Video Games
Various arcades around town
Jay Mitchell, then 16 waits for a friend outside Land Of Oz in the Empire in 1981.
The Land of Oz opened in 1975, when the Empire Mall first flung its doors open to the public. In 1975, video games were just starting to catch on. Pong could be seen all around the country by then, as more than 8,000 units had been sold the previous year. The video game industry wouldn’t really take wing until 1978 when Space Invaders hit the streets. As video games started coming into popularity, more machines were added.
Curt Spars, 15, and Pat Burns, 13 play Wizard Of Wor at Land Of Oz, Empire 1981.
By 1981, Electric Rainbow had opened in the New Town Mall and Aladdin’s Castle was operating in the Western Mall. Mall management saw arcades as an excellent draw, and they were often placed near entrances. The arcades would have tournaments and contests, sell gift certificates, and promote movies like Tron, the story of a dude who is scanned into a video game. At the same time, a number of parents and educators were warning of the evils of these addictive boxes — when they could take a break from warning about Dungeons & Dragons, rock music, and violent movies.
For a few years, video games were very hot, then the bubble began to lose air. In 1981, revenues were at $8 billion. By 1983 they had declined to $5 billion, and were down by another billion in 1986. Some of the shine had come off the novelty of spending lawn mowing money at the arcades. Some of this money was saved to spend on home consoles.
In 1982, coin-operated machine manufacturer Bally’s bought the Aladdin’s Castle and Land of Oz locations throughout the country. The company also owned many more arcade and entertainment venues.
In 1984, Aladdin’s Castle at the Western Mall closed its doors. In 1988, Land of Oz at the Empire re-branded as Aladdin’s Castle. Aladin’s Castle closed in 2004 after being asked to move to a different location in the Empire.
In 1982 Electric Rainbow opened a location in the Empire Mall to compete with the Land of Oz. In 1984, Musivend bought Electric Rainbow and expanded to several locations around town, most notably in Clocktower Square at 41st and Marion, Village Square Mall on east 26th, and a location in the Western Mall.
Electric Rainbow carries on in the Western Mall. It’s not a dark space with only video games; there are other arcade treats like skee ball, air hockey, and other ticket-generating amusements. If you want the more dark and loud video game environment, you’ll have to try the EightyOne Arcade Bar in the old Carpenter Hotel, though the smell of KarmelKorn, cigarette smoke, and floor wax may be replaced by that of craft beer and bar food.
For a few years, video games were very hot, then the bubble began to lose air. In 1981, revenues were at $8 billion. By 1983 they had declined to $5 billion, and were down by another billion in 1986. Some of the shine had come off the novelty of spending lawn mowing money at the arcades. Some of this money was saved to spend on home consoles.
In 1982, coin-operated machine manufacturer Bally’s bought the Aladdin’s Castle and Land of Oz locations throughout the country. The company also owned many more arcade and entertainment venues.
In 1984, Aladdin’s Castle at the Western Mall closed its doors. In 1988, Land of Oz at the Empire re-branded as Aladdin’s Castle. Aladin’s Castle closed in 2004 after being asked to move to a different location in the Empire.
In 1982 Electric Rainbow opened a location in the Empire Mall to compete with the Land of Oz. In 1984, Musivend bought Electric Rainbow and expanded to several locations around town, most notably in Clocktower Square at 41st and Marion, Village Square Mall on east 26th, and a location in the Western Mall.
Electric Rainbow carries on in the Western Mall. It’s not a dark space with only video games; there are other arcade treats like skee ball, air hockey, and other ticket-generating amusements. If you want the more dark and loud video game environment, you’ll have to try the EightyOne Arcade Bar in the old Carpenter Hotel, though the smell of KarmelKorn, cigarette smoke, and floor wax may be replaced by that of craft beer and bar food.
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