Maxi Boy's Milwaukee VHS Collection Tops 3,000 Tapes
The collector has spent four decades acquiring obscure films, training videos, and home recordings to preserve the analog era.
By Mariam Saleh ·
Maxi Boy, who operates as Max Knowlton-Sachner, maintains a VHS library in Milwaukee that now contains approximately 3,000 tapes. The collection spans four decades and includes a wide range of media types, from rare horror films to corporate training materials.
Knowlton-Sachner began collecting tapes more than 40 years ago. He stated that he values the physical medium for its visual warmth and how the cassettes look when stored on shelves. He noted that he prefers obscure titles over mainstream commercial releases, citing the horror film Lunch Meat as an example of a niche item he owns. He estimated that he has viewed about three-quarters of the titles in his possession.
The collection includes items that are not feature films. Knowlton-Sachner said he looks for training videos, such as those filmed for McDonald's employees, as well as psychedelic animations from the 1990s. He said his current focus is on animation, noting that he has not yet seen everything in that category. He described the act of collecting as a hunt to complete series or locate difficult-to-find tapes.
Among his most prized items are VHS cassettes recorded directly from television broadcasts in the 1980s and 1990s. These tapes capture commercials that are no longer widely available. Knowlton-Sachner said these recordings trigger memories of jingles and past experiences. He described the feeling as a return to a time when life was easier for him and others.
The collector said he would prioritize saving specific tapes if a house fire occurred. He identified two items he would grab first: a taped television show and a recording of himself appearing on the news during his childhood. The collection continues to grow as he acquires new items.
Knowlton-Sachner said the library reflects his personal history and interests. The tapes serve as a physical archive of his memories and the media he has consumed over the last four decades. He continues to add to the vault as he finds new recordings.
