Catherine DeSpira
@CatDeSpira
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Writer, Vidiot, arcade game collector, pop culture historian and researcher. STOP PROJECT 2025 🌊 Blog:
Pacific Northwest
Joined January 2012
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Pac-Man: The Untold Story of How We Really Played The Game via
@CatDeSpira
#ArcadeGamingHistory
#PacMan
#ArcadePreservation
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I've been lucky to recently uncover a ton of lost photos of girls participating in high-level 80s gaming tournaments. This one is of 11-year old Gina Nelson at a Silco-West sponsored tourney for Atari Asteroids in Los Angeles, August 1981
#ArcadeHistory
#LostHerstory
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1K
You know what was cool about gaming in the 80s/90s that doesn't exist today?
#GenX
didn't hate or harass anyone over video games. We just played what we liked, ignored what we didn't & basked in the halcyon days b4 the world went to shit.
Here's me in an arcade in the 80s.
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This guy on my FB,
#ChrisWooding
, made a
#Doom
stained-glass window for his house.
Coolest thing ever ❤️
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Someone asked me when was the last time I went to an arcade. I wasn't sure how to answer them. It's a difficult question because my home is kind of an arcade, so I'm always sort of in one. This is my home office, where I write.
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Someone sent me a HUGE cache of Time-Out Amusement financials circa 1978-1983. They are from various arcade locations. They tell a fascinating story not just in sale figures but of regional tastes. This stuff is gold to me. It tells a true story of how and what people played.
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Meanwhile in America, people aren't any closer to understanding why its culture produces so many mass shooters
#walmartshooting
#ElPasoShooting
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So, is this what "game journalism" has evolved into now? Lazy hacks just parroting untruths between each other, over and over in friendly plagiarism until lies become "fact" in the public eye? Now you know how scumbags like Mitchell keep the lies going. The press helps him.
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She was the first person to teach "Video Game Technique and Theory" in a university in America. She taught you how to beat the games. Her name was Bonny Scott a.k.a. "The Video Queen" & she taught at Western International University, Phoenix, Arizona, in 1982.
#VideoGameHistory
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My search for "Lost Women Arcade Champions" is growing every day. The whole "women didn't play arcade games" is BS. They DID play. Pac-Man. Tempest. Defender. Stargate. Galaga. Battlezone, etc. A lot of them kicked ass, too.
#ArcadeHistory
(Photo May 1982, Press and Sun Bulletin)
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I've received questions about original Donkey Kong joysticks and how a restrictor works. So, I went and pulled one off a game. This DK machine is about as original as you can get and bears the Weyerhaeuser inspection logo proving that it's an original issue.
Part 1
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I'm not sure how many people realize that arcade games were detested by a large portion of the public during The Video Craze (1978-1984). But it's true. Comics reflected this negative attitude throughout the period. Source: The Tennessean April 10, 1983
#ArcadeHistory
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We rescued this Atari Kangaroo from a Flipper who was selling it cheap as "dead cab". Dead cabs usually get 60 in 1'ed and destroyed. 24-hours later it lives again :)
#ClassicArcadePreservation
#Atari
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Someone asked me a few days ago, "Don't you ever get tired of retro games and stuff?"
I never get tired of retro anything. Period. I surround myself with it; graphic art, games, music, fashion, lore, etc. I love it all.
Home office 2020
#80sArcade
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@karljobstgaming
When you & Muta interviewed Completionist, he claimed that he said, "That's not cool!" when told 2 years ago that the money had never been donated. Now he says that his plan all along was to wait, let it build up, & make a "larger restricted amount". So, which one is the truth?
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@Kristofferkumm
Love how some people just can't fight the urge to stand around and film rather than help people shot.
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This killer footage was shot at Playland in Pasadena, CA in 1976. Fantastic to see that the character "Willie" is playing Atari's video projected screen game F-1 (1976).
Source: Family S03:E18 1976
#ArcadeHistory
#PasadenaCA
#The70s
#AtariF1
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Ghosts 'n Goblins (Taito/Capcom 1985)
This is the arcade game that I am most proficient at. I refuse to be humble - I slay on it. I played it feverishly in the arcade but maniacally on NES which is more difficult, I think. It's beloved by me.
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@SolaceAndDread
He is absolutely alluding to it not being entirely off the table. He's unquestionably begging for quarter because he knows he's guilty, too. That's the voice of a guilty man who knows he's been caught.
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The man who stalked and harassed me for over 5-years, defamed me in over 50 YouTube videos, and led a brigade of super trolls to destroy my YouTube channel, my website and a film, murdered a woman and then killed himself.
I told you he was dangerous.
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My beautiful Gaplus (Bally Midway/Namco 1984).This is a "matching numbers" game which means it has its original board, harness etc -everything including its factory paperwork, still attached. I catch endorphins off its colors &bold design. It's not just an arcade game. It's art.
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When Star Wars premiered in 1977, I can't even tell you how much it electrified my Generation. With the release of that film, followed by Space Invaders video game in 1978, it was if suddenly the era belonged to us. Here's a Polaroid of me meeting Darth Vadar. Look at my smile.
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@karljobstgaming
At 13, Halperin was busted by The Postal Inspector for scamming over $100,000 by running a marketing scam from his childhood home. I kid you not. He admits it in this article from 2004:
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My completely original, unrestored Centipede (Atari 1981) with pink factory graphics outline. Most are outlined in yellow it seems. Not sure. I park it next to Dig Dug (Namco/Atari 1982) also original. They look good together. Two survivors.
#ClassicArcadeGames
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You'll never convince me that this 1950s Christmas Angel candle holder's design flaw wasn't on purpose.
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Good lord, here we go again. The clown car is queuing up for another pie in the face. Can we just prosecute this fraud and traitor already?
#TrumpAnnouncement
#FuckTrump
#TrumpIsALaughingStock
#Trump
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@JustySilverman
@_Greatdisaster
@SuplexCity55008
@virtuacnt
@cinemassacre
You guys and AVGN have been plagiarizing since 2017. I know because your Polybius video completed source-mined my 2012 article on Polybius and didn't cite me once. You used my research. How do I know? Because the images and research you used were exclusive info from my site.
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For 2 years I've been compiling photos, searching for info on early 70s and 80s women in the arcade. I can't wait to show you what I've found, tell you what I know, things the industry didn't. "Chasing The Unicorn: Women of The Video Craze" is nearing completion.
#ArcadeHistory
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#YouKnowYouAreOldWhen
there's a 1978 Polaroid of you posing in your childhood bedroom next to a
#BeesGees
poster that you got from
#16Magazine
and you're wearing a black satin jacket and Mom's lipstick trying to look cool at 11 :p The other poster is of
#LeifGarrett
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Ghouls 'n Ghosts (Capcom 1988) Another rare one that I love. It's more difficult than Ghosts 'n Goblins, I feel. Opinions vary, though. It's art and design is thoroughly Japanesque thus very beautiful and sensual. There's a lot of blue and green on black.
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Someone sent me an old-new stock tee from 1978 that was never worn. It was found in a box in an old car dealership in L.A. that's being torn down. Behold, the groovey brown desert sunset logo. Holy smokes...ha ha!!!
Love it :) I'll wear it.
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Muslim women, white women, Hispanic women, Native American women, LGBTQ women... DEMOCRATIC WOMEN FROM ALL WALKS WON POSITIONS IN CONGRESS TODAY.
This is how America gets it groove back ;)
#ElectionNight
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That time in 1990 when my friend Chris arrived at my place with a not yet famous Kurt Cobain. We all drank and played Mad Libs before going out to a show. I have more photos (and the Mad Libs) but if I post them they just get stolen. This photo has been purposely blurred.
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If you've ever wondered what Washington State beaches look like along the Pacific...here it is. Wide open, wild, very little commercialism, unlike Oregon. You can drive on it, mingle with cool people in a very chill, natural environment 😎 🌞 🌊 I was flying kites here today.
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Ted Dabney, co founder of Syzygy & Atari has died. His vision gave my generation more than people can comprehend unless they lived in the days when Atari was born & remember when the world was changed forever by the electronic dreams that company gave us.
#Atari
#TedDabney
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Been thinking a lot about the state of "video game history" reflecting a mostly white male pro-industry perspective & how black history is somehow absent from it all much like women are. The history is deep, marred by intolerance but not without triumph. Daily Record, Sept 1981
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Scott Patterson
@OriginalPSP
found more lost 80s Pac-Man paranoia from the era. This is a rare discovery, too and very cool. This one calls gamers who play Pac-Man a "devilish cult".
#ArcadeHistory
#VideoGameHistory
March 1982 tabloid covers the “devilish” Pac-Man
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The monster has been conquered. To everyone affected over these long years, peace ❤️
Notorious arcade gamer
#BillyMitchell
settles suit over Donkey Kong world record
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Burgertime (Bally Midway 1982). I feel pretty lucky to have found this game as there aren't many fully original ones left. When I first got it, I wasn't impressed with its whimsical art design. I prefer more sophisticated art. But once I played it, I loved it.
#ArcadeGames
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If someone from the future had walked up to 14-year old me in the arcade and said, "One day , girl, you will have a house full of these games and people will pay you to talk about them", I would have thought them insane.
But that's exactly what happened.
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Rediscovered only 1-hour ago: Another pre-Billy Mitchell Pac-Man "Split-Screener" from June 1982. Patrick Carr, 15, from NC. Source: The Charlotte News, June 28, 1982
#ClassicGamingHistory
#PacManHistory
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@karljobstgaming
The Completionist appearing scared and angry in his video "apology" while throwing out unintentionally comedic legal threats ala Billy Mitchell only demonstrated his lack of confidence. Not strength.
Take him to the hoop, Karl.
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@Completionist
Cool story, bro.
So...are you going to foolishly attempt to sue journalists and YouTubers like Billy Mitchell did?
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I'm amused yet sad that some people from the "videogame preservation/history community" cut ties with me over my words on
#TheCompletionist
. It's funny that the deal breaker was only that I wouldn't support a con artist & had the worst thing a woman can ever have, an opinion.
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Taste the rainbow. New l.e.d. track lighting system was installed yesterday.
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Tempest (Atari 1981) was down for a week stuck in test mode. Total pain in the ass. Finally, he lives. It was only a 74LS244 chip with a blown gate...lol 😆
Btw every time I see a Tempest this song enters my head. No idea why:
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I do pinch myself sometimes: I remember TV stars in The 80s had arcades games in their homes. That was the equivalent at the time of having a Porsche at 13.
Fast forward 35-years and they're merely a barcade novelty. But I remember when they symbolized freedom ♥
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Old man renovating his attic threw this out on his lawn to be tossed in a dumpster with construction debris. I asked him for it. He said, "Take it. My son doesn't want it."
It's in fine condition (missing cover) with games. 1976 Fairchild Channel F
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"I hunger."
Sinistar (Williams 1983), Robotron 2084 (Williams 1982 and Moon Patrol (Williams 1982).
All original issue. Robotron could use a new cp overlay but I can't bring myself to do it.
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The "neon garage doors" in my home arcade. I created them myself :)
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People ask about the person I call "my guy". I try to keep my personal life off of the internet because it's sacred to me. He's my everything. We first met in 1994. So, we have a very long and happy history. Here's us from the present to 1997.
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The weirdest story I've come across in a long time: Steve Jobs and The Jersey Centipede: Former Schoolboy Claims Jobs Bought His Game Code in 1981 via
@CatDeSpira
#VideoGameHistory
#Atari
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I was writing something to today on gaming history and realized that I was lucky to witness and participate in The Video Craze (1978-1984), The Cyber Craze (1990-1996) and The Rise of eSport in 1997. Who remembers LAN parties? DOOM and QUAKE all night long ♥
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Pretty much caught my breath when I found this old photo tonight showing an exceedingly rare Space Odyssey (Gremlin Sega 1981) being played in Victoria, BC in August 1981. Source: The Times Colonist, August 23, 1981
#ArcadeHistory
#RareArcadeGames
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Tron Bally Midway 1982), demon of the blue light, probably has the sexiest joystick ever made, next to the one on Satan's Hollow (also Bally Midway 1982) of course.
Bally Midway had a preoccupation with "joysticks" that year.
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Help me! I'm strung out and can't help myself!!
Source: Pomona Progress Bulletin, Feb 17, 1950
#PinballHistory
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August of 1982: The skin-mag OUI did a Pac-Man "layout". Until now I never knew it existed. Regardless of its content, it's pop culture history and deserves to be documented. How many other games made it into 80s porn and erotica? I'm curious.
#PacMan
#VideoGameHistory
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Asteroids Deluxe (Atari 1981). One of the more difficult multidirectional shooters that I have. I've always thought it was unfortunate that I get to see the side art so infrequently because I have my games in tight rows to conserve space. The art is superb.
#ArcadeGames
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11 years ago, I filmed and photographed
#SteveWeibe
, a true champion competitor, after he reached the
#DonkeyKongKillscreen
at Denver Comicon. A massive crowd was present to cheer him on as he was carried through the air.
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During The 70s and early 80s arcade and coin op ordinances often restricted kids under the age of 18 to operate a machine w/o notarized permission from a parent. In 1974 a crowd of 75 kids staged a protest at their fave arcade. Source: For Lauderdale News, May 1974
#ArcadeHistory
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Before arcade took the late 70s by storm with Space Invaders in 1978,
#Foosball
was the
#1
US coin op multi-million dollar pastime. Here's US champions, literally "The King and Queen of Competitive Tournament Foosball" in 1978,
#LoriSchranz
and
#JimWiswell
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A single Pac-Man in a hallway at YMCA in Pennsylvania is mobbed by children in April 6, 1982 as "Pac-Man Fever" takes America by storm. Photo by Christopher Shatzer, Newspaper unknown.
#ArcadeHistory
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Love how people, who have never taken on the daunting task of collecting, housing and maintaining arcade games, like to tell me "all about it" as if I wouldn't know a damned thing about it myself.
So many clowns. So few circus rings on fire.
#SexistBullshitNeverEnds
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Back bedroom flooded with blue overhead rack lights and these beauties...my faves.
Sorry Tron took a crap. Power supply went down. Easy fix.
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@HalSparks
Unfortunately, one of the "shitty" effects of abusing Adderall is that it causes loose bowels and gas.
Trump was lit last night. Blown on Adderall.
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1982's "How To Win At Pac-Man" (Pocket Books Jan 1982) is a look back at an innocence that didn't last long: In May, Eric Schwibs (NY) would score the first official nationally recognized split-screen and set off a nationwide Pac-Man marathon craze. His score was 2,935,590.
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We put the Pac-Man Roller Coaster together before going out tonight. It's so cute!!! Happy New Year!! XO
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Back in The 70s/80s capturing a clear photo of your high score was difficult because you couldn't preview the shot. You had to wait a week to get your film back & if the photo didn't come out, then you had no proof of a high score. Actual photos from 1982.
#VideoGameHistory
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Donkey Kong (Nintendo 1981) and his neighbor Space Invaders (Bally Midway 1978). I hadn't fired DK up in over 2 years. Popped up like a champ. Now I can't get my guy off of it! 😆🤣
#ClassicArcade
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I can't look at early arcade game side art and not see the influence of California surf and black light poster art from 1973-1977. The cultural connection is quite prominent. On another note, did you know you could go to school to learn to customize vans in The 70s?
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@GildedZ
@karljobstgaming
Apollo was devastated over Mitchell suing him and the ensuing harassment and ridicule that followed with it.
Apollo was greatly affected it and was too young and not properly supported enough to deal with Mitchell's backlash. It greatly compounded his feelings of hopelessness.
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Documentaries on video game history always spins the history around the "ultimate white guy experience". Video game history, and especially arcade history, is multi-racial and there were (gasp) women in arcades. Many were competotors. I know, real shocker. Black people and girls.
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Found a photo of a rare "lefty Pac-Man player" grabbing the side, far left in the background :) Photo by Ira Nowinski, Broadway Arcade, San Francisco, CA 1981
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The girls will know you're ready to party when you don a Crimplene jumpsuit:
@Plaidstallions
http://t.co/bxcF7uwvYE
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#DavidRace
, who I've always testified was the greatest Pac-Man player who ever lived, obtained a
#PerfectPacMan
using a single man yesterday. Meanwhile after 3-days of trying and failing
#BillyMitchell
has yet to score at all. All Hail The True King!!
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So...I kept it secret for a very long time (because I had to) but...I'm on The History Channel :)
@PolybiusPod
#Polybius
#ArcadeHistory
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Last week I found another rare Crystal Castles (Atari 1983) cocktail that is fully original. Forgot to post the pics. I painted a room purple just for it. (and, yes, that is an original 1986 Williams Siouxsie and the Banshees poster. I bought it in 1988)
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Maybe it's because I'm Italian, but Zaccaria cabs move me to almost tears at their beauty. Never seen anything more glorious or as aesthetically pleasing in cabinet design, color and graphic expression. I marvel at them. They impress me so much. (Moon Crest, 1980)
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When you collect arcade games and pinballs, bedrooms aren't off limits and neither is Devo: South Park (Sega 1999)and Cyclone (Williams 1988)
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#Polybius
chillin' at my house. I still can't get over how much I love this thing. Never get tired of looking at it or the cool sounds it makes. And, yes, that is a rare Q*bert cocktail and Atari Paperboy :p
#CoolToys
#HomeArcade
#InsertCoinToys
Available from:
@InsertCoinToys
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An icon from my childhood, the woman who worked alongside Spock, took no shit from any man and performed the first interracial kiss on television. Rest in Peace, Queen ❤️ 🌟
#RIPNichelle
#StarTrek
#Uhura
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Castle Arcade in Riverside, CA shows off a "wall" of Ms. Pac-Man in this 1983 episide of
#CHiPS
(High Times/S6). Also seen is Satan's Hollow, Reactor, Robotron, Centipede and many others.
The attendant's silver jumpsuit is rad AF.
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Many of the first champions to crush the games were black. But that history wasn't passed down. It was ignored. Suburban arcades in white neighborhoods & malls were rarely hit with ordinances while black neighborhoods were hit hard and hassled by police. Pittsburg Press Nov 1981
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