COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 7999

Amusement & Recreational Services, Not Elsewhere Classified

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

19companies1844–1992founding years19still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedThe Molson Companies Limited
1844
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedMizuno Corporation
1906
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedRiddell Sports Inc.
1927
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedAspen Skiing Company
1946
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedPromus Companies, Inc.
1954
FoundedHarveys Casino Resorts
1955
FoundedS-K-I Limited
1956
FoundedClub Mediterranée S.A.
1957
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedVail Associates, Inc.
1961
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedComcast CorporationFoundedEssence Communications, Inc.
1969
FoundedHarrah's Entertainment, Inc.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedStation Casinos Inc.
1976
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedFirearms Training Systems, Inc.FoundedPlayers International, Inc.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
FoundedMidway Games, Inc.
1988
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
FoundedHollywood Casino Corporation
1990
FoundedArgosy Gaming Company
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

The Molson Companies Limited →
Active · founded 1844 · Canada
Established in 1786, The Molson Companies Limited is perhaps best known for its brewery, which is the oldest in North…
Mizuno Corporation →
Active · founded 1906 · Japan
Mizuno Corporation is a world leader in sports equipment manufacturing.
Riddell Sports Inc. →
Active · founded 1927
Riddell Sports Inc.
Aspen Skiing Company →
Active · founded 1946
Founded in 1946, Aspen Skiing Company is headquartered in Aspen, Colorado, a small town in the Roaring Fork Valley of…
Promus Companies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1954
Promus is one of the United States' leading hotel and casino companies, although it is known to the public mainly…
Harveys Casino Resorts →
Active · founded 1955
Founded in 1944, Harveys Casino Resorts is an established owner, operator, and developer of high quality hotel/casinos…
S-K-I Limited →
Active · founded 1956
A holding company of several ski resorts, S-K-I Limited is best known for founding the Killington ski area, located in…
Club Mediterranée S.A. →
Active · founded 1957 · France
Since the organization's early days as a vacation village concept pioneer, Club Mediterranée S.A.
Vail Associates, Inc. →
Active · founded 1961
Vail Associates, Inc., is the owner of Vail Mountain, the largest and most popular ski area in the United States;…
Comcast Corporation →
Active · founded 1969
Comcast Corporation is a leading cable, telecommunications, and entertainment firm.
Essence Communications, Inc. →
Active · founded 1969
Essence Communications, Inc.
Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. →
Active · founded 1971
William Harrah parlayed a Reno bingo parlor into a company, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., consisting of Nevada casinos,…
Station Casinos Inc. →
Active · founded 1976
Station Casinos Inc.
Firearms Training Systems, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Firearms Training Systems, Inc., better known by the acronym FATS, provides weapons training for law enforcement…
Players International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Players International, Inc.
Midway Games, Inc. →
Active · founded 1988
Midway Games, Inc., is one of the world's leading producers of video games.
Hollywood Casino Corporation →
Active · founded 1990
Hollywood Casino Corporation (HCC) develops, owns, and operates themed casino entertainment facilities under the…
Argosy Gaming Company →
Active · founded 1991
A market leader in a fast-growing industry, Argosy Gaming Company operates five riverboat gambling casinos on the…
President Casinos, Inc. →
Active · founded 1992
President Casinos, Inc.
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