Brian Beninger - Author of Bulls and Bears
Speakeasy Software was founded at the dawn of the personal computer era, in 1978, by Brian and Toni Beninger, based near Kemptville, Ontario, Canada. Initially, the company released software on tape for the Apple II, TRS-80, and Commodore PET machines. Speakeasy also had the distinction of publishing *Wheeler Dealers*, game-design legend Dan Bunten's first title and the first computer game to be packaged in a box.
Brian Beninger recalls his journey: "In 1970, I invented a financial board game called *Bulls and Bears* and self-published about 100 copies. A few dozen were sold in game stores in Ottawa and Montreal. I worked in Canada's first computer timesharing firms, Dataline and IP Sharp. By 1977, I was managing at Statistics Canada when I first became interested in the new microprocessors emerging in the U.S. After attending a small 'personal computer show' in Pasadena, CA, I was convinced this was the future."
Back in Canada, Brian bought one of the first 10 Apple II computers, followed by a Commodore PET and a Radio Shack TRS-80. With the support of his wife Toni and a colleague, Randy Pack, the couple started working from their dining room table in a log house they built near Kemptville, Ontario. The first title, unsurprisingly, was *Bulls and Bears*, based on Brian’s earlier board game. The software was initially distributed on cassette tapes, with quality control being handled by their kids. The couple even managed to secure their first orders for $3,000 on their cold calls to computer stores across North America, starting their business in full.
Brian shares: "It was a cold winter day in early 1978 when I put everything to the acid test. I took a day off work. I had a list of some 30 computer stores across North America (basically all I could find from early Byte magazines) and I had my four titles ready. Over 80% said yes and by the end of the day, we had our first $3,000 in orders. Two days later, I quit my high-paying and secure job with the Feds and became a full-time entrepreneur."
The business continued to grow, with the family moving into a larger office and incorporating as Speakeasy Software Ltd. Brian's journey then took him to the first West Coast Computer Faire, where he connected with industry figures such as Steve Jobs and was introduced to the power of the expanding computer market.
"We sold out our suitcases full of software and took orders for more. Some guys from Byte Industries came by and said they wanted to talk to me about a big distributing deal. As it turned out, my next-table neighbor at the Fair was a lawyer from LA named Michael Scott. We got to know each other over those few days and I asked him to help me with the Byte deal. He did and we became life-long friends."
By 1979, Speakeasy had expanded its offerings to include health education programs and was in talks with Peter Jennings from Personal Software (later VisiCorp), who was working to bring the groundbreaking *VisiCalc* to market. The company also ventured into new markets, converting their titles for other platforms, including the Commodore and Radio Shack machines.
As the 1970s ended, the industry began shifting with the rise of Microsoft and IBM, pushing small players like Speakeasy toward the periphery. But Brian and Toni adapted, acquiring a CAD/CAM software team and launching a new venture called Omnitech Graphics Systems Ltd. This marked the end of one chapter and the beginning of another in their entrepreneurial journey.
Brian concludes, "We said goodbye to Kemptville and within a year, sales had increased to a couple of million dollars. Speakeasy had grown, but like many others in the industry, we eventually realized we had to change again to keep up with the giants."
Source: https://gue.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php
Passed away: October 6, 2024