Fantagraphics Books has just released PORTABLE GRINDHOUSE, a book that showcases a smattering of VHS covers throughout the 30 years of their existence. It helps to open up the discussion about the qualities and merit of VHS packaging. This book features about 100 different movie boxes, with a scan of the back on the left side and a photo actual box on the facing page. This format is especially good for seeing through the illusion of a painted cover by comparing it to screen shots they put on the back.

After comparing what was in the book to what our inventory had, we put together a special section of what we had that is featured i PORTABLE GRINDHOUSE. Unfortunately, we have replaced several of the original tapes with DVD versions, so there is a void. But, we do have about 10,000 other VHS covers that you could look at if you’re inspired to.

On Sunday the 13^th of December from 4 to 6pm,  Fantagraphics is hosting a panel to discuss VHS and the artwork that contains it. I’m going to be representing Scarecrow and VIVA VHS at this event and it will also feature panelists Lisa Petrucci (KICKASS KUTIES) of Something Weird, Seattle Times pop culture critic Mark Rahner with film critic and curator Robert Horton, the co-writer of horror comic ROTTEN. The panel will be  moderated by PORTABLE GRINDHOUSE editor Jacques Boyreau and followed by a book signing and reception. Admission is free as always.

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is open daily at 1201 S. Vale Street just south of downtown Seattle. Phone 206.658.0110

Our special Portable Grindhouse rental section

Portable Grindhouse...The Book!

PICK A WORD/SEARCH–Pull a random word out of a hat. Using one of our 2 customer search stations, put that word into the search field and click the ‘contains’ button next to it. Every movie with that word in the title will come up. Choose a movie only from that list! A good example is words like “don’t” that will come up with a lot of stalker movies that are obviously warning you of the horror (and fun) to come!

Another way to narrow down your search for something interesting is playing a game aptly titled VHS ONLY!, where, as the title suggests, you may only pick something to rent on VHS! Skim past all those DVDs and find a gem that time may have forgotten. Alternate ‘ONLY’ games: LASERDISC ONLY! R.I.P./SPOTLIGHT SECTIONS ONLY! $3 MOVIES ONLY! (kids section, second take and movies that are under 60 minutes are all $3!)

Room Hunt!–Bring friends/family/people you met on the internet. Assign each comrade to a different room or area in the store. Give yourself an allotted amount of time (2-5 minutes? the key here is frantic speed browsing!) to search your assigned room. Everyone meet back at meeting point. Who found the most interesting looking movie? Compare, decide, rent! To add some competitive spice, the person with the worst-looking rejected movie has to pay for the winning pick!

Weird Movie Review–Maybe you are an avid blogger, and like to start conversations on the internet about exciting findings. What is more exciting than seeing a movie that NO ONE else has seen?? If this sounds up your alley, check out our Missed Connections & New to Store sections! Missed Connections is a section of movies that are changed out periodically that have NEVER rented. We have so many movies, it is understandable that some get looked over. New to Store is our section where we acquire movies from all sorts of places that have just arrived! Watch any of these and you might just be the first to see this movie other than the ones who made it! Write reviews of your findings online, and you could be the shining star of the internet! You’ll be brimming with useful(/useless) information about rare movies and known as a real connoisseur of the “lesser known” arts! This can only be done at Scarecrow Video (you’re welcome, rare movie internet blogger)!

Accept a Staff Recommendation game–Seriously, just ask us to tell you what to watch and then rent it no matter what. We know what we’re talking about.

I’m sure many of you college kids have already tried this game, but for those of you who usually rent “uppity” films, try lowering your taste for a game I like to call Bad Movie Challenge!! This can be played with any sort of genre, but the best gems you will find in the Pyschotronic Room! Narrow it down to anything from the 80s, and you have yourself a LOL fest. Movies that try to take themselves seriously with bad to no plot line and awful acting can be more entertaining than any film directed by Capra or Kurosawa! See how Awesomely bad you can get! Best played with a group of friends (and maybe some alcohol for those movies that can get painfully bad). After tolerating pure trash, you will really appreciate those well-made movies, and learn a little about what makes a movie bad or good! let it be a lesson in film (or just a fun movie night)!

Judge the Movie by its Cover–a simple game of picking up a movie based on it’s cover. But don’t read the back! Sometimes movies have terrible covers, but it may not really be all that bad. It really is a surprise, you never know what’s inside! (but it’s the inside that counts most anyway, right folks?)

Yeah, yeah the economy is bad, everyone’s trying to save money. One way to travel without spending more than $4.50 is to check out our Travel section! Vacation Movie game! Pick a movie about a country in our Documentary room and then head down to our Foreign movie hallway and search for a movie in that same country’s section you want to “travel” to! Learn a little about the world, be entertained, listen to another language, explore other cultures! And you’re saving a ton! See Seoul and then see how Seoul makes a comedy! Compare and contrast. Paper due Friday.

Own & Rent– a simple “game” (this is just what we do here) where you buy a new movie from Scarecrow and you get a free rental credit with it! Keep a movie, borrow another! (doesn’t apply to used sales, special orders or closeout movies)

And for our finale game–the intense, one and only–2-4-1 WEDNESDAY CHALLENGE! There are so many games to play on Wednesday because you rent one movie, you get another FREE! up to 10 (equal or lesser value, no new release pairs (new release and anything else okay!))! Wednesday is also the busiest, so part of the challenge is maneuvering and getting the movie you want before someone else does! The combo games are endless! Some ideas for 2-4-1 games are:
–Elaborate Themed rental combo! Example: “You wanna be a star, doncha?” includes movies about people who will do anything to make it big in Hollywood! (Star 80, Quiet Days in Hollywood, the Heidi Fleiss Story, etc)
–Double Feature Pairs! Example: Movies you might find paired together at a Drive-in! Maybe two movies with the same Actor? Or maybe two movies with a common theme or object in both!
–Original/Remake combos! Example: Death Race 2000 and Death Race! or Howard Hawks’ The Thing (1951) and John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982)! Do you know how many remakes there are? Don’t forget Foreign movie originals with American Remakes! (My Sassy Girl Korea and My Sassy Girl USA!)

The possibilities are literally endless with our selection. That is what makes the games fun. All too often I overhear “I don’t know what to geeeettt”. Try out one of these rental games and you might find your new favorite movie, or maybe the worst movie of all time–but it might make for great conversation. Take a chance! Have some fun! You can’t do these games anywhere but Scarecrow Video!

If those seemingly random words put together in that order makes you nostalgic with excitement, then get ready to change your pants because you are about to pee them!

SCARECROW VIDEO is the proud new owner of a 3-Disc BOX SET of SAMURAI PIZZA CATS!!! The English-dubbed early morning import cartoon that aired right after Sailor Moon!

This mysterious SPC boxset is a rarity indeed. It’s alright if you’re not quite sure what a Samurai Pizza Cat is, or if you have left the show long forgotten in the back of your brain. One thing for sure is–you’ll have the goofy theme song stuck in your head all day.

Samurai Pizza Cats English Theme Song

Currently for RENTAL ONLY! Find it in the kid’s new release section! $3 for 4 days! Rediscover the greatest wacky over-dubbed meta-cartoon gem of the 90s!