Who would be willing to pay crazy sums for a VHS, the famous video cassettes, our ancestors of DVDs? Obviously, many collectors, as shown by this auction organized by Heritage Auctions. It is especially one of them that has attracted the most fervent fans: a 1986 VHS of Back to the future, the film directed by Robert Zemeckis. According CNNit was sold for 75,000 dollars, a new record for a cassette, and it was acquired by a New York collector.
But beware, this is not a vulgar VHS found in an attic. It belonged to actor Tom Wilson, who played Biff Tannen in the trilogy. He had even chosen to leave a note there. If he had initially decided to sell his cassettes on eBay, the actor changed his mind when the auction house came to see him. Because yes, Tom Wilson has other VHS still under blister that he has decided to entrust to Heritage Auctions. He revealed it in a short video.
An unexpected success
“This is a Back to the Future video heist sent to me by the studio at the time. Since I thought VHS media would last forever, I saved it for later, and now I can’t find a VCR “, he had fun telling. For the auction house, this success is unexpected, even if for some time now, the success around VHS has been undeniable. Cassettes of The Goonies or Ghostbusters sold for a very high price.
“We had no idea what was going to happen. Nobody had ever bet so much before, it’s incredible”, explains to CNN Heritage Auctions Vice President Joe Maddalena. He adds, “When you see that, it’s a big accomplishment, not just financially. You’re like, ‘I’ve been through that, I’ve been through that nostalgic VHS moment!'” Now, the auction house hopes for only one thing: that this success continues. His vice-president is already encouraging other celebrities to emulate Tom Wilson and provide them with old, now vintage VHS.
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