In 1976, BART turned this station into an arcade

By Peter Hartlaub on February 11, 2015 4:26 AM

When BART could be fun, instead of the no nonsense, no internet fortress mentality it is now. - TGFP.

Imagine, for a minute, what it must have been like to be a 6-year-old at the Powell Street BART station on Dec. 1, 1976.

You’re getting dropped off by mom, and because it’s 1976 your parents are divorced and you’re going to ride the train by yourself to dad’s bachelor pad in Berkeley. Except instead of an empty platform, this time there’s a shiny black kiosk with (not one but) six Atari arcade games.

If you were there, I have to think this remains among the greatest days of your life. I mean, you can have more kids. The window to play Le Mans at BART was once-in-a-lifetime.

This is not an urban myth. For a few months in 1976 and 1977, BART experimented with fundraising by placing an arcade on a platform. I found the story a couple of years ago, during an archive search for video game arcade photos, and recently dug up the Chronicle article.

We can discuss below.

Sadly, the “BART keeps your nightlife moving” campaign didn’t last long.

I couldn’t find a follow-up article explaining what happened to the games, although I did find some Powell Street BART photos from later in 1977 and the games are gone. This being BART, there are a myriad of possibilities, ranging from a strike from the arcade game maintenance crew to excrement getting caught in the machines.

(If you worked for BART at the time and can add some insight, please e-mail me at phartlaub@sfchronicle.com.)

One thing is certain: It’s time for them to come back. Cars seem to be more packed, that annoying “Squeeee!” sound of the tracks is only getting louder and the last labor dispute taxed rider patience to the limit. Despite the new seat-covers, being a passenger on BART is developing more of a “Snowpiercer” vibe.

When I go to the station, nobody ever looks like this …

Now granted the photo was taken in the 1970s, when Dorothy Hamill haircuts, kick-ass fu manchu mustache/pompadour combos and super-comfortable sweaters (I’m pretty sure that’s made from Mr. Snuffleupagus hide) were commonplace. But look at the pure joy on the faces here. How is this idea not a slam dunk?

Bring the games back, BART. And make sure they’re the old school ones, not some lame Farmville III tie-in with Zynga.

Bring the games back, BART. Need money for purchase and repair of the games? Just fire your marketing staff. If you had an arcade on your platform, you wouldn’t need to worry about branding.

Bring the games back, BART. Because somewhere in 2015, there’s a 6-year-old who deserves to dream.