old mystery finally solved

[Steven Hill]

Dear colleagues:

Some time ago I tried, unsuccessfully, to track down a particular video seller, in or near 
Fort Lee, NJ,  that  had offered VHS copies of Russian classic films with English subtitles 
in the 1980s & early 1990s.  My lack of success came despite helpful suggestions from 
some participants in this message board (thanks, anyway). 

Finally I can report success in my search, although it's not a happy success.  The 
particular company in Fort Lee has  died, and its inventory seems also to be gone 
forever.  (Details attached below.)  -- Steven P Hill, U of Illinois (USA). 
_ __ __ _ __ __ _ __ __ _ __ __ _ __ __ __

Date: Mon, 29 Nov 2004 18:00:10 -0500
From: "Online Support Team" <info at russianmediagroup.com>  
Subject: RE: your sub-dept.? 
To: <s-hill4 at uiuc.edu> 

Dear Professor Hill,

The company you mention (RABC) filed for bankruptcy in 1999.  Our company
(Russian Media Group) acquired their assets in 2000.  We are that very
company that you are thinking of in terms of location, but we operate
differently from RABC and we no longer have "educational services" or
something similar to that.  We don't sell tapes with any of the programs.

If you are interested in obtaining some Russian programs, you can look into
getting them on line from a company that does that type of sales and
distribution (http://www.rbcmp3.com/store/).  Alternatively, you or your
university can become a subscriber to our package of Russian language
channels.

Sincerely,
Online Support Team
Russian Media Group.
_ __ __ _ __ _ __ __ _ __ __ __ __ _ __ __ __ 

-----Original Message-----
From: s-hill4 at uiuc.edu [mailto:s-hill4 at uiuc.edu]
Sent: Monday, November 29, 2004 5:16 PM
To: Online Support Team
Subject: your sub-dept.?

Dear Russian Media Group:

Let me ask a follow-up question:  do you still have a sub-division or sub-
department called "Educational Services"?

Or is it possible that Russian Media Group moved to Ft. Lee in RECENT years,
and that it REPLACED an earlier Russian company which had formerly operated in
that location (or nearby location)?

As near as I can remember, the company which I'm seeking in Ft. Lee (or
nearby) had a name originally like "Russian-American Broadcasting Co.," and it
definitely included a sub-division (sub-dept.) called "Educational Services."  (We
actually purchased a few subtitled classic Russian films on VHS from "Educ. Serv." at
that time, which confirms my memory to that extent.)

I assume that R.A.B.C.'s "Educational Services" was originally supported or
subsidized by the Soviet government, since the USSR still existed in the
late 1980s and still supported & distributed cultural materials of many kinds in
the USA and elsewhere.

But what happened to "Educational Services's" PHYSICAL INVENTORY of
subtitled Russian classics on VHS after the early 1990s?

Gratefully,
Prof Steven P Hill,
University of Illinois.
_ __ __ _ __  
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