The kindest rewind: VHS tapes have been rediscovered

Consigned by one of the film’s actors, a 1986 copy of ‘Back to the Future’ on VHS sold in June 2022 for $75,000, including the buyer’s premium. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions, HA.com.
Consigned by one of the film’s actors, a 1986 copy of ‘Back to the Future’ on VHS sold in June 2022 for $75,000, including the buyer’s premium. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions, HA.com.

NEW YORK — VHS tapes revolutionized home entertainment when they debuted in the late 1970s, bringing the magic of movies from theaters into homes. They were initially expensive to produce so most people rented copies at Blockbuster and mom-and-pop video stores. They had a good run for close to 30 years as the dominant media, after knocking out its competitor, Betamax. Today, long after the last brick-and-mortar video stores have shuttered, sealed VHS tapes are enjoying new life as a collectible.

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