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Wednesday, August 22, 1990 / University Daily Kansan
Video stores offer leisure activity alternative
By Jamie Elliott Kansan staff writer
For students wanting to get the last of summer out of their systems before the start of the fall semester, choices range from a thriving bar scene to several Hawk Week activities.
But for students eager for a quiet evening at home with their favorite snack food, Lawrence's 12 video series offer thousands of movie selections.
Roommates Mike Murphy, Des Moines, Iowa, junior; and Jeff Hallie, Shawnee junior, they visit a video store once or twice a week.
"It's cheaper than going to a movie," Murphy said. "Plus, you can rewind the good parts."
Murphy and Hallier said that they usually headed for the new releases first but that if nothing caught their attention they would move to the comedy section.
"It depends," Murphy said. "Sometimes a movie just pops into my head that I like to watch, and if I find something wonderful, I until I find something I like."
Murphy said there was not much difference in the movies he rented to watch with his girlfriend and those he rented to watch with his friends.
But Scott Wilson of Applause Video, 1401 W. 23rd St., said several "date movies" were continually checked out.
"Movies like '9 Weeks' and 'An Officer and a Gentleman' are old standby," Wilson said. "Besides
Joe Hein, Brookings, S.D., junior, selects movies at Applause Video for residents of Naismith Hall.
those, people rent 'Faces of Death' like there's no tomorrow. Monty Python movies are always out. 'The Holy Grail' is the biggest one. And when new movies come out, everyone wants the first one. Like when 'Die Harder' came out, everyone wanted to see 'Die Hard.' ""
Across the street from Applause Video is Blockbuster Video, a national chain that opened in Lawrence on May 23. Wilson said he would drop in business since the opening of the larger Blockbuster store.
"Actually, I think we kind of help each other," he said. "If one of us doesn't have it, it people just walk across the street. It's kind of a relationship. Now this area just draws everyone. It's like a video center."
decks for $9.99 for three evenings.
Bob Dill of Blockbuster Video, 1516 W. 23rd St., has not noticed competition between the neighbor stores. He said the store had been buseer since students began returning to Lawrence.
Students who provide a valid driver's license and a major credit card can receive a free rental card, Dill said. Those who cannot provide a credit card can use a KUID instead, but their applications must be filed with a protection company for a $3 fee.
At Applause, renters need two forms of identification, such as a driver's license and a KUID, major credit card or proof of insurance to rent movies. Wilson said. The store offers Nintendo tapes, but prices vary.
Rentals at Blockbuster cost $3 for three evenings, and children's items are $1.50 for three evenings, Dill said. Nintendo cartridges rent for $4 for three evenings. Blockbuster also rents VCRs and Nintendo game
Movie rentals cost $2.99 for three evenings, and children's, musical and music videos are 99 cents for three evenings. Applause does not occur in a crowd. A selection of snacks, such as candy, pop and popcorn, Wilson said.
All three Dillon Stores in Lawrence rent movies and VCRs. Debie Engelken, manager of the video department at the Dillon Store at 1015 W. 23rd St., said the store required a valid driver's license and Lawrence address to rent videos or movies because they are not permanent residents of Lawrence also must provide their permanent home address.
Movie rentals are $2.50 for 24 hours, but tuesday and Wednesdays are "dollar days," Engleken said. Dillon Stores also rent video games and deckets for $2.99 for 24 hours and Nintendo games for $1.99 for 24 hours.
Although new releases dominate the shelves at many video stores, Liberty Hall Video, 644 Massachusetts st., specializes in more obscure titles, said Jill Johns, who manages and purchases videos for the store.
"We try to concentrate on the classics, or foreign/international
films that maybe a lot of other places wouldn't have," Johns said. "Real popular titles for us would be 'Eraserhead,' 'Betty Blue,' 'Blue Velvet,' 'Do the Right Thing,' 'Wings of Desire,' 'Sex, Lies, and Videotape.' Instead of putting all our money into more popular things,
Andrew Morrison/KANSAN
we'll buy two copies and spend the rest on more obscure things."
A driver's license and one other form of identification, such as a KUID, are required to rent a video at Liberty Hall, Johns said. Weekend rates are $3 and the video must be returned by 6 p.m. the next
Popular new releases, according to local stores, include "Born on the Fourth of July," "Driving Miss Daisy," "Tremors," "The War of the Roses," "Revenge," "Blaze" and "Steel Magnolias."
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