For us it was 1981. I don't remember much because I was only about already a year old and all of my memories from 1981 are fuzzy and vague. I can only remember 1982 and on. I do however, have some memories of 1981 and seeing the VCR in our TV room along with a bunch of old electronics. I know it was '81 because I can remember our calendar as well......

I know, I'm old! ;D But at least I remember this much! Yay! ;D ;D

My family got a VCR long before I was born. For my mother, it was probably in the mid 80s. While my father possibly got one a LONG time ago (maybe early 80s). Both of them already had a VCR when they lived together in Brooklyn by 1993. By the time I was born (late 1999), DVDs were already making a noticeable impact on home entertainment. My family... probably got a DVD player by late 2000/early 2001, and the rest was history to me.

The first one I recall was around 1991. At the time we only had a 13" tv in the living room.

My family got a VCR long before I was born. For my mother, it was probably in the mid 80s. While my father possibly got one a LONG time ago (maybe early 80s). Both of them got a VCR when they lived together in Brooklyn by 1993. By the time I was born (late 1999), DVDs were already making a noticeable impact on home entertainment. My family... probably got a DVD player by late 2000/early 2001, and the rest was history to me.


Did you ever get to watch a movie on one?


The first one I recall was around 1991. At the time we only had a 13" tv in the living room.


I should have posted this on the More than Decade board since VCRs were still being used into the 90s. I always forget that for some reason and think of DVDs when I'm discussing the 90s.

I have no clue, but we already had a VCR when I was born.

Did you ever get to watch a movie on one?


I watched some movies on VHS, but I was more into DVDs by the time I was a kid.

I really can't recall but I believe we got a VCR during the early to mid 1980's.

Did you ever get to watch a movie on one?

I should have posted this on the More than Decade board since VCRs were still being used into the 90s. I always forget that for some reason and think of DVDs when I'm discussing the 90s.


I got to watch movies on ours but then after a long time my VCR tapes collected dust on my shelf and just this morning I brought my movies to our collection bin but I am saving the movies that I had taped from TV 20-25 years ago.

July 1987. My mom wanted to be able to record certain programs that she watched, as she was preparing to go back to work after being a stay-at-home mom for 7 years.

I have no clue, but we already had a VCR when I was born.



I watched some movies on VHS, but I was more into DVDs by the time I was a kid.


Yes, I kinda figured that! I like DVDs more.


I got to watch movies on ours but then after a long time my VCR tapes collected dust on my shelf and just this morning I brought my movies to our collection bin but I am saving the movies that I had taped from TV 20-25 years ago.


Do you still have a VCR so that you can watch them?


July 1987. My mom wanted to be able to record certain programs that she watched, as she was preparing to go back to work after being a stay-at-home mom for 7 years.


That was a great time to have one too.  :)

Yes, I kinda figured that! I like DVDs more.

Do you still have a VCR so that you can watch them?

That was a great time to have one too.  :)


I don't but I think My Father still has his VCR/DVD combo but it's a rarity now that we'll use it.

Yes, I kinda figured that! I like DVDs more.


Well, they were more available when I was a child. VHS tapes on the other hand were slowly dying up until 2006.

That was a great time to have one too.  :)

I know, during the 80's they were kindof a novelty. Even the game shows would offer them as prizes, or even give 'em away as consolations. Even during the first few months we had one we rented lots of movies on video. :)

I know, during the 80's they were kindof a novelty. Even the game shows would offer them as prizes, or even give 'em away as consolations. Even during the first few months we had one we rented lots of movies on video. :)


Same with the 90s. Although DVDs were more of a novelty than VCRs by the very late 90s (1999) and early 2000s.

My parents bought a VCR player well before I was born. My Dad bought one in the Early 80s, when he was still a teenager. He used it to record the performances of Live Aid in 1985.

Same with the 90s. Although DVDs were more of a novelty than VCRs by the very late 90s (1999) and early 2000s.

Well, DVDs first came out in the latter part of the 90s...so you're right. Players (for them) were definitely a novelty by then.

My parents bought a VCR player well before I was born. My Dad bought one in the Early 80s, when he was still a teenager. He used it to record the performances of Live Aid in 1985.


I knew my parents watched Star Trek: The Next Generation on VHS when they were living in Brooklyn during the mid and late 90s.

My parents bought a VCR player well before I was born. My Dad bought one in the Early 80s, when he was still a teenager. He used it to record the performances of Live Aid in 1985.


My Father had taped USA For Africa in 1985.

I'm think it was 1984, possibly late 1983 (I was still living with my parents).  It was a Beta VCR, the kind with the spiffed up sound.  (Beta Hi-Fi???  The specific name escapes me.)

'I' didn't get the VCR, my parents did, their money. But my family enjoyed our first VCR in 1991/1992.

'I' didn't get the VCR, my parents did, their money. But my family enjoyed our first VCR in 1991/1992.


lol. It would be funny if we got VCRs as infants. I would be stretching out the magnetic tape from the cassettes, while I stuff my Elmo toys inside it during the early 2000s.

lol. It would be funny if we got VCRs as infants. I would be stretching out the magnetic tape from the cassettes, while I stuff my Elmo toys inside it during the early 2000s.


Also infants don't pay for the VCR!  :D  :D

Also infants don't pay for the VCR!  :D  :D


Yeah. But then we would've paid from our parents' wallets, since they're the ones who have money.  ;D

'I' didn't get the VCR, my parents did, their money. But my family enjoyed our first VCR in 1991/1992.

Same with mine.

It was also around that time when we replaced ours, with one that had on-screen programming (which the sales associate showed us how to work before we bought it).

Same with mine.

It was also around that time when we replaced ours, with one that had on-screen programming (which the sales associate showed us how to work before we bought it).


Man... if I were around at that time, I would've just shown them how to insert the tape in the VCR. It's honestly not as complicated as using a computer back in the 80s and 90s, where you had to use commands for certain systems such as MS-DOS.  :P

Same with mine.

It was also around that time when we replaced ours, with one that had on-screen programming (which the sales associate showed us how to work before we bought it).


You got to remember the 80's, lucky you!  :D

Man... if I were around at that time, I would've just shown them how to insert the tape in the VCR. It's honestly not as complicated as using a computer back in the 80s and 90s, where you had to use commands for certain systems such as MS-DOS.  :P

Oh yes. Inserting the tape was simple, just push it into the slot.

I still have a VCR today (one that was new c. 2006) but the unit also has a DVD player. I don't think I've played any videos on it in roughly 5 years.

You got to remember the 80's, lucky you!  :D

That's right, because I was in the single-digits during all of them! (But my earliest memories date back to around age 3 or 4; that is, 1983/84).

Same with mine.

It was also around that time when we replaced ours, with one that had on-screen programming (which the sales associate showed us how to work before we bought it).


We use to have one like that. I think in the '90s VCRs were constantly updated. More than they were in the '80s.

Oh yes. Inserting the tape was simple, just push it into the slot.

I still have a VCR today (one that was new c. 2006) but the unit also has a DVD player. I don't think I've played any videos on it in roughly 5 years.


I wish I still have a VCR. I have old tapes from the 90s up to the mid 2000s, some of which were recorded by me. One of them was probably recorded in 2004 or 2005, which was labeled as a Lilo and Stitch episode. I never watched it after 12 years, since I don't have anything to play a VHS tape.  >:(


We use to have one like that. I think in the '90s VCRs were constantly updated. More than they were in the '80s.


I thought 90s VCRs had a lot of variety on them. Most of them could support VHS accessories such as VCRplus, the VCR-Rabbit, and many others. Most of them were still the same though, since they still had the same capabilities. I think the design changed during the late 80s/early 90s.

We use to have one like that. I think in the '90s VCRs were constantly updated. More than they were in the '80s.

very much so. The very first one we got was a Toshiba; you had to consult the owners manual to figure out how to operate it (particularly how to set up a recording, from what time to what time). The second one we got, that had the on-screen setup, was easier.

I wish I still have a VCR. I have old tapes from the 90s up to the mid 2000s, some of which were recorded by me. One of them was probably recorded in 2004 or 2005, which was labeled as a Lilo and Stitch episode. I never watched it after 12 years, since I don't have anything to play a VHS tape.  >:(

Aw bummer. I have several self-recorded VHS tapes as well, of various things on TV mainly during the 90s and 2000s. This included a marathon of the "Addams Family" TV series that KCAL-9 was airing on Thanksgiving Day in 1991, to promote the first film of that name.



I thought 90s VCRs had a lot of variety on them. Most of them could support VHS accessories such as VCRplus, the VCR-Rabbit, and many others. Most of them were still the same though, since they still had the same capabilities. I think the design changed during the late 80s/early 90s.

I remember those devices, but I actually never used them. However, I do remember TV listings from the early 1990s having multi-digit number codes next to each program name, indicating the VCRplus code to use for recording them.

Aw bummer. I have several self-recorded VHS tapes as well, of various things on TV mainly during the 90s and 2000s. This included a marathon of the "Addams Family" TV series that KCAL-9 was airing on Thanksgiving Day in 1991, to promote the first film of that name.


Seems cool. It's honestly better than recording the Thanksgiving Day Parade for two straight hours, at least in my opinion.


I remember those devices, but I actually never used them. However, I do remember TV listings from the early 1990s having multi-digit number codes next to each program name, indicating the VCRplus code to use for recording them.


It was like they kept spamming those VCRplus codes everywhere, including listings on the Prevue Guide. I never knew anybody that actually used the VCRplus codes, since they always recorded stuff manually on VCRs.

Seems cool. It's honestly better than recording the Thanksgiving Day Parade for two straight hours, at least in my opinion.

Yeah. We don't even watch that parade, since my family and I are usually busy prepping for the holiday, by cooking food and/or getting the house clean. Although on that day I do remember briefly turning on the TV in the morning to see part of an episode. Still, we recorded 6 hours of it and I still have that video packed away in my collection.



It was like they kept spamming those VCRplus codes everywhere, including listings on the Prevue Guide. I never knew anybody that actually used the VCRplus codes, since they always recorded stuff manually on VCRs.

Right. Sometimes those code numbers would be visually distracting, even if they shrunk the point size. I figured it was simple to manually record the desired program anyways, by selecting the channel number, start time, and end time. (For example, channel 07, from 08:00PM to 08:30PM.) What's so difficult about that?

Yeah. We don't even watch that parade, since my family and I are usually busy prepping for the holiday, by cooking food and/or getting the house clean. Although on that day I do remember briefly turning on the TV in the morning to see part of an episode. Still, we recorded 6 hours of it and I still have that video packed away in my collection.


It seems like a handful to record a 6-hour marathon of a show during Thanksgiving, especially on VHS. I wouldn't even try to record anything for six hours, even if it was on a digital format.


Right. Sometimes those code numbers would be visually distracting, even if they shrunk the point size. I figured it was simple to manually record the desired program anyways, by selecting the channel number, start time, and end time. (For example, channel 07, from 08:00PM to 08:30PM.) What's so difficult about that?


It seemed more complicated to program a recording with VCRplus, since you had to go through so much stuff on the interface.

It seems like a handful to record a 6-hour marathon of a show during Thanksgiving, especially on VHS. I wouldn't even try to record anything for six hours, even if it was on a digital format.

It seemed more complicated to program a recording with VCRplus, since you had to go through so much stuff on the interface.

Well, the tape could hold up to 6 hours of recorded material, so we filled it up. And watching it would take only 4 hours and some minutes, fastforwarding through commercials.

Well, the tape could hold up to 6 hours of recorded material, so we filled it up. And watching it would take only 4 hours and some minutes, fastforwarding through commercials.


I kinda thought you had regular VHS tapes, which probably had material up to 2 hours.

I kinda thought you had regular VHS tapes, which probably had material up to 2 hours.

Well, it depends on which recording speed you choose. SP (standard play) will fill up to 2 hours, and SLP (super long play) will fill up to 6 hours.

Well, it depends on which recording speed you choose. SP (standard play) will fill up to 2 hours, and SLP (super long play) will fill up to 6 hours.


Oh. Well, I usually think of tapes that are pre-recorded from major film companies. Considering a lot of them used standard play tapes back then.

I never got a VCR.  One just showed up with more then 10 things with tape on them. 

Oh. Well, I usually think of tapes that are pre-recorded from major film companies. Considering a lot of them used standard play tapes back then.

Yep, that was probably the norm at first.

Yep, that was probably the norm at first.


I don't think most of them thought of using extended play tapes, since they put out two-tape sets if the movie is longer than 2 hours.

My parents definitely had one by the Challenger explosion since that was the earliest thing that I remember they recorded off of the TV. Generally speaking, in Western countries, most people got a VCR sometime in the mid-to late '80s.

That said, if your look online at various publications, you'll find that the first major style changed happened in the mid-80s, when VCRs shifted from being top loaders to front loaders, and newer features were added around that time such as stereo and cable capability, along with digital clocks and time counter, all features my 1984 Betamax machine contains, which were a big improvement at the time. The next change was the arrival of S-VHS, with even greater sound/picture quality, around 1987ish. The '90s changes were more based on being more practical (i.e. lighter weight, lower cost to produce, easier menus to program), and a c. 1996 VHS player, the second my parents had bought after the first one had died, still works fine.

Like I've posted, I still use VCRs for hunting down vintage TV content recording off of blank tapes, but anything else released onto DVD or a new format is to be preferred with the improved qualities delivered from those upgrades in technology. But they remain a cheap, lower tech alternative if you enjoy older movies and shows (although DVDs from the 2000s and early 2010s can be had for cheap at many second hand stores as well).

My parents definitely had one by the Challenger explosion since that was the earliest thing that I remember they recorded off of the TV. Generally speaking, in Western countries, most people got a VCR sometime in the mid-to late '80s.

That said, if your look online at various publications, you'll find that the first major style changed happened in the mid-80s, when VCRs shifted from being top loaders to front loaders, and newer features were added around that time such as stereo and cable capability, along with digital clocks and time counter, all features my 1984 Betamax machine contains, which were a big improvement at the time. The next change was the arrival of S-VHS, with even greater sound/picture quality, around 1987ish. The '90s changes were more based on being more practical (i.e. lighter weight, lower cost to produce, easier menus to program), and a c. 1996 VHS player, the second my parents had bought after the first one had died, still works fine.

Like I've posted, I still use VCRs for hunting down vintage TV content recording off of blank tapes, but anything else released onto DVD or a new format is to be preferred with the improved qualities delivered from those upgrades in technology. But they remain a cheap, lower tech alternative if you enjoy older movies and shows (although DVDs from the 2000s and early 2010s can be had for cheap at many second hand stores as well).


A lot of companies favored DVDs starting by the mid 2000s, when VCRs weren't widely supported. Even though lots of people by 2005 had a VCR (including my family). However, they still had a warning with those who only had a VCR to get a DVD player at the time, since they were starting to get inexpensive. In a way, a lot of films and TV shows could be sold as DVDs or Blu-Ray Discs, whether it's from the 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, etc.

I'm think it was 1984, possibly late 1983 (I was still living with my parents).  It was a Beta VCR, the kind with the spiffed up sound.  (Beta Hi-Fi???  The specific name escapes me.)


Whatever happened to it?

Aw bummer. I have several self-recorded VHS tapes as well, of various things on TV mainly during the 90s and 2000s. This included a marathon of the "Addams Family" TV series that KCAL-9 was airing on Thanksgiving Day in 1991, to promote the first film of that name.

I remember those devices, but I actually never used them. However, I do remember TV listings from the early 1990s having multi-digit number codes next to each program name, indicating the VCRplus code to use for recording them.


On my VCR tapes I had taped pro-wrestling shows, Sesame Street, Mr.Rogers Neighborhood and some shows from Showtime and HBO.

It seems like a handful to record a 6-hour marathon of a show during Thanksgiving, especially on VHS. I wouldn't even try to record anything for six hours, even if it was on a digital format.

It seemed more complicated to program a recording with VCRplus, since you had to go through so much stuff on the interface.


You have to make sure you have enough tape to do so.

Whatever happened to it?


It was probably broken, due to how they didn't treat it as well as their other one.

You have to make sure you have enough tape to do so.


I don't think VHS tapes were made for 6 hours of programming, then the VHS would have to have been bigger or something lol.

I don't think VHS tapes were made for 6 hours of programming, then the VHS would have to have been bigger or something lol.


Well, there were extended play tapes that could long for 6 hours. Although, I would imagine that for a DVD than on a VHS tape.

Well, there were extended play tapes that could long for 6 hours. Although, I would imagine that for a DVD than on a VHS tape.


Unless someone used two or three tapes.

I don't think VHS tapes were made for 6 hours of programming, then the VHS would have to have been bigger or something lol.


I used to tape programs for 6 hours and leave my VCR on.

I used to tape programs for 6 hours and leave my VCR on.


I never saw those, that must have been lots of tape!

Unless someone used two or three tapes.


Maybe two tapes, if it ran for over two hours.

We had a VCR at the beginning of the 80s. And before that we even had a Betamax player from the 70s.

I don't think VHS tapes were made for 6 hours of programming, then the VHS would have to have been bigger or something lol.


some were.

Unless someone used two or three tapes.


I sometimes did that.

I never saw those, that must have been lots of tape!


they sure were.

On my VCR tapes I had taped pro-wrestling shows, Sesame Street, Mr.Rogers Neighborhood and some shows from Showtime and HBO.

Sometimes I would put certain TV shows on my blank tapes that I enjoyed, too. :)

You have to make sure you have enough tape to do so.


I don't think VHS tapes were made for 6 hours of programming, then the VHS would have to have been bigger or something lol.

Some people might have thought so.



Well, there were extended play tapes that could long for 6 hours. Although, I would imagine that for a DVD than on a VHS tape.

Exactly as I was getting at in one of my previous posts. Of course, DVDs have a certain memory capacity on them, rather than a time limit (although a certain amount of recorded material might amount to a certain period of time).

Exactly as I was getting at in one of my previous posts. Of course, DVDs have a certain memory capacity on them, rather than a time limit (although a certain amount of recorded material might amount to a certain period of time).


Which is why I love DVDs more than VHS tapes. They rely more on digital memory, rather than actual magnetic tape that can be worn off easily.

Which is why I love DVDs more than VHS tapes. They really more on digital memory, rather than actual magnetic tape that can be worn off easily.

Totally!

I do not remember when, but I do know it was before 1983, for there was a good video shop close to the location of my work back then.

I actually read that the UK actually had a larger percentage of users with a VCR compared to the US for awhile. Speaking of problems, that VCR had mentioned above the other night unfortunately wore down due to playing several tapes that had been stored improperly where the tape felt very tight, resulting in frequent squealing sounds, tape missing the tapeheads and getting caught, and eventually, the silvery rotor inside starting to malfunction. At least for VHS VCRs, they're still fairly cheap at yard sales and thrift stores, usually no more than $30 or so.

I actually read that the UK actually had a larger percentage of users with a VCR compared to the US for awhile. Speaking of problems, that VCR had mentioned above the other night unfortunately wore down due to playing several tapes that had been stored improperly where the tape felt very tight, resulting in frequent squealing sounds, tape missing the tapeheads and getting caught, and eventually, the silvery rotor inside starting to malfunction. At least for VHS VCRs, they're still fairly cheap at yard sales and thrift stores, usually no more than $30 or so.
At one time, Betamax was hoping for supremacy.

At one time, Betamax was hoping for supremacy.


Except that Betamax was never superior to VHS, aside from its video quality.

Sometimes I would put certain TV shows on my blank tapes that I enjoyed, too. :)


and then I'll look back at the things I taped.

and then I'll look back at the things I taped.

I can still do that, but I haven't done so in years. Of course I might want to see about transferring them to DVD someday.

Aw bummer. I have several self-recorded VHS tapes as well, of various things on TV mainly during the 90s and 2000s. This included a marathon of the "Addams Family" TV series that KCAL-9 was airing on Thanksgiving Day in 1991, to promote the first film of that name.


That's cool that you still have so many of your old tapes left. My parents got our first VCR when I was really young, around 1989 or so, but sadly many of the earliest things we recorded have been taped over. I believe the oldest surviving recording that we have is Super Bowl XXVI from January 1992. We also still have an Elvis movie marathon that my grandfather recorded off TBS sometime in 1992, and Super Bowl XXVII from January 1993.

Also, does anybody remember the first movie they ever got on VHS? I was just a little kid in the early '90s, so for me it was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze.

I can still do that, but I haven't done so in years. Of course I might want to see about transferring them to DVD someday.


I might want to do that too.

I once threw my old VCR against my bedroom wall once. I was one stupid teenager!!  :-[

I once threw my old VCR against my bedroom wall once. I was one stupid teenager!!  :-[


I once had my DVD player fell down from the TV. I was only 9 when it happened, because I was excited at watching Ponyo. I think I learned my lesson after that.

I once had my DVD player fell down from the TV. I was only 9 when it happened, because I was excited at watching Ponyo. I think I learned my lesson after that.


Ponyo? I have to look that up.

Ponyo? I have to look that up.


It's a Studio Ghibli film (the same studio that did My Neighbor Totoro) that involves an anthropomorphic fish that is also a human.

My dad had a VCR since at least 1987.

That's cool that you still have so many of your old tapes left. My parents got our first VCR when I was really young, around 1989 or so, but sadly many of the earliest things we recorded have been taped over. I believe the oldest surviving recording that we have is Super Bowl XXVI from January 1992. We also still have an Elvis movie marathon that my grandfather recorded off TBS sometime in 1992, and Super Bowl XXVII from January 1993.

Excellent. I even have some older pre-recorded videos, which I have recently packed away because I haven't used any of them in the past few years.



Also, does anybody remember the first movie they ever got on VHS? I was just a little kid in the early '90s, so for me it was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze.

For me it was E.T.; I received two copies of it on video for my 9th birthday (July 1989).

Also, does anybody remember the first movie they ever got on VHS? I was just a little kid in the early '90s, so for me it was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze.

"The Muppet Movie" (1979), I was thinking of the children.

I once threw my old VCR against my bedroom wall once. I was one stupid teenager!!  :-[


Why did you do that for? ???

My family finally got a VCR in 1987 on, literally, the same day we got a CD player. My mom refused to buy VHS movies at the store until the late 1990s. Everything was recorded from television.

I can tell you what our first CD was: Cher (1987).

Yeah... we prioritized the tunes in our household, even if they were terrible tunes.

My family finally got a VCR in 1987 on, literally, the same day we got a CD player. My mom refused to buy VHS movies at the store until the late 1990s. Everything was recorded from television.

I can tell you what our first CD was: Cher (1987).

Yeah... we prioritized the tunes in our household, even if they were terrible tunes.


It's funny because DVDs started to rise during the late 90s/early 2000s. But at least your mom used it for a necessary purpose.

It's funny because DVDs started to rise during the late 90s/early 2000s. But at least your mom used it for a necessary purpose.


My mom was/is cheap regarding that. How often do you watch the same movie? Almost never, right? We'd do the $1/week movie rentals back then or borrow tapes from the library. And, of course, she now loves Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Music, though... That, for her, was worth buying. If you loved it, you'd listen to it over and over again. Besides, Columbia House and BMG were quite happy to give you 12 CDs for a penny and only require you to purchase one at full price before cancelling the subscription. My parents and I played that game more times than I'd like to admit. (We also copied far more CDs onto cassette tapes than I'd like to admit...and from the radio and MTV. C30, C60, C90, go!)

My family finally got a VCR in 1987 on, literally, the same day we got a CD player. My mom refused to buy VHS movies at the store until the late 1990s. Everything was recorded from television.

I can tell you what our first CD was: Cher (1987).

Yeah... we prioritized the tunes in our household, even if they were terrible tunes.

Hey, that's quite all right. My family also got our first VCR that year; we often rented videos before we actually bought any (that is, pre-recorded tapes of movies).

Welcome aboard, by the way. O0