Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Robin Williams' Death Sparks Shortage of Comedian's Movies at Local Shops

By Alisa Hauser | August 18, 2014 12:47pm
 John Davies, a clerk at Odd Obsession Movies in Bucktown, where titles featuring actor Robin Williams are in high demand.
John Davies, a clerk at Odd Obsession Movies in Bucktown, where titles featuring actor Robin Williams are in high demand.
View Full Caption
Alisa Hauser/Getty Images

BUCKTOWN — If you're looking to rent or buy a copy of "Dead Poets Society" or other movies starring Robin Williams, chances are you'll end up empty-handed due to a huge demand for his movies at local stores and nationally after the comedian took his own life last week.

"We are averaging around five or six requests a day," said John Davies, a clerk at Odd Obsession Movies, 1822 N. Milwaukee Ave., in Bucktown.

Before Williams' death, Davies said he couldn't "recall any requests" for Williams' movies at the rental shop, which specializes in rare movies but does offer some of the more mainstream comedies starring Williams.

Davies said that on the day after Williams' death, a copy of the comedian's "Live on Broadway" 2002 standup special that was in the store's $5 sales bin was stolen.

 Actor Robin Williams gives the crowd a "royal wave" on his way to George Lucas and Mellody Hobson’s star-studded wedding party at Promontory Point in Hyde Park on June 29, 2013.
Actor Robin Williams gives the crowd a "royal wave" on his way to George Lucas and Mellody Hobson’s star-studded wedding party at Promontory Point in Hyde Park on June 29, 2013.
View Full Caption
DNAinfo/Kyla Gardner

In response to the demand, Odd Obsession has since ordered five Williams' titles, owner Brian Chankin said. Not since Michael Jackson died has there been such a demand for titles featuring a single performer, he said.

Based on customer requests, Chankin said he recently purchased "Mrs. Doubtfire," "Good Morning Vietnam," "Dead Poets Society," "Jack" and "Jumanji" and hopes to have the titles in stock for rental within the next week.

Jake Lingan, a clerk at Reckless Records at 1532 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Wicker Park, said the store is also getting a lot of requests for Williams' movies.

"The last one we sold was 'Patch Adams,' yesterday," Lingan said on Sunday after checking in the store's database.

Lingan said the store has also seen people come in to sell back their Williams movies to the shop, which offers cash or store credit.

"Are they selling because it is too heartbreaking, and they don't want to even own them?" Lingan wondered.

At a Best Buy in Lincoln Park, 1000 W. North Ave, most of Williams' classic movies such as "Dead Poets Society" and "Good Will Hunting" were sold out and on back order, said Anna Jamzorek, an assistant manager. 

Jamrozek said the requests started coming in the same night Williams died and that some titles like "Good Will Hunting" cannot even be ordered because they are already "oversold."

Jamrozek already owned copies of several movies starring Williams and described herself as "a big fan."

"He was a great actor. Every movie he was in was amazing. Me and my two kids just watched 'Jumanji' a month ago," Jamrozek said. 

Jamrozek, who said she has not told her children, ages 3 and 5, about WIlliams' death because "they are too young to understand," said she, like many other people, were "shocked and surprised" by the actor's decision to take his own life.

"He was always a very happy kind of person that we all knew of," Jamrozek said.

The shortages at the city's brick-and-mortar stores come as online sales of his titles are on the uptick. Several social media tweets have lamented the fact that online goods purveyor Amazon, for example, has sold out of all of Williams' top movies.

On eBay Monday, more than 14,000 items featuring a connection to Robin Williams were for sale, including a 1991 promotional T-shirt for the movie "Hook" that had a $149 price tag.

For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here: