1987 Sears Video Wishbook – Santa’s Favorites

In 1987 Sears released their first in-home video catalog featuring an exciting collection of Sears exclusive electronic toys.

Sears Video Wishbook VHS

Some fun things to watch out for in the video:

  • Joey’s sweet shirt
  • Hillary being a great big sister offering to teach Joey to use the Computron
  • Ronny learns the true meaning of Christmas
  • Electronic toys can be fun
  • Humble Hillary admitting they could be better kids

 

 

Go ahead and put me down for a Lobo II and a Talking Computron.

I have no idea if Sears continued the idea of the video wishbook in following years or if this was a one year and done thing, though it does seem like a good idea as near the end of the 80’s nearly 90% of american homes had VCR’s, and in the 80’s we all loved our Christmas catalogs.

Missed out on all the great toys? You can still get one of these retro inspired buttons from Untitled Colours.

Rolling Acres Mall – Full Video Tour 1-7-2003

Rolling Acres Mall header logo

Rolling Acres Mall Video Tape

This video cassette was found in the rubble of a mostly demolished Rolling Acres Mall. The tape was supposedly sent to potential buyers to help showcase the many beautiful features of the mall.

I acquired this video in early 2017 but it wasn’t until September that I finally hooked up my VCR to watch it. I had no idea what was on the tape and upon watching I was absolutely flooded with emotion and memories of Rolling Acres Mall. I watched the video at least 5 times that night and dozens more in the weeks that followed, it just never really got old.

Here are a few of the highlights:

  • Smooth Jazz by Pat Metheny
  • The Janitor cleaning the fountain in the court of twelve trees
  • The flickering storefront lights at the USPS store
  • Escalators in motion
  • The chandelier
  • Picnic Place
  • People shopping

This video is around 14 minutes long and it’s really worth watching the whole thing. It’s a full video walkthrough of an alive Rolling Acres Mall albeit long past it’s prime days.

Please let me know in the comments below what your favorite parts were.

This place has some seriously amazing Rolling Acres Mall logo shirts

2000’s Rolling Acres Mall Logo – White Text by turboglyde