Nissue #30: Nolan Bushnell, Founder of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese.
I grew up in way upstate New York and as my Dad can attest, playing video games and eating pizza were foundational to my childhood development. And if you grew up in the 80s as I did, that really meant playing Atari and eating at Chuck E. Cheese.
Imagine my surprise when I found out that both companies were created by the same genius: Nolan Bushnell. I needed to know: Who is this guy?
Some years ago, the seed for finding out was planted when I met one of his daughters (and one of Pong’s first beta testers!), Alissa Bushnell. When I started In Search Of Lost Answers at the beginning of 2021, I just knew I’d be bugging her for an introduction to her old man… a man who I found out has not stopped keeping busy 1-bit.
Nish: What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Nolan: I think it has a lot to do with projects. People who are engaged in working on things tend to be happier than those who are just seeking pleasure.
Nish: What was your worst job ever?
Nolan: Selling clothes at a small store in the Union building at the University of Utah was my worst.
Nish: What was your first job ever?
Nolan: At the age of 8 my mother told me she had grown too many strawberries, so I sold them door to door. At 11 I started a TV repair business.
Nish: What was your best job ever?
Nolan: I loved working at the Lagoon Amusement Park while in college. It was part of the inspiration for Atari several years later. And Atari, while stressful in the early days, was also a lot of fun.
Nish: What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Nolan: Procrastination!
Nish: What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Nolan: Laziness.
Nish: What’s some advice you’d give to yourself at 23?
Nolan: Stay positive and enthusiastic and don’t give up.
Nish: What is your greatest extravagance?
Nolan: Truffles!
Nish: You have exclusive dinner reservations, excluding family and close friends, who are the 3 people (alive, dead or imaginary) you’d invite?
Nolan: Walt Disney, Alan Turing, Blaise Pascal.
Nish: What is the theme song of your professional life?
Nolan: My Way
Nish: What is your motto?
Nolan: Invent, invent, invent!
Nish: What is something you’re really excited about right now?
Nolan: My 2 new startups.
[Editor’s Note: I had to pry out that he was referring to Learnip and something called Weird Woods; the guy truly has not stopped inventing, even as he closes in on eighty].
End Interview.
