If I had a time machine, one of my destinations would be to go back, what, like 15 -16 years ago…head to Ingersoll Ave…and walk into that Blockbuster.
I’m disappointed in myself, that in all 100,000+ photos of my life, I don’t have a pic of me inside a Blockbuster. One of my favorite places in my life…and I don’t have a pic of it. I would tell 2005 Kurt, “hey idiot…take out the digital camera in your pocket…and snap a pic, you’ll remember it forever”.
I was watching “The Last Blockbuster” on Netflix last night…and I happily admit, I got teary-eyed. I loved Blockbuster. Everything the celebs in the documentary talked about last night, I completely related to. The feel when you walk in, the smell…the conversations you would have with the staff…and total strangers…about what movies to watch. When’s the last time you talked to a total stranger and asked for a movie recommendation?
In high school, I have such fond memories of my buddies and I heading to Blockbuster, renting a bunch of movies (there was always one foreign title, because we had the hopes of seeing boobies), and a handful of Sega Genesis games. Hello Rugby ’94.
It was a Friday night tradition…the excitement of seeing what movies were available, and the total disappointment when all 30 copies of “True Lies” were already taken.
When I graduated from Drake, and began working here at Star 102.5, the Blockbuster on Ingersoll became a stop on the way home to my West Des Moines apartment at least 3 times a week.
I would drive up that way -too-narrow driveway…find one of the, what, 7 spots they had there, and when you backed up to leave, you’d have to do like 13-point turn….walk in, and just soak in the Blockbuster.
I loved my hours (still do 🙂 ), but on a Tuesday, I’d be at Blockbuster around noon, waiting patiently to see if any of the movies I wanted would waiting to be checked in. On the way back to work the next morning, I’d be dropping off my rental, at like, 4:15 in the morning. I don’t know why I did that, I’d have it well before noon later on that day.
It was a routine. Blockbuster was part of my routine.
I know there’s still a Blockbuster in Oregon…and if we probably didn’t have a better way to spend money…I’d love to take a trip, solely to walk into that Blockbuster, with my wife, and we can argue over what movie to get…and to watch my son and daughter stare in awe at what Blockbuster was all about (they’d probably just want the candy).
My daughter saw me crying while watching “The Last Blockbuster” last night…and asked…
“Dad, why are you crying?”
“I’m just remembering an old video store called Blockbuster”.
“Oh, okay…weirdo”.
LOL.
They’ll never know…wish they did. They could open a Blockbuster right now in Des Moines, but it wouldn’t be the same…you can’t beat the original. The reboot is never better. 🙂
Maybe Eatery A could just add a New Releases section for the time being!
Be kind…rewind!
