Do you remember the magic of the video store? Imagine it: the smell of fresh VHS and DVD boxes; the way you could browse the shelves until something seemed to almost leap out at you, the name or the cover designing screaming, “You need to watch me!” What if I told you that you can still rent videos from a local video store and that, even better, you could have those videos shipped right to your door?

It's possible, and the non-profit video store responsible needs your help to expand.

The state of the streamers

You've probably noticed how things have gotten worse on streaming services. Like me, you're probably getting a little nostalgic for the good old days when you could walk over to your local video store and find the latest shows and movies available for the cost of a cookie. You might even fondly remember Netlfix, before it's enshittification, when you could order any of its DVDs and have them shipped straight to your door for a low monthly fee.

Well, the giants of tech have stripped us of our local places of culture and entertainment, and they've left barren wastelands behind. What's even more insidious is that companies like HBO and Netflix are raising their prices, making their collections smaller, cancelling award-winning shows haphazardly, and even burying shows and films before they've hit the screen!

Scarecrow Video to the rescue

Scarecrow Video's story starts like a movie script—full of passion, resilience, and a love for cinema. It began in 1983 when George and Rebecca Latsios moved to Seattle, WA, bringing with them George's lifelong love for movies. With almost no money to start, George rented out his personal tapes before taking the plunge in 1988 to officially open Scarecrow Video.

The shop kept expanding—adding more titles, new formats, and even a mini cinema. Despite personal and financial hardships, including George's battle with a brain tumor diagnosed in 1995, George and Rebecca were unwavering in their commitment to building Scarecrow's collection. Rebecca worked tirelessly, often holding multiple jobs, while George focused on expanding the store, even as his health deteriorated.

But their dedication caught the attention of film buffs worldwide, and by 1999, Scarecrow was recognized as one of the coolest video stores in the country.

When George passed away in 2003, Scarecrow faced an uncertain future. Fortunately, two longtime customers and film enthusiasts, Carl Tostevin and Mickey McDonough, stepped in to ensure that Scarecrow's legacy would continue. Carl and Mickey knew that in the face of the digital age, Scarecrow needed a new direction to survive.

In 2014, they handed ownership to a newly formed non-profit, allowing Scarecrow to transform into a community treasure. With the dedication of its new caretakers, Scarecrow officially became a 501(c)(3) and earned cultural museum status in 2019.

Today, Scarecrow Video continues to thrive, boasting over 147,000 titles—an unmatched collection that keeps the magic of the video store alive for movie lovers everywhere.

However, the journey forward still depends on the support of the community to keep this incredible library growing and accessible.

The SOS and the future of Scarecrow

Now, Scarecrow faces its greatest challenge yet — and has already successfully met several of its goals. Ensuring Scarecrow's survival is a fight worth fighting, and it's a fight that can be won.

On top of raising more than $600,000, securing their current rental location in Seattle for two more years, and making significant headway in building their sustainability strategy, Scarecrow has also seen a massive rise in subscriptions and memberships. And this is where you come in.

Sure, you can donate and volunteer to Scarecrow directly, or even become a member and get credits for free rentals and other swag...

...but you can also subscribe to have DVDs from this one-of-a-kind collection shipped directly to your door!

You can also help by spreading the word about Scarecrow Video to your friends and family, supporting a real local video store that brings back the magic of cinema and challenges the era of the streaming giants. The best part being that you get access to one of the most extensive collections of videos in the world!

👋 Hi there! I’m Odin Halvorson, a librarian 📚, independent scholar 📖, film fanatic 🎬, fiction author 📝, and tech enthusiast 💻.

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