By Grace Main
West Hills Press
West Hills MS
1st Place
Division MS, News Writing
Human Interest Feature
Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum is known to many as a fun, unique arcade. But the person who made Marvelous Marvin’s Mechanical Museum fun, was Marvin Yagoda. On Jan, 8, Mr. Yagoda died of a heart attack at age 78.
“I personally really liked it when he would come in and he would give people quarters and he’d show them little neat tricks about the games, like little Easter eggs that people can find, and it really made people’s experiences here special.” said one of the managers, Rachel, when asked about her boss.
The arcade has many one-of-a-kind games. “He really liked the Chinese Man Fortune Teller,” Rachel said. “My favorite thing is the wave runners because I really like racing games. I think it is fun that they move when you are riding them.
“We have some replicas of one-of a-kind things. A lot of the animatronics are custom-made so they are one-of-a-kind,” Rachel continued.
Mr. Yagoda brought a lot of fun into people’s lives and tried to make their experience at the arcade special. Many people remember meeting him.
“I miss him sitting there and smiling at me. He would always make me happy,” Ashley Forner, 5th grade, said.
Madison Broad, 4th grade, said that Mr. Yagoda told her “You’re sweet. If you need any help just ask me.”
James Forner, 7th grade, said, “I met Marvin and he was so nice. He gave my sister a T-shirt because she didn’t know how to say the full name of the arcade.”
“This place has been around for about 40 years, it used to be Tally Hall. (a group of eateries) The original brick is right here.” Rachel said as she pointed to the floor. “I think he just really liked collecting arcade games. He really had a fun spirit to him that made him want to play games and look at silly and interesting things.”
Many people wonder what will now happen to the museum. Yagoda’s son now owns it and has a lease on the property for at least three years.