Chasing Ghosts (Old Arcades)

[Flack]

During last week's road trip I got a little excited in Alabama when, after topping a hill, I saw a big sign that read "ARCADE". I was ready for a break from driving anyway, I decided to pull over and check it out.

http://www.robohara.com/pix/blog/Alabama_Arcade_1.jpg

Unfortunately, all I found was a vacant building where an arcade used to be. With my face pressed hard against the building's tinted windows I could tell that the room was empty. On the off chance that the arcade had relocated somewhere else in town, I searched the GPS for other arcades. I found two more hits; one two miles away, the other five miles away.

http://www.robohara.com/pix/blog/Alabama_Arcade_2.jpg

http://www.robohara.com/pix/blog/Alabama_Arcade_3.jpg

The second building was empty as well, and the third one had been converted into a bingo hall. If there were arcades in that part of Alabama, I must've just missed 'em.

If anyone from the Alabama area knows anything about these arcades, I've love to hear about them.

[XYXZYZ]

What part of Alabama?

[apinion]

I live in Alabama and can tell you these places were never true arcades like we remember. They were bingo or slot machine places. Gambling is illegal but these places gave out gift certificates (or some kind of redemption prizes) instead of money to skate around the law. Laws were changed here so most of these places have all been shut down and the slot machines were confiscated. There are a lot of these places with the signs out but nothing inside.

The first time I saw one of those arcade signs I did the same thing. I pulled over and was excited about seeing an arcade again but saw only slot machines inside.

[Flack]

What part of Alabama?

I drove from OKC to Atlanta and back, and went through (or near) Birmingham, either on I-20 or 371. I think the arcades I photographed were in or around Jasper, although I could be wrong.


I live in Alabama and can tell you these places were never true arcades like we remember. They were bingo or slot machine places. Gambling is illegal but these places gave out gift certificates (or some kind of redemption prizes) instead of money to skate around the law. Laws were changed here so most of these places have all been shut down and the slot machines were confiscated. There are a lot of these places with the signs out but nothing inside.

The first time I saw one of those arcade signs I did the same thing. I pulled over and was excited about seeing an arcade again but saw only slot machines inside.

THANK YOU. That's what I was beginning to suspect, as one of the "arcades" had Bingo tables set up inside, and another one had "777" (in a slot machine style font) painted on the window.