Pre-Recorded History: Memoirs of an Entertainment Entrepreneur

2010

Memoir

by

Andre A. Blay

The biography of Andre Blay, the entrepreneur who pioneered home video and laid the foundation for Blockbuster, Netflix, and the home movie industry. This book explores how he launched the market for selling and distributing movies on VHS, ultimately spawning a multi-billion-dollar rental economy and tens of thousands of video store entrepreneurs. It also examines the history of movie distribution and how Blay’s innovations reshaped Hollywood’s business model and consumer habits forever.

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Jermaine's Notes

May 2025

History lesson on movie distribution. Describes how new technology changed distribution and created a massive new market. Blay saw the future early. Clear parallels to Ted Turner, who used cable and satellite to do something similar around the same time. Hard to find book, email me for tips.

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Netflixed

April 2025

A biography of Netflix, from inception through 2011. Details the epic battle with Blockbuster and how Netflix almost lost. Describes the strategy and decisions behind the transition from DVD rentals to streaming.
Blockbuster's board members helped Netflix win their battle. Read 2012 hardcover.