Turtle's Records & Tapes
Encyclopedia
Turtle's Records and Tapes was a Southern USA retail chain, based in Atlanta, that specialized in selling cassettes, record
s, and concert
tickets; in the latter years of the chain's existence, it also rented movies in VHS
format. Turtle's was recognized for its trademark
logo, an upright standing turtle
with its neck twisted around in several coils as he attempts to look backwards. It was known for its deep selection and one of the most varied video rental offerings in its markets before the arrival of the big chains such as Blockbuster Inc. Small gold coins with a turtle on one side and a record on the other were issued by the stores for gift certificates.
Owned and incorporated by Al Levenson in 1977, the chain was regional in nature, concentrated in Georgia
and Florida
. Levenson sold the chain to Clinton Holding Co. of White Plains
, New York
around 1983 although he still remained in charge of its operations. At the time of the sale the chain consisted of 26 stores in the Atlanta metro area, but by October 1986 the business had expanded to 70 stores with locations in cities such as Tallahassee, Jacksonville and Macon
.
Blockbuster purchased Super Club Retail Entertainment Corp., including the Turtle's Records chain, in 1993.
Over the succeeding four years, Turtle's stores were converted into Blockbuster Music stores or merged with stores that Blockbuster owned at the time of the purchase of the regional record seller.
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
s, and concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
tickets; in the latter years of the chain's existence, it also rented movies in VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
format. Turtle's was recognized for its trademark
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
logo, an upright standing turtle
Turtle
Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines , characterised by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield...
with its neck twisted around in several coils as he attempts to look backwards. It was known for its deep selection and one of the most varied video rental offerings in its markets before the arrival of the big chains such as Blockbuster Inc. Small gold coins with a turtle on one side and a record on the other were issued by the stores for gift certificates.
Owned and incorporated by Al Levenson in 1977, the chain was regional in nature, concentrated in Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. Levenson sold the chain to Clinton Holding Co. of White Plains
White Plains, New York
White Plains is a city and the county seat of Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in south-central Westchester, about east of the Hudson River and northwest of Long Island Sound...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
around 1983 although he still remained in charge of its operations. At the time of the sale the chain consisted of 26 stores in the Atlanta metro area, but by October 1986 the business had expanded to 70 stores with locations in cities such as Tallahassee, Jacksonville and Macon
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
.
Blockbuster purchased Super Club Retail Entertainment Corp., including the Turtle's Records chain, in 1993.
Over the succeeding four years, Turtle's stores were converted into Blockbuster Music stores or merged with stores that Blockbuster owned at the time of the purchase of the regional record seller.