Growing Up in Arcades 1979 - 1989

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reminded me of:

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I REALLY wish that I had pictures from our local Showbiz Pizza (which is now a Chuck-E-Cheeze, of course), back from when it first opened. This would have been around 1982 or so. They had 60 arcade games! It was really primarily an arcade that served pizza and had the typical Rock Afire Explosion show as well. It TRULY was a sight to behold...
 
I REALLY wish that I had pictures from our local Showbiz Pizza (which is now a Chuck-E-Cheeze, of course), back from when it first opened. This would have been around 1982 or so. They had 60 arcade games! It was really primarily an arcade that served pizza and had the typical Rock Afire Explosion show as well. It TRULY was a sight to behold...

Don't you wish we had camera phones back in those days? I wish myself I had pictures of my old arcade hangout back in the 80s ,but getting my mom's expensive camera (back in 1986)wasn't going to happen.
 
I REALLY wish that I had pictures from our local Showbiz Pizza (which is now a Chuck-E-Cheeze, of course), back from when it first opened. This would have been around 1982 or so. They had 60 arcade games! It was really primarily an arcade that served pizza and had the typical Rock Afire Explosion show as well. It TRULY was a sight to behold...

On Jordan Lane I assume?

Last time I was in there, we took my little nephew, and he was trying to play Metal Slug. A much bigger (wider too) kid came up behind him and tried to play on his quarter. What amazed me is that he didn't push him out of the way. He put his arms around him, tried to play, while squeezing my nephew up against the game. I came up to ran him off and he didn't seem intimidated, but I got rid of the kid. I guess there have always been arcade bullies.
 
Sweet.... that is my Flickr group! I am constantly searching Flickr for pics to add. If you all have any to submit or if you ever see any on Flickr that should be added, please let me know. Also, if you have not joined the group, join it!!!

FYI... I am really anal about the content in the group. Sometimes people submit newer pics, and I always take them down. 79-89 only please.

Link to the group on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/groups/arcades/
 
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Awesome group, I will join up. I'm curious about one photo though... what is the game next to Professor Pac? Almost looks like an Exidy cabinet.

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Yeah, looks like there are some new ones there since the last time I looked. 80's arecade pics seem few and far between. I know Westworld in West LA did not allow cameras of any kind, pretty sure Captain Videos was the same way probably others. I'd guess it had something to do with criminals casing the joint since it is an all cash business. :D

Sweet.... that is my Flickr group! I am constantly searching Flickr for pics to add. If you all have any to submit or if you ever see any on Flickr that should be added, please let me know. Also, if you have not joined the group, join it!!!

FYI... I am really anal about the content in the group. Sometimes people submit newer pics, and I always take them down. 79-89 only please.

Link to the group on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/groups/arcades/
 
That's probably the game.... Definitely an Exidy cabinet. It has the same shape as a Mouse Trap or a Max-a-flex.

Why do i feel the FAX game didn't do too well back in the day?
 
Very cool pics. It never occurred to me back in the day to take pictures of people playing games in the arcade.

It was interesting to see people in the later 1980s playing the games from the early 1980s. As I recall, the arcades I went to pretty much had gotten rid of those games by then.
 
Back in 1998 I had an email conversation with Mr. Mike Jang. He worked at Atari for 20 years as a cabinet designer, and later a design manager. At the time I had asked him a few questions about my Starship 1 cabinet. As part of that conversation he send me the picture below. According to him it was taken in the Atari office arcade in the mid 70's and by looking at the gal in the pictures hair and clothes I'm sure it was.

He was a heck of a nice guy. I might ping him to see if he's still around at his last email address.

Enjoy,
Tom

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