Caine's Arcade

by Dick Mac

I don't know how this stayed off my radar all these months, because it is right up my alley.

Caine Monroy is a 9-year old who spent last summer building an elaborate cardboard arcade in his dad's auto parts store, in East L.A.

All he wanted was to share his arcade with some customers.

Nobody in the neighborhood showed interest.

Then one day a guy stopped by to buy an auto part, saw the arcade, talked to Caine, bought a fun pass and began to play.

The intricacies of the self-made arcade impressed the guy. He started asking questions, met the dad, and eventually asked if he could make a short film about it.

First, though, he wanted Caine to get some customers. Lots of customers. So he created a Facebook event, and created a flash mob that was also promoted at Hidden LA. It went viral.

One day, Caine's dad took him for pizza and arcade games and the flash mob set-up.

Caine returned from lunch to an amazing sight. Watch the movie. Buy the movie (it only costs a buck, for crissakes), and support the effort that has become a movement to ensure this brilliant boy gets a college education that he could never otherwise afford.



Yes, I wept.

Best quote from 9-year-old Caine: "I used to like Hot Wheels when I was little."

The theme song:



Caine's Arcade on Facebook

Buy the movie

Donate money to his college fund here
OR
At the Caine's Arcade website

Edit 12:25 PM: An auto-correct appears to have changed Caine's name to Blaine in a couple of places. This has been fixed.