The Issue Of Video Licenses-June 9, 1981

Selectmen Hold Tight Line On Amusement Arcade Growth At Town Center

The flashing, colorful monitors of modern electronic amusement devices have drawn a sharp regulatory boundary through the center of town. At the Norwood Sport Center on Cottage Street, teenage players like Alan Sweeney and Brian Fitzhenry, both of Westwood, regularly crowd around high-tech video simulation cabinets. For a single quarter, patrons can sit inside the integrated cockpit of a Monaco GP racing unit or test their reflexes against hit electronic titles like Battlezone, Asteroids, Berzerk, and Space Invaders, alongside traditional mechanical pinball machines. However, while these 13 coin-operated devices operate legally under town licenses, local business owners seeking to duplicate this profitable atmosphere near the Town Square are encountering severe resistance from the Board of Selectmen.

Within the past two weeks, the board voted unanimously to deny electronic amusement licenses to a retail storefront located directly adjacent to the Norwood Cinema in the downtown theater block, as well as an application for the Rama Norwood Shopping Center at 884 Washington St. Furthermore, a recent application submitted by the Headquarters Cafe, located at 1053 Washington St in South Norwood, seeking permission to install just two video games, resulted in a 2-2 tie vote, effectively defeating the petition.

The division on the board stems from contrasting philosophies regarding municipal preservation and commercial growth. Selectman Walter J. Dempsey expressed strong concern over allowing an arcade atmosphere to develop in the immediate vicinity of the Town Square and Town Hall, describing the central district as a vital civic showplace that would suffer a cheapening effect if video rooms were permitted. Selectman Thomas A. Riolo concurred with the geographical restriction, suggesting that while automated games might be acceptable inside a local barroom or situated out along the highway, they do not belong in the heart of the uptown business district. This sentiment is reinforced by a pending federal-state revitalization initiative, which will allocate an estimated $1 million to upgrade the uptown commercial corridors—an investment Walter J. Dempsey argues would be undermined by welcoming amusement arcades.

Beyond aesthetics, board members raised concerns regarding crowd supervision and the nature of the software. Multiple selectmen noted that while a business manager might maintain internal control, monitoring congregating crowds outside properties falls heavily upon the town police department. Selectman Chairman John F. Kinnaly and Selectman Walter J. Dempsey both voted in favor of the Headquarters Cafe request, viewing low-volume adult entertainment in a barroom as a harmless business opportunity for keepers. Conversely, John F. Kinnaly remains strongly opposed to downtown arcades, warning that a sweep of video fever is causing local youth to spend all of their money on these machines.

Selectmen William F. Butters and William J. Plasko maintain a more foundational opposition to the amusement trend. William F. Butters questioned whether the electronic programs offer any constructive entertainment value, warning that unmanaged machines can degenerate into unlicenced gambling operations. William J. Plasko stated that the games tend to breed trouble, adding that while small local vendors may be reputable, he holds deep reservations regarding the broader corporate amusement industry behind them. Throughout his nearly three years on the board, William J. Plasko has voted only once to approve an amusement device—a single recreational machine designated for residential trainees inside the Factory Mutual training center on Route 1.

By contrast, the established game room at the Norwood Sport Center avoids civic pushback because John F. Kinnaly and the board view the machines as strictly incidental to the primary bowling lanes. The property owner, Charles Kuietauskas, maintains an excellent reputation among town officials for running a highly controlled operation. To ensure safety and oversight, a small closed-circuit television monitor is mounted directly at the main bowling manager’s desk, allowing staff to constantly supervise the games room.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger