The man in the referee shirt is finally taking center stage—and he’s singing his heart out. Arcades and Love Songs: The Ballad of Walter Day is the latest doc from Ed Cunningham, the producer behind The King of Kong, and this time, he’s putting the spotlight on the unsung hero of arcade lore: Walter Day. Known as the father of esports and the eccentric founder of Twin Galaxies, Walter was once the gatekeeper of high scores. Now, at 74, he’s chasing a different dream—resurrecting the rock opera love songs that have haunted him since the golden age of arcade cabinets and broken hearts.
After being pulled into the Billy Mitchell legal hell storm that erupted from King of Kong, Walter found himself in the crosshairs of a lawsuit that threatened to wipe out his legacy. But instead of retreating, he doubled down—turning pain into passion and finally recording the music he’s been writing for decades. The film follows Walter through his unexpected journey from courtroom drama to the concert stage, backed by indie distributor Monkey Wrench Films, who are riding high off their recent string of successful theatrical docs like Pay Dirt: The Story of Supercross and Who Is Stan Smith?
“Our intent here was really to dive into Walter [Day]—someone we love and respect.”
In this interview, Jason Delgado sits down with Ed Cunningham to talk about how the new documentary came to life, the emotional weight of seeing Walter’s dreams come true, and the unexpected redemption arc of the notorious Billy Mitchell. Cunningham opens up about the origins of the project, the ups and downs of Walter’s live performance, and why this film is more than just a nostalgic return to arcade culture—it’s a deeply personal story about love, legacy, and finally stepping into the spotlight.
Whether you’re a longtime King of Kong fanatic or just looking for a heart-punching ride that blends pixelated nostalgia with pure human emotion, Arcades and Love Songs hits all the right notes. Read on for our full conversation with Cunningham, and yes—there’s talk of Steve Wiebe, Walter’s record deal, and why the King of Kong cinematic universe is more alive than ever.
Jason Delgado: It’s nice to be with you today. Your new documentary Arcades and Love Songs: The Ballad of Walter Day. Tell us a little bit about that.
Ed Cunningham: I produced a King of Kong, and it was a little film that when we showed it, when we premiered at Slamdance, I remember the moment when the lights went down, wondering, is anyone gonna like this film as much as we do? ‘Cause we’d spent so much time on it. In that world, it took off in a way that we never expected it could. It felt like this little film about this little story, but it just captured people, and for all of us involved, it changed our lives forever, good and bad.
I’m deeply disappointed by how difficult this interview is to read. It reads like a Google voicemail transcript and comes off as incoherent at times. The most egregious error is that it is “Mike J. Nichols,” not “Mike, Jake Nichols.” Anyone familiar with his body of work (Zappa, Echo in the Canyon, John Waite: The Hard Way) knows he is not just an editor who loves editing. This interview does a disservice to the movie, which is enjoyable and should be watched.
Walter Day’s shift from arcade legend to rock opera performer at 74 is nothing short of inspiring. Arcades and Love Songs isn’t just about gaming nostalgia—it’s a testament to chasing dreams at any age. Truly a unique redemption arc!