Beginning question: Is this VCI the same company that rented motion pictures to colleges, etc., in the "early days?" Answer: YES! But, there is much more to the story.
VCI's film history can be traced all the way back to 1961 and United Films, a non-theatrical film distributor which began with only one office located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (The "Non-Theatrical" business was basically defined as the rental or lease of motion pictures, primarily on 16mm gauge film, to colleges, schools, churches, institutions, both state and federal, personal home users, and ships at sea – which consisted of non-passenger vessels.) A franchise was obtained from Ideal Pictures, of Dallas, Texas. Soon, an office was opened in Houston, Texas, which became vital in providing films to offshore oil rigs and ships at sea. Another franchise from Ideal Pictures was purchased in Atlanta, GA and offices were eventually added in Sacramento, California, Albany and New York City, New York, with the main purpose of the New York office being acquisitions.
Studio suppliers for United Films during these early years included Columbia Pictures, Warner Brothers and Universal Pictures. Within a short time United Films became Universal's largest distributor and held that distinction for many years. Other suppliers included RKO Radio Pictures, through Ideal Pictures, and many other independent companies including American International Pictures (AIP). Another such company was Commonwealth United Pictures, which later merged into Republic Pictures.
United Films, along with Films Inc. and Swank Pictures, became one of the largest independent non-theatrical film companies. At one time, United Films was doing more business than the five Universal film exchanges combined altogether.
The 1970s ushered in the age of video. After more than a year of experimentation, United Film's owner/founder Bill Blair realized the importance of this new 'Video' technology. He also foresaw the impact this technology would have on the emerging Home Video and Cable TV markets. With the video future in mind, Blair created a new independent division in 1976 called Video Communications, Inc. (VCI) and history was made as VCI became one of the first to enter this marketplace. Over the next few years as the new home video business began its rapid rise, the non-theatrical business began its steady fall. The last two 16mm film rental catalogs in the non-theatrical business were VCI Films catalogs.
In closing and as a note of trivia, VCI was named in Variety and Hollywood Reporter as the first company to produce and release motion pictures directly to the home marketplace.