Below is a timeline for all the significant events of the home video era. It should be noted that this website uses the term, “Home Video,” in two different ways. Firstly, it uses it as an umbrella term for the viewing of movies in the home, physical or otherwise. Secondly, its also the label given to the era in time where movies are being released on physical video formats.
April, 1980 (Billboard, 1980/02/09, p. 10)
MCA Videocassette Releases Their First 25 Titles
MCA Videocassette (parent company of Universal), releases their first batch of 25 titles on videocassette. Titles include Jaws (1975) and The Jerk (1979). Although launch is said to have been April, the titles first appear on Billboard charts in June.
March 22nd, 1981 (Star Tribune, 1981/03/08, p. 9D)
RCA Selectavision SFT100W (CED)
RCA finally launches their videodisc system, a format called Capacitance Electronic Disc (CED). The player goes for $500 and the discs in the $20 range. The first title to roll off the presses is Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown (1977).
January 26th, 1982 (Variety, 1982/02/24, p. 47)
Vestron Video Releases Their First 10 Titles
First announced the previous year, independent distributor Vestron Video finally kicks off their catalog with their first 10 titles. Among these are Cannonball Run (1981) and Fort Apache, the Bronx (1981).
June 1st, 1982 (Variety, 1982/06/16, p. 37)
20th Century Fox Video Releases “Star Wars” on Videocassette
Star Wars is first released to videocassette. Within days of its release, it generates over $1 million in revenue. It is released in both a “rental only” version with a serial number, and a standard sale version later that fall. Sale price is $79.98.
August, 1982 (Billboard, 1982/09/11, p. 1)
Paramount Home Video Prices “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn” at $39.95
Paramount announces a major price cut of half ($39.95) for their latest hit title, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn (1982), on videocassette. This is big news in the industry and is the first major push towards the sell-through market by a major studio.
April 21st, 1983
JVC HD-5500US (VHD)
First demonstrated in 1978, JVC launches their videodisc system, VHD (Video High Density), to the Japanese market. Similar to to the CED in that it uses the same recording technology (capacitance) and a disc caddy, its actually superior to the RCA format. Its never sold outside Japan and discontinued in 1987.
November, 1983
Sony Betamovie BMC-100P / BMC-110
First demonstrated in January of that year, Sony launches the first “all in one” consumer camcorder to the market. Models BMC-100P / BMC-110.
1985
The First Movie Gallery Opens
Partners Joe Malugen and Harrison Parrish open the very first Movie Gallery store in Dothan, Alabama.
March, 1985
“Blood Cult” Is Marketed As the First Horror Film Made for Video
United Home Entertainment markets their in-house film, Blood Cult (1985), as the first horror film made directly for the home video market. Although it’s not the first horror film to skip theatrical, it is believed to be the first made with the sole purpose of distribution on the home market.
April 24th, 1985 (Billboard, 1985/05/04, p. 1)
“The Cotton Club” Is the First Title to Utilize Macrovision
Embassy Entertainment’s release of “The Cotton Club” is the first home video released with the new copy-protection system from Macrovision. All the major studios follow suit.
December, 19th, 1985
The First Blockbuster Video Opens
The first Blockbuster rental store opens in Dallas, Texas by software engineer David Cook and his ex-wife. Their goal is to make their store a family-oriented superstore. On opening day, it has a massive selection of 8,000 titles.
June, 1986 (Billboard, 1986/03/29, p. 53)
RCA Discontinues Manufacturing CED Discs
RCA begins the process of shutting down their only CED manufacturing plant on Rockville Road in Indianapolis, Indiana. Their final disc is an “experimental” souvenir disc for all plant employees called, Memories of Videodisc (1986).
June 1st, 1987 (Variety, 1987/05/20, p. 86)
Pioneer CLD-1010 (CD-Video)
The first laserdisc player compatible with the upcoming CD-Video (CDV) is launched by Pioneer with a price tag of $800. Later that year, the discs are released. They contain 20 minutes of digital audio, and 5 minutes of analog (laserdisc) video. These are the first 5″ discs to contain video.