penny arcades
Coin-operated amusement venues
Penny arcades were early amusement venues featuring coin-operated machines—games, fortune tellers, peep shows, strength testers, and early motion picture viewers.
The name reflected the original cost of a penny per play.
Popular from the late 1800s through the mid-20th century, they evolved into modern video arcades: The boardwalk penny arcade had skee-ball and pinball machines.
- boardwalksRaised wooden pedestrian paths
- coin slotPayment insertion point
- minigameBrief activity within software
- fortune-tellerPredictor of personal fate
- fortune teller machineAutomated mystic giving readings
drop a coin · test your strength · games · tokens · coin-operated · lights · flashing lights · pinball machines · sounds · entertainments · skee ball · electromechanical · nickelodeons · midway games · ticket booths · air hockey · prize tickets · photo booths
- pastimeshobbies, amusement, puzzles, cards, crafting
- British Seasidepier, piers, beach hut, beach huts, promenade
- entertainment historyvaudeville, silent films, talkies, Hollywood, movie palaces
- theme parksroller coasters, roller coaster, Ferris wheel, merry-go-round, carousels
penny arcadesstreaming services
On-demand video delivery platforms
mobile gaming · living room gaming · Netflix · digital downloads