NATIONAL VCR DAY
June 7 is National VCR Day and we take a look a the device that revolutionized the home movie-watching experience. This retro National Day recognizes the video cassette recorder (VCR), a device that, in its time, was a marvel of technology!
#NationalVCRDay
The VCR is an electro-mechanical device that records analog audio and analog video from television on a removable, magnetic tape videocassette. Images and sound can then be played back at a more convenient time.
The first home video recorder?
The first home video device was developed by American Engineer Charles Ginsburg in 1956. His practical videotape recorder was, at the time, a revolutionary invention. However, it would take over 10 years before the device was readily available for production.
The first home video recorder to be produced and demonstrated was introduced by Telcan on June 24, 1963. By 1970, the home video cassette format (VHS) launched, creating a booming mass-marking throughout the 1970s, '80s, and '90s. At the time, the VCR was the primary way to watch movies at home. Millions of people created their own personal movie libraries.
Over 10 billion videotapes remain today. Full of recorded memories, these keepsakes hold treasures for millions of people around the world. More and more, people are preserving these memories in a more stable format. This trend continues to be important as the years pass, too. Companies like Zoovio, Inc. provide several options to preserve your precious memories. Options include converting to a DVD or storage in an online private vault, making them available for viewing and sharing on internet-connected devices, including TVs.
HOW TO OBSERVE National VCR Day
How many home movies do you have on VCR cassettes at home? Share your memories using #NationalVCRDay to post on social media. Don't forget to digitize your old VCR cassettes of family memories and preserve those memories before it's too late.
NATIONAL VCR DAY HISTORY
National Day Calendar continues researching the origins of this technology day. In the meantime, check out these other retro days:
Celebrated History on June 7
1913 - British mountain climber Hudson Stuck successfully leads the first team to the summit of Denali. Located in Alaska, the mountain is the highest point on the American continent.
1971 - The U.S. Supreme Court cites protection under the First Amendment when it overturns Paul Cohen's conviction for disturbing the peace when he wore a jacket with vulgar language protesting the draft.
1982 - Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee opens to the public. The home of Elvis Presley became an iconic tourist attraction.
1979 - Texas becomes the first state to declare Juneteenth a holiday.
1980 - The U.S. government dedicated its first solar power plant at Natural Bridge National Monument in Utah. The array of over 250,000 solar cells provided power to the park's facilities
Celebrated June 7 Birthdays
Amelia Blanford Edwards was born in 1831. The British Egyptologist dedicated her career to the study of Egyptian monuments and preserving them.
Virginia Apgar was born in 1909. Nearly every parent of a newborn child can thank American Anesthesiologist Virginia Apgar for the scoring system doctors use to evaluate an infant soon after birth. The assessment helps determine if the baby needs immediate medical attention.
Gwendolyn Brooks was born in 1917. Gwendolyn Brooks earned a Pulitzer Prize for her poem Annie Allen, making her the first black author to win the prize.
Prince Rogers Nelson was born in 1958. With hits like “When Doves Cry” and “1999,” Prince earned a pop music and R&B reputation that was undeniable. Both as an artist and entertainer, the seven-time Grammy winner delivered stellar performances time after time.