Showcase – A Father’s Gameroom

As long as Scott Edling can remember, his father, Jerry, has been planning and perfecting his game room. Amassing a gameroom that you’re satisfied with can take some time. A game here, a decoration there – it seems that one can spend hours and hours trying to make it perfect.  For a father and son, those hours are time well spent – together.

Jerry Edling’s gameroom has been a work-in-progress ever since he borrowed a “3 on the tree” pickup truck, despite not knowing how to drive it, all to pick up a jukebox to put into his Mom’s basement. Scott says that his Dad’s Rock-Ola 1442 jukebox, which is still in Jerry’s gameroom all these years later, is more than decorative and functional –its sentimental. It’s the exact jukebox Scott’s Mom and Dad danced to in Salem’s “memorial” building where they grew up.

Jerry’s son Scott tells us about growing up with a Dad who loved games:

Many of the games (in Jerry’s gameroom) were gotten on adventures together and others have been in the Family ever since I can remember. As I grew up as a 80’s child, he always seemed to have a quarter for me for a game of Space Invaders, Seawolf, Pacman, or Asteroids – which back then were everywhere. I remember a Space Invaders and Seawolf even on top of Stone Mountain! Arcade machines have always been big in my family, and I already see the joy in MY kids with them now. I wanted to feature his gameroom for him for Father’s day as he has always been a great inspiration to me.

Coca-cola signs and decorations, jukeboxes, and checkered tile floor give the main gameroom area a classic 50’s diner feel. The pool room lends itself to more of a “Jimmy Buffet”-style room due in part to the amazing bar that Jerry built himself by hand. While the vibe is definitely 50’s-themed, that doesn’t exclude more modern games from being part of the mix. In addition to classic EM games, Jerry has several solid state pinball machines like Diner, Cyclone, and Comet, and even a few video arcade games like Duck Hunt and Capcom Bowling to appease the 80’s generation.

I think all of us who collect games, do so because we have fond memories of happy times playing the games or good experiences growing up when life was more care free. Growing up with a father who loves games has certainly provided Scott with plenty of happy memories. In fact, he now has a gameroom of his own that he can share with his children, Jerry’s grandchildren. Scott tells us about his Dad’s gameroom,

For me the best part of his games is the stories and memories they each contain that we have shared over the years. So Happy Father’s Day to my Dad! My favorite Gameroom Junkie!

 

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