Temple High School - Cotton Blossom Yearbook (Temple, TX)

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Videos New Fad in Recreational Hours Eating Up Quarters, Extra Time With the introduction of electronic gamerooms to Temple, Big Top, Fandango's, 57th Street Gameroom and Fire and Ice became second homes for many off-duty students. Quarters disappeared at an amazing pace as video game fanatics fed their hard-earned money to Pac Man and Asteroids. S5.00 doesn't last very long at Big Top, said Junior Jim McMurry. Just a couple of hours worth of pool and a few electronic games, and before you know it, it's all gone. Waiting in line for the games gave enthusiasts time to mingle with friends and watch other players demonstrate their skills. Quarters placed on the video screen ledge reserved turns at the more popular games and gave people a chance at racking up a score high enough to rate placing their initials on the screen. Video games weren't confined to only gamerooms. Sounds of laser fire, falling asteroids, cries for help and exploding ships could never be escaped. Temple Mall, grocery stores, convenience stores and restaurants even cashed in on the lucrative video craze. Some parents thought that shelling out the S250 for at-home TV games like Atari and Intellevision would keep junior at home and possibly even save on cost in the long run. The home units featured not only popular gameroom videos but also sports cartridges. We play all the time. My brother and I argue over which game to play, said Junior Gary Woodfin, Atari owner. Even students with home TV games were willing to brave the jammed parking lots at gamerooms for a chance at the foosball and pool tables. Groups of friends met weekly for games of eight-ball and conversation. While dances, movies and parties still were part of night life, gamerooms quickly became the place to be. Freshman Tish Daniel fires away at Centipedes trying to get her imtia screen along with other high scorers ABOVE: Sinking the 11 ball in the side pocket was more recreational for Sophomore David Spurlin than driving his '69 Camaro around town. RIGHT: Using quarter after quarter, Junior Mike Tuck spent his hours at 57th Street Gameroom.

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by Mindy Junek At practically any hour of the day, Freshman Bart Sherman and Bret Dickerson could be found at their home away from home - the table. BELOW: As playing video games was popular, so was just sitting for Freshmen Beth Bartosh, David Pope, Cristi Hicks, Karen Vollmer, i student Amy Green, and Bo Sheppard. fe, V. s LEFT: Juniors Joe Lindemann, Mike Pappas, Vick Pope, Seniors Jeff Daniel and Bill Woodward were often found at one of four foosball tables at Big Top. BELOW: Firing at invading birds was one reason that made Phoenix a popular game. Sophomore Kyle Walker watches an unidentified student shoot at the invaders. I , gb... Copy by Joy Barnett, layout by Elizabeth Wainger