The 2026 expo was dedicated to the memory of longtime staff member Terry Taylor, who died much too soon earlier this year. Several staff members donned caps that read “God Bless Terry Taylor.” Indeed. I don’t recall, but I’m sure I interacted with Terry at least once in all my years at LI Retro. He was memorialized in the Terry Taylor Vectrex Corner on the first floor, as seen via this Facebook post:
My three prior recaps were spread out over three posts per year. (This is post 1 from last year.) I feel I was judicious enough in my photography and culling for a singular, self-contained recap post. To help, for the first time, I’ve utilized page jumps (a.k.a. anchor links) at the top and peppered throughout.
I was quick to buy my weekend pass when tickets went on sale in winter, and I gradually built up my biggest budget ever. (I will not divulge the amount.)
In the days and hours leading up to August 8 (I didn’t go on the 7th), I had the usual performance and social anxiety that comes with being on the autism spectrum. I prayed for the strength and coping skills to get through any and all situations. So, you can understand why I needed many deep breaths as my mom drove me to the Cradle of Aviation Museum parking lot.
SPOILER: All that worrying was for nothing. I had a great time without any hitches.
ARRIVING AT THE MUSEUM Mom’s car pulled into the lot at 9:29 AM on Saturday, August 8.
Despite the high heat and humidity, I wanted to arrive as early as possible so I wouldn’t have to wait too long on line outside.
There were two lines: one on the left for those retrieving their badges at the box office via QR code, and one on the right for those who already had badges. Of course, the left line was the longer one and my Saturday destination. I’d be on the right line on Sunday.
The museum doors opened at 10AM and I reached the entrance (and air conditioning) at 10:07.
Once I got my badge, I affixed to a lanyard I saved from a year or two before and began walking around the first floor.
PHOTOS WITH GUESTS AND CANDID PHOTOS OF THEIR TABLES
Audacity Games with David Crane, Dan Kitchen, Garry Kitchen, and John Van Ryzin On the other hand, I overcame last year’s shyness and had a enjoyable interaction with the quartet of game design legends. “We don’t bite,” David Crane reassured me after I introduced myself and gladly bought all four games – new for the Atari VCS/2600 – that each of them developed. David designed Rescue from Poseidon’s Gate, Dan Kitchen’s game was Casey’s Gold, there was Alien Abduction! by John Van Ryzin (the spiritual successor to H.E.R.O.), with Garry Kitchen and David Crane co-designing Circus Convoy. Any or all of the games can be bought online here.
David Crane and Garry Kitchen talk to attendees at the Audacity Games table
You could even try them out on separate Atari 7800+ consoles:
As mentioned earlier, Ryan Burger publishes Old School Gamer, a magazine Tristan Ibarra is now involved in, on top of his author and designer credits. We’ll learn more about them in photos of their Sunday panel.
For now, here are Tristan, Walter, and Ryan:
My Life in Gaming with Coury Carlson and Marc “Try4ce” Duddleson Coury and Try were a late addition to the 2026 LI Retro guest list, and I’m glad they were booked. They were actually the first people I saw outside the museum Saturday morning before I got in line.
Try and Coury meeting an attendee and his son (out of view) who was cosplaying as Minecraft Steve
PANELS I limited myself to two panels each on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s were later and in the Main Theatre; Sunday’s were earlier in Panel Room 2, relocated to the first floor.
…have worked in the video game industry since the late 1970s. While they are known for their iconic game catalog on the Atari 2600 ([H.E.R.O.,] Pitfall!, Donkey Kong, Ghostbusters, Keystone Kapers, Crackpots…), they also bring a boatload of experience on NES, SNES, Gameboy, C64, Xbox, PlayStation, iPhone/iPad, PC/Mac and online gaming. Everybody knows Pitfall! and Donkey Kong, but did you know they also worked on Bart vs. the Space Mutants (NES), A Boy and His Blob (NES), AddictingGames.com (online), Transformers (C64), Shockwave.com (online), Candystand.com (online), and the infamous Desert Bus game from Penn & Teller?
Garry KitchenDan KitchenJohn Van RyzinDavid CraneQ&A…
The last photo perfectly encapsulates the mood of the panel. Garry, Dan, John, and David were full of interesting, engaging, and humorous anecdotes about their time in the gaming industry, working at Activision, and the many games they design and developed. (I especially enjoyed how Garry debunked a myth about Coleco’s Atari 2600 port of Donkey Kong.) They are a winning team.
Now, if only I could find John’s H.E.R.O. at a good price. Otherwise, I’ll play it in an Activision compilation.
Saturday Panel 2, 1:30-2:30 PM Main Theatre Pat Contri and Ian Ferguson CU Podcast Live!
My initial photos were taken on the right side of the first row as I deferred to an LI Retro staff photographer. Then, I went back to the center.
Among the topics for this episode The CUPodcast (Super Show #34) were:
Ian Ferguson and Pat ContriPat ContriIan FergusonThe Q&A portion of the podcast panel included a question from G Gracin (G to the Next Level).
I did not ask a question this year, and told Pat afterward what I would have asked. Part of my annual Christmas special viewing tradition includes watching Pat the NES Punk Christmas episodes, such as It’s a Wonderful Life, Punk. (RIP Billy Chaser.) Will there be a Christmas episode this year? We’ll find out in four months.
I won’t go into detail about G’s panel since they recorded it for a future YouTube video, but I will share it in photo form.
If you’ve watched G’s streams, you’ll recognize the emotes designed by their spouse and fellow streamer Rannchann.
The 2026 Long Island Retro Gaming Expo was where I made my Dreamcast dream a reality. First, I found two controllers and a VMU from one vendor. Then, I found the console by itself (no power adapter or cables) from a second vendor. And from a third, I bought three games, including launch titles NFL 2K (released on launch day) and NBA 2K (two months after launch). You’ll see all of that (and the Sonic fanny pack) in the pickups segment.
As of publication, G’s most recent YouTube video is this one:
…a discussion on preserving and celebrating the history of video games and the community that built it. Walter Day will share stories from his years at Twin Galaxies, the journey behind his books, film appearances, and trading card series, explaining how the cards were created not just to honor champions, but to recognize the passion and achievements of gamers from every corner of the hobby. Ryan Burger will explore growing up during the rise of competitive gaming, the books, television shows, and media that chronicled gaming culture before it became a global phenomenon, and how Old School Gamer Magazine now works with many of those pioneering voices to introduce their stories to a new generation. Tristan Ibarra will discuss his path from Air Force veteran to gamer, collector, author, graphic designer, and magazine layout artist, sharing his passion for documenting the hobby and organizing its scattered history into accessible resources for fans and researchers alike. Together, the panel will reflect on the people, stories, and communities that shaped gaming culture, while celebrating the generations of enthusiasts whose dedication has helped preserve its legacy for the future.
How does that compare to my description written before thinking of citing the expo description?
For one hour, Panel Room 2 was transported to the state of Iowa. Ryan Burger and Tristan Ibarra were our hosts and they set up Walter Day to share stories galore. Ryan promoted Old School Gamer magazine and an upcoming book. Tristan detailed his The Video Game Collector’s Field Guide and his upcoming …Video Game Dictionary for the Total Noob. To that end, there were ten trivia questions with ten terms in Tristan’s dictionary. (I photographed the answers, but for obvious reasons, I’m keeping them to myself.) After Walter asked trivia questions, it was our turn to ask.
Mike Ferrara, a.k.a. HighScorsese, topped the Twin Galaxies rankings five times!One Walter quip made Tristan laugh.This question acknowledged learning of Twin Galaxies through Electronic Gaming Monthly, also founded in the Midwest (Lombard, Illinois).Journey with Patrick expressed hope to appear on one of Walter’s trading cards by attending many U.S. and Canada conventions, per a list he’s kept.
This is where I would have gone to a second post. Instead, in this same post, we begin a photographic tour of as much as I could see on each floor of the Cradle of Aviation Museum. I couldn’t get everything, and some photos were too blurry to include. The photos that remain are here.
Remembering what Norm Caruso said, I tried the Pods myself.
More from the Cradle of Aviation Museum’s Pan Am exhibit:
PART THREE
DEPARTING THE MUSEUM The commercial aircraft were the last thing I photographed after coming downstairs from the Arcade Age Exhibit. That’s when I went back to searching vendors for a few more purchases, including that model 2 Sega CD. The last game I bought was Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse. Then, I went in the museum gift shop for three more plane replicas to go with the Pan Am plane I bought last year. And that was it. I took Lyft home to Wantagh with $44 to spare! It’s the first time I’ve ever left under budget!
Requisite exit photos:
PICKUPS What did Mike get? Well, let’s start with guest merchandise and business cards:
Thank you again, Sean Chiplock.
This is the fanny pack I won from G’s charity stream. Thank you very much, G.
Pixelated Pat [Contri] pin
Old School Gamer Magazine Issue 43, Mike Ferrara and Justin’s cards
Walter Day trading cards and his autobiography
The two bags full of games and signed cards from Audacity Games
This is just what I bought duringLong Island Retro Gaming Expo. I also bought many other things online to supplement some of my purchases. I won’t list them all, but they include VGA and power adapters for the Dreamcast and an Atari 7800+ to play those Audacity Games games. Furthermore, a VMUPro that I preordered months ago arrived Monday as I was wrapping up the first draft. (That process took six hours!)
CONCLUSION I’ve thanked many people throughout this post, but I owe a huge thanks to Ryan Shapiro, Joe Vincent, George Portugal (whom I didn’t get to see), and the rest of the Long Island Retro Gaming Expo staff for your support and accommodation. I am deeply grateful.
I’ll conclude this recap with the front and back of my badge and event program, the latter of which includes a photo of the late Terry Taylor.
The prerecorded edition of Instrumental Invasion for WCWP‘s alumni-run Homecoming Weekend programming block aired at midnight on Sunday, September 14. Unlike last year, this show was only two hours.
Let’s get the scoped aircheck out of the way before I detail how the show came to be.
I said in the live show recap that I knew well in advance I’d have that and the prerecord.
The playlist was created July 29 and 30 with two hours in mind. That duration was confirmed to me on August 5. There wasn’t much poaching from older playlists, meaning less copying and pasting of annotations. The annotations were drafted July 30 and August 1 and 4. The first draft of the script was written August 5 and 6. I wanted to get as much pre-production out of the way before Long Island Retro Gaming Expo.
Little did I know the consequences of referencing Casiopea‘s fifth era with a new keyboardist, Jun Abe, and tying Brian Simpson‘s “Wonderland” to Taylor Swift‘s namesake from 1989 D.L.X. On August 12, Taylor announced a new album, The Life of a Showgirl, in an episode of New Heights, a podcast hosted by the Kelce brothers, Travis (her boyfriend) and Jason. Then, a few days later, I found out T-Square released an album called Turn the Page! and that Casiopea was about to release True Blue. That led to script revisions on August 15 and 17. Then, August 20, the playlist, annotations, and script were all tweaked to accommodate song replacements.
I planned on recording one hour per day – August 28 and 29 – during livestreams on my Twitch channel, just as I had done for last year’s prerecord and the final regular Instrumental Invasion. To save time during the streams, I prepared the Adobe Audition multitrack sessions for each hour on August 25. That’s when I realized I’d made a timing error for both hours! I was four minutes over in hour 1 and two minutes under in hour 2. So, I had to make further tweaks to the playlist, annotations, and script with different songs to make up for the oversights.
But I still wasn’t finished! I mistakenly thought one minute and 55 seconds was enough time to assign talk breaks. Unfortunately, most talk breaks were overly wordy. When I reached hour 1’s last talk break, I noticed I was well over. Drastic cuts had to be made to the talk breaks. The plan worked.
To avoid the same problem with hour 2, I cut back on that hour’s talk breaks before the August 29 Twitch stream, and worked in a congratulations to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce on their engagement (earlier that week). It still wasn’t enough! Not only did I have to make further cuts; I also had to fade songs out early or have them start underneath a liner and the end of the last talk break. I recorded that last talk break first, knowing it would be the longest of the hour. Somehow, my cutbacks worked again, and each hour – or 59:59 – flowed smoothly. Unless you’ve read this post or watched my Twitch streams, you’d never know all the work that went into this show.
Here are screenshots of each hour’s multitrack session:
Only one pickup was necessary, recorded on the morning of August 30. For any talk break preceded by a liner that only acknowledged WCWP, I started with “and WXBA,” to reflect the merger and subsequent rebranding. I neglected to do that coming out of David Benoit‘s liner. David hosts a jazz show on another 88.1 FM, K-Jazz (KKJZ) at Cal State Long Beach. So, the pickup was for one more “and WXBA,” and to rerecord the first few sentences of the talk break to maintain its total run time.
On the Twitch side, I broadcast my streams with a program called OBS Studio. Once per day, there was a brief server disconnection. Friday’s outage happened while recording the fourth talk break of hour 2 (the last recorded that day). Rather than stop until OBS reconnected, I soldiered on. It made for this funny outtake:
PCs: (NOTE: This gallery is a mix of photos from PC Freeplay, PC Museum, and regional exclusive computers that were part of the Retro Gaming Museum exhibit.)
I have attended seven of LI Retro’s nine years. I started small in 2017, only spending two hours there on Sunday afternoon. I was there the entire weekend in 2018 and ’19, and have used my weekend pass on two of the three days since 2022. By 2023, I had to spread my recaps out into three parts because I took so many pictures, mostly of the exhibits (as seen in 2024). That’s what I’m doing again this year.
Tickets went on sale in February and guests were announced in July. Some of those guests will be chronicled below.
You’ll be happy to know there weren’t any mishaps this year. None of my equipment was wrecked and no cups of coffee were spilled.
ARRIVING AT THE MUSEUM My mom pulled into the Cradle of Aviation Museum parking lot at 9:38 AM on Saturday.
I exited the car with badge QR code printout in hand. I had the lanyard for my badge wrapped around my neck, along with my Canon EOS R7 with RF-S 18-150mm lens and Speedlite 430EX II attached. (I only used the latter on for flash photos, and never during panels.)
This photo was taken Sunday morning, but pretend it was Saturday.LI Retro photographer Gene interviewed Glen of Glen’s Retro Show while he and fellow attendees waited for the doors to open at 10AM.Glen then turned the tables and interviewed Gene.10AM came, the doors opened, and attendees were let inside. Those already with badges entered on the right. I was on the left line.
Inside, I was ushered to the box office where my QR code was scanned and I was handed my weekend badge. I attached to my lanyard and made my way to the first of four panels I had in mind. We’ll see photos from those later in this post.
The LI Retro staff is great and I’m honored to know them. Sunday morning, I met up with staff member Ryan Shapiro and he took this selfie of us:
Thank you, as always, Ryan.
PHOTOS WITH GUESTS AND CANDID PHOTOS OF THEIR TABLES
I got a photo with John after his The Evolution of Retro Collecting panel.
Check out his LI Retro vlog:
Pat Contri and Ian Ferguson Pat and Ian have been a fixture at Long Island Retro Gaming Expo since 2019, and I never miss their panel, recorded live for their Completely Unnecessary Podcast (a.k.a. CU Podcast). Like John Lester, Pat Contri’s YouTube journey began in 2008 with his Pat the NES Punk series, a fictionalized take on his life as a video game fan and collector. Pat’s YouTube channel also includes Flea Market Madness (sometimes featuring Frank, a fellow New Jersey transplant in San Diego), The Video Game Years retrospective, the aforementioned CU Podcast in video form, and the Not So Common Podcast with Alex Faciane.
Alongside the many Charlie Brown/Peanuts Christmas TV specials, it’s an annual tradition of mine to watch Pat the NES Punk Christmas episodes every December. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but the first two are the most sentimental. Incidentally, I can’t look at R.O.B., the original face of the NES, without hearing the Punch-Out!! opponent “voice.”
A big component of this year’s LI Retro was print media’s role in video game preservation. Pat’s Ultimate Nintendo series does its part. I have been a loyal reader since the Guide to the NES Library, which I bought from Pat (along with Pat the NES Punk DVD sets) in 2019. I helped fund Guide to the SNES Library later that year and last year, the latest book (as seen behind Ian, me, and Pat): Guide to the N64 Library. Pat, Ian, and an all-star lineup of reviewers break down every release for Nintendo’s first three home consoles. I used the Ultimate Nintendo app after each day of LI Retro to add any NES pickups to my collection. (Buy Ultimate Nintendo books here.)
Thank you to Kristen for taking this photo:
I returned the favor by having Kristen pose with Pat and Ian:
Adam Koralik Sunday afternoon, “Mike Camera” and Adam Koralik met a third time. (That’s my server name on his Discord.) Adam’s trusty Sega Pluto prototype was part of the Retro Gaming Museum exhibit and he was more than happy to discuss it with attendees and have them try out its few playable games.
And of course, I had to get a selfie:
More exhibit photos can be found in part two of this year’s recap.
Matthew Sussman While I did not meet actor Matthew Sussman, the original English language voice of Meowth in the Pokémon anime, he was a big draw, as seen in this Saturday photo.
I learned from an attendee in line outside the museum Sunday morning that Matthew is a fellow photographer, also in the Canon ecosystem. His camera of choice is the EOS R6 Mark II.
Ryan Burger Ryan is the publisher of Old School Gamer Magazine, a literal mom-and-pop operation, at least at conventions. On staff at LI Retro were his wife Becky (who took the photo below), and their daughters Paige (the manager) and Rachel.
Ryan graciously gifted me with Old School Gamer Magazine Issue 46, which I held in our Sunday morning photo. You’ll see it again among the pickups in part three. Ryan was part of the third Saturday panel I attended: The Role Print Media Plays in Video Game Preservation. One of Ryan’s fellow panelists was…
Leonard Herman I remain grateful to The Immortal John Hancock for introducing me to Leonard Herman at their joint 2018 panel. It inspired me to buy Phoenix IV and many other books. I have become good friends with Lenny and his table manager Patrick Wong, and a fixture at any panel Lenny is part of. (If I got the title wrong, either of you can let me know and I’ll edit post haste.)
Lenny is putting the finishing touches on Phoenix 5, to be released in two volumes in 2026 via Jeremy Parish’s Press Run, a division of Limited Run Games. (Jeremy and two rotating Retronauts co-hosts rounded out Saturday’s print media panel.)
Leonard Herman speaking with Joe Santulli of Digital Press (NOTE: Pat and Ian’s table was on the second floor Saturday, but moved downstairs Sunday.)Phoenix 5 galleys
Lenny with Patrick Wong on Saturday:
Patrick took our photo on Sunday:
One of the books I bought two years ago was ABC to the VCS, and I think Lenny would be proud that I bought five Atari VCS/2600 games this year. I was inspired to do so because I sought out any games programmed by the quartet of…
Dan and Garry Kitchen, David Crane, John Van Ryzin Regrettably, I was too shy to approach Dan, Garry, David, or John, but I bought Ghostbusters (designed by David, programmed for 2600 by Dan), Donkey Kong (programmed for 2600 by Garry), and Pitfall! (by David). I couldn’t find H.E.R.O., designed by John. And because of my shyness, I didn’t buy any of their new games made for the 2600.
Dan and Garry Kitchen, and David Crane are seated from left to right. John Van Ryzin is standing in the right corner of the photo.
I forget if Dan Kitchen or Ryan Burger was playing Casey’s Gold in this candid photo Sunday morning.
That takes care of the guest photos. Photos with fellow attendees are coming up after a look at the quartet of panels I saw.
PANELS
Saturday Panel 1, 10:30-11:30 AM Panel Room 2 (now upstairs in The Sperry Classroom) John Lester (Gamester81) The Evolution of Retro Collecting: From Hobby to Industry
Saturday Panel 2, 12-1PM Main Theatre Pat Contri and Ian Ferguson CU Podcast Live!
I got the first question right: Which game was released for the NES licensed, unlicensed, and licensed again? I raised my hand and answered “Pac-Man.” I was right, and earned a sticker. As a supporter of The Gaming Historian (and yes, I read a quote in a video), I chose a GH Patreon supporter sticker to go with the one I have from my days as a supporter.
“King K. Rool” asked if Pat and Ian knew of a suggestive glitch in Donkey Kong Country.
As usual, I had a question: playing off the Gaming Historian sticker, I asked if Pat or Ian had been in touch with Norman Caruso since he announced last April that he was giving up pursuing the YouTube channel full time. Great news: Norm is still creating. He co-hosts An Old Timey Podcast with his wife Kristin.
Pat was surprised that we went the entire Q&A session without invoking the ill-fated vaporware known as the Intellivision Amico.
As of publication on August 21, the full episode is up, with the Phil1Up Collects video discussion heard starting at 1:15:30. NES trivia and the Q&A are not included. I will update with video clips when posted.
9/29 UPDATE: Sorry for the delay. There is one video and here it is:
Moderator Luis Aguasvivas introduced himself, then had the panelists introduce themselves.Ryan BurgerLeonard HermanJeremy ParishBrian ClarkKevin BunchLenny talked about Phoenix 5 and collaborating with Jeremy ParishJeremy weighed in, as wellRyan on Old School Gamer MagazineLaughing at a quip from LennyRyan noted that if Back to the Future came out today, Marty McFly and Doc Brown would be in 1995. That also got a laugh. Paraphrasing Marty in the first film, I jokingly said “Guess you guys aren’t ready for Gracie Abrams yet.”During Q&A, Ryan gave each questioner a copy of Old School Gamer Magazine Issue 46.After the panel, we see attendees talking to Brian Clark, Jeremy Parish……and Ryan Burger.
One other tidbit from this panel is Jeremy Parish lamenting that his early 2000s articles for now-defunct websites cannot be accessed because they weren’t archived.
I devoted most of my Sunday to photographing the exhibits and freeplay areas, buying any games I didn’t buy on Saturday, mingling further with guests, and actually playing freeplay games for the first time in years. (Oh, and I bought fried ravioli from a food truck; another first for me.)
So, the one panel I saw that day had to be Lenny’s.
Sunday Panel, 3-4PM Panel Room 2 Leonard Herman The History of the History of Videogames
What was that game shown in an episode of The Streets of San_Francisco?Answer: Clean SweepAfter initially buying a Magnavox Odyssey 2, Leonard bought an Atari VCS.Lenny’s first articleABC to the VCS was going to be released in 1983, but the infamous crash put that on hold.ABC to theNES was only considered, not written.The evolution of Phoenix…How did Rolenta Press get its name?Magazines that reviewed PhoenixFor the second edition, Leonard used a video capture device called GrabIt to make in-game freeze frames.For the third edition, photos were taken with a Sony Mavica MVC-FD5 digital camera. I used a Mavica in one of my high school classes.I bought these books at Lenny’s table in 2023.The road to Phoenix IV…Many famous names signed the preview edition.Phoenix 5!In two volumes!One of the galleysQ&A timeStuart Feldhamer asked a question.Afterward, Stuart retrieved his early editions of Phoenix loaned for LI Retro.And bringing things full circle, Luis Aguavivas shook Lenny’s hand and complimented him on his works. John Lester was also at the panel.
9/29 UPDATE: Leonard posted video of his panel. (Of course, you see me front and center snapping away.)
PHOTOS WITH/OF FELLOW ATTENDEES
My friend Timothy (a.k.a. Sho):
Timothy and C.J. (I forget which vendor she was with):
The vendor marketplace photos were taken both days while the exhibits were all taken Sunday.
Let the tour begin.
FIRST FLOOR Walking in:
Vendor Marketplace:
I had a nice conversation with Tessa on Sunday before buying Tekken 3.The Glen’s Retro Show table featured a light gun that can be used on modern TVs.Jeff (left) was there to promote the light gun, a GRS Sinden Target Pro.
Virtua Cop on a Disney TV. Who’da thunk it?I was in the area too early for tournaments.NFL Blitz and Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!, two classics. (Admittedly, I like Blitz more, especially 2001.)
INTRODUCTION 2024 was my sixth year at Long Island Retro Gaming Expo, held in the Cradle of Aviation Museum, on the right end of Museum Row in East Garden City. This was also the first year that Flagstar bank had naming rights. That’s evident in the first photo below, taken as my mom pulled off Charles Lindbergh Boulevard at 9:45 AM on Saturday, August 10.
LI Retro, the expo’s shorthand, launched Friday, August 9, at 4PM, but since the expansion to three days (or 2 1/2) in 2022, I’ve forgone the Friday leg.
Tickets went on sale all the way back at the end of December and I was quick to secure my weekend badge, even though it would be months before attendees even knew who the guests would be.
If you remember my disappointment last year when spotting Clint Basinger (LGR) walking through the vendor marketplace after the expo while editing photos, I was pleased to see he was a guest this year!
Two other notable guests were Warren Davis, the creator of Q*Bert “and other classic video arcade games” (as his book title notes), and legendary Nintendo marketer Gail Tilden. I was not able to attend Warren’s Saturday evening panel, though I met him at his table in the morning as you’ll see in that portion of this post. Gail had a free-form panel on Saturday evening and an interview panel on Sunday, the latter of which I attended.
Ahead of Saturday morning, I packed a printout of my badge retrieval code, my Canon EOS R7 with RF-S 18-150mm lens and Speedlite 430EX II, TASCAM DR-05X, and stenographer pad with pen. (I never used those last two.) I was anxious that my compulsive nature would lead to as many photos as last year. The bad news is I was right. The good news is the total over three cameras (you’ll read the why of that quantity later in the post) was 697 photos. This time, however, 617 were chosen to spread out over three blog posts, not counting scans or photos taken after Sunday.
ARRIVING AT THE MUSEUM Several paragraphs ago, I said I arrived at the Flagstar Cradle of Aviation Museum at 9:45 AM Saturday. After my mom dropped me off in the parking lot to the left of the roundabout, I took an establishing shot of the museum, unaware that my folded badge code printout was visible in the bottom left. So, I took another shot Sunday morning:
The photos in this gallery are from Saturday.
Badge retrieval areaA staff member instructs attendees waiting in line.He got a kick out of this Link cosplayer’s sign.Seconds before 10AMEntering the museumA hearty welcome after my bag check(NOTE: Lucas Thomas, Nintendo Force magazine founder, is seen entering on the right in the penultimate photo. Little did I know I’d see him again Sunday afternoon.)
On the way to the guest table area, I ran into Timothy (a.k.a. Sho), a fellow My Life in Gaming fan. We met in person in 2019 and I had to get a selfie this time:
GUEST TABLE PHOTOS
Entering the guest area, with additional vendors on the opposite side, whom you’ll see in the second post; Panel Room 2 is out of view to the right
Photos in this section were taken Saturday and Sunday. You can tell which day by what we’re wearing.
Warren Davis Warren and I didn’t talk much – so, no magic tricks – but I introduced myself and gladly bought a copy of Creating Q*bert for him to sign. I told him on Sunday that I bought a copy of Q*bert’s NES port in his honor. He thanked me for that. (More on pickups in the third post.)
Clint with his Panasonic SuperDisk PalmCam PV-SD4090, the subject of a future LGR video. Maybe you’ll see the selfie we took with it. (8/23 UPDATE: Yes. Video added below.)Prior to that selfie, I took one with my EOS R7. Dissatisfied with my appearance, I made tweaks in Photoshop.
8/23 UPDATE: Today, that future video became a present video.
The LI Retro portion begins around the 10:20 mark and the selfie compilation includes me, Coury Carlson, Adam Koralik (more on him in the John Hancock segment), and Frank Cifaldi.A screenshot of our selfie
Thinking Clint would be at the expo on Sunday, as well, I brought my PlayStation 3 copy of Duke Nukem Forever to sign. Alas, he had left after Saturday.
A recent LGR video made me think of my psychologist of 27 years, known to patients like me as Brad. In the mid ’90s, Brad had an Acer Aspire. If I remember correctly, it was the same color as Clint’s. (Brad retired in 2018 and I’ve had another therapist since 2019.)
9/6 UPDATE: Clint went into greater detail about LI Retro in the vlog below.
John included a pin and sticker, which I put inside the Block ‘Em Sock ‘Em case.Adam Koralik returned this year as a paid attendee. I go by Mike Camera on his Discord and introduced myself as such on Sunday. He recognized me immediately. I had to get a photo with him and his good friend John.
Check out John’s LI Retro vlog. He saw exhibits that I missed, and thus won’t be seen in my second post.
So, of course, I was thrilled to see them again this year, and ask a question for the third year in a row at their panel/podcast recording.
G Gracin bumping fists with Pat and Ian on SundayG brought their Sonic the Hedgehog Interactive Camera for selfies in digital file and thermal print form.G handing the thermal print to PatThey got a selfie with Ian, too.Pat and IanFind out why my smile is subdued in the “Mishaps” portion of this post.Before they departed on Sunday, I snapped a photo of Pat, Daniel Greenberg, Ian, Frank Cifaldi, and Daniel’s wife Alex.
9/2 UPDATE: The latest Flea Market Madness video is embedded below photos of the CU Podcast panel.
G Gracin and Greg Sewart didn’t have a table, but did have a Saturday panel. (Check the “Panels” section of this post for photos.) I posed with them in this photo on Sunday.
I also got the Sonic selfie treatment, in digital form…
…and in thermal print form. I scanned that (left) and used Photoshop’s photo restoration filter to limit the vertical banding (right).
G posted a few YouTube Shorts at LI Retro:
[The first short was removed in 2025.]
There really is so much to see at Long Island Retro Gaming Expo. John Hancock and G saw things that I missed.
I really liked Greg Sewart’s Ridge Racer series retrospective:
Since you saw Daniel and Alex Greenberg (Winterion Game Studios) in Pat and Ian’s photo gallery, here is a photo Alex took of Daniel and me after Pat’s CU Podcast Live panel.
Let’s skip ahead one table to the My Life in Gaming duo of Coury Carlson and Mark “Try4ce” Duddleson:
This was last photo of the weekend taken on my EOS R7. Again, the explanation is in the “Mishaps” segment.I brought my copy of the M2: Complete Works Blu-ray for Coury and Try to sign. Try signed the cover first……then Coury.A photo with the signed coverSunday, since shirts were selling well at the MLiG table (myself included), Try decided to splurge on a rare PlayStation game: Koudelka, the first in the Shadow Hearts series.
9/2 UPDATE: Coury and Try ended August with a new My Life in Gaming video: the second in their Multi-Games Compilations series. It’s worth watching for Try’s LI Retro t-shirt alone.
We round out this segment with the Father of Videogame History, Leonard Herman, joined by Patrick Wong and Mark Baer (middle child of videogame pioneer Ralph Baer).
A replica of Ralph Baer’s Brown Box prototypeMark played tennis on the replica with an attendee.And after Lenny’s Sunday panel, Patrick took our photo.
I spelled video game as one word because that’s how Ralph Baer spelled it and how Lenny spells it.
Leaving the guest tables behind, it’s panel time!
PANELS
Saturday Panel 1, 11AM-12PM Panel Room 2 Mark Baer and Leonard Herman Ralph Baer: His Creative Life in Electronic, Videogames and More
This strayed close to the 2023 presentation, which was the last panel I attended. So, I changed my photographic approach. Before the photos, here are the videos shown during the panel:
Despite the German title, the video is in English.
The panel concluded with the What’s My Line? segment that Mark referenced.Host Larry Blyden and Bob Fritchie were “Playing ‘Tennis'” on the Magnavox OdysseyMark and Lenny shook hands after a panel well done
Before the other panels, a diversion.
Mishaps
It was in between the Ralph Baer panel and the CU Podcast panel that I accidentally knocked my camera off a food court table, breaking my Canon EOS R7’s RF-S 18-150mm lens. The ring attachment stayed on, but the rest of the lens broke off.
It was irrecoverable. The only solution was to buy a replacement lens once I got home, and with a 5-year lens accident warranty. I’m covered if history repeats itself, God forbid.
The lens and UV filter arrived Wednesday morning and a test photo was successful.
Unfortunately, Sunday had another problem. Patrick Wong from Leonard Herman’s table prepped to take a photo of me with Pat Contri and Ian Ferguson. Ian sprained his ankle and was only at LI Retro that day. After I took the photo of Pat and Ian together, I foolishly chose to take a photo with them to the right of Pat’s table. Ian’s cup of coffee was perched on the right end of that table. As I turned to get into position for the photo, Ian warned “watch the backpack!” The warning was in vein. My bulky backpack knocked the cup over and it spilled on the upper right end of the table. The photo op was aborted, paper towels were summoned, and adjacent merchandise was checked for damage. As all that happened, I felt tremendous guilt and shame. I thought I’d become persona non grata to both of them, and God forbid, would be sued. Thankfully, none of that was true. No merch was damaged, the spill was quickly disposed of, and Pat used hand sanitizer to further clean the affected area. Then, we retreated to a safe spot away from the table for our photo op. Pat and Ian were all smiles in the photo while I was too drained to fully smile. They both assured me everything was fine and not to worry. That’s when I headed to the main theatre for the Gail Force panel.
After that panel, LI Retro staff member Ryan Shapiro gifted me with an expo backpack that contained a pin, sticker, 2024 program, and Asteroids-themed t-shirt. I’ll save the contents photo for the third post, but I’ll show the backpack here, too.
Aside from the podcasts, you’re also on Twitch every Wednesday, watching retro commercials. How did you- What made you decide to go that route instead of streaming games?
Pat responded that it spun off from his NES Charity Marathon (origin of the “Buh-lack Box!” catchphrase), and that he felt relaxed and nostalgic watching things from the past. The TV commercials or promos allow him to recall moments from his past. That led to a discussion about the significance of preserving these moments in the same way video game media is preserved. I chimed in with radio airchecks as an example, but I might not have been heard.
Pat welcomes the assembled crowd.Frank Cifaldi arrives to fill in for Ian FergusonThe Kotaku article linked above the galleryIn this photo, the topic is how Game Informer‘s archives were all thrown away.Q&A timeA shoutout to Daniel and Alex Greenberg. Daniel wrote game reviews in Pat’s Ultimate Nintendo guides.Panel/podcast completeA round of applause
As of publication, the podcast is not up in audio or segmented video form. There is, however, Flea Market Madness Volume 49, recorded on Father’s Day (June 16). It features the other Frank, as seen in the thumbnail.
3:51 PM UPDATE: There is audio of the Game Informer discussion, but not the Q&A, starting at the 1:17:25 mark of the latest podcast.
10/28 UPDATE: Video of Pat and Frank’s discussion went up six days after this post was published (August 27).
G’s introductionGreg’s introductionA question from the audienceWhat followed was a chronological journey through Sega’s console history. First, the SG-1000.The Master SystemThe game changer: The Sega Genesis, released 35 years ago last week (August 14).Game Gear and Nomad (portable Genesis)Sega CDThe 32XG bought a custom-made Neptune at LI Retro. It’s based on the never-released Genesis/32X hybrid prototype.Sega SaturnThe DreamcastAfter the Dreamcast, the panel (and Sega’s console history) was complete.Another round of applauseG and Greg spoke to fans afterward
After browsing and buying from the vendor marketplace, I went home.
I returned a little closer to 10AM on Sunday morning. I still had to wait in line for a bag check; I didn’t mind that.
In lieu of a panel I had in mind at 11AM, I re-photographed areas that were blurry on Saturday, took photos of vendors I missed on Saturday, then toured the exhibits on all three floors. Look for those in the second post.
Then, the topic switched to her tenure with Nintendo Power magazine. Lucas asked the audience to give a “whoo!” when their first issue was displayed on the projection screen above them.
Watch the video to see if I misremembered anything. Then, see the photos that I kept bending over to take.
Listen for me at the 7:03 mark.Jeremy ParishGail TildenLucas ThomasDiscussing the first issue of Nintendo PowerLJ, whom I met at a panel in 2019, asked Gail who did the claymation for the first issue’s cover.He also gave a “woo-hoo!” for the DuckTales cover, a nod to the cartoon series theme song (played at a faster tempo on the title screen).The Super Mario Bros. 3 strategy guide was technically my first issue, bought by one of my parents at Te’amo convenience store on West Merrick Road in Freeport.This was the sixth issue I had after first subscribing to Nintendo Power at Volume 70.Gail’s Nintendo Power journey ended with Volume 100.And it’s where the panel ended.Afterward, many people had questions and recollections for Gail……and items for her to sign.I just wanted a photo, which LI Retro staff member Joe Vincent took for me.
Then, it was quickly off to Panel Room 2 for my last panel of the weekend.
Sunday, 2PM-3PM Panel Room 2 Leonard Herman The History of the History of Videogames
This was the place to be: a celebration of a man who blazed the trail for videogame history. 2024 marks the 30th anniversary of the original Phoenix: The Fall and Rise of Videogames.
“I just want to say this is the reason why I started seriously collecting. … I remember going up to a classic gaming expo, and this gentleman here gave me the 2000 edition, correct? Third edition [of Phoenix]. And this is what started me on my serious collecting journey. And I’m honored that I consider him a friend, a close friend, a good guy. And I want to say, like, this book changed my collecting trajectory. And you know, this gentleman is really a big contributor to getting some serious facts of videogame history in a serious book. And I’m just honored. So, I want to just thank you for all you’ve done. He needs to be remembered. And I will continue that, like how you promoted and honored Ralph Baer. That’s me to you. So, I just want to say thanks. And this is your time. Thank you so much.”
Well said, John.
The stage is yours, Leonard.
How Leonard’s Rolenta Press got its nameA letter from Ralph Baer!No Starch Press was the villain in this story.How Lenny took photos for Phoenix IVUnflattering background?Just mask it away.The paperback edition of Phoenix IV (and a bookmark)Lenny holds up the hardcover color editionWill there be a Phoenix 5 in 2025?If so, here’s the outline so far. With the help of Jeremy Parish, it will published by Press Run, the publishing arm of Limited Run Games.A shoutout to Frank Cifaldi’s Video Game History Foundation.Frank recalled he was working for GamesTM magazine when he contacted Lenny for a copy of Phoenix III.My favorite shots of Lenny were when he smiled or laughed. You could tell he enjoyed sharing his story.The many video game history books that followed PhoenixLenny promoted his Game Scholar website.
Upon closing, Lenny opened the floor to Q&A:
Ahra was among those to ask a question.Frank Cifaldi had a few questions.So did John Hancock.
The funniest question and answer came via Mark Baer:
LENNY: Yes, sir. MARK: Do you have a favorite historical figure in videogame history, by any chance? LENNY: Yeah. Nolan Bushnell. [audience laughs] If anyone doesn’t know, that’s Ralph Baer’s son. That’s his son, Mark. He’s a troublemaker. MARK: You could answer honestly.
After a few more questions, the panel ended with a round of applause.
I had to get a photo of Leonard Herman, Frank Cifaldi, and John Hancock:
Ian Ferguson dropped by after the panel to say hello:
That is the end of post one. Head to post two for a tour of the marketplace and exhibits. Post three features a conclusion, pickups photos, and a postscript with post-expo pickups.
Updated 10/15 and 12/31/24, 1/10, 5/8, 7/16, 7/20, 7/23, and 11/30/25, 1/9, 1/18, 2/4, 3/30, 7/22, 8/15, and 8/19/26 with setup changes
My setup as of 2/4/26
In case you’re wondering, this is the gear that goes into my Twitch streams(UPDATED 10/15 and 12/31/24, 1/10, 5/8, 7/16, 7/20, and 8/20/25, 1/9, 1/18, 2/4, 3/30, 7/22, 8/15, and 8/19/26):
6-foot Amazon Basics XLR male to female cable with 3-foot Vandesail cable (part of 2-pack) to compensate for spool above Rode boom arm Monster S100-M-10 10-foot XLR male to female cable (ordered in January 2011 from Amazon; no longer available)
Purple Panda Lavalier Microphone – used for games that require standing, in conjunction with Brio and Digicharge tripod when placed atop hutch (as in photo below gear list)
Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2 internal capture cardAVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1Elgato 4K X – I have four modern video game consoles set up by my TV. A PS5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo SwitchSwitch 2, and Xbox 360 are connected to a a 5-port HDMI switcher with the fifth port reserved for off-stream captures from my cable box (connected to my TV and the switcher via a 2-port splitter). (8/15/26 UPDATE: After over a year of inactivity, I finally reset my Switch to factory default and packed up the contents in its original box to sell or give to a family friend for their kids to use. The Switch 2 took the old Switch’s place above my TV.) A 25-foot Amazon Basics HDMI cable runs from the switcher, behind my shelf, under my bed, and to port 1 of a 7-port switcher that is connected to the capture card via 3-foot cable. Port 2 runs to still another 5-port HDMI switcher below my desk for my Wii U and FPGA clones of retro gaming consoles. Those consoles are AnalogueNt Mini Noir (NES), Mega Sg (Sega Genesis), Duo (as in TurboDuo), 3D (Nintendo 64), and the Pocket Dock for portable console gaming (Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance natively, plus other portables via adapters). (3/30/26 UPDATE: This switcher was only good up to 1080p. So, I swapped it out for the 4K 5-port switcher that the 7-port switcher replaced.) Port 3 is for the Analogue Super Nt (Super NES) to make room for the Duo and 3D since it is the closest to the 7-port switcher. Port 4 runs to my Switch 2 dock (the only console on my desk)my slim PS3 via connected to another 2-port splitter… nothing; it is currently unused. A 10-foot Highwings HDMI cable runs from Port 5 to the Wii U. Port 6 is connected to a RetroTINK-4K for upscaling of composite video and component (YPbPr) video, whether for VCRs or analog (not Analogue) video game consoles. The component cables connected to the RT4K are input from a gcomp Automatic 8:2 Component/Composite Switch. So far, my GameCube, PS1 (Sony PlayStation), and Xbox are connected. (The Xbox is connected via Wii component cables and an Xbox2Wii Component Pro adapter.) The PS2 and Sega Saturn cables will be added once I bring those up from the basement. My slim PS3 will be the last console to move out of the basement (not counting the various minis). I’m not sure where it’ll go, but it may go where the Switch is now. (I’d need another 2-port splitter for the PS3.) Part-time use consoles run through the RT4K will be the Dreamcast via VGA and 3.5mm audio cables; a model 2 Genesis, 32X, Sega CD through the gcomp; various mini consoles via HDMI (upscaled from native 720p); and an Atari 7800+ (also upscaled from 720p).
FYGUES 55-inch computer desk with hutch (the listing is for rustic brown, but my variant is black) – Thanks to my uncle Scott (1953-2026) for assembling it in June 2023.
PreSonus Eris E3.5 near field studio monitorsPreSonus Eris E3.5 BT near field studio monitors – The power switch for the E3.5 non-Bluetooth studio monitors (hereafter, speakers) gradually cracked to the point where I couldn’t set it to the on position. These speakers were bought to replace the E3.5 BT when Bluetooth interference overwhelmed me. In my haste to replace and undo my mistake, I neglected to notice both models featured traditional analog ports. I eventually reacquired the E3.5 BT from my dad who ultimately stuck with his computer monitor’s built-in speakers. I kept them next door in the guest room just in case I ever found a use for them. The time came on the evening of 7/15/25. There was no need to replace the power supply. All I had to do was swap out the E3.5 for the E3.5 BT, wipe away two years of dust, plug in the power supply and audio splitter (see below), and put the volume dial in a similar spot. Good as new. I hope the E3.5 BT pair lasts as long as its non-Bluetooth counterpart (3 years, 2 weeks).
Right monitor:AOC 24G2SPE 24-inch Full HD IPS Monitor, 165HzAOC 24G4 24-inch Full HD IPS Monitor, 180 Hz (connected via IVANKY 6.6-foot DisplayPort cable) (a Wii sensor bar run from the Wii U is affixed above the monitor) 5/8/25 NOTE:Horizontal banding developed on the bottom of the original monitor. Since this developed after only 18 months, halfway through AOC’s 36-month warranty for monitors, they sent a replacement. As long as I returned the broken monitor via FedEx (using their return label) within 30 days, the replacement was free. The monitor did not have a 165Hz option, jumping from from 144 to 180. So, I chose a 144Hz refresh rate and matched that rate on the left monitor.
The webcams, mixer, and Stream Deck are connected to an Anker 4-port USB 3.0 hub. (The lavalier mic is connected directly to the PC mic jack because the mixer can’t draw enough power.) For games that require standing, like Wii Sports Resort, I use the hutch-mounted Brio in a dedicated OBS scene:
A closer look at the Kaotica 7b, Shure SM7dB, Boseen extension tube, and Rode PSA1+:
CPU: Intel Core i9 14900F (2 4-Core, 68MB Total Cache, 2.0GHz to 5.8 GHz with Turbo Boost Max 3.0)
Motherboard: Alienware 0RF96M
Memory: 64GB (2x32GB), DDR5, 5200MT/s
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER 16GB GDDR6X
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 11 Pro
Overlay backgrounds were made in Adobe Photoshop. Below are six examples (updated 7/16/25; I dropped “…on Twitch” branding in March 2025):
The webcam video is accordingly cropped in OBS for just chatting (background 2) and gameplay/media production (backgrounds 3 and 4; plus a Firefox background I didn’t include here). Game capture (and prerecorded gameplay videos), Adobe Audition, Word, display capture, and other programs are scaled down to fit their box and Firefox is cropped. StreamElements and Twitch overlays, widgets, and alerts are placed in different spots depending on the background. Additional text is added in OBS where necessary (i.e. prerecorded gameplay disclaimer, notable commands [in place of followers goal widget], milestone stream banners). Chat emote animation is full screen and lasts for ten seconds. Sound commands also require an overlay to be heard. Alerts were initially handled entirely by SE, but moved to Twitch in March 2024. The SE donation alert was reinstated during my 300th stream on 2/26/25, until it was replaced with ko-fi on 5/15/26.
I used Elgato 4K Capture Utility (available for download here) to play in real time on the right monitor until relying solely on OBS. I create a windowed projector and enlarge it on my right monitor where it’s placed in front of Google Chrome where I use the Twitch Stream Manager webpage. (I only have the window fill the screen if game text is unreadable.) To avoid sync issues, a separate element was made for 4K X audio (more on that two paragraphs below). Desktop audio is advanced by around 400ms (-400ms), also to avoid sync issues, although that is not utilized as often thanks to OBS’s “capture audio” option for window capture elements.
The Elgato 4K X only allows access to one app at a time. So, I initially used the NDI 6 Runtime plugin for OBS and click “Enable Stream Pair” in 4K Capture Utility. It was seen and heard as an “NDI Source” – that I named “Elgato 4K X” – in all gameplay-related scenes. I’m forced to use external devices on my Alienware Aurora R16 because the RTX 4080 SUPER graphics card blocks the remaining PCIE slots. As noted in the previous paragraph, I eventually abandoned this practice and relied solely on OBS, only using 4K Capture Utility to play games off stream if I don’t intend on recording. (11/21/25 NOTE: I now use the plugin for Dancing with the Stars watchalong streams, such as the one for season 34‘s fifth week on October 14 and the finale on November 25.)
While using the AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 from 12/31/24 to 1/6/25, I noticed a gradual audio desync problem with certain consoles – something not present in VODs or off-stream recordings. That required me to make a separate audio channel for the capture card, a solution I learned via this message board post. I bought the Live Gamer 2.1 for capturing to my laptop. With a working desktop, laptop captures and streaming will likely occur in the basement or away from home. (7/23/25 NOTE: One such “away from home” stream was from my hotel room in Connecticut on May 3 between Smooth Jazz for Scholars shows.)
Shure 7MdB audio is filtered in OBS with three filters from the Accusonus ERA 6 Bundle: Mouth De-Clicker at 55% processing in normal mode, De-Esser Pro at 50% processing, and Noise Remover Pro at around 40% processing. (That last filter doesn’t show a percentage.)
I hope that answers all your questions. Thank you for watching my streams. I’ll leave you with a screenshot of an OBS test the night before my third stream.
7/23 and 11/30/25, 3/30, 7/22, 8/15, and 8/19/26 UPDATES: As a bonus, I’m including my latest setup photos. (Please pardon the dust.)
This photo was taken on 7/23/25. Port 4 is currently unoccupied.This photo was taken 7/21/25, long before the Xbox was added.
The final prime time Instrumental Invasion on WCWP began life the same way the prior night did: as a Wednesday night show to air following what I assumed to be a short renovation programming hiatus. I hadn’t recorded this one yet, though. The playlist, annotations, and script were completed, but I wanted to work on more playlists before recording 181 or 182. I made 183 the Christmas show and 184 the third Three-of-a-Kind Showcase special. I’d work on 185 and 186 when I was ready.
The playlist was created on October 20 and 22. Annotations began on October 25, but were put on hold due to uncertainty over the hiatus and lineup change that was to follow. I finished those annotations and drafted the script on November 1. I figured I would record 181, then move on to 182.
After making tweaks to show 181 on the evening of November 6, I tweaked all components of 182: playlist, annotations, and script. Obviously, I’d have to redo the intro and outro, including a proper goodbye on the latter. These are the changes made:
Extracurricular info about “The Secret Drawer” by Bob James was thrown out to allow more time for the goodbye.
Annotations were updated to include the replacement songs, and the script was updated accordingly. The script was revised a few more times before recording began.
Two segments per day were recorded from November 9 to 11. Each time, I streamed the recording sessions on Twitch.
I’m sad the show is over, but relieved that the hard work is behind me. So much time and effort went into each show, so burnout was inevitable. While this isn’t quite how I wanted to end, I’m grateful to WCWP station manager Pete Bellotti for allowing me a proper ending. Here was Pete’s complimentary statement on the WCWP Alumni Association Facebook group hours before air:
A salute to Mike Chimeri … yes, his birthday (Happy Birthday!!!!!) ….but to his final Instrumental Invasion tonight at 9p on 88.1 FM WCWP. There are no words to describe how important Mike will always be to WCWP as a talent, alum and human being. I am truly grateful for Mike’s friendship and I speak for many by saying THANK YOU! Time for some R & R and the next project that you will execute with class, professionalism & superior skill.
Cheers my friend!!!
Pete Bellotti, 11/17/23, 1:05 PM
Thank you very much, Pete.
Thank you, the listener and reader, for reading these recaps and listening to the airchecks. See you all on Twitch.
This edition of Instrumental Invasion started out as a regular Wednesday night show that I assumed would air after a short programming hiatus (one or two weeks) for WCWP. I guessed wrong. Thus, this was reworked as a Thursday night show. References to “this week” were removed and the intro and outro were redone to acknowledge the impending demise.
Rather than have my last six shows run on The Wave, station manager Pete Bellotti arranged for this show and the next one to air on consecutive nights, hours before the renovation programming hiatus was to begin. This meant I was on three nights in a row: November 15 to 17, all in the regular 9PM slot.
The playlist was created on October 4 and annotated from October 13 to 15. The script was drafted on the 15th, 17th, and 18th.
Recording began on November 4, during my second-ever Twitch livestream. It was an opportunity let viewers in on the process, though few cared to watch live. I worked on the first hour over the course of a two-hour stream. Then, I raided out to music streamer Cerian (kerry-anne). (Twitch doesn’t have a radio category, so I chose music and felt I should raid a fellow music streamer.) I was giddy (as in Biddy) to raid her because I’d been meaning to give her streams a try. I promised I would play the instrumental version of her song “Wrong Side” in my last show, which I assumed would be 186. More on that in the finale recap.
The first segment of hour 2 was recorded on November 5 and the rest on the morning of the 6th. I was over a minute beyond my desired 1:49:00 threshold, but with legal IDs and spot breaks, I’d still end before 11PM.
As noted earlier, pickups were recorded on the evening of the 6th, but only after reinstating backups of segment session files. Thinking I was moving to The Wave, I recorded a tag to play in place of all FM references in liners, then I saved and exported those files accordingly.
This proved unnecessary.
David Benoit‘s cover of “Song for My Father” was first played on July 1, 2020, but not with the lengthy origin story. I ended up hooked on a video YouTube recommended of the Horace Silver Quintet playing “Song for My Father” on Danish TV in April 1968:
That, in turn, sent me down a Billy Cobham rabbit hole, culminating in this August 2016 Drumeo presentation:
Before we do that, while editing on the Monday after (August 14), I noticed a familiar face in the bottom right of this Saturday (August 12) photo in the vendor marketplace:
I was kicking myself for not knowing he’d be there, but John Riggs and LI Retro staff member Ryan Shapiro told me on Facebook that Clint was there as a paid attendee, not a guest. In their words:
He visited the show but did not host a panel. I was very excited to see him there.
Ryan Shapiro
I didn’t know he was gonna be there, either. There were quite a few YouTube people that weren’t on the list but showed up to hang out. Tells you how awesome the show is.
John Riggs
Hear hear, John. While I missed Clint in the moment, I did notice Justin Silverman walking along a separate row of vendors. I’d have said hello if we crossed paths.
Here is the latest LGR video:
The walking photo tour begins in earnest with a “good retro morning” greeting:
Most photos were taken on Saturday, but a small amount are from Sunday (August 13). (You’ll know by the filename.)
Vendor Marketplace:
I thought of Japanese Ammo with Misa as I passed this vendor’s Pokémon figurines.Consoles and PCs were available from vendors
This TV cycled through WS4000 simulatorflavors to show weather conditions in several video game locations.The music was from actual Weather Channellocal forecast recordings on the tribute site TWC Classics……but Dan Chandler’s recreated narration was enabled.Speaking of Pokémon, here’s the Pokélab.The next four photos were actual museum exhibits, unrelated to LI Retro.After taking this, I sat down in the right window seat. It was as close as I’ve been to air travel since March 2019.Back to LI Retro exhibits.
Second floor:
The second floor had its own Game Boy Selfie Station.Once again, I present the not-rare Black Tiger.
I’ve been a fan of Tetris ever since playing the Game Boy version as a kid. I have that and 21 other variations of Tetris in my collection. This includes Tetris & Dr. Mario and Puyo Puyo Tetris. I also have the three ports of Tetris 2. The sequel gets a bad rap, but I enjoy it.
Anyway, that’s the end of the photo tour. Click here for my third recap post with a conclusion and pickups photos.
MikeChimeri.com 
