How Londoners of all ages enjoyed themselves in amusement arcades

Before the days of video games such as Space Invaders and Asteroids at amusement arcades, there were still plenty of options for Britons with some spare change. 

And these remarkable photographs taken across arcades in London in December 1951 show how the British public used to enjoy a variety of coin-operated games including palm reading, pinball and even peep shows. 

The pictures show young off-duty soldiers playing on a game together, a tattooist waiting in his parlour for customers and a man counting through the day's takings with a bucket full of coins from slot machines. 

The amusements, also known as penny arcades, also featured love tester machines - and the venues were most often frequented by men and teenagers, although families could also enjoy a night out there together.

Also featured in the images - taken from the TopFoto historical archive - are young boys eyeing up prizes inside the Claw Crane game, and a woman fortune teller in a mystical-looking room peering into her crystal ball. 

Many grand theatres in seaside towns including Brighton and Blackpool became arcades in the 1960s before they really took off in 1970s with the launch of video games that helped bring in a new, younger crowd.

The pictures show how the arcades were popular in London as well by the seaside. They have suffered in recent decades thanks to home games consoles, but Namco Funscape in Waterloo is still a big draw in the capital.

Two women smile as they play the 'Cupid's Secret' slot machine at an amusement arcade in London in December 1951. People using the machine had to insert a penny before gripping the handle and squeeing it gently together to 'reveal your secret'

Two women smile as they play the 'Cupid's Secret' slot machine at an amusement arcade in London in December 1951. People using the machine had to insert a penny before gripping the handle and squeeing it gently together to 'reveal your secret'

The arcades were often frequented by people playing pinball, with a line of machines seen here at one in London in 1951. The machines can still be found at arcades today, but they were a much bigger draw before video games arrived in the 1970s

The arcades were often frequented by people playing pinball, with a line of machines seen here at one in London in 1951. The machines can still be found at arcades today, but they were a much bigger draw before video games arrived in the 1970s

A group of men and women enjoy the 'Folies Bergere' peep show machine, named after the cabaret hall in Paris of the same name. The machines might look out of place today, but were a common sight in arcades in the 1950s, predating adult cinemas

A group of men and women enjoy the 'Folies Bergere' peep show machine, named after the cabaret hall in Paris of the same name. The machines might look out of place today, but were a common sight in arcades in the 1950s, predating adult cinemas

The saucy 'Grip-Teze' was a slot machine which saw players try to make a woman's clothes vanish by testing their strength on two hand grips. Ratings range from 'well-covered' to 'Oh, boy' - with players told: 'The more you grip, the more you strip'

The saucy 'Grip-Teze' was a slot machine which saw players try to make a woman's clothes vanish by testing their strength on two hand grips. Ratings range from 'well-covered' to 'Oh, boy' - with players told: 'The more you grip, the more you strip'

A group of off-duty soldiers gather around the slot machines in the amusement arcade. A mat promoting the classic Indian cigarettes brand Gold Flake can be seen on the floor, and adverts for the upstairs 'Winchester Rifle Range' are on the glass

A group of off-duty soldiers gather around the slot machines in the amusement arcade. A mat promoting the classic Indian cigarettes

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