Good times to roll at gaming center

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, November 16, 2004

Whether doing his game show in Buffalo, New York or White Hall, Alabama, former TV star Jimmie Walker says one thing remains constant, people love winning money.

Walker, who played “JJ” on the historic sitcom “Good Times,” should know.

In addition to traveling the country doing stand up, Walker takes his game show to casinos from “Buffalo, New York to Oklahoma.”

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“Money is green in every region,” he says. “I think we find the mercenary quality of everybody when money is involved.”

Walker will be giving away some of that green Thursday night at 7 p.m. at the White Hall Gaming Center as he brings his show “Dynomite Dollars” to town.

“Basically people have to win x amount of dollars by punching holes in the dynomite wall,” he said. “People seem to have a lot of fun,

I have a lot of fun hosting.”

Contestants can cash prizes up to $2,500 or as the ad says they can “make a dash with JJ’s cash.”

“People love the show, they go crazy,” Walker said.

Walker will be in town to help the Gaming Center celebrate its’ grand opening week, from now through Nov. 20.

“It’s great to have Jimmie here,” Gaming Center General Manager Chad Dickie said. “I’m sure he will put on a fabulous event for us on Thursday.”

The show is the brainchild of Walker’s friend Jeff Connor, the marketing consultant for the Gaming Center. Contestants punch holes through the “dynomite wall” grabbing a stick stuffed with a cash prize.

The contestant then has the option of keeping the prize or trading it back in for two more chances.

“He does this as a favor to me,” Connor said.

The show is so popular Walker says they could do it two or three times a week, but instead, they limit it to one appearance a year in each casino they work, which may help drive up the excitement of the contestants. Contestants are picked through a drawing, with each visit to the center from now until Thursday, they get a free entry.

After a six-year run on ‘Good Times,’ Walker was one of the biggest comedic stars in the country.

He employed a staff of 30 comedy writers that included the likes of Jay Leno and David Letterman.

Walker currently tours the

country 25-30 weeks a year doing his stand-up comedy, and also performs on

late night T.V. and game shows. In his spare time he writes scripts for

T.V. and movies.

The gaming center has been open for about two months on Highway 80 in White Hall.

They are open from 7 a.m. until 5 a.m. seven days a week.

They center uses electronic charitable bingo machines.