How Blockbuster became a video rental giant - Post-Mortar

We all know the name as the forerunner in home video and video rental from the late 1980s to the 2000s, but most don't know the details of how Blockbuster got so huge. In this video, we take a close look at how Blockbuster went from mom-and-pop to an international conglomerate in a matter of a handful of years. As far as I've seen, this is the most in-depth video about the creation and rise of the chain.
Welcome to Post-Mortar, the series where I give an illustrated postmortem deep-dive for 'brick-and-mortar' stores of the past.
Main theme:
Branches by DanoSongs
danosongs.com/
(used with permission)
Covert Affair by Kevin MacLeod
Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song...
License: creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
Cool Vibes by Kevin MacLeod
Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song...
License: creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:24 - The Oil Crisis of 1979
1:08 - David Cook
2:44 - Video Works
3:27 - Blockbuster "Videos" is born
5:33 - H. Wayne Huizenga
8:16 - Viacom, Inc.
10:07 - Credits & Last words
Citations:
justpaste.it/riseblock
Videos and images used in this episode belong to their respective owners.
Alex Nuelle, 2020
#blockbuster #blockbustervideo #videorental

[@PostMortar]

Want more Post-Mortar??
Here's the series playlist: czcams.com/video/8whzI9wyj-A/video.html
Thanks for watching! Consider Liking, Subscribing, and Sharing the video!

[@Jose_Pointero]

Cinemassacre's Rental Reviews showed a clip of this video in their episode posted tonight, I found you through that. Well done! I'm subscribed and looking forward to more.
Edit: lol I just saw that Tony commented on it as well :)

[@jjstratford]

Bro…you need to do this stuff professionally. Amazing

[@robberonbrent]

This is going to blow up among a very niche crowd who’s fascinated by the downfall of brick and mortar.

[@aloysiuslchomas]

Just saw this in the Cinemassacre video on weird cover art and have to say, Hack the Movies has good taste in small youtube content

[@PostMortar]

Thanks man. Yeah, Tony's great.

[@AndersTurgeon]

Very well done with high-quality research and top-notch editing! Thus, you have a beautiful radio voice!

[@PostMortar]

Thanks so much!! New episode this Friday! Hope you enjoy!!

[@Silverfox365]

Really great video, almost akin to a Gaming Historian video, fantastic job guys.

[@PostMortar]

Thanks so much! New episode today at 9am MST!

[@unluckytourist]

We used to go to two stores on weekends - the local blockbuster for the new releases or video games, and the local mom n pop for weekly rentals.

[@lamecasuelas2]

This Is excellent! Good job Man!

[@PostMortar]

Thanks so much!!

[@jjstratford]

Very well done. Can’t believe only a thousand subscribers

[@johnlewisiii2076]

I have watched a few of these videos in the series. All are well done.

[@PostMortar]

Thanks so much! Hope you continue to enjoy them! New one coming out soon.

[@Radiohead801]

This was a great video. Nice pacing, audio etc. Do the fall of Blockbuster next!

[@PostMortar]

Thanks man. Coming soon!!

[@mattbyrnes8890]

Excellent work. Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to more!

[@HackTheMovies]

This was good

[@PostMortar]

Thanks Tony!

[@romulo1221]

Great video! even better investigation!

[@AchillesKillies]

Your production keeps getting better. You deserve way more subs!
Amazing vid by the way.

[@drewk9131]

Really cool Video, the concept is very neat and you did very good research. Keep it up!

[@susanjacobsmeyer534]

Great Job Alex..keep them coming. Really enjoyed the detail and high quality research.
Jake and Susie

[@PostMortar]

Thanks Susie!!

[@LUISPRIME]

Tony from Hack The Movies send me here instead of watching the terrible Kevin Smith "The Last Blockbuster" movie.

[@PostMortar]

Yeah, its a bit long-winded. It was very nice of Tony to mention the show. Welcome to the channel!

[@divinitycomplex1]

I came here after talking about some tapes...

[@thedizzyparker]

Same! I’m so happy Tony is blowing up!

[@TheCheapster]

Dude... this is so awesome! How do you only have 100ish subs!? This is an awesome idea! Keep it up bro and I guarantee this is going to be a big hit! Super professional too!

[@PostMortar]

Thanks so much! Will do!

[@paulahuberman1622]

Great content. Your voice is good, you could be a newscaster.

[@robberonbrent]

Toys r us would be a great one to do

[@PostMortar]

What are the chances! Just put up a new one on Toys R Us: czcams.com/video/TKTdJXlUfHE/video.html
Thanks for the kind words! I'll have a new one Friday the 5th at 9AM MST.

[@HamburgerAmy]

for reference. 0.77 cents a gallon in the 1970's is worth about $5.80 in 2021 :)

[@PostMortar]

Just about how much it’s priced today. Smack dab in the middle of another energy crisis

[@jjstratford]

Chief Finanical Officer?

[@PostMortar]

A "CFO" is the one who's in charge of cash flow and financials. Keeping the business as profitable as possible.

[@dskimmymaster]

First

[@blu3_enjoy]

al gore rhythm

[@danielwatson8136]

Don't forget erols video club when they took over no notice the member of erols it was a mad house they did it on the weekend with two terminals for erols members to switch over no refund s for lifetime member's
They like a library they can keep tabs on their viewing habits when they switch over to DVDs they mark their DVDs with magic marker one customer complaint a bout skipped like a scratch on a lp I rent vhs I like the movie I bought it on DVD the costumers didn't take the dvd they returned it all scratch up one I was there they check it out dvd make sure it have scratches

[@danielwatson8136]

They had a employee kept calling his store number without knowing that was his store number on my video card
I was a employee it didn't last long I cut my hand on the video tape I got sick from it I was unrelatable I was terminated from their