The Memory Machine: Recent Episodes
Nathaniel Lockhart
Welcome to the Memory Machine, a podcast all about the pop cultural of the past, from the 1890's to the 1990's, and beyond. Each topic has on a guest or three, going through its history and discussing our personal experiences and views on it.
Host Nate Lockhart has been interested in all these old things for as long as he can remember, and is pretty excited to get out all this info out of his brain for a productive purpose.
On this edition of the Memory Machine Podcast, Nate is joined by Lindsey Kurano, curator of electronic games at the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, NY! Lindsey talks all about what makes up her job, as well as her approach and philosophy that she brings to the role. Also featured: silent film side-tracks!
Ready to get granular with your Godzilla history? Because our hosts and his guests sure are! Learn with us about the history of Godzilla on television and home media as they travel through the years of VHS, Super 8, DVD, and laserdisc, as well as their own personal memories.
Couple of corrections: I said on the podcast that Godzilla vs. Megalon was released in the US post-Star Wars, and that isn't true. It was released one year earlier, in 1976. Godzilla vs Gigan (re-titled "Godzilla on Monster Island"), however, was released shortly after Star Wars in in the US in 1977, not showing up in the majority of markets until 1978. The Showa-era films had semi-regular rotation in small theaters and drive-ins until 1981!
The other correction has to do with Vampira. I stated in the episode that she was a New York horror host; she was actually in Los Angeles.
The music I used for the corrections comes from Kweer Kaiju on YouTube, and they have these INCREDIBLE synth covers of classic Godzilla soundtrack tunes!
Please check out Justin's work on his YouTube channel, Video Game Docs!
Tell Aaron to make a website!
You can follow Nate on Bluesky, Instagram, and Mastodon.
Hey all - just a quick update on what's been going on with me and why you haven't seen a whole heck of a lot of activity regarding the podcast. Don't worry, it's nothing serious! Ethan Johnson also joins for a brief discussion about the Midwest Gaming Classic, and how it's so much fun!
For about 30 years, video rentals were a part of everyday life for anyone who owned a TV set. It allowed us to watch and re-watch our favorite movies at our leisure, discover new favorites through combing the aisles, and chat up the clerks for recommendations. To talk about these pastimes, Nick Ryan joins the podcast to talk about the history of video rental, as well as his own experiences working at such a store and being the son of owners of a local video store chain.
If you have any fun, specific memories of the old rental stores, please tell us!
You can follow host Nate Lockhart on Mastodon, BlueSky, and Instagram.
Nick Ryan can be found on BlueSky, Instagram, and Mastodon.
You know, those things that we watch stuff on? Where did they come from? Who invented it? And what do they have to do with fax machines? All these things and more will be answered as guest Ethan Johnson returns to uncover the mystery. There's a lot of fascinating examples of the things we're talking about in this podcast, so make sure to check out some of the links in the show notes!
There were home computers BEFORE the Altair 8800 and even the Kenbak-1? It's true! Even in the computer's earliest days, attempts (some successful!) were made to bring the concepts of computing to experimenters and hobbyists at home. Large, expensive analog computers could be had for the serious experimenter with cash to burn, and for those just looking to explore basic concepts, cheaper methods, some even involving paperclips and empty thread spools, could make computing come alive. In this episode, Jason Dyer returns to the podcast to discuss all of these wonderful, clever early devices and give them their due.
Be sure to check out Jason's INCREDIBLE blog at Renga in Blue!
As always, you can fine Nate on Mastodon, Instagram, and Twitter.
LOTS of show notes on this one, so please, check all of this out!
This month on the Memory Machine, Nate has on guest Connie Joyce to talk about her job in the parts department at Williams Electronics/WMS in the late 80's and early 90's! It's not always fun and games working at a pinball factory, but to hear Connie tell the story, it seems like it almost was. Reminisce about pinball favorites such as Black Knight 2000 and Pin-Bot as Connie regales us with stories of eccentric artists, forklifts, and tamales!
It's been a bit, but we're back just in time for some Halloween fun! For the first time in years, Nate is welcoming back guests Seth and Trey to talk about some of their favorite horror films that may have been forgotten, overlooked, or underseen. Hopefully there's a few choices here that are new to you that will be good recommendations for your own Halloween horror watches!
Come see Trey with the Buffalo Comedy Collective! Upcoming events are on the website.
Seth performs with the band Spud all over Western New York. See them October 27th at Nietzsches! Also be sure to check out the burlesque troupe he's with, The Glam Vamps.
As for Nate, you can follow him on Twitter and Instagram.
And hey - if you wanna throw a few coins in the 'ol coffer - check out the Patreon! Eh?
On this edition of the Memory Machine, host Nathaniel Lockhart has on prolific author, historian, and YouTube host Steve Massa to help teach us about how wide the breadth of humor truly was in the silent era. If all you know is Chaplin, Keaton, and (maybe) Harold Lloyd, prepare to be amazed at how deep this iceberg goes! You'll learn about styles of humor other than slapstick that were prevalent in the era, be frustrated that somehow, Charley Chase never had a feature film, and stare off in the distance with befuddlement as Steve explains the Dippy-Doo-Dads! Just as advertised in this week's Moving Picture World!*
Be sure to check out the monthly Silent Comedy Watch Party on Sundays at 3PM EST! Heck, you can watch some past episodes RIGHT NOW
You can find Steve's books on Amazon, including his most recent one on Roscoe Arbuckle (and be sure to keep an eye out for the next installment of Lame Brains and Lunatics!)
You can follow host Nate Lockhart on Twitter and on Instagram.
*Advertisement not actually published in this week's Moving Picture World. Also, this week's Moving Picture World has not been printed due to the publication's closing some 95 years ago.
This month on the Memory Machine, Nate talks with guests Dustin, Jonas and Cyo all about their adventures in vintage console and computing repair. Thrill at the exploits of fault-finding triumph! Recoil in fear over tales of leaky, exploded capacitors! Shake your head at dumb, rookie mistakes! All this and more has been carefully recorded for your listening pleasure!
Check out Dustin Hubbard's prolific scanning work at the Gaming Alexandria website, follow the Twitter, and join the Discord!
Find out more about Jonas' work at Hit Save! They have a fun Discord group too!
And be sure to follow Cyo's work on Twitter, as well as supporting his Patreon!
You can find the host, Nate Lockhart on Twitter and Instagram.
For this episode of the podcast, Nate has on Jason Dyer to talk about the wide and wonderful world of interactive fiction, from its nascent period with "game books" all the way up to present day interactive fiction competitions. Jason Dyer is a prolific blogger on the topic of interactive fiction, and his blog Renga in Blue is a testament to his passion. Check it out - there's a lot to discover in there!
You can follow host Nate Lockhart on Twitter with @nate_lockhart and on Instagram with @nathaniel.lockhart.
Show notes:
- Consider the Consequences
- Description of Solo Naughts and Crosses on Twitter
- Jason's blog post series "Before Adventure"
- Wander
- William Crowther's original Adventure (pre-Woods)
- They Create Worlds episode on Infocom and Adventure International
- Aisle by Sam Barlow
- Counterfeit Monkey by Emily Short
For this month's episode, we have on Joe Strostrider from Joe's Computer Museum to help walk us through the far-reaching world of the Apple II. Why is the Apple II such a big deal? If I'm going to grab one, which one should I get? And how the hell does one make a new floppy disk in 2022? These questions and many more are answered in this thorough, yet succinct (well, we hope) podcast!
Follow Joe on Twitter and Instagram!
Check out Joe's shop here!
And if you haven't yet, do check out his YouTube channel. If you like old computers, his channel is a must-watch!
I'm scheduling some new recordings for January! Finally! But hey, why not enjoy this blast from the past as well?
The origins of baseball, America's most cherished pastime, are often seen obscured through a magical fog of legend and myth - and we're sick of it! Alex Smith (writer of They Create Worlds and host of the They Create Worlds podcast) helps Nate separate fact from fiction on this whirlwind tour of the early history of baseball. Did baseball really come from a British game called rounders? When did they decide on three strikes and four balls? And is there a lazier team name than the "Portland Portlanders"? Find your seat in the grandstand, hunker down with your favorite boiled meat snack, and enjoy this sporting episode of the Memory Machine!
Buy Alex's book here! It's great! And be sure to check out the accompanying podcast They Create Worlds. It's also great!
You can find host Nate Lockhart on Twitter at @Nate_Lockhart and on Instagram @nathaniel.lockhart.
Special shoutout to Dutch chiptune composer RoccoW, who graciously allowed me to use his track “FamiFunk Over Breakfast” as the theme for this episode. Check him out on Spotify – Soundcloud – Youtube – Facebook – Twitter .
Well, this is quite a departure from the last several episodes, eh? This week on the show, Nate is joined by Kate Lockhart and Molly Burke to talk about the 2001 cult favorite JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS, what it had to say about the pop culture of the era, and how its satire is viewed a bit differently twenty years on.
Molly can be found on Instagram at @merly_burke.
Katie can be found on Twitter at @lock_kate_hart, and you can look up the work she's doing for the Western New York Law Center here.
You can find host Nate Lockhart on Twitter at @Nate_Lockhart and on Instagram @nathaniel.lockhart.
Special shoutout to Dutch chiptune composer RoccoW, who graciously allowed me to use his track “FamiFunk Over Breakfast” as the theme for this episode. Check him out on Spotify – Soundcloud – Youtube – Facebook – Twitter .
This week, Ethan Johnson returns as we talk about the next great chapter in arcade game history: the birth of Pinball (or Pigeonhole, if you must). It's a big topic with an appropriately long runtime, so get ready to fill your ears with a lot of ballyhoo! (pun is ABSOLUTELY intended.)
Ethan excellent blog is The History of How We Play.
You can follow Ethan on Twitter at @GameResearch_E.
And here’s a trailer for the documentary series Ethan is working on, Arcade Dreams:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/a-s7thpmdIA?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en&autohide=2&wmode=transparent
And be sure to join the fun with the two of us on the Gaming Alexandria Discord!
You can follow Nate on Twitter @Nate_Lockhart and on Instagram @nathaniel.lockhart.
Special shoutout to Dutch chiptune composer RoccoW, who graciously allowed me to use his track “FamiFunk Over Breakfast” as the theme for this episode. Check him out on Spotify – Soundcloud – Youtube – Facebook – Twitter .
This week on the Memory Machine, Nate has on the stalwart archiver par excellence and grand potentate of the Gaming Alexandria website, Dustin Hubbard to talk about adventures in scanning magazine, dumping ROMs for obscure computers, and even grumble a little bit about copyright law.
Please check out the Gaming Alexandria website to check out some of the fascinating things mentioned on this week's episode, not to mention a host of other, equally fascinating material!
You can follow the goings on of Dustin and Gaming Alexandria by following them on Twitter at @GamingAlexandri (sic)! Also, join the Discord and yak our ears off about old video games, which you can find a link to on the Gaming Alexandria website.
You can follow host Nate on Twitter at @Nate_Lockhart, or on Instagram at @nathaniel.lockhart.
The Memory Machine becomes a roundtable this week as four luminaries join Nate on the podcast to discuss the underappreciated world of 70's arcade video games, and the trials and travails in having them properly preserved. Guests include such authors and creators as Ethan Johnson (The History of How We Play, Arcade Dreams), Kate Willaert (A Critical Hit!), Dale Geddis (QuarterPast on Twitter), and Kevin Bunch (Atari Archive).
And if you have any materials related to the topic that you'd like to have preserved and/or archived, be sure to visit Gaming Alexandria, the Video Game History Foundation, or the Strong Museum!
Be sure to follow these fine folks on Twitter! Ethan - @GameResearch_E, Kate - @katewillaert, Dale - @QuarterPast83, Kevin - @ubersaurus, and Nate - @Nate_Lockhart (@nathaniel.lockhart on Instagram).
This week on the Memory Machine, two very special guests, Ryan Claytor and Nick Baldridge of the Coin-Op Carnival comic magazine, talk all about their joint publication, amazing pinball (and non-pinball) related projects, and their shared love of electro mechanical amusements. You'll learn about bingo pinball! You'll find out how pinball can be really fun even without flippers! You'll buy a copy of Coin-Op Carnival!
Complete show notes at memorymachinepod.com!
This week on the podcast, Nate is joined by pinball enthusiast and owner Caitlyn Pascal to discuss the ins and outs of buying and owning pinball machines. What should you look for in buying a pinball machine? What should you be wary of? What is the process of maintaining and troubleshooting these things when something goes wrong? All these things and more are discussed on this week's edition of the podcast.
You can find Caitlyn's blog here.
You can follow host Nate Lockhart on Twitter and Instagram.
This week on the Memory Machine, host Nate Lockhart chats with (former) Herschel Carrousel Factory Museum Director Megan Hahin! That's right, it took so long to get the Memory Machine back up to running that since the time of this recording, that Megan Hahin has since taken a position with the nearby Buffalo History Museum, and Ian K. Seppala has stepped into the director's role (perhaps an interview with him lies in the future?). In any case, the gem of this North Tonawanda museum remains, and Megan Hahin is here to talk about it, as well as Western New York's role in fairground amusement history.
Be sure to follow the museum's doings on Facebook and Instagram, and make sure to visit if you happen to be in Western New York!
You can follow host Nate Lockhart on Twitter and Instagram.
This week on the Memory Machine podcast, Nate is joined by Jim and Sean of the Pie Factory Podcast to heap praise upon the near-forgotten yet much beloved console, the Atari 7800. We talk about the highs! (Food Fight! homebrews!) We talk about the lows! (Hat Trick! Bad business decisions!) And the in-between! (Ninja Golf?) It's all here on the newest episode of the Memory Machine, recommended by the experts!
Check out Sean and Jim's excellent podcast, The Pie Factory Podcast!
You can follow Nate on Twitter @Nate_Lockhart and on Instagram @nathaniel.lockhart.
Special shoutout to Dutch chiptune composer RoccoW, who graciously allowed me to use his track “FamiFunk Over Breakfast” as the theme for this episode. Check him out on Spotify – Soundcloud – Youtube – Facebook – Twitter .
Arcade and video game historian Ethan Johnson joins Nate on this episode of the podcast to talk all about the penny arcades of the 1890's to the 1920's. That's right, even before pinball! In the era of gaslight, vaudeville and the cylinder phonograph, automation came to public entertainment in the penny arcade. These establishments offered all manner of amusing gadgets, including (but not limited to) miniature mechanical soccer, electroshock machines, target shooting, and that slot-machine-in-disguise, the trade stimulator. So put a penny in the mechanical virtuoso, it's time for the Memory Machine!
On this week's grand relaunch of the Memory Machine podcast, Nate has on video game historian Kevin Bunch to talk about his work with the Atari Archive video series on YouTube, along with his other research projects involving the RCA Studio II and the Bally Professional Arcade (aka Astrocade). Check out memorymachinepod.com for more!