Every time one of those threads about buying DVD's in NYC pops up (guilty, by the way) I wonder if Kims or J&R have ever featured in a movie. Everyone mentions films with footage of the good old days of 42nd St. I just wondered if they'll be a generation of Mobiusers pointing each other to cool footage of DVD emporiums gone by.

Tower Video in the East Village is featured in I AM LEGEND. The chain had gone out of business by the time the film was released, which made it rather poignant to watch (for me, at least.) If you've ever been in the store, it's very recognizable in the film, although I believe they added mannequins to the decor. I don't think I've ever spotted Kim's in a film (although its owner has directed one.)

The closest I can think of is when Quentin Tarantino acknowledged my old kung fu videotape haunt, the 43rd Chamber, in the credits of KILL BILL VOL. 1 & 2. It was listed as the 42nd Chamber of Shaolin, even though the shop had moved from 42nd Street to 43rd Street in 1995, some 8 years before KBV1, a victim of the 42nd St. redevelopment, and was known as the 43rd Chamber from then on. A photo of Quentin and Shah, the shop's proprietor, was displayed prominently in the 43rd Street store.

For the record, if it was called the 42nd Chamber when it was housed in the old newsstand on 42nd St., I was never aware of it. I never saw a sign to that effect, whereas "43rd Chamber" was prominently displayed on the 43rd St. store. In fact, that sign is still on the building over the photo shop that occupies that space today. I saw it just last week. Shah's whereabouts are unknown, however, last time I asked anyone from that crowd. The store had moved from 43rd Street to a second floor space on 41st Street sometime in 2001. Shah happened to be in Canada on 9/11 and when he tried to return, he was denied entrance. So the story goes. And that 41st Street space is long gone, having been demolished to make room for the new New York Times headquarters.

Whatchoo talking 'bout, SteveErickson?

I can't remember the title of Mr. Kim's film, but it was released on DVD by Kino. The guy's a total creep - I worked at Kim's in 1992-3 - but I suppose it's possible he's talented.

One Third