LAC LA BICHE – On March 14, retro video games and board games were on display at the Stuart MacPherson Public Library for people to view and play as part of the Remembering Vintage Toys and Games exhibit put on by the Lac La Biche Museum.
The games, many from the 1970s and 1980s, included Super Mario Bros on a classic Nintendo system, as well as classic board games such as Monopoly, and The Game of Life.
In addition to stepping back in time to play games from decades past, those who attended the free vintage game event could also enjoy healthy snacks.
Tara Jackson, curator of the Lac La Biche Museum, said the Remembering Vintage Toys and Games exhibit was created two years ago. It is part of the museum’s ‘Lac La Biche Explorers: How Things Were program.’
“It covers classic toys and games from the 1950s to the 1980s,” Jackson told Lakeland This Week.
Everyone has a favourite toy or game from their childhood, Jackson said. Recognizing this, Jennifer Mueller, who serves as director of the museum, developed an exhibit designed to embrace that nostalgia.
“She researched what toys and games were popular for each decade and incorporated some examples into the exhibit,” Jackson stated.
Some of the toys and games were items that were already in the museum’s collection. Once the idea was formed, there was a call for further donations.
The Vintage Games and Toys exhibit is more than a history lesson, it is an experience that allows for multigenerational connection. Museum staff have seen kids come in with parents and grandparents, all enjoying the toys and games together.
“We have had kids compete with parents in Super Mario Bros. I think the exhibit really shows how fun transcends time,” Jackson stated.
According to Jackson, when the Vintage Games and Toys display ran two years ago, it was popular with both adults and children, and the interactive components were a particularly big hit.
While the March 14 event only featured some parts of the exhibit, the Lac La Biche Museum is hosting the whole exhibit starting on April 2.
Ameen Haimour and his son, Adam, stopped by the display to play a few games on the classic Nintendo system. For Haimour, this experience brought him back to his own childhood.
Growing up, Haimour enjoyed playing games like Super Mario Bros, Double Dragon, Street Fighter and Mortal Combat.
“It reminds me of being a kid again,” he said. “It brings back memories of being young and free.”
