VideOdyssey are offering to deliver SOS Nostalgia Packs including classic movies and retro snacks to cheer people up in isolation.
The Liverpool arts venue was dubbed ‘the UK’s last video shop’ by BBC Radio 4 and has amassed a VHS archive of more than 10,000 tapes.
Owner Andy Johnson is offering a delivery service providing entertainment, food and essentials to people in self isolation.
With many classic films and TV shows not available on streaming services, the mountain of tapes at VideOdyssey are now being offered to rent to film fans across the North West. Any for anyone aged 70+ across the region, this is free.
The service, which will be reminiscent of the old ‘Video Van Man’ traders, who used to drive through the streets of the city in the 80s, with movies and snacks – the VideOdyssey team will deliver a package with a VCR, 10 VHS tapes and retro snacks. VideOdyssey also have a range of vintage TVs that you can hire to go with the video players.
Movie buff and professional VHS hoarder Andy has been collecting tapes since he was 8 years old and the shop was set up using original video store fittings salvaged from the Take Two video shop on the Wirral. Former journalist Andy drove to Brighton to rescue 4000 tapes from going into landfill in January 2019, which helped get the project started.
Speaking from their film studios in Toxteth TV, VideOdyssey owner Andy said:
“This is a strange and worrying time for everybody. With all this uncertainty about what will happen with people self-isolating for weeks, I felt people might like to take comfort in a trip down memory lane. Nostalgia is a powerful medicine. In times of distress, it’s good to take solace in what always seems like the simpler days of the past.
“When lockdown was imposed, I immediately thought of all the people who come to see us in the last two years and how so many commented on how nostalgia makes them feel better. How it works is we will deliver a nostalgia SOS pack to your door, ring the bell and stand back to a safe distance while you collect it in. We will then collect it 24 days later – or update your movie selection on request. You can send us a list of your 5 favourite film actors and we’ll bring 10 tapes, a player and retro goodies to make you feel better.
“Also if you’ve got tapes or VCRs to donate which you no longer want – we can collect them for the cause.”
Nostalgia SOS packages start at £24 (incl. delivery)
You can contact andy via email on: shop@videodyssey.com
or via the VideOdyssey social media channels:
facebook.com/VideOdysseyArcade/
