cheap cost. Since a lot of thought and effort went into viewing a flick.
Sigh, don’t you just miss those times of novelty viewing? Fret not, now is the perfect opportunity to relive the past!
The video cassette recorder (VCR) is one of the most famous innovations in the history of technology. This is because there was a time when nearly every household in the U.S. owned a VCR.
The first device was created by Norikazu Sawazaki in 1953, but the technology didn’t hit the market till 1956. In 1970, the innovation was launched for home use.
It is during this time that the VCR wars started. The competitors that introduced two different formats included the Sony Betamax and VHS by JVC. In the end, VHS came out on top and, by 1987, JVC had 90% of the $5.25 billion VCR market in the U.S.
Once made available for the public, the device transformed several industries, including the world of cinema. It also birthed numerous VHS and video rental stores, adding to an increase in local businesses.
This marvel of technology had several uses such as playing movies/videos, as well as recording shows and events that were aired on TV. At a point in time when the internet did not exist, recording television shows to later replay them was a joy for many.
Though the act of recording shows raised some concerns regarding copyright issues initially, the perception changed when the Supreme Court ruled home recording of TV programs ‘fair’ in 1984. This ruling allowed millions of people across the country to make their own collections of movies and TV shows. To acknowledge the impact VCRs had on the world, National VCR Day is celebrated every year.
