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2 of my favorite dying hobbies: arcade games and drive in's
TOK:
There are NO drive ins left around me. There used to be two within 15 minutes and another within a half an hour. They've been gone for a long time, too.
Still have arcades in both local malls (many redemption games, though), and a fantastic arcade called Challenge which is close to where my buddy lives in Reading, PA. That one is a little over an hour's drive, but worth it every time. They still have high score contests on old games, and also have events corresponding with local shows.
http://www.challengearcade.com/
shorthair:
Exceed is a bit much. They converted the drive-in here to radio broadcast back in the early 90s, maybe earlier. If you don't have a killer system, then it's decent - but nothing like the immersive experience of a home or walk-in theatre.
The fun thing about the drive-in when I was a kid was we could get up on the roof of the bus or station wagon, then when we were tired of the movie go goof off at the playground and snack bar, come back, etc. I think we saw The Black Hole there. A 'B' movie for sure.
We saw Star Wars at the walk-in. I wasn't scared by Vader (I was about 6), but I was totally entranced. Not something to squander at a drive-in.
Angry_Radish:
The closest former drive-in from me went through a decent transformation early on at least..
I went there quite a bit as a kid with my family to see movies, then in the early 80's when arcades were so popular (there were a few really big ones in town), the drive-in closed.
All was not lost though! It was reopened, not as a drive-in, but as a huge arcade with go-cart tracks, etc.. outside, called "Funtastic"..
Spent quite a bit of cash there, mostly playing the sit-down Omega Race (man I need to get that game).
The place finally closed down in the early 90's. I actually drove past there earlier today running errands, it's sad. The funtastic/drivein movie sign with the arrow pointing in is still there, but now some landscaping place is using it to store huge piles of mulch.. (mulchtastic maybe?)
Ahh well, time marches on.. At least they hit both your 2 favorite dying hobbies (arcade and drive in)
vintagegamer:
--- Quote from: DarkBubble on June 09, 2007, 01:36:47 pm ---
--- Quote from: vintagegamer on June 09, 2007, 01:18:17 pm ---I actually saw THE BLACK HOLE there
--- End quote ---
Now I'm jealous. I'd love to see that one on the big screen. I'd turned one just shortly before release.
--- End quote ---
There was nothing like seeing VINCENT and MAXIMILLIAN 50 feet tall. You missed a good one! :D
vintagegamer:
Well we got there and upon checking the arcade I noticed they had a "Cruisin" arcade game, and some others I didn't recognize. I wanted to make sure tho that for the fellow pin lovers I provided the following update: they had Dr. Dude (Bally) and Fish Hunt. They both looked cool, but sadly I wasn't allocated enough time to play them. :(