Keep this treasure

Friday, August 19, 2011

We know you have a lot of choices: You have cable, you have a dish antenna, you have Netflix, you have ... well, you could even read a book (a real one, not something electronic) but we love the fact that you are still renting movies from Olympic Video in Merrimack.

Keeping local businesses going is good for all of us and that seems to be the case with Olympic, where owner Dennis Holman presides, sharing his love of film with ... well, with you.

As our Loretta Jackson reported recently, Olympic is the town’s only dedicated video rental store and part of the reason, at least, that it is still successful is Holman. Here is what he told Jackson:

“People will come in and ask for a film. The only problem is that instead of a title, they’ll tell me, ‘You know, there’s a cowboy and the guy has a horse and there’s a woman who sings.’ I’m proud to say I usually can tell them what movie they’re describing, or I can ask a few more questions and then tell them.”

As cowboys would say, “Yep.”

Friends, you can’t do that with a cable station.

One of the best parts about what now we guess would have to be called “the old-style method of renting movies” is that there was usually someone like Holman around to speak with. And not just to help you find movies.

Wasn’t it fun to discuss films with someone at the store? Especially someone with whom you often disagreed? Someone, for instance, who thought Diane Keaton could actually act? Oh, the fun of telling him or her the error of his or her point of view.

Friends, you can’t do that with a dish antenna.

So we are pleased that a place like Olympic Video continues to thrive and that is because of you. Just as you are the key to the success of a local restaurant or a convenience store or any other kind of store, you are the key to the success of Olympic Video.

Keep up the good work, folks.