This is the ongoing story of my uncle's priceless trove (two semi-truck fulls!) of comics going up in flames. Started production in 2010. I don't know where it's going but it is fun setting comics on fire.
Main Street: Video Visions
Video Visions circa late 1980s to 1999. Apache Junction, AZ, owner Steve Campbell. Video Visions is unique in many ways- it started as a shelf at Desert Liquors, which is still in business. Video Visions grew to a small two rooms next to the liquor store. Suprisingly, they carried a good selection of Woody Allen films and even a foreign section too.
Main Street 2: Arizona Video
Arizona Video circa late 1980s to 1998, Apache Junction, AZ. within walking distance to Video Visions and a ¼ mile of AJ’s Video (not much is known of AJ’s Video, they moved locations about 4 times and closed early sometime around 1989). Arizona Video was known for a huge selection of skateboarding videos including the much coveted “Streetstyle in Tempe”. The building is now leased to a music store Insalaco’s Music & Upholstery.
Tower Records Mesa, AZ - Zine Ads
The one location that I fondly remember is in Mesa, Az circa late 80s to 1998. Their video rental section was where I discovered Urgh! A Music War/X The Movie/G.G. Allin live and is also the place I bought The Misfits “Walk Among Us” Lp (8th pressing?) back when they stocked vinyl.
I threw out all the zines I bought from there years ago but I recently discovered a box with a few remaining Psychotronic and one called SHE and another called We Like Poo. Here are ad scans, some for movies and bootlegs-I’d love to track down each and everyone of the home made movies to feed my nostalgic obsession.
Is this what I think it is just some guy reading over eerie music? Might be the greatest thing ever.
Main Street 3: Fiesta Video
Lipovic Plaza, home of Fiesta Video circa late 80s to 98, Mesa, AZ.
Fiesta video was the biggest video store on the main street strip. They had a wacky policy- you would write down the number on scrap paper and you wouldn’t know if the film was rented until you went to the counter. Why I liked renting from them so much was their never ending gigantic wall of horror tapes. I think the owners would never willingly stock a foreign film since that was the only section they didn’t have.
Eventually Fiesta Video moved out of the Lipovic Plaza into a smaller place, a new plaza directly across the street. At their new location they put in a drive through window for drop off and Velcro for the video tags. Years later I drove by and was saddened to see it was now a Hollywood Video.
