In 1978, at Freddy Fongs Takeaway shop in Reevesby, Sydney, he had 3 x sitdown cocktail cabinets delivered for the small arcade room out back on the same day.
It also had the one x Williams 1978 Phoenix Pinball installed as well. It also, was very busy and got emptied every arvo because it was full. There were always about 20 to 30 kids inside n outside, waiting for games, with 20 peoples names n coins waiting in turn on the cocktail tables and the pinny machine.
It was packed from 7am til 8pm 7 days a week. Alot of kids would regulary skip school one or two days a week and hang there all day playing the machines n having fun. The chineese owner didnt mind, provided u didnt act like an idiot, keep things quiet, bought his lollies n drinks, and made sure there were never fights over who's turn it was. If anyone started any crap, the bigger kids (14 - 15 yr olds) would play prefect and look after the place. freddy was smart, he gave the bigger kids a can of coke to keep watch and make sure his arcade game was respected and looked after. In 1978, chineese business owners in Sydney were very rare, and this guy I still think to this day, was a very smart friendly man.
He always gave the kids extra lollies, always happily gave change, and would always pop in and say hello to the kids outback and some times give some of us some extra 20 cent coins to play with cause he was a smart operator. Remembering also, that 20 cents back in that day bought you a chocolate paddle pop icecream, which means the 20 cents back then was worth probably more than a dollar really, pro-rata if not more. (remember how the chocolate paddle pop icecreams used to be much BIGGER, and how piss poor and shrunken they have become today !). Yep, Freddy was making some serious $$ in those days. probably a few grand a week in todays terms. Very successful indeed I would say. !
I remember, the owner Freddy Fong, would have to come out every 4 hours and empty the machines, because every cocktail table was chock o block full of 20 cent coins every 4 hours. I reckon they would have held apx $80 each in coins, cause I remember Freddy would send his wife accross the bank accross the road, and she would always bring back $80 in cash notes for the large bag of 20 cent coins she would take accross. I reckon he was making alot of money from that store, and i say good luck to him for being a smart business man who really looked after the local kids. He was a very popular shop owner. All the adults liked him because he opened early, shut late, and allowed kids in his shop out back for many hours.
Yep, fond memories of Freddy Fongs Takeaway store that I will always remember fondly. I was so glad last year I could buy a 1978 Phoenix Pinball from Blair(Pintoxicated) on the AP forum, That machine brings back the best of childhood memories. Great fun. Great memories. Everyone loves those 1978 sitdown cocktail tables for the same reasons I think.
