Entry Title: Into the Arcade Part 1
Arcade memories
On a friday afternoon, most of Saturday and If I could get away, Sunday too you would find me at my local arcade if it was anywhere from about 1981 to 1987. I didnt live on the coast or in a big city but there was enough to be made from kids and adults alike in a dingy, clapped out retail space that had sticky carpet on the floor, a distorted sound system and against every wall (sometimes back to back) chipped and battered arcade machines.
Its really hard to explain the vibe of a 'proper' arcade. They are not the gleaming, shiny places filled with ticket and claw machines that are the last hurrah we see today. Nor were they the 'nice' corners of bowling alleys and holiday camps where families could while away a few hours on the 'amusements'.
Real arcades were dark, lit only by the occasional neon tube and single black light. Most illumination poured from the marquee on the top and the electrons doing their best to burn the phosphor off the screens. They were loud too, the machines competed not only with eachother but with the distorted and cigarette burnt speakers that blasted out whatever mix tape that shifts change guy brought along (more on him later)
They were invariably filled with smoke because the ventilation system comprised of a three bladed vent axia extractor fan that had lost two of its blades years ago and was feebly flapping around in its housing losing the battle against the torrent of second hand smoke from the gamers. It was hot too, All that tech venting into a confined space, mixed with bodies crammed against the most popular machines, most of them smoking while the one bladed fan just cut its losses and quit.
And I miss every single bit of it
Nyx
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