The VCR or "Video Cassette Recording" was invented in 1970 by Charles Paulson Ginsburg, who is also known as the "father of cassette recording".While it was invented in 1970 it was not on the shelves until 1972 and did not gain popularity until the 1980s. From 1985 to 1990 the number of households that had VCRs jumped from 14% to 66% and then peaked in 2005 where an estimated 90% of households had a VCR. Originally VCRs were very expensive and could cost anywhere from $1000-$1,400, but then dropped in the 1980s for about $200-$400. A VCR in 1987 adjusted to inflation prices today was about $2,434.76.
However, this new invention had both ups and downs to it becoming so normalized. For example, media production companies did not enjoy VCRs because it allowed for piracy to become more accessible to the public. You could record thing on your TV and sell it and make a profit, while giving none to the studio that originally produced it.
Sources:
Overly, Steven. “The VCR Is Officially Dead. Yes, It Was Still Alive.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 5 Dec. 2021, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/innovations/wp/2016/07/22/rip-to-the-vcr/.
Wallace, Dillon. “How Much Did a VCR Cost in 1980?” Kodak Digitizing, Kodak Digitizing, 26 Nov. 2021, https://kodakdigitizing.com/blogs/news/how-much-did-a-vcr-cost-in-1980.
“Charles Ginsburg.” Lemelson, https://lemelson.mit.edu/resources/charles-ginsburg.
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