It Came From The Archives 28.5!

One of Blockbuster's most nefarious edicts was its internally mandated views on censorship. In Canada at least, Big Blue did not deal in unrated versions of movies. We got “Rated” titles which were cut down unbeknownst to the consumer because in Canada, R usually meant the hard stuff. Blockbuster then took things a step further by introducing the Youth Restricted Viewing program.

Under no circumstances were you able to rent anything with this sticker to anyone under 18. My buddy still gives me shit for denying his request to rent Hollywood Hot Tubs back when we were in high school. I keep telling him my boss was standing right there, but he still busts my balls about it to this day.

I mean, it would've been all right if these movies with the YRV stickers had actually been risqué material, but look at the titles below. Do these strike you as stuff that is particularly damaging to young eyes, in comparison to the titles I've shown you over the last four days?

Come back tomorrow for one last post that covers one of my childhood heroes. And no, it's not Freddy or Jason.

It Came From The Archives 28.4!

So I mentioned before, when it came to movies (excluding docs and the kids section which was its own separate ring of hell in the corner by the beanbag chairs) Blockbuster only saw the world in three colours - Drama, Comedy & Action. Inexplicably, Horror & Sci-Fi were listed as a subcategory of the latter. When I first started working there (it was a Major Video that later became a Cockbuster) these sections were massive, but they sadly got pared down as time went on. 

Here below are the inserts from the Sci-Fi section. I'm sure you''ll notice that several of these could've been just as easily been in the Horror section, as well.

Check back tomorrow when I regale you with one of BBV's more boneheaded practices (and there were many).

It Came From The Archives 28.3!

Welcome back to this ongoing trip back in time to the early nineties when Blockbuster reigned supreme. You know, looking through all these old titles it surprises me how many I haven't seen. I mean, I had my run of this place for several years and I was renting a lot. As an employee, I got seven free rentals a week (and often pilfered my co-workers unused slots, as well) and yet I never even got close to watching all the horrors my store had to offer.

But enough reminiscing, here's the rest of the Drive-In Horror sleeves.

Tomorrow, we move onto yet another one of Blockbuster's Action subcategories - Sci Fi.