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January 27, 2008
Photo Essay: We're Gonna Have Fun, Fun, Fun!
Detail of creepy-cool clown mural painted by "Wizard" in 1975, which marks the entrance to fun!
A few weeks back I promised to continue the photo essay of my next-door neighbor, the Redondo Beach Pier, where there is always something weird and wonderful to see and do. The Fun Factory is the next best thing to a cheesy, down-the-shore/midway arcade. Sure, Santa Monica Pier has its Ferris wheel, calliope and similar games of chance, but The Fun Factory has such an extensive jumble of bizarre coin operated artifacts, games, kiddy rides, crane machines, fortune tellers, pinball machines, vintage video games and whatever else you can think to stick a token into, that it just wins the prize for coolest, redemption palace in LA county. "Redemption" is how they describe those novelty amusements that devour all your laundry money. By the way, this 300+ game space can be enjoyed even on the most blustery of days, as it is an indoor attraction. Neener-neener-neener, SM Pier!
Those of us raised in the South Bay recall being dropped off there with a fist full of quarters on lazy summer afternoons, while the folks grabbed a cocktail at Old Tony's. (Okay, child endangerment laws were different then.) As packs of teens we might spend first dates "trying" to sneak into the Starboard Attitude bar, but ending up playing Ms. Packman or Donkey Kong amidst the din of robot voices and the swirl of day-glow color.
Even though it's meant to be a kid friendly establishment, I think The Factory is a highly entertaining and trippy place to take a date. Nothing spells love like whipping some dude's ass...at air hockey. Of course, then you have to let them win at skee-ball. Anybody who can actually win you something from a wedges & ledges table...well, that's a true test of...worthiness. Attached to the arcade is a pretty decent seafood restaurant where you can grab a tasty nosh between making goo-goo eyes and cashing in your tokens. Talk about yer one stop shoppin.
Vaguely unnerving clown murals aside, hold on to your quarters and prepare to enjoy as much amusement as you can stand--after the jump!
The Fun Factory is located at 123 International Boardwalk, Redondo Beach Pier, Redondo Beach, CA (310) 374-9982. They'll validate on weekdays.
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I've stumbled over from Najas to this place several times. A few things missing from the photos.
First, the arcade version of Michael Jackson's "Moonwalker" that's playable.
Second, a shot of the amazingly awful prizes you can win with your tickets. Last time I was there, they were offering a 6-foot, tin windmill and some sort of Virgin Mary, 3D motion wall art.
[ report this ]
I've stumbled over from Najas to this place several times. A few things missing from the photos.
First, the arcade version of Michael Jackson's "Moonwalker" that's playable.
Second, a shot of the amazingly awful prizes you can win with your tickets. Last time I was there, they were offering a 6-foot, tin windmill and some sort of Virgin Mary, 3D motion wall art.
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The Tilt-a-Whirl is one of the greatest rides on earth. I don't know if this one is set faster than others, but there is a magical moment, after 5 spins or so where you hit a spot that swings you so hard it is like a g-force, trapping you motionless back against the seat. I wish I could go on this ride right now.
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Yep, I could snap pictures there all day long. Seriously, if you are a better photog than moi and are looking for weird ass stuff to shoot, its a great place. The lighting is a little odd and reflective (so take the auto flash off) and snap away. They also have things hanging from the rafters like dummy legs, skeletons, halloween and christmas decorations, disco balls and all kinds of weird signs. I didn't even think of the prizes because, like in most of these joints they are incredibly tacky. I recall winning balled up t-shirts (In one of the those crane like machines) with jack daniels and budweiser logos on them in x-sm sizes (for kids?) back in the day. That's a whole other post.