Showing posts with label Video. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Video. Show all posts

Monday, June 15, 2020

The remains of Blockbuster Video in Manchester

A return look at the remnants of the Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield, Manchester.


Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester

I spotted the remains of a Blockbuster Video store while driving to Manchester last October. I returned for a look at the Fallowfield Retail Park location during my lockdown daily outdoor exercise time yesterday.

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester

Some more of the inside of the store has become visible since my first visit. You can now see the remains of a computer system, a CRT TV on a desk and a larger CRT TV hanging from the ceiling.

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester
How TV's should be

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester
I wonder what the last film trailer to be shown on that telly was?

Blockbuster ceased operations in the UK in December 2013.

Oh how times have changed since then.

Social distancing


As with all of the other shops at Fallowfield Retail Park the pathways and walls have had Covid-19 social distancing signs and stickers added.

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester
There's nobody around to observe social distancing from

It's quite something to see the remains of a defunct brand from 'the before times' alongside the signs-of-the-times during the coronavirus pandemic.

Social distancing signs at Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester
A Covid-19 social distancing sign on the exterior of the long since closed Blockbuster store

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester
The tented bay you can see in the right of the photo is part of a drive-in Covid-19 test facility!

A look at the old store


Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester
Did you ever rent games from Blockbuster? I remember buying a few ex-rental PlayStation games from the Luton store in the early noughties

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester
Frozen in time

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester
I wonder what the last item to be dropped in here was?

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester
Some old paperwork

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester

Unfortunately in the coming months and years we are likely to see a number of other brands disappear.

The last Blockbuster


There is currently one independently owned franchise still operating as Blockbuster in the USA and you can find it in Bend, Oregon.

We were planning to visit Portland, Oregon later this year. The Blockbuster in Bend is 174 miles from Portland and a 3-hour journey by car.

Blockbuster Video in Fallowfield, Manchester
There used to be a Carphone Warehouse in Fallowfield. That store was another casualty of the retail wars. They actually bought Tandy when that went out of business too. My first job was at a Tandy franchise in my home town back in the 1990s

Blockbuster Crazy Golf


Interestingly there is still another 'Blockbuster' store in the UK. It's part of the Ghetto Golf indoor crazy golf course at The Custard Factory in Digbeth, Birmingham.

The Blockbuster Video hole at Ghetto Golf in Digbeth, Birmingham
The Blockbuster Video hole at Ghetto Golf in Digbeth, Birmingham

Do you have a favourite defunct brand? Are the remains of an old brand still visible on a building where you live or work? Do let me know.

Tuesday, October 08, 2019

The last remnants of Blockbuster Video in Manchester

A look at the remains of the Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield.


A look at what's left of Blockbuster Video on Fallowfield Retail Park
A look at what's left of Blockbuster Video on Fallowfield Retail Park

A few years ago I blogged about seeing the last signs of the Tandy in Hitchen and how it brought back memories of my first job as a Saturday Boy at a Tandy franchise in my home town.


While in Manchester today I found remnants of another dead brand - Blockbuster Video.


The last remnants of Blockbuster Video in Manchester
Oh, what happened to this sign?

The last remnants of Blockbuster Video in Manchester
Dark clouds gathered over the brand in 2013

The store sign is prominently displayed on both sides of the main sign at Fallowfield Retail Park and the windows of the shop still retain Blockbuster signage.

The last remnants of Blockbuster Video in Manchester
A sign in the shop window

Most of the shelves inside have been removed, but the walls and desks clearly retain the brand colours of Blockbuster.

The last remnants of Blockbuster Video in Manchester
These window graphics still look fresh

The last remnants of Blockbuster Video in Manchester
Clearly still recognisable as a Blockbuster

The last remnants of Blockbuster Video in Manchester
The shelves are bare

There is currently one independently owned franchise still operating as Blockbuster in the USA and you can find it in Bend, Oregon.

The last remnants of Blockbuster Video in Manchester
Quik Drop box to nowhere

A documentary about the rise and fall of the brand called The Last Blockbuster is coming soon.

Interestingly you can play through a 'Blockbuster' store at the Ghetto Golf indoor miniature golf course at The Custard Factory in Digbeth, Birmingham.

Ghetto Golf at the Custard Factory in Birmingham
The Blockbuster hole at Ghetto Golf in Birmingham

When I was a student I was one of Geoffrey's Helpers at Toys R Us. Most of the former stores have been converted into new stores, Stockport's is now The Range. I wonder if any of the old signage for the Toys R Us brand will still be visible in the next 5-10 years?

Do you have a favourite defunct brand? Are the remains of an old brand still visible near where you live or work? Do let me know.


Related posts:
Blockbuster
- Tandy in Hitchin
Remembering Tandy
- RadioShack in Lytham Saint Annes

Monday, November 02, 2015

Videos from the 2015 World Crazy Golf Championships

Action from the World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings.

The 2015 World Crazy Golf Championships took place on the 18-hole Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Hastings, East Sussex on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th October.

Check out the video of the final group of Michael Smith (GBR), Nuno Cunha (POR) and Chris Harding (GBR) playing their final shots of the tournament.



Michael Smith defeated 74 players to become a three-time World Crazy Golf Champion.

Pasi Aho (FIN) was runner-up. Former, and three-time, champion Chris Harding (GBR) was third.

The date of next year's World Crazy Golf Championships has been announced as Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th June 2016.

Windmill hole at Hastings Crazy Golf
Emily playing the 5th hole at Hastings Crazy Golf

Videos:
- World Crazy Golf Championships 2015 - Phil Botto on Hole 2
- World Crazy Golf Championships Final 2015 - Hole 16
- World Crazy Golf Championships Final 2015 - Wasps in Hastings
- World Crazy Golf Championships Final 2015 - the leading group play hole 18
- World Crazy Golf Championships Final 2015 - the leading group play hole 18 version 2

Links:
- Hastings Adventure Golf
- British Minigolf Association
- World Crazy Golf Championships 2015 results

Related blog posts:
World Crazy Golf Championships 2014 Videos
BMGA British Crazy Golf Open 2013 Videos
- Videos from the Final of the 2012 'Castle Golf' World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings
- Videos of the 2011 Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings
- Report from the World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings
- World Crazy Golf Championships
- Hastings

Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter. You can also sign-up to receive our newsletter.

Monday, October 27, 2014

World Crazy Golf Championships 2014 Videos

Videos with action from the final of the 2014 World Crazy Golf Championships.

2014 World Crazy Golf Champion Chris 'Who' Harding on his way to victory in the final round of the tournament played at Hastings Sea Front. Opponents Nuno Cunha (POR) and Adam Kelly (ENG) look on, as do referee John McIver and scorekeeper Adrian Amey
2014 World Crazy Golf Champion Chris 'Who' Harding on his way to victory in the final round of the tournament played at Hastings Sea Front

Check out the video and links below for action from the World Crazy Golf Championships held on the 18-hole Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course at Hastings Sea Front on the 25 and 26 October 2014.



Video links:
- World Crazy Golf Championships 2014 Final - Kellard, Aho, Kelly on Hole 9
- World Crazy Golf Championships 2014 - Kelly, Aho, Kellard on Hole 16
- World Crazy Golf Championships 2014 - Cunha, Kelly and Harding on Hole 16
- Final hole of the 2014 World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings

Links:
- Hastings Adventure Golf
- British Minigolf Association

Related blog posts:
- World Crazy Golf Championships
- 2014 World Crazy Golf Championships Report from Hastings

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Finger Jousting videos from the World Alternative Games 2014

Competitors from five countries competed in the World Finger Jousting Championships at the World Alternative Games 2014 in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales with Sara Galvao of Portugal and Denis Taylor of Russia crowned as new world champions.

Finger Jousting at the World Alternative Games 2014
The Finger Jousting Champions and Corinthian competitors at the World Alternative Games 2014 in Llanwrtyd Wells

Following the event the World Finger Jousting Federation, the governing body for the sport of Finger Jousting, has uploaded a number of videos with action from the event to the WFJF YouTube Channel.

Video: An introduction to the official 2014 World Finger Jousting Championships

Check out the World Finger Jousting Federation's YouTube Channel for more videos from the 2014 World Finger Jousting Championships.

You can read the report from the World Finger Jousting Championships on the WFJF website.

Links:
- World Finger Jousting Federation
- World Finger Jousting Federation on YouTube
- World Alternative Games

Related blog posts:
- Finger Jousting
- World Alternative Games

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

"Minigolf, an international sport" - New WMF Video Now Online

The World Minigolf Sport Federation has published a new promotional video from the WMF World Minigolf Championships. The video shows the passion, concentration, intensity and skill on display in an elite Minigolf sport event.

Check it out on the WMF's YouTube Channel at "Minigolf, an international sport."

   

The World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF) is the umbrella organisation of Minigolf sports association's worldwide and continental associations in Asia, Europe and America. Please visit the WMF website for more information about the sport of Minigolf.

Links:

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Check out Minigolf on the Pub Sport Portal

Film of the BMGA British Minigolf Club Championship in Basingstoke.

The recent BMGA British Club Championship Minigolf tournament held at Basingstoke Golf Centre in Hampshire was visited by Craig Rodhouse from the Pub Sport Portal website.

Following the competition, the final event of the British Minigolf Association Tour’s 2013 season, a film showing the event highlights was put together – and what a great video it is too, with plenty of holes-in-one on show.

Check out the blog and video at the Pub Sport Portal.


Related blog posts:

Links:

Friday, November 08, 2013

My top ten videos on YouTube

To mark my 500th YouTube video being uploaded here are the top ten by number of views since I put my first video on the site in February 2007.

1.       Crazy Golf at Poole Park - Hole 9 Pinball. 86,692 views.






4.       Crazy Golf at Henblas Park. 27,210 views.




6.       Jobbing to Arm Champs II Arcade Machine. 17,275 views. The first video I ever uploaded to YouTube.










My 500 videos have a combined 376,031 views! Thanks to everyone who has watched one (or more).

Do you have a favourite? Let me know if you do via the comments below.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" Minigolf Videos by Allan 'The Putter King' Cox

New Minigolf Videos by Australia's Allan 'The Putter King' Cox.

The 2011 / 2012 Putter King Allan Cox has put together some Minigolf videos in a new series called "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery". The Putt Putt star has based some of his trick shots on some of those I made as part of my entry into The Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunts. Check them out 
below:




Links: 
- Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt related blog posts - 1st Edition - 2nd Edition