The Memory Machine

What would you think is the first 'personal computer'? I'm sure a lot of folks would say the Apple II, or at least would suggest Apple as having created a very early computer. Maybe if you know some computer history, you might suggest the Altair 8800, MITS' groundbreaking offering from 1975. Folks really deep in the weeds might say the Kenbak-1 from 1971, a discrete logic hobby computer that sold low numbers. But... did you know about attempts earlier than that? And what even is a 'personal computer' anyway? A whole year in the making... prepare to get navel gaze-y on this episode of the Memory Machine!

Follow Jason Dyer on Bluesky, and please, for the love of SCELBI, read his blog.

You can follow Nate on Bluesky and Instagram. Patronize his new business, Lockhart Electronics!

Check out Kate Willaert on Bluesky, and watch her amazing YouTube channel, A Critical Hit!

Listen to Alex Smith's podcast They Create Worlds, and check out the book of the same name!

Follow Ethan Johnson on Bluesky, and be on the lookout for his new book on Sega/Gremlin coming out soon! Also, check out his amazing YouTube series, and his incredible blog.

F_T_B can be found on Bluesky, and if you have any interest in Japanese computer obscura, you must watch his YouTube series.

Dale doesn't have a book or a YouTube series, or a podcast, but he should. Follow him on Bluesky!

On this edition of the Memory Machine Podcast, Nate is joined by Lindsey Kurano, curator of electronic games at the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, NY! Lindsey talks all about what makes up her job, as well as her approach and philosophy that she brings to the role. Also featured: silent film side-tracks!

Ready to get granular with your Godzilla history? Because our hosts and his guests sure are! Learn with us about the history of Godzilla on television and home media as they travel through the years of VHS, Super 8, DVD, and laserdisc, as well as their own personal memories.

Couple of corrections: I said on the podcast that Godzilla vs. Megalon was released in the US post-Star Wars, and that isn't true. It was released one year earlier, in 1976. Godzilla vs Gigan (re-titled "Godzilla on Monster Island"), however, was released shortly after Star Wars in in the US in 1977, not showing up in the majority of markets until 1978. The Showa-era films had semi-regular rotation in small theaters and drive-ins until 1981!

The other correction has to do with Vampira. I stated in the episode that she was a New York horror host; she was actually in Los Angeles.

The music I used for the corrections comes from Kweer Kaiju on YouTube, and they have these INCREDIBLE synth covers of classic Godzilla soundtrack tunes!

Please check out Justin's work on his YouTube channel, Video Game Docs!

Tell Aaron to make a website!

You can follow Nate on Bluesky, Instagram, and Mastodon.

Hey all - just a quick update on what's been going on with me and why you haven't seen a whole heck of a lot of activity regarding the podcast. Don't worry, it's nothing serious! Ethan Johnson also joins for a brief discussion about the Midwest Gaming Classic, and how it's so much fun!

For about 30 years, video rentals were a part of everyday life for anyone who owned a TV set. It allowed us to watch and re-watch our favorite movies at our leisure, discover new favorites through combing the aisles, and chat up the clerks for recommendations. To talk about these pastimes, Nick Ryan joins the podcast to talk about the history of video rental, as well as his own experiences working at such a store and being the son of owners of a local video store chain.

If you have any fun, specific memories of the old rental stores, please tell us!

You can follow host Nate Lockhart on Mastodon, BlueSky, and Instagram.

Nick Ryan can be found on BlueSky, Instagram, and Mastodon.

You know, those things that we watch stuff on? Where did they come from? Who invented it? And what do they have to do with fax machines? All these things and more will be answered as guest Ethan Johnson returns to uncover the mystery. There's a lot of fascinating examples of the things we're talking about in this podcast, so make sure to check out some of the links in the show notes!

There were home computers BEFORE the Altair 8800 and even the Kenbak-1? It's true! Even in the computer's earliest days, attempts (some successful!) were made to bring the concepts of computing to experimenters and hobbyists at home. Large, expensive analog computers could be had for the serious experimenter with cash to burn, and for those just looking to explore basic concepts, cheaper methods, some even involving paperclips and empty thread spools, could make computing come alive. In this episode, Jason Dyer returns to the podcast to discuss all of these wonderful, clever early devices and give them their due.

Be sure to check out Jason's INCREDIBLE blog at Renga in Blue!

As always, you can fine Nate on Mastodon, Instagram, and Twitter.

LOTS of show notes on this one, so please, check all of this out!

This month on the Memory Machine, Nate has on guest Connie Joyce to talk about her job in the parts department at Williams Electronics/WMS in the late 80's and early 90's! It's not always fun and games working at a pinball factory, but to hear Connie tell the story, it seems like it almost was. Reminisce about pinball favorites such as Black Knight 2000 and Pin-Bot as Connie regales us with stories of eccentric artists, forklifts, and tamales!

It's been a bit, but we're back just in time for some Halloween fun! For the first time in years, Nate is welcoming back guests Seth and Trey to talk about some of their favorite horror films that may have been forgotten, overlooked, or underseen. Hopefully there's a few choices here that are new to you that will be good recommendations for your own Halloween horror watches!

Come see Trey with the Buffalo Comedy Collective! Upcoming events are on the website.

Seth performs with the band Spud all over Western New York. See them October 27th at Nietzsches! Also be sure to check out the burlesque troupe he's with, The Glam Vamps.

As for Nate, you can follow him on Twitter and Instagram.

And hey - if you wanna throw a few coins in the 'ol coffer - check out the Patreon! Eh?

On this edition of the Memory Machine, host Nathaniel Lockhart has on prolific author, historian, and YouTube host Steve Massa to help teach us about how wide the breadth of humor truly was in the silent era. If all you know is Chaplin, Keaton, and (maybe) Harold Lloyd, prepare to be amazed at how deep this iceberg goes! You'll learn about styles of humor other than slapstick that were prevalent in the era, be frustrated that somehow, Charley Chase never had a feature film, and stare off in the distance with befuddlement as Steve explains the Dippy-Doo-Dads! Just as advertised in this week's Moving Picture World!*

Be sure to check out the monthly Silent Comedy Watch Party on Sundays at 3PM EST! Heck, you can watch some past episodes RIGHT NOW

You can find Steve's books on Amazon, including his most recent one on Roscoe Arbuckle (and be sure to keep an eye out for the next installment of Lame Brains and Lunatics!)

You can follow host Nate Lockhart on Twitter and on Instagram.

*Advertisement not actually published in this week's Moving Picture World. Also, this week's Moving Picture World has not been printed due to the publication's closing some 95 years ago.