Wonderland Arcade 1968

Very Cool!

Thanks for posting this. I'm gonna add these to my site.
 
"What does Grandma say"? Creepy!

http%3A%2F%2Fa.amz.mshcdn.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F10%2Farcade-9.jpg
 
Wow, amazing quality.

A few years ago a photographer by the name of Sandy Berman came across
a roll of black and white film. He had taken pictures of Palace Amuements (I
think he worked there) circa late 60's and never had it developed until years
later.

He had a web page with them posted but the page is long gone. They were
fantastic quality as well. I wish I had saved copies of them. I love pics of arcades
back before video games.

If you google the name, you can find a few thumbnails, but none of the larger
high res images.

JD
 
I love the prices for the food and especially got a kick out of the sign above the Pins "You must be 16 years of age to play Pinball machines". Love it!!!
 
Wow, amazing quality.

A few years ago a photographer by the name of Sandy Berman came across
a roll of black and white film. He had taken pictures of Palace Amuements (I
think he worked there) circa late 60's and never had it developed until years
later.

He had a web page with them posted but the page is long gone. They were
fantastic quality as well. I wish I had saved copies of them. I love pics of arcades
back before video games.

If you google the name, you can find a few thumbnails, but none of the larger
high res images.

JD

ARRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!

First thing I thought of when I saw this thread. I remember those pics, they were awesome. That was back in the rgvac days. I wish I had saved them. Every once in a while, I'd Google for them, but not find anything. Good to confirm why I'm not finding them, perhaps one of us should contact the photographer!
 
That "what does grandma say" fortune teller machine is ridiculously awesome.

She Moves .......
.... She Breathes

Looks like it spits out a card or something. Maybe you have to read what grandma says?
 
The building is still around. Near the sprint center and power and light district. It is the NAIA building. It might be one of the last "old" buildings in that spot since a lot was demolished for redevelopment. I think Life magazine also did a feature with images of this arcade also, as it was around since the end of WWII. Amazing that a place that could exist for over thirty years can simply close doors and vanish without there being any real story to tell about it.
 
Last edited:
Why would you have to be over 16 to play pinball?

It was 18 here in MD. Unless you had a parent with you(or in my case, a written signed permission note). That went for pool tables, too.

Probably because, unlike video games, you could "win" a "free play", and it constituted "gambling".

Sadly, most of these laws are still on the books. I'm a bit shocked they haven't dropped that law to include redemption machines. After all, "You're playing with the intent(!!) of winning something(tickets, redeemed for "prizes")".
 
Everyone knows Pins are gateway games. Leads to more dangerous games and before you know it, you're strung out in a gutter with Ms Pac. Seen it a dozen times...tragic!
Man, thats no joke. Every time I bring home a new game my wife tells me that I need to go to an arcade game 12 step program. Then she of course goes and spends and hour playing it ;)

It was 18 here in MD. Unless you had a parent with you(or in my case, a written signed permission note). That went for pool tables, too.

Probably because, unlike video games, you could "win" a "free play", and it constituted "gambling".

Sadly, most of these laws are still on the books. I'm a bit shocked they haven't dropped that law to include redemption machines. After all, "You're playing with the intent(!!) of winning something(tickets, redeemed for "prizes")".

I had no idea, but I guess that makes sense. One of those archaic laws like "no spitting from a horse drawn carriage" or something something like that.
 
Back
Top Bottom