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In 1979, Atkinson invented the concept of video movie rentals. At the time, VCRs were about $1,000, and movies on tape were $50-100. Atkinson, a part time actor, thought, "You listen to Beethoven or the Beatles over and over again. You don't watch Burt Reynolds over and over." He bought 50 movies, charged a $50 yearly membership fee and $10/day for tapes, and was in business. Customers flooded to his Los Angeles store, called Video Station. "He really gave birth to the rental business model," said Bo Andersen, president of the Video Software Dealers Association. Video Station eventually grew to 600 stores. "My only regret is that I couldn't patent it," Atkinson once said. He died March 3 at home in Los Angeles from emphysema. He was 69.
From This is True for 6 March 2005
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