New business offers classic arcade games sales and rental

With titles ranging from Paper Boy to Space Harrier to Super Mario Bros., all fans of '80s arcade games will have a place to play.

By KEVIN KOLOIAN
Updated: 09.23.09
When Totally Amused Classic Arcade opens its doors on October 5, a world of childhood memories will reopen to the over 30 crowd that grew up on video games of the ‘80s.

Located at 19333 I 59 South in Humble, the business has over 100 classic arcade games and pinball machines for sale and event rentals.

It will also be open the second and third weekend of every month on Saturday and Sunday where people can play all day for a $15 fee and kids up to the age of 12 can play free.

“I played all of these games as a kid and always wanted to own my own arcade,” said co-owner Brian Steinberg, of Spring. “The thing that sparked the business is that people come over my partner’s place or mine and they want to play the games all day. They can’t believe they still exist because they haven’t seen them in so many years. It’s fun to help people get that experience.”

Steinberg and co-owner Callen Hendrix, an arcade game technician from Humble, has been planning on opening Totally Amused Classic Arcade since May, but Steinberg had the idea for the last 25 years.

Hendrix had about 20 machines stored at the location with some at restaurants and bars, and almost all the rest were at Steinberg’s house.

“About four years ago, my wife got me a ‘Punch Out’ game and she wanted ‘Centipede.’ Then it became kind of an addiction,” Steinberg explained. “You just start buying them. You remember this game and that game and you got to have them all.”

Working in advertising, Steinberg said he would love to turn the business into a full time job.

“Starting small, the goal isn’t so much about selling the games but to allow people to come in and play games from years ago,” Steinberg said. “It’s fun to see their childhood memories come poring back to them within five minutes of walking through the door.”

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Industries encouraged to plan for accident response

MARK FLEMING

Updated: 09.22.09
The state of Texas and the Coast Guard are encouraging industries to plan ahead for what role, if any, volunteers may play in responding to industrial or ecological accidents involving their facilities.

Maren Harding, an oil spill response officer for the Texas General Land Office, told the Southeast Regional Local Emergency Response Committee the request was driven by a California oil spill in which people volunteering to assist in the cleanup instead became a hindrance in the effort.

Speaking at the group’s Monday meeting, she said planning in advance of catastrophic events is the only way to effectively use available resources and prevent problems.

David Gray, of the group’s Emergency Warning System committee, said they are working with the Pasadena Municipal Channel to produce a public information segment about notifications in instances of industrial accidents.

The Southeast Regional Local Emergency Response Committee brings citizens, industry and local government together to plan for and coordinate responses to chemical emergencies.

It includes the cities of Pasadena, El Lago, Seabrook and Taylor Lake Village.

Actor Patrick Swayze Dies; Houston Native Had Battled Cancer

LOS ANGELES (September 14, 2009)—“Dirty Dancing” actor Patrick Swayze, 57, has lost his yearlong battle with pancreatic cancer.

Swayze died Monday with his family at his side, his publicist Annett Wolf said.

In March 2008, it was disclosed that the Houston native had been diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

Despite the grim prognosis, Swayze continued to work on the A&E series “The Beast,” in which he starred, although he said the cancer put him “through hell.”

Swayze became a star in 1987 with his performance in the coming-of-age classic “Dirty Dancing.”

Three years later, his role in “Ghost” made him a big screen favorite.

Patrick Swayze was born on August 18, 1952 in Houston, Texas, the eldest child of Patsy Yvonne Helen (née Karnes; b. 1927), a choreographer, dance instructor, and dancer, and Jessie Wayne Swayze (1925-1982), an engineering draftsman.[6][7] He had two younger brothers, actor Don (born 1958) and Sean Kyle (born 1962), and two sisters, Vicky Lynn (1949-1994) and Bambi, who were adopted into the family.[8] His surname originated with an English immigrant ancestor named "Swasey".[7]
Until the age of 20,

Swayze lived in the Oak Forest neighborhood of Houston, where he attended St. Rose of Lima Catholic School, Oak Forest Elementary School,[9] Black Middle School,[9][10] and Waltrip High School.[9] During this time, he also pursued multiple artistic and athletic skills, such as ice skating, classical ballet, and acting in school plays. He studied gymnastics at nearby San Jacinto College for two years.

Patrick Swayze on Wkipedia.