Ottumwa, Iowa Named 'Video Game Capital'

CHICAGO -- April 16, 1983 -  Ottumwa, Iowa is perhaps best known for being the fictional home town of Radar O'Reilly, a character from the popular TV series M*A*S*H, and also as the site of the Video Olympics which was featured in a recent segment of ABC-TV's That's Entertainment. As of March 19, however, this American city has achieved an additional distinction as "Video Game Capital of the world" by official proclamation of Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, the Amusement Game Manufacturers Association (AGMA) and Atari, Inc. (Cash Box, April 2)

The proclamation ceremonies took place at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 19 at the Twin Galaxies Arcade (833 Main Street, Ottumwa), home of the International Video Scoreboard, with an accompanying parade and a host of dignitaries present to mark the event.

The International Video Scoreboard has gained national acclaim as the one place in the country where video game champions can check the latest high scores on their favorite games. During competitions and other special events, the computerized scoreboard electronically displays the high scores on monitors covering one wall of the arcade.

During the Saturday morning ceremony, Atari (represented by Don Osborne, marketing vice president, coin video games division) and AGMA (represented by executive director Glenn Braswell) jointly honored Ottumwa Mayor Jerry Parker and Walter Day of Twin Galaxies for "providing a forum for the youth of Iowa to experience a play-oriented introduction to the computer age." AGMA's Braswell also presented Governor Branstad with an honorary membership in the association. The governor paid special tribute to Mayor Parker and Walter Day for "providing a forum for fun family entertainment."

Among other dignitaries participating in the event were Iowa senators Charles Grassley and Roger Jepson and Congressman Jim Leach, whose district includes Ottumwa.