Growing up in Milford, Conn., I spent an obscene amount of time (and tokens) at a video arcade called Gompers, located in the neighboring town of Orange.
So it was kind of exciting when, during the summer between my junior and senior years of college, I finally got grade-school Mark’s dream job: working at a video arcade. This one was called Milford Amusement Center, and in addition to dozens of games, it also boasted a (smoky) pool hall, bumper rides, and an assortment of carnival games. The place’s motto was “We’ve got the fun,” which was incorporated into the lyrics of its corny TV jingle:
