I’ve shared a great deal of classic arcade footage that has surfaced through the years right here on the weblog. You can take a look at a few of these movies by clicking right here.

This week I’ve extra finds for you to try.

The first is a few footage that a number of folks have been requesting because it surfaced some time again however then disappeared. I’ve managed to trace it down and uploaded it under. This b-roll movie depicts life on the Omni International Complex in Atlanta someday in 1981. Specifically an arcade referred to as Electronic America.

Lots of fascinating cupboards out on the ground, together with a plethora of Atari titles. Basketball, Battlezone, Football and even the super-rare sit-down model of Missile Command. Great to see a type of truly out within the wild!

Other cupboards embrace Space Zap!, Asteroids and a Cinematronics Star Castle. Check it out right here:

The subsequent video is one which has come and gone from YouTube a couple of instances. It is from a TV collection referred to as What’s Up America! Taken from the video description: A mini documentary on the state of the online game trade through the early 80s. It options Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell, Lyle Rains (Atari VP of Engineering, Coin-Operated Games Division), and Roger Hector (Atari Manager of Advanced Products).

Although the main focus is totally on Atari coin-op video games, arcade video games from different firms are proven, and Atari’s unreleased Cosmos holographic handheld sport is even briefly proven and mentioned by co-creator Roger Hector..

What’s Up America! was an early actuality TV present that aired on Showtime from 1979-1981. This is nicely value a watch!

Notice one other sit-down Missile Command behind Lyle Rains too!

I may need featured this subsequent video earlier than, however can’t keep in mind (and I’m too lazy to verify), however its value revisiting anyway. Titled “A visit to Aladdin’s Castle in 1981”, it’s a video shot by an worker of the online game arcade chain and exhibits gamers wrestling with numerous traditional arcade cupboards and pinball machines typical of the day. Note the superior cacophony of arcade sounds too!

The shopping-mall arcade chain that grew to become Aladdin’s Castle started as American Amusements, Incorporated, within the early Nineteen Seventies. It was bought and renamed Aladdin’s Castle by Bally Manufacturing Corporation in 1974. Over the following a number of years, the variety of retailer places grew from 20 in 1974, to 221 in 1980, to 360 when the chain was spun off in 1989.

It speaks for itself, so test it out right here:

I’m positive I’ve featured this earlier than (however what the heck). Some crystal clear footage from the Atari manufacturing facility – energy brick meeting and nice photographs of the large display printing facility that created the facet artwork so outstanding on Atari arcade video games:

Finally the choose of the bunch (for me anyway). This promotional video from 1981 exhibits the meeting of varied online game cupboards and pinball machines together with their first online game, Defender by Eugene Jarvis. The footage was uploaded by the fellows behind the “Insert Coin” documentary, which fits behind the scenes at Midway video games. Presumably they uncovered it while making their movie. Do take a look at Insert Coin – you’ll be able to stream it on Amazon and quite a lot of different locations.

The video may be very clear and depicts scenes from Engineering, PCB growth and the manufacturing facility ground itself. Check out the rows of Defender uprights and there’s even a glimpse of Defender cocktail tables being assembled.

That’s all I’ve bought for now – lots there to maintain you busy.

See you subsequent week for an replace on the Capcom Mini Cute restoration that I’ve been engaged on.

Thanks as at all times for visiting the weblog – your ongoing help is appreciated!

Tony