Back In the Day

I think I may be one of the most outdated folks around. Sometimes my boyfriend makes fun of me because I'm one of the few people in the universe who still enjoys VHS tapes. That's right, the thick huge VHS tapes. In fact recently I bought a few used ones from the Movie Trading Company in Dallas. They are extremely inexpensive and even a little comforting. For example, when I pop in an old classic Disney film, or my VHS copy of my favorite 1950's film Carmen Jones, I feel complete.

Many of the films in my collection I've had for many years, since I was pretty young. I thought briefly about moving into the 21st century when it comes to some of my favorite films but I just can't seem to do it. One of the reasons, beyond comfort, has to do with my memories growing up a kid, watching some of the same movies I own now with my aunt. In the early 90's she bought into the whole movie thing where they would send VHS tapes to your house. You could order a lot of movies for only a few pennies a month. Her film collection ranged from Major Payne, to Leap of Faith, the Bodygaurd, and Carmen Jones. She owned so many titles, and every day that I went over there I watched something new, and learned something new.

Around 1996 she passed away. I was only 9, and devastated, she was like a second mother. After her death daughter gave me many of the VHS tapes that she had owned in her collection. One of the tapes included Carmen Jones. This one film, this one VHS tape started a craze for not only Dorothy Dandridge, but learning more about classic black films, and the industry, it also pushed me into my passion of writing.

Today I still watch the same copy of this classic film. I know all the songs, and the back story behind the making and the actors. When I watch that tape I become part of memory and entranced in more than the film. Sure VHS is not the clearest thing around, but for me memories of watching that same movie with my aunt are much more valuable than owning a clearer copy on blue ray or DVD, just for a different picture. Those new technologies can never give me that same feeling, or be as special as those same memories.