When I saw these vintage penny arcade machines at Portsmouth’s Historical Dockyard, it brought back so many happy childhood memories of going to the Southsea funfair with my parents. I loved the puppets so much and could remember exactly what would happen before I put my coin in. I am so happy to find that they still exist in a museum.
In response to the Weekly WordPress Photo Challenge: Fun
A coin in this machine has this “Laughing Sailor” belly-laughing so infectiously that the most grumpy person ends up chuckling to it.The machine reveals funny things that happen to “The Drunkard” (from erotic to nightmarish) in his dream as he crashes out in the beer cellarGhosts galore in “The Haunted Churchyard”An art nuevo machine with crane to attempt to catch sweets.“The Burglar” finds himself distracted by the fire cracking, the radio pipping, the victim snoring while he tries hard to listen to the clicks of the dial of the safe.
You have some wonderful street photography – makes me want to visit NY with its colourful wheatpasters. Found the photo of the abandoned play fort by the street kerb interesting.
We still have the cranes around, and I remember them from my own childhood, but the others are new to me. I know we had penny arcades at the carnivals, but they were somehow different. I think they were more games of chance, like pitching pennies into a dish, or shooting duckies for a prize. These look wonderful — it would be fun to see them do their thing.
The machines started in the Victorian times. Victorians were fond of seances and piers. People tend to like something old fashioned and British when they go to the seaside.
SNIPS & SNAPS 
I haven’t seen any of those apart from the crane. It wasn’t sweets, but fluffy animals.
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This is a unique and excellent take on the topic
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Thank you Abrie
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You have some wonderful street photography – makes me want to visit NY with its colourful wheatpasters. Found the photo of the abandoned play fort by the street kerb interesting.
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Absolutely brilliant.
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Ta!
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We still have the cranes around, and I remember them from my own childhood, but the others are new to me. I know we had penny arcades at the carnivals, but they were somehow different. I think they were more games of chance, like pitching pennies into a dish, or shooting duckies for a prize. These look wonderful — it would be fun to see them do their thing.
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These are quite British in their humour – but there were also fortune-tellers that gave out cards – those were universal.
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Lots of fun ways to take my money! But that first picture is almost a little scary!!!
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I agree it is spooky until the laugh is heard, then it becomes funny.
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They all look like fun; especially The Haunted Churchyard! Did you play any?
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Played them all twice. I loved the haunted churchyards (and haunted houses were always popular). I loved the ghosts and skeletons.
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How fun! I’m so jealous. We have nothing like those here. 😦
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The machines started in the Victorian times. Victorians were fond of seances and piers. People tend to like something old fashioned and British when they go to the seaside.
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Nostalgia plus! Great choices.
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Love your ‘fun’ collection especially that last one !
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Ha Ha
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