Mario before the famous cookie duster took hold

Back when Nintendo was still trying to gain a foothold in the US market the company rented a warehouse owned by a fellow called Mario Segale.

Legend has it that NOA President Minoru Arakawa was taken aback by the similarity between Segale and the lead character of Donkey Kong - an arcade title which Nintendo was preparing to launch at the time.

With the character still unnamed, Arakawa decided to call him Mario in honour of the company's landlord.

Amazingly, Segale's yearbook photo from 1952 - as well as many other interesting pieces of info - have been unearthed by website Technologizer. It's a fascinating insight into the life of the man who unwittingly lent his name to one of video gaming's brightest stars. You should check it out.

[source technologizer.com]