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Northampton's Pleasant Street Video reaches halfway mark of customers donating collection to Forbes Library

Diane Lederman | dlederman@repub.com By Diane Lederman | dlederman@repub.com The Republican
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on July 01, 2011 at 4:32 PM, updated July 04, 2011 at 1:19 PM
VID.JPGPleasant Street Video manager and co-owner Dana Gentes, left, discusses a benefit movie poster for the store being designed by CS Fossett, the art director for Family Fun magazine. The video store is closing and proceeds from the poster will help pay off some debt.

NORTHAMPTON – More than half of the Pleasant Street Video collection has been donated to the Forbes Library, and patrons have two more weeks to contribute the rest.

Manager and co-owner Dana Gentes announced the store was closing in mid-June and that the store and library were joining to raise $60,000 to move the collection of 8,000 DVD’s to the library. The money is needed to cover the store’s debt and other costs. Gentes is amazed by the support, and donations have taken on a life of their own.

Gentes said customers decided they not only wanted to donate $8 to the library to buy a DVD for its collection, but they wanted to donate a particular film that meant something to them. Some are donating in honor or memory of someone. “They have an emotional connection to the place and the movie,” Gentes said.

At first, staff were keeping track of the requests in a notebook, then they went to a web-based document, but then Robert Stevens, a customer and computer programmer, created a web page to allow customers to post their dedications and donate the title or titles they wanted.

One of Gentes' favorite stories is from customer Bill Weye, who wanted to donate five of the worst films in the collection, which prompted a Facebook discussion about what those titles are. The “Human Centipede” was the winner, but that had already been donated. Among others so designated: “Waterworld” and “Edge of Darkness,” the Mel Gibson film shot partly in Northampton.

Gentes said most people are supportive of the mission, but a few have questioned why people would donate for something that will be obsolete as people watch movies online or on demand via cable or satellite services. But he said people who can’t afford Internet access or subscriptions to, for example, Netflix will be able to see the movies this way.

And he said that Forbes will keep any money beyond the $60,000.

Customer and neighbor CS Fossett, the art director forFamily Fun magazine across the street from the video store, is designing a movie-style poster for Pleasant Street Video to sell to help pay off any other debts not covered by the donation of the films. The poster bears images from movies as well as the names of those involved with the store as if they were part of a film.

The posters will be sold beginning next week; the price is not yet set. Fossett said when he heard about the store closing, he thought “I’d love to try to do something.” He is donating his time for the project.

The store officially stops renting films on Sunday and will be open and accepting donations and selling posters through July 12 or 13, Gentes said. They’ll begin transporting films to the library next week.

As for what’s next for the building, Linda Daniels, owner of Northampton Wools, will be moving in. She started working atNorthampton Wools when it was located in a shop next to the video store. The video store bought part of the her building where the cult room is in the store’s basement.

She has a connection to movies in another way – she knitted sweaters for the cast of “Cider House Rules.”

Staff at the video store are delighted that the building has been sold to her. “It couldn’t be better,” said longtime employee Bill Dwight. “She’s great.”

“I’m looking forward to moving in,” said Daniels. She expects to open in the middle of August.
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