Death of Blockbuster

You could see this one coming from a mile away. It was inevitable, just like the demise of cable TV someday in the not too distant future and unfortunately, newspapers as well.

Although Blockbuster will soon be in the dustbin of history, it did have a nice run and will be missed.

From Esquire...

The Blockbuster Era was an essential, all-too-short epoch when a spectrum of art once limited to finite times in theater became accessible in our homes for as long as we wanted.

You never really knew what you'd find or experience when you stepped inside. Sure, it would never likely be transgressive or especially exotic — good luck in the foreign section — but there was value in the sheer volume of titles, each of which must have entertained someone. From the high-demand new release section to the unorganized row of recent returns at the front desk — where customers plucked hot new titles with the ferocity of lottery addicts — it was where we went to win.

What we lose in serendipitous exploration we gain in ease of access, although I'm not sure it's an equal exchange.