Knowledge

Magnetic Video Corporation was a pioneering home video distribution company that was founded in 1968 by Andre Blay. The company was one of the first to release films on video cassette tapes, making them available for rental in retail stores.

Early Success

The company's early success came from acquiring the home video License for 100 pre 1973 fox titles. These titles were originally given to the RCA video projects, but when that was postponed Magnetic received the rights. Examples of movies included "Hello Dolly" "Patton," and "The King and I." In addition, Magnetic Video was also able to secure rights to a number of popular television shows, such as "Star Trek" and "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." Fox made it clear that it did not include Star Wars. Magnetic was set to release the first titles in October of 1977. 

In the early days of home video, films were typically only available for purchase, not rental. Magnetic Video's business model of renting films on video cassette tapes helped to popularize the idea of renting films for home viewing. This new business model was a huge success, and Magnetic Video quickly became a major player in the home video market.

First Release

There is some debate in the community about the true first releases on Magnetic tapes. Many people believe it was “Sound Of Music” However, this movie was first released in 1978 when Magnetic did a re-release of the first 50 movies originally released in 1977. As many of the titles were released on the same day it is hard to say exactly which was first however the catalog numbers are sequential in the early days and match up with the list on the back of 1977 tapes. So with this information we can say that Hello Dolly was the first tape to be released by Magnetic in 1977. At that time VHS could not handle all of the movie on 1 tape so towards the end you would have to switch the tapes out to finish watching the movie. 

The Video Club of America

In the autumn of 1977, an innovative venture began to reshape the landscape of home entertainment. Andre Blay, the trailblazing proprietor of Magnetic Video, declared a bold move in the November 26th issue of TV Guide, strategically positioning his announcement on page 48 with a conspicuous two-page advertisement. This was the birth of "The Video Club of America," an idea that would soon change the way Americans consumed their favorite movies and television shows.

The proposition was simple yet enticing. A mere $10 subscription fee opened the doors to a library of video tapes, each available for purchase at $39.95. This was an unprecedented opportunity for movie enthusiasts; for the first time, they could truly own the films and shows they loved.

Adding to the allure, Blay introduced a unique incentive system. Once viewers finished enjoying their tapes, they could return them in exchange for a 50% credit, a significant reduction on their next acquisition. This not only promoted frequent purchases but also fostered a sense of circular consumption, rewarding members for their active participation in the club.

The advertisement’s focus was the promotion of ownership, portraying images of the available tapes and cataloging them for potential buyers. Each film or show listed was more than just a viewing experience—it was an invitation to own a piece of cinematic history, a tantalizing offer for any cinephile.

In 1977, The Video Club of America offered more than just tapes; it provided a revolutionary approach to home entertainment, setting the stage for the boom of the home video era that would forever change the way we watch and engage with media.

Other Dealings

Although many people may associate Magnetic Video with Fox, the company had dealings with a range of other industry players. They distributed films from Viacom International, including works featuring iconic performers such as Elvis Presley and Jerry Lewis. Magnetic Video also worked with RBC Films, Avco-Embassy Pictures Corporation, Brut Productions, Bill Burrud Productions, Pathé, ABC Video Enterprises, ITCEntertainment, the American Film Theatre, and United Artists Corporation. 
 

Name Changes

Magnetic Video's history includes some interesting name changes, too. After being purchased by Fox in 1979, the company became CBS FOX Company Twentieth Century-Fox Video. Over the years, the company went through various other iterations, including the names CBS/Fox Video, Key Video, Playhouse Video, and FoxVideo. 
 

Divisions and Branches

In addition to their home video distribution business, Magnetic Video also had a short-lived sports division called "Magnetic Video Sports" and a LaserDisc division. The company even had international branches in the UK, the South Pacific, and Australia. 
 

Catalog Numbers

The use of catalog numbers makes it far easier to track and know which movies came out when. Below is a list that explains what number is associated with what studio titles. 

- Films from 20th Century-Fox were assigned catalog numbers in the 1000 series.

- Films from Viacom International were assigned catalog numbers in the 2000 or 2900 series.

- The 3000 series was used for films from RBC Films and The Estate of Charles Chaplin. CBS/Fox eventually started using this series for titles made by artists on CBS' record arm. 
- Magnetic Video Sports releases were given catalog numbers in the 3500, 3600, or 3700 series, while Sports Concepts, Inc. releases were given catalog numbers in the 3800 series.

- Films from Avco-Embassy Pictures Corporation were assigned catalog numbers in the 4000 series.

- United Artists Corporation films, including those originally distributed by Warner Bros., were assigned catalog numbers in the 4500 series. 
- Brut Productions, Inc. films were given catalog numbers in the 5000 series, while films from American Film Theater were assigned catalog numbers in the 5500 series. 
- The 5700 series was reserved for releases from the National Center for Cinema Arts, while the 6000 series was used for films from Bill Burrud Productions.

- Miscellaneous releases were given catalog numbers in the 6100 series, while Pathe News and later CBS Films were assigned catalog numbers in the 7000 series. 
- Finally, the 9000 series was reserved for films from ITC Entertainment. 
 

As you can see the dawn of Magnetic changed how media was consumed in the home and was the start of, now, a multi billion dollar industry in the US alone. 

We will also be releasing a comprehensive list of all of these movies in 1 place!

Timeline

LOGO

1977-1982

1980–1981

1981–1982

PACKAGING

1977

- All 1977 first prints lack the FBI warning at the beginning of the tape. 

- Slip cover with window cut out to see the tape.

1977-1978

- Printings will not have a ™ symbol on the spine of the tape.

1978-1979

- Trademark symbol on the spine beside the logo.

1981

- Sealed copies have black MVC ™ watermark horizontal across the back middle. 

- Tapes show CBS FOX etched into the side of the physical VHS.

1981-1982

- The VHS itself will have Magnetic Video A Twentieth Century-Fox company between 2 red lines. 

OTHER NOTATIONS

- In 1979 Magnetic was purchased by FOX.

- In 1982 Magnetic became 20th Century-Fox Video.