|
JANUARY 12 VHS HISTORY LEASON : MEDIA HOME ENTERTAINMENT
One of the earliest video companies, Media Home Entertainment was formed in 1978 and released nearly 1,000 films before it ceased operations in 1992. Media began by releasing public domain titles (back then, public domain titles such as PSYCHOMANIA and NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD weren't readily available on the market as they are today, so they were new to the renters) and graduated to the big time, thanks to some popular CHARLIE BROWN titles and live concert performances. During the mid-to-late 80's, Media was king of the independent distributors, as they released popular theatrical product (the NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET franchise and much of New Line's 80's catalogue; Chuck Norris films such as A FORCE OF ONE, THE OCTAGON and many others; Charles Bronson flicks (MURPHY'S LAW, MESSENGER OF DEATH) and a lot of independent releases like TROMA'S WAR, MOTHER'S DAY and, strangely enough, a lot of Trans World Entertainment's theatrical releases) and also released a lot of low-budget horror and action films that nearly all renters of the 80's gobbled-up. Media released such titles as DON'T GO IN THE HOUSE, TOURIST TRAP, DEMONOID, LASERBLAST, C.H.U.D., BASKET CASE and many, many others. Media titles were as commonplace as major label's product in many households as they also distributed animated films, self-help videos, sports-themed videos and many films never released to theaters, such as TERROR ON TOUR, a slew of Italian post-nuke films (ESCAPE FROM THE BRONX, ENDGAME, 2020 TEXAS GLADIATORS) and action films like THE EXPENDABLES, NAM ANGELS and SAIGON COMMANDOS. Media had their hands in every type of genre, thereby cementing it's dependability as a company that could meet anyone's spur-of-the-moment urges. There are many unconfirmed stories about Media's reputation and they need to be told. Unfortunately, until a reliable source appears, these stories will go untold as much of Media's catalogue is still around and still being distributed by companies like Anchor Bay, Fox and New Line on DVD (I don't want lawsuits, but there are rumblings of murder and underworld connections.). Media also released hard-R sex films under the "Private Screenings" sublabel and older films and episodes of TV series (ABBOTT & COSTELLO) under the "Nostalgia Merchant" label. A lot of Media's early releases command big bucks today in the auction market. I own a few from the late 70's and they play perfectly. Just a side note here, but don't the early tapes weigh much heavier than tapes produced in the last 10 years? You could drop an older tape and nothing would happen. Drop a new tape and be prepared to bring out the vacuum as it will shatter into hundreds of small pieces. The older tapes were made to last, and 25 years later they play as well as the first time. { text from critcononline.com }
|
|
