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R.I.P. The VHS VCR 1976-2016
In 1976, the President of Victor Company of Japan introduced the JVC HR-3300, the world’s first VCR that used VHS as its format. As a result, a new age of home video was ushered in, one that would maintain a strong hold on our market for two decades before it would begin its steady decline in the mid-90’s thanks to the DVD and, eventually, Blu-ray. As digital home media grew stronger and stronger, the need for VCR’s began to wane as many people simply abandoned the format.
This month marks the final breathes of the iconic machine as Funai Electric, the world’s last manufacturer of VCRs, has announced that they are ceasing production of all units due to declining sales and difficulty finding the necessary parts for construction, according to MentalFloss.
I remember watching movies all the time on VHS. It was a ritual when I was 16 that I would rent movies for the family (I had clearance in the system to rent ‘R’ films) and we’d gather around the TV to watch something fun. I’d always get some horror title that had been watched so many times that I’d have to spend 10-15 minutes on adjusting the tracking to get the best quality possible.
I also remember that my favorite Hanukkah gift was when I got Jurassic Park on VHS. God, I watched that movie so many times. The same thing when I got Gremlins and Gremlins 2: The New Batch. I have so many memories associated with VHS that it’s actually a little heartbreaking to hear this news. I knew it was coming but that doesn’t make it any less shitty to hear.
Rest in peace, VCR. Thanks for all the good times.
We have the Jason Universe to thank for the recent return of Jason Voorhees, with the short film Sweet Revenge and Jason’s arrival in Dead by Daylight helping to bring the hockey mask-wearing horror icon back into our lives. What else is planned, you ask?
In a chat with Variety this week, Jason Universe’s Robbie Barsamian teases that everything we’ve seen up to this point is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Jason’s return.
“We’ve been busy behind the scenes laying the foundation that everyone is finally starting to see come to life, but this is just the tip of the iceberg,” Barsamian teases.
“We have a thrilling lineup of new projects that we can’t wait to share more details on soon.”
Barsamian also notes during the chat with Variety, “We want to give fans fresh takes on what they love most about Jason and continue to expand his world in authentic ways that resonate with horror fans today.” One of those expansions will take the form of the upcoming Peacock and A24 series “Crystal Lake,” which stars Linda Cardellini as Pamela Voorhees.
“The Crystal Lake TV series will take fans back in time to tell the story of how Pamela Voorhees came to be the mother of all slashers,” Barsamian tells Variety this week.
“Crystal Lake” premieres October 15 on Peacock.
Callum Vinson (“Chucky”) is playing young Jason in “Crystal Lake,” which will tell the origin story of the masked slasher who has stalked the grounds of Crystal Lake for decades.
Last year, the Jason Universe team had teased that a new movie and a new video game are top priorities for the near future. But at this time we have no updates on either front.
Stay tuned for more from the Jason Universe.
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