Deep in the recesses of my mind still resided the imprint of knowledge from playing Pac-Man 2 months, 2 days and change without stopping. It was a record at the time. First the Telegraph showed up. Then WGXA-TV lead anchor Ron Wildman. Ron brought 2 ham sandwiches and leftover Mojo potatoes from Shackey’s Pizza. I’d been at the Barrel of Fun playing Pac-Man since late June 1985 and I would not be denied.
Now Pac-Man has returned to town and there is going to be a Showdown (Electric Light Orchestra). The Retrocade on Cherry St is a time capsule but the first thing you’ll notice is all the shit eating grins on all the happy faces.
I started playing one of the pinball machines. At first it looked alien but once I started playing decades old memories and reflexes were accessed from a 64-bit drive stored in part of the brain one also stores Polaroids and roller-skates. The act of accessing these buried experiences is a completely seductive thing.
Yes the music was 80s too and girls were watching their boyfriends play video games. I just needed someone to feed me nachos and pizza while I played Donkey Kong. No food at the Retrocade. I had a draft of Macon Progress and reveled in it. I did see some modern technology but with 80s behavior. Like the douche talking on his cell while playing the stand up putting game. “Oh yeah I’m by myself on the 14th hole, holding up a foursome and snorting coke. Tell Buffy I’ll see her at the Country Club, chow.”
Play Battleship, Trivial Pursuit to giant Jenga. The Retrocade on Cherry is totally awesome!
And just likelate June of 1985 all games are just a quarter or one token actually.
– Wilson
Middle Georgia Buzz 