Discoveries at The Strong

Earlier this year, I had the incredible opportunity to spend time at The Strong National Museum of Play as part of a research fellowship connected to my upcoming documentary, For Your Amusement. The experience was both eye-opening and energizing—getting to explore so much history firsthand gave me a whole new perspective on the project.

Walking through the Brian Sutton-Smith Library and Archives of Play, I was able to examine original documents, photographs, and correspondence tracing the evolution of the coin-operated amusement industry. From hand-drawn concept sketches to decades-old operator manuals and trade flyers, every box and folder revealed something new about the people behind the machines—the manufacturers, designers, and operators who helped build and sustain this industry through generations.

It’s one thing to talk about history, but to hold it—to read letters from industry pioneers or see production photos from long-gone factories—was a powerful reminder of how much passion and creativity has always driven this business.

I’m deeply grateful to The Strong and its staff for their generosity and for maintaining such an incredible archive. As I continue work on For Your Amusement, I’m excited to share how these discoveries have shaped the story.

Read my full guest blog for The Strong here: The More Things Change.