> There were no DVD's or even VCR's -- movies could only be seen in theaters, or older movies on TV.
You could also buy a super 8mm film version, probably not the entire film though.
We did have video tape recorders, though. Setting up and running them for classes was part of my college work-study job around 1971-72. The units I operated were made by Ampex and were about the size of a suitcase. They used a wide tape which had to be threaded onto the take-up reel, similar to an audio reel-to-reel tape recorder. The tape head had to be cleaned with alcohol between each use, and there was a tracking control which you often adjusted to avoid getting a stripe across the picture.
Not only that, but there were definitely VCRs in 1975. In particular, the Sony U-Matic was released in 1971, and Betamax dates to 1975 (with a November release in the US). Of course, the early VCRs were either used in educational or industrial environments, or else were toys for the rich.
There are plenty of other nits to pick with this article, as well. Pong wasn't the only video game, even if it was by far the most common (and yes, pinball dominated the arcades then). Dynamic range compression on LPs was certainly a thing, but producers didn't go overboard with it back then the way they do now.
Still, it's funny how some things never change (like media fearmongering).
I think they're using DVD and VCR as references to the media and not the machines, I know it's not correct language but have often heard people in the UK say "I have it on VCR" when they mean they have a video cassette tape.
Also they're clearly saying "no" in the context of a seven year old's view of domestic life. Obviously TV stations had recording equipment.
