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Community Corner

Great Escapes: Movie Rentals

Missing TLA? Here are some great places to rent movies.

Finding a movie to tide you over in bad weather has become trickier than ever as Blockbusters, TLA and other area video stores close down. But don’t fear – there are still some rental places standing, and when all else fails there are great places to buy on the cheap.

Video Library – In this day and age, it’s incredibly difficult to track down an authentic, independently-owned movie store. Almost every movie rental place that used to flourish with its rows of VHS tapes has closed its doors over the past ten years. But not Mt. Airy’s Video
Library
. The Video Library has a great blend of releases, and its
additional facilities make it worth the visit. Browse the movie shelves while you enjoy some ice cream from the adjacent SCOOP!, or plan a party with at The Little Theatre, which holds enough room for 25 people to hang out comfortable and watch your favorite flicks. On weekends The Little Theatre is open for classic movie screenings, and on Thursdays the theater spotlights a movie rarity in the U.S.
Address: 7141 Germantown Avenue, 19119
Phone: 215-247-3020

Oldies.com: If you have ever driven on Route 467 South, you’ve seen the giant building to the right in Conshohocken with “Oldies” written across it. But did you know what this place actually is? It’s the home of Oldies.com, a warehouse-type website that holds classic and hard to find movies, CDs, books, magazines and records. Remember Shane? Fatty Arbuckle? If you’re looking for the obscure, or just looking for good deal, check for it first on oldies.com. Right now there are over 2,200 DVDs of all ages and genres included in a 5 for $25 sale you definitely want to check out.
Address: Conshohocken, PA
Phone: 1-800-336-4627

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Libraries: With the survival of the Philadelphia free libraries always on the brink, it can be easy to forget that these culture hubs are a great resource when it comes to looking for free movies. The libraries have a decent selection of old and new, and as long as you have your library card (or the necessary materials to register for one) you can partake in various library resources. With free Internet, cultural events and classes and, of course, all the books you could ever hope to read, give some love to your local libraries today. A couple even have Facebook pages with up-to-the-minute info. Here are the libraries closest to us:

Andorra Library: 705 East Cathedral Road, 19128
Phone: 215-685-2552
Web: http://libwww.freelibrary.org/branches/branch.cfm?loc=AND

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Roxborough Branch - 6245 Ridge Avenue, 19128
Phone: 215-685-2550
Web: http://libwww.freelibrary.org/branches/branch.cfm?loc=ROX

Lovett Branch: 6946 Germantown Avenue, 19119
Phone: 215-685-2095
Web: http://libwww.freelibrary.org/branches/branch.cfm?loc=LOV

: 8711 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118
Web: http://libwww.freelibrary.org/branches/branch.cfm?loc=CHH
Phone: 215-685-9290, 215-248-0977

Redbox: Those DVD vending machines for $1 a day have been popping up all over the area and shaking up the traditional movie rental vendors. As Blockbusters closes its doors, drop in at a Redbox
for your movies fixes. They may not have the widest selection, but it’s hard to aruge with convenience. Here are some of the Rebox machines in the area:

  • 7700 Germantown Avenue, 19118
  • 7010 Germantown Avenue, 19119
  • 6901 Ridge Avenue, 19119
  • 7065 Lincoln Drive, 19119
  • 2385 W. Cheltenham Ave., 19150
  • 3780 Main St., 19127
  • 518 Port Royal Ave., 19128
  • 5927 Ridge Ave, 19128
  • 6701 Ridge Ave., 19128

Netflix: Is this one cheating? Maybe. But truth be told, Netflix is growing hand over fist and is a great gift for college kids, new families
and, really, anybody who loves movies. The breadth of movies and available TV shows is impressive, and even the throwbacks are just a click away. So sometimes you don’t even need to leave home for good movies. Whether it’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer or a family-friendly romantic comedy, you can find it on the ever-increasing world of Netflix.

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