I spent the better part of last Thursday through Sunday eating, sleeping, and playing pinball at the World Pinball Championships from the Professional Amateur Pinball Association (PAPA).  It was held fairly close to where I live and I was in heaven.  There were some 388 working pinball machines (from all different eras) and I did my best to play alot of them.  I was encouraged to enter the Championships (mainly all you needed to do was pay the entrance fee and also a supplemental fee for each entry you made.)  Alas, I am poor, so I did not enter any this year, but there is always next year.  Sunday I was so tired, I mainly just walked around taking photo which you will see below.

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff30/bookmistress4ever/IMG_2650.jpg
This and another LARGE room were filled to capacity with machines.  No, this was not somewhere to go to get some peace and quiet.

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff30/bookmistress4ever/IMG_2617.jpg
Played this one from 1958.

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff30/bookmistress4ever/IMG_2602.jpg
And Derby Day from the 60's
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff30/bookmistress4ever/IMG_2601.jpg

There were a few video games as well.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff30/bookmistress4ever/IMG_2699.jpg

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff30/bookmistress4ever/IMG_2698.jpg

Some of the backglasses of the machines are real artwork!
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff30/bookmistress4ever/IMG_2692.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff30/bookmistress4ever/IMG_2686.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff30/bookmistress4ever/IMG_2681.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff30/bookmistress4ever/IMG_2679.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff30/bookmistress4ever/IMG_2675.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff30/bookmistress4ever/IMG_2673.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff30/bookmistress4ever/IMG_2670.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff30/bookmistress4ever/IMG_2657.jpg
Yanks from 1942
5 balls for 5 cents (don't see that very often)
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff30/bookmistress4ever/IMG_2654.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff30/bookmistress4ever/IMG_2651.jpg

I'm so jealous!!!!


This is one of my top two favorite pinball machines...if I do win (lotto) I plan on buying it


http://www.arcadeandpinballmachines.com/images/products/funhouse.jpg


and this one!


http://pinballandmore.com/images/high-speed-pinball.jpg

well I'm not really sure that this one is the one I want. I think the pinball game is called Hot Pursuit.... it's cop themed  ;)  and has a cherry globe on the top of it... but I couldn't find an image of it.

looking at your pics I think it'd be cool to start buying the pinball title face cards (whatever they are called...) and frame them in illuminated frames. That could be some cool artwork!

oh in my dream home..... cuz it's 630 am, I've already had a rough shift and it's only been 3hrs so I'm gonna have some Q time...

anyway---in this dream home with arcade I plan on buying after I win the lotto I am going to have a row of (as if you couldn't guess) TV based pinball machines....

DUH!!!
http://wonderpuggraphics.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/silverball10.jpg



Apparently I'm going to have to commission a Buffy pinball machine...how in the world did that get overlooked?


and then in no particular order TV and movie themed.... :D

http://buyaclassicarcademachine.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/simp-machine1.jpg

http://www.exchange3d.com/images/uploads/aff471/thumbs/thumb_txth4.jpg


http://susanmernit.com/blog/images/superman-pinball.jpg

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YhXpW5ui9Hk/0.jpg

http://www.pinballandmore.com/images/T2pinball.gif


there's more but I gotta get back to work....thanks for the distraction.

Wow,I love the pictures,I used to have fun with pinball machines back in the days.

This was the machine I put a lot of quarters in when I was in high school.


http://gameroomwarehouse.com/pinball/images/gorgar1.gif


I think it was broken one time because I kept getting free games but it didn't give me ONE free game, it gave me THREE!  :o :o :o :o  I ended up with 12 games on one quarter!  :o :o :o  I didn't play all of them because I had to leave before I could. So, someone else finished them-and of course they couldn't get any more free games because they weren't as good as I was.  :D ;D ;D ;D ;D


There was another one called Silverball (which I couldn't find a pic of-and it is NOT Silverball Mania). There was a loop that the ball would go through. I remember watching someone play it one time and the ball got caught in the loop. They shook the machine just slightly to get it unstuck and the ball hit the thingy that gave you points. So this person just kept nudging the machine & the points were just racking up.  :D ;D ;D ;D


Yup-love pinball. Never got into video games but pinball-that was my game.



Cat

Excellent photos!

There's a video game called "Pinball Hall of Fame:  The Williams Collection" where you can play re-created versions of 'Gorgar', 'Funhouse' and more.  It's not as great as playing the actual pinball machine, but it is very well done renditions ...

Gorgar                                                                                        Funhouse

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGsYwSPX0sQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lA3GfmmOmM

Excellent photos!

There's a video game called "Pinball Hall of Fame:  The Williams Collection" where you can play re-created versions of 'Gorgar', 'Funhouse' and more.  It's not as great as playing the actual pinball machine, but it is very well done renditions ...

Gorgar                                                                                         Funhouse

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGsYwSPX0sQ



I can't believe that I just sat here and watched that entire video.  ;D ;D ;D ;D  Brought back some memories.

Oh yeah, when I played it, it was 5 balls for a quarter-not 3 balls for fifty cents that you find now.  ::)




Cat

This was the machine I put a lot of quarters in when I was in high school.


http://gameroomwarehouse.com/pinball/images/gorgar1.gif





Holy Devil and the Tramp Catwoman!  :D

I'm so jealous!!!!


This is one of my top two favorite pinball machines...if I do win (lotto) I plan on buying it


http://www.arcadeandpinballmachines.com/images/products/funhouse.jpg


and this one!


http://pinballandmore.com/images/high-speed-pinball.jpg

well I'm not really sure that this one is the one I want. I think the pinball game is called Hot Pursuit.... it's cop themed  ;)  and has a cherry globe on the top of it... but I couldn't find an image of it.




There were 3 Funhouse machines there, and at least 3 of the machines with the rotating police light on top that I saw. I only played Funhouse once though.

This was the machine I put a lot of quarters in when I was in high school.


http://gameroomwarehouse.com/pinball/images/gorgar1.gif


I think it was broken one time because I kept getting free games but it didn't give me ONE free game, it gave me THREE!  :o :o :o :o  I ended up with 12 games on one quarter!  :o :o :o  I didn't play all of them because I had to leave before I could. So, someone else finished them-and of course they couldn't get any more free games because they weren't as good as I was.  :D ;D ;D ;D ;D


There was another one called Silverball (which I couldn't find a pic of-and it is NOT Silverball Mania). There was a loop that the ball would go through. I remember watching someone play it one time and the ball got caught in the loop. They shook the machine just slightly to get it unstuck and the ball hit the thingy that gave you points. So this person just kept nudging the machine & the points were just racking up.  :D ;D ;D ;D


Yup-love pinball. Never got into video games but pinball-that was my game.



Cat


Gorgar was one of the machines that was used in the competition (top prize for getting best score (688,050 this year's best score) was $1,000.)  My friend from my pinball league placed second and got $500.

I have always loved pinball.  We should schedule a mini-meet here for next year's championships in August.  ;D

There were 3 Funhouse machines there, and at least 3 of the machines with the rotating police light on top that I saw. I only played Funhouse once though.



If they do this next year. And u go. And u remember  :D

Will u take pics of the funhouse and police themed and tv/movie themed ones for me?

Wow!!  Very cool!  I bet it was crazy in there.  :D

If they do this next year. And u go. And u remember  :D

Will u take pics of the funhouse and police themed and tv/movie themed ones for me?



They are opening the place back up around Valentines Day next year for a charity function for the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society (helping the doggies and kitthes!!) So I'll do it then.  I don't know why it didn't occur to me last time.  I even thought "Q would like this, I'll bet." when I was walking around.   ;D  I think I was entranced by all the pretty machines.   ;D

There was a "sequel" to the machine you mentioned (done in 1992) called Getaway High speed II

http://www.arcade-museum.com/images/116/1167787726.jpg

This youtube video shows how it's played (although the narrator's voice is a little monotinous for me..)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIJi0G_2VYA

Wow!!  Very cool!  I bet it was crazy in there.   :D


eh...considering how many people were there and how noisy the machines are...it was rather sedate, actually.  They had to guards/off-duty police walking around all the time to keep order.  But to my knowledge, everyone got along swimmingly. 

My hubby's friend and I can be seen playing on Friday (a fleeting glimpse) at 2:38 in the video below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEEPpjupRJI

Snoz: Funhouse can be seen at :47 and Getaway can be seen at 1:10 in the video.  :)

They are opening the place back up around Valentines Day next year for a charity function for the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society (helping the doggies and kitthes!!) So I'll do it then.  I don't know why it didn't occur to me last time.  I even thought "Q would like this, I'll bet." when I was walking around.   ;D  I think I was entranced by all the pretty machines.   ;D

There was a "sequel" to the machine you mentioned (done in 1992) called Getaway High speed II

http://www.arcade-museum.com/images/116/1167787726.jpg

This youtube video shows how it's played (although the narrator's voice is a little monotinous for me..)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIJi0G_2VYA



That's awesome!  Is it still snowing around 2/14? how long does it take to drive from Cali to Philly?  Hmmmm when is paleyfest.  All things I need to figure before deciding if I could surprise you and just show up myself.  ;D

My hubby's friend and I can be seen playing on Friday (a fleeting glimpse) at 2:38 in the video below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEEPpjupRJI

Snoz: Funhouse can be seen at :47 and Getaway can be seen at 1:10 in the video.  :)


I saw you!!!

That looks so amazing. They should have that here in Cali! Well they so a big video game thing in sf biput that pinball thing should be a regular attraction in la.

The game was High Speed I remembered it instantly when seeing it at 30 seconds in the vid.  I thought it was hot pursuit but when I searched all I got was the console chase game. Then I searched police theme pinball and getaway was all that came up. But there it is in the video high speed with the  cherry globe on top. You've made my day patty.

That's awesome!   Is it still snowing around 2/14? how long does it take to drive from Cali to Philly?  Hmmmm when is paleyfest.  All things I need to figure before deciding if I could surprise you and just show up myself.  ;D


lol That would be awesome beyond compare.  Last year, we had a freak snow storm and the whole shebang was moved to March 27th.  Here is a webpage about it. http://www.papa.org/cupids/2010/ I didn't get to go because of my last surgery though.  :\'(

I don't have the date for the next one yet, although they are usually around Valentines Day.  But also, I know it isn't realistic that you'd drive 2,203 miles (give or take a few) to Pittsburgh.  ;D  Especially since you were thinking of driving to Philly (which is on the other side of the state.)  ;D

lol That would be awesome beyond compare.  Last year, we had a freak snow storm and the whole shebang was moved to March 27th.  Here is a webpage about it. http://www.papa.org/cupids/2010/ I didn't get to go because of my last surgery though.  :\'(

I don't have the date for the next one yet, although they are usually around Valentines Day.  But
also, I know it isn't realistic that you'd drive 2,203 miles (give or take a few) to Pittsburgh.  ;D  Especially since you were thinking of driving to Philly (which is on the other side of the state.)   ;D



;D



It's kinda like LA name a city in Cali and out of staters will always say is that close to La or how far is that to la?  ;D
Is it, Pittsburgh, on the right side of the state ie in my favor?

Also, I could take (or make up my own) Flashdance sightseeing tour so three birds one stone.
You, pinball, Flashdance. <listed in order of importance  8)

I hear ya.  I used to think San Jose was below San Diego.  What do I know?  ;D

Yeah Pittsburgh is Western Pennsylvania, and Philly is about 300 miles east of there but feels like alot more when driving it!  ;D (NYC is 93 miles from Philly, I think you'd need to go shopping at Pathmark!  ;) )

As for Flashdance tour, alot of things have changed or gone completely since 1983... but I'd be willing to try to track it down with ya.
http://www.fast-rewind.com/locations_flshdance.htm

They are just wrapping up the newest Batman flick here. http://www.inthe00s.com/smile/01/batman.gif If it sucks then it wasn't filmed here, if it's great then yes, it was filmed here.  ;D

It's nice of you to say I'd be top priority.  I  http://www.inthe00s.com/smile/01/1luvu.gif Snoz.

I hear ya.  I used to think San Jose was below San Diego.  What do I know?   ;D

Yeah Pittsburgh is Western Pennsylvania, and Philly is about 300 miles east of there but feels like alot more when driving it!   ;D (NYC is 93 miles from Philly, I think you'd need to go shopping at Pathmark!   ;) )

As for Flashdance tour, alot of things have changed or gone completely since 1983... but I'd be willing to try to track it down with ya.
http://www.fast-rewind.com/locations_flshdance.htm

They are just wrapping up the newest Batman flick here. http://www.inthe00s.com/smile/01/batman.gif If it sucks then it wasn't filmed here, if it's great then yes, it was filmed here.   ;D

It's nice of you to say I'd be top priority.  I  http://www.inthe00s.com/smile/01/1luvu.gif Snoz.



300 miles on the other side of the state?  nope... I'll come to Pittsburgh but I'm not driving to Philly.  I don't eat Cheesesteak anyway!

The new Batman film will not suck. I will riot if it does!!!


you know considering the list it is a pretty big deal that you made it to the top of the list  ;) 


I heart you too! Gonna go check out the flashdance sites page.....  is that big tram thingy still there? never mind I'll figure it out...




I heart you too!!!!

OMG WE HAVE TO GO EAT AT THE GRAND CONCOURSE!!! That menu looks amazing!!!


it's nice to dream aint it  ;D

That looks so amazing. They should have that here in Cali! Well they so a big video game thing in sf biput that pinball thing should be a regular attraction in la.


I can't speak for LA, but there's a mix of video and pinball at California Extreme, but that was last month.

But for the truly hardcore pinheads in Northern California, it's all about the Pacific Pinball Expo.  Marin County, just north of San Francisco, September 23-25, 2011.  It's as close as you'll get to PAPA without going to Pittsburgh.

I can't speak for LA, but there's a mix of video and pinball at California Extreme, but that was last month.

But for the truly hardcore pinheads in Northern California, it's all about the Pacific Pinball Expo.  Marin County, just north of San Francisco, September 23-25, 2011.  It's as close as you'll get to PAPA without going to Pittsburgh.


Yeah, that looks sweet too!  They were advertising it at PAPA (lower left of my picture)

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff30/bookmistress4ever/IMG_2697.jpg

OMG WE HAVE TO GO EAT AT THE GRAND CONCOURSE!!! That menu looks amazing!!!


it's nice to dream aint it  ;D


If you ever happen to find yourself in Pittsburgh, we will go.  I've never been.  I've always wanted to go, but it seemed like it cost so much to eat there, that I needed a special occasion to do it.  You in Pittsburgh = special occasion.  :)

I saw you!!!

That looks so amazing. They should have that here in Cali! Well they so a big video game thing in sf biput that pinball thing should be a regular attraction in la.

The game was High Speed I remembered it instantly when seeing it at 30 seconds in the vid.  I thought it was hot pursuit but when I searched all I got was the console chase game. Then I searched police theme pinball and getaway was all that came up. But there it is in the video high speed with the  cherry globe on top. You've made my day patty.


PAPA (Pro amateur pinball assoc.) world champ. of pinball wasn't always in Pittsburgh, it just sorta ended up here (how's THAT for good luck?)  It was held the first few years in New York City, then Las Vegas.  I'd have never gone to one had it not ended up here.

I can't speak for LA, but there's a mix of video and pinball at California Extreme, but that was last month.

But for the truly hardcore pinheads in Northern California, it's all about the Pacific Pinball Expo.  Marin County, just north of San Francisco, September 23-25, 2011.  It's as close as you'll get to PAPA without going to Pittsburgh.


True....but then I wouldn't get to see Patty  ;)

If you ever happen to find yourself in Pittsburgh, we will go.  I've never been.  I've always wanted to go, but it seemed like it cost so much to eat there, that I needed a special occasion to do it.  You in Pittsburgh = special occasion.   :)





Dining out must be an la thing lol I thought the prices were completely reasonable.  ;D

Dining out must be an la thing lol I thought the prices were completely reasonable.  ;D


;D  Me, cook?  Surely you jest?  I try to eat out at every occasion, therefore I'm a cheapskate.  I'd probably faint at LA prices.  ;D

It's also why I have not yet been to England, even though I'd really really been wanting to go for several years.  Everything there costs double of what I'm used to paying so...  ;D

;D  Me, cook?  Surely you jest?  I try to eat out at every occasion, therefore I'm a cheapskate.  I'd probably faint at LA prices.   ;D

It's also why I have not yet been to England, even though I'd really really been wanting to go for several years.  Everything there costs double of what I'm used to paying so...  ;D


Tge reason I'm always broke is because I eat out a lot. I'm happy with fast food and subway but I'm also good with sitting down and eating I don't wanna pay 50 a plate but I'm fine with 25

True....but then I wouldn't get to see Patty  ;)


Well, go see both (PAPA and the Pacific Pinball Expo), then!  (It's almost like those of us without lives or responsibilities have the luxury of not being able to conceive of any sort of scheduling conflicts...  Yay for first world problems!)

But failing all of that, if the 00s group ever winds up doing the Vegas reunion thing, at least a full afternoon has to be spent at the Pinball Hall of Fame.