HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — In an age of streaming and on-demand movies, The Twisted Time Machine invites customers to rewind time.
“They just think it’s fun, they think it’s cool and retro… look at what the old folks used to play their movies on,” Owner, Julie Brock, said.
Brock, a retired Pasadena ISD teacher, opened the small shop dedicated to physical media. From the ceiling to the floor, the shelves are filled with VHS tapes, which include blockbuster hits to cult classics.
“I get everybody walk through this shop. I’ve got people new to movie collecting, and I get the film aficionado looking for something a little different or something they don’t have on their shelves,” Brock said.
Fans say the appeal goes beyond just the tapes themselves.
Wyatt Newton is a customer and a movie collector, “A big part of the reason why I collect physical media is because you actually own that. You know for a fact that that’s yours, you have it, and no one can take it away from you,” Newton said. “You can rent something on these streaming services or buy it, but something happens with the copyright that they can completely get rid of a library of material, so you don’t actually own it anymore.”
According to Consumer Reports, 15% of Americans still watch VHS tapes, with another 49% playing DVDs.
The Twisted Time Machine is inside Market Place Antiques West Mall located at 10940 Katy Fwy in Houston.
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