I have been collecting VHS tapes since the age of 13, now 27, and i’ve gathered together a collection of well over 2,500 tapes. As most of you are aware, i’m a lover of post-certs more than pre but that’s largely down to my age, although i’m more about the movies themselves rather than their rarity or value.
My wife is due to give birth to our first child in March and as such my VHS library has to go into storage until such time as we can move into a bigger place.
Here are a few pics of my collection (as of end 2011):
As you can see from the pictures above, the room is a little cramped, with each shelf double stacked and jam packed with tapes. My hope is to have them all out on display one day, even the 600 or so I have in the attic. These are the few Video Nasties, DPP and ‘Unofficial’ Nasties that I have amassed so far:
Here are the pick of my pre-cert tapes:
Over the past two years I have invested more money in pre-certs as most are fading out. Charity shops have stopped stocking them, car boots have dried up and ebay seems to be the only place to purchase, if you are prepared to pay the prices.
My favourite label above all others is Medusa, a label that put out some of the most obscure but simply brilliant 80’s movies, most notably horror. Again, I have attempted to gather as many as I can but may have missed the odd 20/20 collaboration.
I have tons more on various labels that I just haven’t got the time to share at present, labels like Vestron, New World, CIC, CBS/FOX, New World, RCA, Warner and so on.My collection may be in storage soon but this does not mean that i’m not on the lookout for more titles, my wants list increases by the day. I may even post a copy of my wants on here. I’ve been given some great help this past year and hopefully it can continue.It will be a very sad day when the room is finally taken down but I know it’s only temporary.
Oh man, this is a fantastic collection. I can only hope that one day I could have as many as you have. This is definitely a passion, man!
Thanks, man. It’s definitely a passion, bordering on the obsessive at times.
Great collection mate. Shame to see it going into storage but as you say, it’s temporary. Best of luck to you and your missus.
Thanks buddy, really appreciate that. It’ll be back one day, maybe the break will do us good.
Life is nothing without obsession! Such wonderful images, and let me echo our friend EA’s best wishes to your family.
That’s very kind of you, thanks.I can’t imagine a life without tapes.
Dude, you fucking have an original pre cert copy of The Exorcist!
What’s the pic quality like on that bad boy?
Not great, sadly. The tape is a tad rusty at the start but recovers quickly.
I own the film on Blu too but this is one of those that definitely benefits (terror-wise) from a touch of grain.
Hey, just discovered your blog. Fantastic amazing collection. I have approx. some 1500-2000 VHS, almost nearly all UK. I started late in the 80s when i was a teenager and been collecting VHS, then DVD then Blu-Ray since and my DVD/Blu-Ray are in the 1000s! I had much more VHS as I sold literally 100s and 100s of VHS some 10 years ago and been meaning to get rid of more but only place to may get a sale these days is Amazon or eBay now and the effort has mean I never get round to it so I have to archive all those tapes into banana boxes due to lack of shelf space. I love the art of VHS, so varied and u do get so many different trailers on tapes/DVDs which in last 5 years I been cataloguing on now very extensive Excel sheet. Anyway, great blog, shame life puts our passions on hold sometimes. Love the photos. Andy.
Thanks so much for the positive words. If you ever feel like selling in bulk, please do let me know.
I can’t grumble really as I had a dedicated room to the format before my daughter came along, and i’d screen a tape every night.
I just can’t give up this obsession.
Very sweet site buddy, ive been collecting since 83, worked in video shops did my own mobile video back in the 80s, great to find another great collector, i still buy and trade, love dvd and what that has to offer but pre cert tapes and ex rental still have a great charm, and look so damn fine displayed, i have a mint astra i spit on yopur grave bought in 83 or 84, watched once very clean, what is the price would you say on that ? great site mate.
A living breathing Video Van man? Awesome.
Thanks for the kind words. So how many tapes do you have now? These pictures are so old, I could do with uploading and starting this page over.
Dale
Hi mate yeah, i have around 3000, picked up around 500 recently, all decent stuff, minus a few old mouldy bits and pieces which you do find when you bulk buy, i do a youtube site under the name dawnsbrother68 mostly dedicated to this stuff, i was looking forward to your reply, but my email never notified me, its just great to find other guys interested in this stuff, cheers dale.
hi again
believe it or not you have the film HEARTBREAKERS !! I saw it on one of the photos of collection lol
I have a few that I will even give to you if you can help me out … how about copying the titles onto a dvd ram or – r and I will pay you and give you the movies I have too
let me know
many thanks
Maurizio
Will certainly keep an eye out for those you listed, and yes, if you would like me to copy some of yours over to DVD then I would be happy to do this for you, simply drop me an email.
Dale
Hi,
Just came across your blog searching for a horror film – what a fantastic collection you have : )
Not sure if you have it in your huge collection?
I have no title or actors.
The only scenes I remember is a wicked old lady who lives in a house near a river keeps someone locked in a attached room or cellar – some mad monster.
3 or 4 late teens go exploring, not sure of the plot.
They arrive by raft across the river a visit this lady.
I do recall an outdoor shower scene with 2 ladies washing but not explicit.
It maybe an hybrid of films like – jungle/island with mad man going berserk.
Can you help?
It’s similar to films like:
American Gothic, Humongous, madman, final terror & Island fury – it’s not those.
Thank you.
Regards
Gordon
Appreciate the kind words, sir!
It’s not RAWHEAD REX, is it?
Hi,
Just seen the trailer for Rawhead Rex – It’s not that one : ( I’m afraid.
I’m convinced the film was from around 1977-1982.
Had a similar scene setting to the hills have eyes.
Just remember about 3 people on a raft maybe searching for their friend getting to this house (not The Burning) and they ask this old lady living there where he is.
It’s not ‘Just before dawn’ or ‘The Unseen’ but again quite similar.
I have seen Ghostkeeper aswell – not that one (even though that one is set in winter) whilst the film I’m looking for is set in the summer. Quite sure it was made in the US.
My search continues…..
Thank you
Regards
Gordon
As luck would have it, I think I have found the movie. Is it Keep My Grave Open? Will send you a pic of my VHS to jog the memory via email.
Dear Viva VHS,
Can you find old video releases with labels like Childrens Video Network, Comic Toons, Funhouse Video, Krypon Force, Take 2 Plus, Supertron Cartoon Videos, and Screen Original?
I think you need to find them in shops or in car bot sales if you know what I mean and then I’ll let you know.
So here’s a list of tapes you need to find:
1. CHOPPY AND THE PRINCESS – THREE WISHES
2. CHOPPY AND THE PRINCESS – THE PRINCESS & THE BEGGAR
3. CHOPPY AND THE PRINCESS – THE MAGIC HERB
4. CHOPPY AND THE PRINCESS – STOLEN BEAUTY
5. CHOPPY AND THE PRINCESS – THE POISON DART
6. CHOPPY AND THE PRINCESS – THE PHANTOM KNIGHT
7. SPORT BILLY Vol. 1
8. SPORT BILLY Vol. 2
9. SPORT BILLY Vol. 3
10. SPORT BILLY Vol. 4
11. VIDEOTOONS Volume One
12. VIDEOTOONS Volume Two
13. VIDEOTOONS Volume Three
14. The Adventures of Don Quixote Volume One: Rescue to The Ride
15. The Adventures of Don Quixote Volume Two: Queen Marlina The Evil
16. The Adventures of Don Quixote Volume Three: The Monster of Hopeadopeadople
17. VIDEOTOONS Volume Four
18. VIDEOTOONS Volume Five
19. VIDEOTOONS Volume Six
20. CASPER THE GHOST & FRIENDS
21. CASPER THE GHOST & FRIENDS – VOLUME TWO
22. Loony Times of ABBOTT & COSTELLO
23. Tales of ABBOTT & COSTELLO
24. Zany Days of ABBOTT & COSTELLO
25. CHUCKLE TOONS Volume One
26. CHUCKLE TOONS Volume Two
27. CHUCKLE TOONS Volume Three
28. GULLIVER’S TRAVELS
29. THE EASTERN DELIGHT
30. THE COSSACKS Volume One
31. THE COSSACKS Volume Two
32. LABYRINTH
33. THE HIPPO & THE CROCODILE
34. LEGEND OF THE MOOR’S LEGACY
35. GNOME SWEET GNOME
36. TEDDY AND FRIENDS
37. EASTERN MAGIC
38. THE BIG BAD WOLF
39. THE COSSACKS Volume 3
40. THE BIG BAD WOLF Volume 2
41. PORKY’S MOVING DAY AND OTHER CARTOON CLASSICS
42. POPEYE THE SAILOR IN ALADDIN AND HIS WONDERFUL LAMP
43. THE MAGIC FLUTE AND OTHER MAGIC FABLES
44. THE LITTLE DUTCH MILL AND OTHER CARTOON CLASSICS
45. THE BRAVE TIN SOLDIER AND OTHER CARTOON CLASSICS
46. LITTLE BOY BLUE AND OTHER CARTOON CLASSICS
47. HUMPTY DUMPTY AND OTHER CARTOON CLASSICS
48. WINKY THE WATCHMAN AND OTHER CARTOON CLASSICS
49. HUNKY & SPUNKY
50. BIMBO AND FRIENDS
51. MARY’S LITTLE LAMB AND OTHER CARTOON CLASSICS
52. LITTLE LULU
53. BUGS BUNNY
54. SUPERMAN
55. SINBAD THE SAILOR AND OTHER CARTOON CLASSICS
56. PORKY PIG
57. THE FOX & THE RABBIT AND OTHER CARTOON CLASSICS
58. POPEYE THE SAILOR
59. THE LITTLE RED HEN AND OTHER CARTOON CLASSICS
60. PUSS IN BOOTS AND OTHER CARTOON CLASSICS
61. SIMPLE SIMON AND OTHER CARTOON CLASSICS
62. RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER AND OTHER CARTOON CLASSICS
63. DON QUIXOTE AND OTHER CARTOON CLASSICS
64. TOONERVILLE TROLLEY
65. SUPERMAN II
66. CASPER THE GHOST AND OTHER CARTOON CLASSICS
67. MUTT & JEFF IN WESTWARD WHOA AND OTHER CARTOON CLASSICS
68. THE ADVENTURES OF DAFFY DUCK
69. LITTLE LULU II
70. DICK WHITTINGTON’S CAT & OTHER CARTOON CLASSICS
71. THE QUEEN OF HEARTS AND OTHER CARTOON CLASSICS
72. THE NUTCRACKER
73. FLIP THE FROG AND OTHER CARTOON CLASSICS
74. CHUCKLE TOONS VOLUME FOUR
75. THE TWO LITTLE PUPS
76. CHUCKLE TOONS VOLUME FIVE
77. ALADDIN & HIS MAGIC LAMP
78. HECKLE & JECKLE & FRIENDS
79. THE ADVENTURES OF MOLLY MOO COW
80. TOM THUMB AND OTHER CARTOON FABLES
81. DAFFY DUCK & Co.
82. LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD AND OTHER CARTOON FABLES
83. PORKY & FRIENDS
84. BUGS BUNNY & Co.
85. JACK AND THE BEANSTALK AND OTHER CARTOON CLASSICS
86. FARMER AL FAFA & FRIENDS
87. TOYLAND BROADCAST AND OTHER CARTOON CLASSICS
88. GABBY AND FRIENDS
89. THE AMOS & ANDY SHOW
90. The Mighty Mouse Show Featuring Heckle & Jeckle, Yankee Doodle Donkey and Buzzy The Mocking Bird
91. THE Felix The Cat SHOW
92. Woody Woodpecker and the Leprechauns Show
93. THE Daffy Duck SHOW
94. THE POPEYE SHOW
95. THE Bugs Bunny SHOW
96. THE Herman The Mouse SHOW
Etc.
The VHS tapes can be in cardboard cases or in hard VHS cases, So you best do your research and look it up in the shops or other places to find. When you find one, you might be able to sell it as a much small cheaper price. It will be just good idea to do it. Cheers! 😉
Nikolas Bouras.
I’m not sure if my messages are coming through?? I have sent 3 now!!! I wanted to know if anyone has “Naked Vengeance” and “Demon Cop” available to buy. Both big box versions and both in very good condition (no sun fading or stickers on the sleeves or spine of sleeves). I would be grateful if someone could get back to me, thanks. Lee
I have both movies, even screening DEMON COP direct from VHS in Birmingham on March 19th, but sadly no spares for sale.
I’ll put the feelers out for you and let you know if anything comes of it.
Hello,
I collect pre-certs of my favourite films.
If anyone has any of the following to sell for reasonable prices I’d be interested;
Planet of the Apes
Parallax View
French Connection 2
Taxi Driver
Andromeda strain
thx 1138
Stepford Wives
Capricorn One
Mean Machine
Badlands
Dark Star
Quiller Memorandum.
Thanks,
Brian
Hi great collection. I have between 6-7000 Mainly Pre Cert horror tapes in my collection which i’m now selling as i’m running out of room. If anyone’s interested there on Ebay seller dvdvhs333 or get in touch at nsn333 at yahoo.com, thanks Martin.