MAH Exhibition Explores History of Arcade Games

Vintage arcade and midway games will take over the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History beginning Oct. 16 with a new interactive exhibition featuring items from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s archives.

“High Score: Vintage Arcade and Midway Games” will trace the evolution of public entertainment from 19th-century mechanical games to pinball machines and early video games such as “Pong,” “Computer Space” and “Star Fire.” Several games will be available for visitors to play.

The exhibition will also feature classic midway attractions, including milk bottle games, greyhound racers and knock-down games. Displays will share facts and local stories about the Boardwalk’s arcades, including a 1982 city recreation class taught by Boardwalk employees and the 15 animatronic dinosaurs installed in the Casino Arcade in 1992.

The museum has also created 16 collectible cards showing Santa Cruz County locations from different periods. The cards will be sold for four quarters each through an antique vending machine provided by the Boardwalk.

The exhibition will remain on display through Jan. 24 in the museum’s Art Forum Gallery.

•••

The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays, noon to 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and noon to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. For more information, visit www.santacruzmah.org.

TOP PHOTO: Vintage arcade games are on display at the Museum of Art and History. • Photo courtesy of Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk