This find is literally oozing with retro 80’s goodness! Just sit back and take in this delightful Space Port Arcade’s Staff Training Video!
Part 1
Part 2
Space Ports were a franchised chain of shopping mall video arcades that were especially popular in the late-seventies and early-eighties. Mallrats and pretty much any teen who grew up in those days, will remember these loud and funky shopping mall gaming wonderlands. The video above (in two parts) is an interesting (and oftentimes unintentionally funny!) relic of the ’70s and ’80s shopping mall landscape–albeit from slightly more on the “inside”.
Hehe, this is awesome. Man I love seeing the old arcades from the 80’s.
Interestingly enough – these were a division of Atari. Which isn’t too surprising since Bally also had a chain of arcades. I discovered this while googling “Atari Adventure” which I previously thought was the only arcade properties they had.
This recording is awesome I remeber those days well : ) I would Love to purchase an original 80’s spaceport T shirt for my collection and arcade room..
Please let me know send message to my website..
sizzler Joe
@ Mgabrys
Huh, I had no idea, that’s really cool to know however – I also thought that the Atari Adventure was the only thing they had.
Space Port began when two men who were brothers-in-law placed a trivia game in Neshaminy Mall which was located in the suburbs of Philadelphia. They placed one game, trivia in the main mall to see what would happen. This made so much money that they decided to open a “family amusement center” in the same mall. I’m not sure if it was originally called a Space Port, but did become one. From there I believe they opened their second location in King of Prussia mall and continued to expand from there. The men, Jim Ginsberg and Marc Rodstein never franchised these centers but continued to own all locations until they sold them to Bally/Atari. The locations were then sold to Edison Brothers who basically ran them down until selling them again. They were eventually sold to the Time Out Company and the locations were either converted to Time Outs or closed. They were able to continue to exist into the early ’90s when home games finally did them in. I could go on and on about Space Ports, but I figure that I bored you folks enough with this information.
John, you were right on with your explanation. Either you were one of those mall rats or you were an x-employee of Magnafun, Inc. the company that owned the Space Ports. Before becoming the Space Ports, the original arcade was called the Electric I. There were only 2 of them before the remainder was build and named Space Port. At the time Magnafun sold the stores to Atari they owned 51 Spaceports, all over the East Coast and as far south as Texas. They even had a free standing store in the mid-west at a prominent university. What made the Spaceports so profitable was the management, what caused Spaceports downfall with Atari was lack of management. A few years ago I ran into the gentleman who owned Atari at the time they purchased Spaceport, he was still in the amusement business in Warminster, Pa selling parts for pinball and arcade games. He actually blamed Atari’s downfall on their relocation to Ireland. No-one seems to understand that the closer a location is to the main office and owners the better it can be run, controlled or whatever you call it. Go out have fun, we certainly did every day.
Hey Greywolf (Rudy). Of course I worked for Space Port. I worked with you when you managed Montgomery Space Part. They were good times working with you. By the way I take credit for originating the term “mall rats”. I believe that I was the first to use this term. I also believe that I termed the term rug rats back in the day.
I have seen photos of us then. I must admit that you became a really old looking man. Glad that this hasn’t happened to me. 🙂
My parents used to operate a restaurant next door to the Space Port in MontgomeryMall. John, if you are the same person Im thinking of that used to work their part time (wife worked at the CVS), I would love to get back in touch!
Dan,
Yes, I worked part time at Space Port for many years. I often think of the kindness of your family. I hope you are all happy and in good health.
Oh wow! Its really you!? I reconnected with Amanda and Stephanie a few years back. Soon after I began searching for you. I recall Steph saying she’s seen biking around town so I assume you’re still in the same area? Email me please so we can take this convo elsewhere! danielvo.dv@gmail.com.
John, just back here while I was looking up the owners name of Space Port. Age will make you forget. I do see you all the time on Facebook and sometimes I answer.
Dan, next to our Space Port (John & me) was a Chinese Restaurant. Is that the one you are talking about? After I left Space Port, I spend a number of years in China and during one of my trips from home to China I ran across the young lady who ran the place with her father. She was taking him back because they were afraid he would not make it much longer and he wanted to see family. Nice finding you two today.