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Pics of GoldMine arcade ?

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Zero dB

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Sep 23, 2007, 7:12:21 AM9/23/07
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Since I can't overdo my grasp at childhood enough, I've started
entertaining the idea of replicating the entryway facade of my
favorite arcade from the early 80's: the Gold Mine.

They were a chain across the MidWest (and i think some on the west
coast also, maybe more), that had a very distinct rocky entryway
(mache or something) and a distinct font in yellow announcing that it
is, the Gold Mine.

I have sought high and low for any old pictures of the entryway of one
of these Gold Mine arcades, and was wondering if any of you may have
any pics tucked away you could scan.

I plan on replicating the entryway for the entry to my game room (yes
it's excessive :)

soni...@NOSPAMyahoo.com

Thanks for any help!

0db

someotherguy

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Sep 23, 2007, 2:13:34 PM9/23/07
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No pics but a tiny bit more information, we had Gold Mine arcades here in SE TX
as well. I distinctly remember the mineshaft style doorway treatment and the
signage.

Richard

mxracer47

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Sep 23, 2007, 4:01:33 PM9/23/07
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On Sep 23, 1:13 pm, someotherguy

<someotherguy@SPAM_SUCKSsomeotherplace.com> wrote:
> On Sun, 23 Sep 2007 04:12:21 -0700, Zero dB <n...@email.com> wrote:
> >Since I can't overdo my grasp at childhood enough, I've started
> >entertaining the idea of replicating the entryway facade of my
> >favorite arcade from the early 80's: the Gold Mine.
>
> >They were a chain across the MidWest (and i think some on the west
> >coast also, maybe more), that had a very distinct rocky entryway
> >(mache or something) and a distinct font in yellow announcing that it
> >is, the Gold Mine.
>
> >I have sought high and low for any old pictures of the entryway of one
> >of these Gold Mine arcades, and was wondering if any of you may have
> >any pics tucked away you could scan.
>
> >I plan on replicating the entryway for the entry to my game room (yes
> >it's excessive :)
>
> >sonic...@NOSPAMyahoo.com

>
> >Thanks for any help!
>
> >0db
>
> No pics but a tiny bit more information, we had Gold Mine arcades here in SE TX
> as well. I distinctly remember the mineshaft style doorway treatment and the
> signage.
>
> Richard- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Is this what you are looking for ? www.mallofmemphis.org/main/goldmine

-Rich

mxracer47

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Sep 23, 2007, 4:05:42 PM9/23/07
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> -Rich- Hide quoted text -

>
> - Show quoted text -

Sorry about that www.mallofmemphis.org/Main/GoldMine

Rich

Zero dB

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Sep 23, 2007, 4:08:46 PM9/23/07
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Thanks for the info Richard
That's the one! Mineshaft style entry, stone facade of some sort....
nice and dark inside.....

So many memories.....

Zero dB

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Sep 23, 2007, 4:12:51 PM9/23/07
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Nice find, Rich!
That's it!!!!!

I just had a massive wave of recollection when I saw that pic... I
have not seen that since 1985 or so. Wow..........

Thank you so much for digging that up.

I am definetely going to reconstruct that entryway for my game room
(cheaper than therapy !)

I can almost get the idea on the rock formation but would still be
interested in any more detailed shots if anyone has them....

Thanks again :D
Jayson


Scott Caldwell

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Sep 23, 2007, 4:53:49 PM9/23/07
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<Loud yell!!!!!> I grew up in Memphis and frequented that actual
Gold Mine arcade! It is great to see it again!. Thanks.

Too bad it's long gone, but that whole area grew into real disarray
in the 90's. Sad really.

Scott C.

mxracer47

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Sep 23, 2007, 5:47:40 PM9/23/07
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> > Rich- Hide quoted text -

>
> - Show quoted text -

No problem Jayson. Glad I was able to help.

-Rich

Ron Jr.

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Sep 23, 2007, 6:31:34 PM9/23/07
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thanks rich! good to see a pic of it after all these years! now, we just
need someone to repro the gold mine marquee. the rest is treated wood
and rock.
ronald

buzzardbait

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Sep 23, 2007, 10:25:39 PM9/23/07
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OMG! THRUST! Whatever happened to those guys?

joking.


chicodj...@yahoo.com

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Sep 23, 2007, 10:47:59 PM9/23/07
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We had one in a distant town when I was a kid. It was in Johnson
City, TN. The gold mine is my idea of the perfect arcade. Narrow,
crampt, dark, and lit only by the game marques. When I build mine, I
hope it has the same feel as the Gold Mine. Where did they all go
anyways. Ours turned into a Tilt if memory serves.

Plisskin

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Sep 25, 2007, 12:58:53 AM9/25/07
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I know a guy who has pics from the inside of the Gold Mine in Michigan
City, IN from 1988. They still had some classics there then and a
Hercules pinball. I've been trying to get him to email me some since
we both used to go there in th 80's.

davep...@aol.com

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Sep 25, 2007, 11:27:29 AM9/25/07
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there used to be one @ elcon mall..I know an operator that had his
games in this location and he also has the "GOLD MINE" yellow entrance
signs in his warehouse ..Im sure he'd sell them they been there for
years

Alex Yeckley

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Sep 25, 2007, 5:21:48 PM9/25/07
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We had one in Sandusky, OH. Sorry, no pictures (they kind of all looked alike from the outside anyhow).

Alex
----
ayec...@elektronforge.com
www.elektronforge.com

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

DJMaxSmart86

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Sep 25, 2007, 6:57:36 PM9/25/07
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Hi,

We had a "Gold Mine" arcade in Cicero,NY at the "Marketplace Mall". It
was there that I learned to play "Cliff Hanger"
and "Firefox" as well as "Space Ace" and "Super Don Quix-Ote". They
had the local pop station on the sound system playing 80's standards.
Unfortuantely I never got any pictures but the memories still live on.

Zero dB

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Sep 26, 2007, 6:58:29 AM9/26/07
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That would be nirvana for me to be able to buy one of those
signs.......

The Gold Mine is the epicenterof all my fond childhood memories.
I've been planning for years to eventually replicate the sign if i
could ever find a picture.....

soni...@yahoo.com if he ever wants to come off one.....

Thanks for replying, gold mine may be gone but lives on with any of us
that spent time there...

Zero dB

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Sep 26, 2007, 7:03:38 AM9/26/07
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My Gold Mine in central IL (a little speed bump called
Bloomington/Normal (ISU campus town)) got turned into Tilt also,
grrrrrr

All of the soul and environment was stripped out, and crap games put
in

I think it may actually still be there, I moved awhile ago so not
sure..

Like you said, I too want to replicate an environment that feels
exactly as the gold mine did. I'm even planning on replicating the
rough hewn 4x4's framing the entrance, rock facade and sign (new or
repro, we'll see) when I build my arcade. A bit obsessive but who
among us isn't :)

0db

Zero dB

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Sep 26, 2007, 7:13:39 AM9/26/07
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On Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:58:53 -0700, Plisskin <scorpi...@yahoo.com>
wrote:

Now you have some others to back your claim..... who would be most
gracious to see those pics :)

Thank goodness for Rich's initial score..... I even went so far as to
post on my hometown craigslist looking for pics....

-0

mr.Grinch98

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Sep 26, 2007, 11:41:26 AM9/26/07
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On Sep 26, 6:13 am, Zero dB <n...@email.com> wrote:
> On Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:58:53 -0700, Plisskin <scorpioki...@yahoo.com>

I too have fond memories of the Gold Mine arcade, and my mame cab is
named after it. Anyway, here are some pics of a gutted out Gold
Mine....

http://www.pinballrebel.com/mall/pages/mall0304%20038.htm

Zero dB

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Sep 26, 2007, 4:23:09 PM9/26/07
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That just triggered more memories of how my Gold Mine was laid out....
thanks for the contribution! I only wish that they were raising and
not razing the Gold Mine in those pics :(
That's really cool that you named your mame cab after it! Once I'm
able to upgrade into a house with room, I plan to replicate the whole
damn arcade. Finding information and images on it is proving very
difficult though. This thread has been great, glad to see I'm not the
only one with fond memories of the place.

What I would not do to visit a Gold Mine right now and then stop by
the Woolworth's cafe for a burger afterwards...... sigh.

chicodj...@yahoo.com

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Sep 27, 2007, 4:13:22 PM9/27/07
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Sorry if this is a repost, or if I sent this to one of you directly.

Does anyone know what the dimensions and layout of the original Gold
Mines were. From the last pic, its clear to see that 2 rows of games
were placed along the walls. Did they have 2 more rows back to back
in the center isle or did they have 2 pairs of games back to back with
the screens facing the entrance, or did they just have it open with a
few sitdowns. Also, what do you think the width and length were. It
looks like it goes on forever. I looks at least 40 feet long. The
width could probably be estimated by using the timbers and the # of
units wide. Any thoughts or any solid info.

chicodj...@yahoo.com

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Sep 27, 2007, 4:42:53 PM9/27/07
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Well,
I measured the pic and did some calculating. Assuming the
timbers are 8" sqare, I got this as the layout from the wall. The two
center posts are approximately 5 feet apart "(59" by my count). Then
you have the 2 8" inner support timbers both of which are
approximately 30" from the wall. Which makes the distance from the
wall to the 2nd timbers 30". So the layout as walked accross the room
would be like this.

[8" timber][22"space][8" timber][60" of space][8" timber][22" space]
[8" timber]

So a standard 19" upright would fit snuggly beside the timbers with a
5 foot walkway down the middle isle. Adding up all the dimensions we
get a room approximately 11' 4" wide or maybe just 12 even for good
measure.

Assuming that the Timbers are laid out in a square fashion, you could
approximate that the distance between each set is also 12 feet. So
the room would be approximate 48' to 51' feet long. But I would still
like to have some measurements of someone for sure.

Matt J. McCullar

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Oct 4, 2007, 8:42:22 PM10/4/07
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I know for a fact that Hulen Mall in southwest Fort Worth had a Gold Mine
arcade back in the 1980s. The arcade is long gone, however. But perhaps if
you contact the mall they might have some photos stashed away somewhere.

"Zero dB" <n...@email.com> wrote in message
news:d8icf3pcbdio7m16j...@4ax.com...

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