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Last Updated: 11:31 pm, Tuesday, December 30th, 2003

Video rental stores juggle holiday rush
By Linda Cook

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Since new releases normally come out on Tuesday, it’s typically a busy day at video rental stores. Combine that with New Year’s Eve falling on a Wednesday, the holiday on Thursday and a long weekend for many folks and you’ve got movies practically leaping off the shelves.
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“On any Tuesday when the new releases come out, we’ll have 80 to 100 people waiting outside to get the new stuff,” said Matt Rose, the manager at Family Video in Clinton, Iowa.
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“Here, people will come in, especially on Tuesday, and get eight movies. They’ll literally run in through the door and grab a copy of everything that’s new,” he said. “You’ll have 70 people trying to pack themselves in there, so as soon as you unlock the door, they just pour in.”
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“For us, the busiest day is the day after new releases come out,” he said. “The new releases are going to be gone by noon Tuesday. People walk in and instantly just check the drop box to see what’s in. As soon as it gets dropped back, someone else is waiting there to take it out.”
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New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are “going to be very busy, especially in our store,” he added.
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A holiday rush comes as no surprise, said Jennifer Gustafson, the store director at Hollywood Video, 3808 18th Ave., Rock Island. “We expect with the holidays and the kids off school that business will really pick up,” she said, adding that staffing is increased in preparation.
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John Murphy, assistant manager of the Family Video store at 3833 N. Division St., Davenport, said the holiday rush began early there.
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“Sunday was really busy,” he added. “Video games are renting very well. The ‘Grand Theft Auto’ series is still really hot.” Deer-hunting video games, ESPN for PlayStation 2 and “Conflict Desert Storm,” a war game, are other top choices, he said.
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As for movies, the first and second “Lord of the Rings” films are top renters now that the third installment of the epic trilogy is in theaters and compiling incredible box office numbers. Other popular rentals are “Bruce Almighty,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl,” “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” and “Freaky Friday,” he said.
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Family Video’s special holiday section has been a busy place as well, with families enjoying the likes of “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” “A Christmas Story” and both of the “Santa Clause” movies starring Tim Allen.
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John Kettringer, 35, of Rock Island, was at Hollywood Video on Tuesday with the new “S.W.A.T.” DVD in hand. But he had to opt for the VHS version of “The Order.” The DVD versions of the movie starring Heath Ledger were rented 15 minutes after the Rock Island store opened its doors Tuesday.
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DVD is strongly taking the place of VHS tapes, Murphy of Family Video said. “DVDs are more than half our business now,” he added. “We get 2-to-1 DVDs to VHS anymore when we get a new shipment of movies in.”
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Hollywood Video does 64 percent of its business in DVD rentals, as opposed to 36 percent VHS, Gustafson said. The store also sees a holiday increase in the sales of used video games and accessories, as well as head cleaners and other merchandise.
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A Rock Island woman named Linda was looking to put the finishing touches on her New Year’s plans Tuesday at Hollywood Video. “I’ve already got “S.W.A.T.” and “Belly of the Beast,” she said. “Now I’m just looking for something for my nieces and nephews.”
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Contact the city desk at (563) 383-2245 or newsroom@qctimes.com.