What 80’s Arcades Really Looked Like

I lived in Northeast Ohio in the 70's and 80's. Lake County. Painesville/Perry/Madison/Geneva

If you went to Mentor there were arcades in the Great Lakes and Mentor Mall (they were separate but right next to each other) and Chuck E Cheese. I didn't live close to the malls, but I would have spent every waking moment in there if I could have. You could also play home console games at Children's Palace for free (like Vectrex).

We had Game Trek in Madison, and I would ride my bike there and spend whatever I could come up with, then go next door to K-Mart or Radio Shack to play on the Atari or the Color Computers for free. Game Trek also rented video tapes and VCRs, and sold Bally Astrocades.

In earlier days I lived in Painesville and would play Space Invaders at the roller rink or at the pizza place or the games in the lobby of the department store (I cannot remember the name of it... Hecks? Hills?)

Of course, Geneva-on-the-Lake is still there, and the last time I was there (a few years ago) Sports Center and Eddie's Grill were still there. Woody's World is finally gone now, though, but it was there in the later 2000's still (barely).
 
Last edited:
I thought about token pricing when i posted earlier, but forgot to include it. That was a huge influence on what arcade i'd go to. The token ones usually gave you more than 4 for a dollar, and that meant more games played, which was important to me.
My place was always on quarters. No tokens. Kept me alive when the video game fad bubble burst and token wars started. 5 for a $, then 10 for a $, then 20 for a $, etc. etc. The places on tokens were all ready sliding off the cliff, why jump ?
LTG : )
 

I just watched this video on YouTube detailing the muddied nostalgic "myth" of 80's arcades being blacklight/crazy carpet, etc. havens and actually being much more drab…some comments say their arcades actually WERE like that…

So my question to KLOV, being a young collector at 27 born in '97 well after the Golden Age and beyond, what was (were) your local arcade(s) like? I like to imagine what it would've been like to be alive during a time where my passion (arcade games) was so prevalent in society.
Bro (OP) knows how to get the old guys talking!!!
 
I'm loving it, it's like visiting the old folks' home and listening to the war stories! 🤣🤣🤣

"You fought in the Arcade Wars?!"
"Yes, I was once a high score warrior, the same as your father."
"I wish I'd known him…"
"He was the best Galaga pilot in the galaxy, and a cunning warrior. I understand that you've become quite a good player yourself
. And he was a good friend…"
Bro (OP) knows how to get the old guys talking!!!
 
Ok, I watched most of that video. The video's premise is wrong IMO. He's confusing different time periods. A lot of arcades built in the late 70's and early 80's looked more like he describes at the end as what arcades "really" looked like. The arcade in my mall that opened around 1983 looked like the "myth" with neon lights and cool carpet. And one in a movie theater did also. I think this style was more popular in the mid 80's through the 90's (even still being used today).
 
Ok, I watched most of that video. The video's premise is wrong IMO. He's confusing different time periods. A lot of arcades built in the late 70's and early 80's looked more like he describes at the end as what arcades "really" looked like. The arcade in my mall that opened around 1983 looked like the "myth" with neon lights and cool carpet. And one in a movie theater did also. I think this style was more popular in the mid 80's through the 90's (even still being used today).
So basically exactly what I said in the second or third post of this thread.

Honestly, most arcades back then were dark, dirty wood paneled rooms with games all about. It wasn't till the end or after the golden age that I started seeing Arcades actually putting thought into their designs, including black light carpet, neon signs, painted walls, posters, etc. When the Arcade craze popped up, I think operators took advantage of whatever empty spaces were available to shove games and a change machine into.
 
So basically exactly what I said in the second or third post of this thread.
Sure, practically identical posts. 😄. But I think the point of this thread was to hear a bunch of old guys yammering about the good old days, not get one response and than end the discussion. Hell, I might reply a 3rd or 4th time. Most of the responses seem to be similar with slight variations based on localized experiences. Posts we all love to make and posts that some people enjoy reading.

But yes, 10-15 years makes a big difference in styling!

Also, the mall and arcade in Stranger Things was very well modeled and pretty accurate (aside from panels and long HS initials). But overall the vibe was right and yes the malls were that busy.
 
Sure, practically identical posts. 😄. But I think the point of this thread was to hear a bunch of old guys yammering about the good old days, not get one response and than end the discussion. Hell, I might reply a 3rd or 4th time. Most of the responses seem to be similar with slight variations based on localized experiences. Posts we all love to make and posts that some people enjoy reading.

But yes, 10-15 years makes a big difference in styling!

Also, the mall and arcade in Stranger Things was very well modeled and pretty accurate (aside from panels and long HS initials). But overall the vibe was right and yes the malls were that busy.
You are the only person I would even fuck with in this manner. You're worth it Wade.
 
-All boys had puffy parted hair with striped topped socks that came up to their kneecaps.


That's what it was like. Hope that helps.
Back when I was about 12, I had Dad's old softball socks and they went over my knee. 45 years later, one of my cousins still calls me Tall Socks.
 
That kid's powder jacket at 2:15 is SUPER dope! I had a gray and light blue one with the pocket in the front for the Walkman. The arcade in it's rawest form!

Jason
This one? 1738939259782.png

Looks like the older brother from The Amazing Cosmic Awareness of Duffy Moon.
1738939304924.png
 
Where I lived in the suburbs south of Pittsburgh, I had 3 major places that I played arcade games growing up- and two were arcades in malls. Tilt (a national arcade chain) was where we frequented most. The mall was within 5 miles driving, but we would walk there cutting through the sewer system, back alleys and trolley tracks almost daily. My memories are that it was pretty decked out like we think of an arcade being back then with neon, glitz and glam. I'm sure it had to do with it being a chain. It had basically every game BITD. I played most everything or at least saw it there. The other arcade was in another mall further away and we didn't frequent it as much until my older friends could drive. It was called Fun N Games and I think it was also an arcade chain. Ted (@slots on here) was a manager there towards the end IIRC. It was also pretty "arcadey" from what I remember. The last place we would go was the local bowling alley. I have fond memories playing games there, but the game room was basically just a long room that was well-lit and smokey... more like what Phetishboy was talking about.
 
I would like to mention one thing about arcades through the ages and redemption tickets. Tootsie rolls (and the colored varieties) are STILL the cheapest item in ticket trade in shop. I think this is the primary market for tootsie rolls, maybe even beating out Halloween sales! 😉

So for redemption ticket items, what were the cool items or that crazy one off unobtainable item that cost 10's if thousands of tickets?

There where about 5 kids at Tom Foolery's trying to pool their tickets to win a karaoke machine a fee months ago. By 7 pm they were halfway there. I hope they got it!
 
Last edited:
One thing I think this video misses, is that, yes there were lots of arcades that were jut dingy concrete rooms, but there also were the occasional blacklit, neon "magical" places. The thing is, them being "rarer" is actually what makes them stand out in our minds more and thus feel more special. Which is why thats where the nostalgia for that aesthetic comes from. There's a reason people try to decorate their homes to look like Disneyland and not the rundown local county fair they grew up attending.
 
One thing I think this video misses, is that, yes there were lots of arcades that were jut dingy concrete rooms, but there also were the occasional blacklit, neon "magical" places. The thing is, them being "rarer" is actually what makes them stand out in our minds more and thus feel more special. Which is why thats where the nostalgia for that aesthetic comes from. There's a reason people try to decorate their homes to look like Disneyland and not the rundown local county fair they grew up attending.
True! My basement gameroom started out as concrete floors, block walls, and exposed joists for the ceiling. If I wanted to replicate the janky arcade feeling, I could have done nothing and just moved games in. But to get the nostalgic arcade feeling and make it seem like a real arcade instead of just another unfinished room, it was necessary to finish the room with carpet, paint stripes, add neons, wire speakers, etc.
 
I also put gum underneath control panels to keep it authentic! J/k... but honestly, there's authentic arcade era gum on the side of the NBA Jam control panel which I'm tempted to leave (partially because I got other things I got to do besides scrapping off hardened gum!) 😜
 
When I came to Miami from Puerto Rico in '77, arcades were everywhere. There were the huge magical arcades with bad-ass facades, wall-hung neon fixtures, blacklights, and cool carpeting. Pretty much "Flynns". There were also the dingiest of "hole in the wall" places, with un-carpeted flooring and wood paneling. It was so cool to see games in many nooks and crannies inside stores. Even the 7-elevens had a backroom.
 
Back
Top Bottom