Major Video instore trailer tape - Christmas 1988

VHS tape for in-store play at Major Video, a rental chain primarily in the San Francisco area from what I can remember (they had a pretty cool TV commercial on bay area stations, unfortunately I don't have a copy of it.) They opened one store in Davis in 1989 where I lived.

They had one of the largest tape rental selections, but also had an annoying policy of charging for 3 days rental even if you only needed a movie for 1 day. In the early 90s they were bought out by Blockbuster, and of course X-rated and controversial titles like "Last Temptation of Christ" were removed.

I don't remember the store I went to having much of a selection for sale, but that's what's pushed here- every title includes the price too (keep in mind most new releases on VHS were priced at $89.99). I don't think they ever carried laserdiscs, but this was a bit before the format's renaissance in the early 90s. Major Video's inventory was sold to them by Video Products Distributors which started out in Sacramento and is now in Folsom. Tape is produced by Video Pipeline who produced a number of tapes like this for stores.

Trailers here are organized by studio, including now-gone Vestron Video and Nelson Entertainment (previously called Embassy Home Entertainment.) The 'big' release that year was "ET", which was out for the first time 6 years after premiering in theaters- Steven Spielberg once hinted he would never allow it to be released for home viewing.

- Jesse Skeen