DATAMOST

About

Datamost at the 1982 West Coast Computer Faire

Datamost was started by David Gordon in 1982.  David also had previously founded Programma International, which published well over 300 titles for a variety of platforms.   Programma International was purchased from Gordon by Hayden Publishing in 1980. 

David subsequently left the company  and established Datamost in Chatsworth, California. Initially, the new company focused their efforts in the game and education areas.  They also produced computing and educational reference materials.  However, they were most noted at the time for publishing Marc Goodman’s program The Bilestoad, which became an international best seller.  Dan Illowsky was also one of their major headliners with his renditions of popular video game programs of the time.

Other programmers whose software was distributed by Datamost, Inc. include a Who’s Who of the legends of the industry including Bob Bishop, Bob Flanagan, David Van Brink, and Chris Oberth.  The packages developed by these guys alone, went on to make more money for the company than almost all the rest combines.  

The most prolific programmer of the bunch was Bob Flanagan.  Well known for his work on Marble Madness and Gauntlet, Bob was a machine, single-handedly producing more than a half dozen titles for Datamost.

The company discontinued publishing software in 1984 but the titles remain popular in circles of vintage computing fans around the globe even today.

David Gordon died in 1996, aged 52, at the Holy Cross Medical Center, North Hills, California.  His eldest son Sean, died 23 October 2005.  His second son, Mitchell is an actor and programmer and continues to work in the industry.

Industry: Computer books, Video games
Founded: 1981; 43 years ago
Founder: David Lawrence Gordon (July 22, 1943 – February 9, 1996)
Headquarters: Chatsworth, California, United States

Software

1981198219831984
County Carnival
County Fair
Swashbuckler
Thief		Aztec
Casino
Computer Gin Rummy
Crazy Mazy
Guardian
Mars Cars
The Missing Ring
Money Munchers
Monster Smash
Pandora’s Box
Pig Pen
Snack Attack
Space Cadette
Space Strike
Spectre
Tharolian Tunnels
The Bilestoad
The Card Stars: Cribbage / Solitaire
Tubeway
Vortex
WizPlus
World Series Baseball		Airstrike II
Ardy the Aardvark
Argos by Ron Lowrance
Cavern Creatures
Cohen’s Towers
Conquering Worlds
Cosmic Tunnels
Jet-Boot Jack
Mr. Robot and His Robot Factory
Market Mogul
Mating Zone
Neon
Nightraiders
Round About[1]
Space Ark
Super Bunny
The Property Manager
The Tail of Beta Lyrae
Word Race		Ankh by David Van Brink
Earthly Delights
Kwik-Write
Mabel’s Mansion
My Chess II
Polar Pierre

Books

  • How to Program the Apple II Using 6502 Assembly Language (1981) by Randy Hyde
  • The Elementary Commodore-64 (1982) by William B. Sanders, Ph.D.
  • How to Write an Apple Program (1982) by Ed Faulk
  • How to Write a Commodore Program (1982) by Ed Faulk
  • How to Write a TRS-80 Program (1982) by Ed Faulk
  • How to write a Program Vol. II (1983) by Ed Faulk
  • Kids & The Apple (1982) by Ed Carlson
  • Kids & The Atari (1982) by Ed Carlson
  • Kids & The Panasonic (1982) by Ed Carlson
  • Kids & The VIC (1982) by Ed Carlson
  • Kids & The Commodore (1982) by Ed Carlson
  • Kids & The TI-99/4a (1983) by Ed Carlson
  • The Apple Almanac (1983) by Eric Goes and William B. Sanders, Ph.D.
  • Designing Apple Games with Pizazz (1983) by Greg Minter and John Ruffner
  • p-Source (A Guide to the Apple Pascal System) (1983) by Randall Hyde
  • Games Apples Play (1983) by Mark James Capella and Michael D. Weinstock
  • Games Ataris Play (1983) by Hal Glicksman and Kent Simon[2]
  • Games Commodores Play (1983) by Phil Dennis and Greg Minter
  • Games TIs Play (1983)  by Scott Singer & Tony Bartels
  • A Shortcut Through Adventureland (1983) by Jack Cassidy, Pete Katz, Richard Owen Lynn and Sergio Waisman
  • The Elementary Apple (1983) by William B. Sanders
  • The Elementary TI-99/4a (1983) by William B. Sanders
  • The Elementary IBM-PC (1983) by William B. Sanders
  • The Elementary VIC-20 (1983) by William B. Sanders
  • Kids to Kids on the Commodore 64 (1983) by Sam Edge, Billy Mitchell and Kris Hauser
  • Kids to Kids on the Apple Computer (1983) by Billy Mitchell
  • Kids to Kids on the Color Computer (1983) by Billy Mitchell
  • Software author’s guide : a comprehensive guide to microcomputer software publishers (1983) by Mildred A. Heiney
  • The Elementary IBM PCjr (1984) by William B. Sanders, Ph.D.
  • Computer Playground for Commodore 64 & Vic-20 (1983) M.J. Winter
  • Computer Playground for Apple (1983) M.J. Winter
  • Computer Playground for Atari 400 / 800 / 1200 (1983) M.J. Winter
  • Computer Playground for TI (1983) by  Marcia Carrozzo
  • ComputMath Magic – Problem Solving with your Home Computer (1983) by M.J Winter
  • The Commodore 64 Experience (1983) by Mike Dean Klein[3]
  • The Atari Experience (1984) by Adrien Z. Lamothe
  • The VIC-20 Experience (1984) by Mike Dean Klein
  • Atari Roots: Atari Assembly Language (1984) by Mark Andrews[4]
  • Assembly Language for Kids – Commodore 64 (1984) by William B. Sanders
  • The Musical Atari (1984) by Hal Glickman
  • The Musical Commodore (1984) Hal Glicksman
  • The Apple Almanac (1984) by Eric Goez and William Sanders
  • Apple Thesaurus (1984) by Aaron Filler with Nick Anis and Terry Deacon
  • Sound and Graphics For the Apple II, IIe and Franklin Computers (1984) by Jerry Abad and Valerie Abad
  • The Commodore Logo Workbook (1984) By M.J. Winter 
  • Apple Macintosh Primer (1984) by William Sanders
  • The Super Computer Snooper (1984) by Isaac Malitz
  • 1541 User’s Guide (1984) by Dr. G. Neufeld
  • Intermediate Commodore 64 (1984) by Guy Grotke
  • ABCs of ATARI Computers 400 800 Book (1984) by David E. Mentley
  • Commodore 64 HOME COMPANION (1984) by George Beekman 
  • Getting into Computers (1984) by Kurt Hanks
  •  Repairing Your Home Video Game (1984) by Gordon Jennings 
  • A Shortcut Through Adventureland Volume II – Infocom (1984) by Richard Owen Lynn, Paul Ashley, Michael W. Sloan
  • Computer of the Century : Radio Shack Model 100 (1984) by William B. Sanders
  • 101 uses for your home computer (1984) by Michael Seif, Charlie McMillan, Alan Richter and Nancy Mann
  • Computers & young minds : educating children for life : for parents and teachers (1984) by Gary Clark
  • Inside Commodore DOS (1984, 1985) by Richard Immers and Gerald G. Neufeld

Posters by DATAMOST

The six posters shown below were offered for free by DATAMOST through their ad on Page 205 of the June 1983 issue of Creative Computing magazine as well as on Page 174 of the July 1983 issue. The posters had an Apple bent and were 16 x 24 inches in size with absolutely fantastic art work created by Art Huff. There were only available as a as a set however to date only once complete set has ever been seen in auctions. That particular set belonged to the great programmer Bob Bishop:

About this Page

This page is dedicated to the preservation of the Datamost materials.   Created by a number of Vintage computing hobbyists over the years, the goal is to include all of the software packages and the books published by the company during its tenure.