DOLLAR DVDS: PART TWO

PART TWO OF THREE

WHAT HAPPENED TO THESE COMPANIES?.....

Most of these companies seemed to have disappeared for good. While a few others decided to travel "up-market".

FYI: Some of these businesses also made computer software and other things.

DIGIVIEW would occasionally reappear under different names. I don't know how many times they did this, or all the names they used.

EAST WEST ENTERTAINMENT started selling more expensive movie collections. But, they vanished soon after.



If I remember correctly, MILL CREEK used to sell double features for one dollar. I don't remember if they were sold in cardboard, or plastic.



Anyway, I miss those old TREE LINE - aka MILL CREEK - 50 and 100 movie packs. Remember them?... The collections that were packaged in a cardboard box and had a book style flap on the front. Most of those sets had films you couldn't get anywhere else ( the same is true of the new sets ).

Just for the record, I love MILL CREEK and POP FLIX / ALLEGRO. However, I'm NOT fond of ECHO BRIDGE, or TGG DIRECT. I only purchase those labels out of desperation ( when I can't find a certain movie anywhere else ).

And, I always avoid PACIFIC ENTERTAINMENT.


Covers for DREAMLAND, BAY OF LOVE AND SORROWS, AMNESIA, and PROPHET'S GAME ( by DIGIVIEW )

ARE THEY COMING BACK?.....

I don't think they are, and that's a shame.

Occasionally, I find "new" one dollar DVDs made by companies that I haven't encountered before. But, are they really new, or just unsold OLD stock?

At one of my local DOLLAR TREEs, I found a "new" series of discs with generic outer packaging. The discs are inside cardboard folders that have peg-holes cut into the top. I don't know if these are new to the market or leftovers from years past. I never saw them before - so they're "new" to me.


Cover for Bob Hope double feature. Made by ALLEGRO, but sold under the name SILVER SCREEN GEMS.

The "fine print" reveals ALLEGRO as the company responsible. However, their name is NOT prominently displayed on the cover, or inside, or the back.

The movies have a small circle on the cover, with "SILVER SCREEN GEMS" written in it. Meanwhile, the tv shows have the same circle, but with "TV's GREATEST HITS" written on it.

I would love to see ALLERGO / POP FLIX start selling their Italian crime movies, and Sonny Chiba flicks this way.


Covers of MONSTER MASH and HAUNTED NIGHTS double features by ALLEGRO / POP FLIX.

POP FLIX / ALLEGRO also sold old horror flicks in plastic slimline cases. These days, they are better known for their low priced multi-movie collections.

I've also seen other discs made by labels I've never encountered before. But, I can NOT remember the names of those companies. Most of those titles were MICRO-BUDGET horror flicks ( made from the mid-eighties onwards ). They were all housed in plastic slimline cases.



WHERE TO FIND THEM NOW.....

Local flea-markets, are one of the few places you can still find factory sealed copies of "dollar dvds".

On rare occasions, you may find leftovers at some "dollar stores".

FYI: Some wholesalers still have sealed cases full of them!... But, they don't sell to the general public.

You can also find used copies at the follwing stores, MOVIE STOP, GOODWILL, and SALVATION ARMY.

Don't forget about garage sales, or FUCKING AMAZON, and FUCKING EBAY.



A while ago, WALMART had ninety-six cent DVDs made by TGG DIRECT ( during a recent "black friday" ). Those discs were packaged in HOT WHEELS style blister packs... Who's fucking brilliant idea was that?.....