VHS Movie Rentals bring nostalgia to St George |
VCR rentals alongside photo digitization |
In St. George, VHS movie rentals are giving families a reason to choose a film together instead of scrolling separately.
At Legacy Media Digital, shelves of tapes invite customers to revisit a familiar part of movie night. Owner McKay Murdock has opened his collection to renters, bringing the old video-store ritual back to Southern Utah.
Customers can browse for a movie, pick up a treat and take home a tape to watch together. For many parents, the appeal is as much about sharing a childhood memory as watching the film itself.
For younger viewers, choosing a physical copy offers a change from an evening spent searching through streaming menus.
The store also offers VCR rentals, so households without a working player can take part. That matters when many families still have tapes tucked away but no easy way to play them.
The throwback has an unexpected connection to the shop’s everyday work.
Since opening in 2009, Legacy Media Digital has helped customers preserve older photos, film and home videos. Its photo digitization services make family memories easier to view and share as the original materials age.
Murdock’s rental collection gives those same families a chance to enjoy an older format on its own terms.
There is a practical side, too: Keeping usable tapes in circulation gives them a purpose beyond storage or disposal. St. George families looking for a different weekend routine may find the simple act of picking a movie surprisingly refreshing.
It asks everyone to settle on one title, gather in one room and let the evening unfold. That shared attention can feel rare when each person has a screen close at hand.
Murdock does not expect tape rentals to replace his preservation work or become the shop’s main business. Instead, they offer another way to connect people with the memories and habits that brought them together.
In a business built around saving the past, renting a movie gives families a chance to make a new memory. |
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Good to see a local St George business doing something different. Hope more people go support it.
tom_g_stgAgreed, been going there for years for photo stuff. Nice to see them adding something fun on top of what they already do.
Picked up a treat and a movie there last Friday. The kids actually agreed on something without arguing for once.
I drove past the shop but never went in. Going to stop by this week and check out what they have.
WayneBDo it, the shop is worth a visit even just to browse. Lots of good titles from what I saw when I was in there last month.
Finally something fun to do on a weekend that does not involve a screen for every single person in the room.
Been meaning to get some old photos digitized there. Good to know they are still around and doing cool stuff.
mike_t89They did a great job with my parents old slides. Been putting it off forever and wish I had gone sooner honestly.
Love that the same shop does photo digitizing too. Makes total sense that they would be into preserving old formats.
Cool idea but I feel like the novelty wears off after one or two rentals. Hope I am wrong.
skeptical_steveI think the digitizing side of the business keeps them going, so the rentals are more of a fun extra. Takes the pressure off needing it to be a huge hit long term.
My daughter picked her first ever VHS last week. Watching her figure out how it worked was pretty fun.
The fact that they rent VCRs too is smart. Most people got rid of theirs years ago.
CherylM.Right, I think we tossed ours like 15 years ago. Knowing you can rent one makes this actually doable for most families.
Grew up going to the video store every Friday. This brings back a lot of good memories.
jake_stgSame here. Friday night at the video store was such a big deal as a kid. Something about walking the aisles trying to agree on a movie that streaming just does not replicate.
We still have a box of VHS tapes in the garage. Did not even think about renting a VCR to watch them again. Calling tomorrow.
Not sure how long this can last as a business but good on him for trying something different.
Love this idea. My kids spend way too long scrolling Netflix and never actually pick anything.
southern_utah_momHa, yes. The scroll struggle is real. At least with a tape there is a natural stopping point and everyone has to commit to something.
McKay is great. Brought in some old home movies to digitize last year and he did an awesome job.
Brett H.Good to know. I have a box of old VHS home movies I have been nervous to hand over somewhere. Sounds like he takes care of them.
Took my kids here last weekend and they had no idea what a rewind button was lol. Great experience though.