How the Disney Vault Changed Home Video Forever

Before the 1980s, Disney kept its animated classics in the mythical "vault." The only way to see them was through theatrical re-releases, but it could take years for your favorites to hit the big screen. But when home video began to take off in the 1980s, Disney had to reinvent this strategy for a new era.

Today, we look at how the Disney Vault revolutionized home video, and how, if Disney had had their way, home video would have never existed in the first place... But by creating scarcity, the company created huge demand, and it changed the home video market forever.

If you grew up with Disney movies only on VHS for "the last time," or being told your favorite movie was being "put back in the vault," this episode will take you back to a time when owning a Disney classic was like possessing your own treasure.

• Get access to new episodes early and ad-free: Patreon.com/80s