Date: October 1st - 3rd, 2010
Location: Marin Civic Centre, San Rafael, CA, USA.
Welcome to the start of our coverage of the 2010 Pacific Pinball Exposition.
Once again we are back at the Marin Center Exhibit Hall in San Rafael, California for what has to be the world's largest pinball show.
The Marin Center
The weather couldn't have been better - temperatures in the upper 20°Cs (lower 80°Fs) with clear blue skies - which allowed the unloading and setting up to take place in the dry.
The show officially opened to the public on Friday morning.
The doors are opened Friday at 10am
Pinball News got in before the crowds to get these early pictures of the display visitors would get to enjoy.
Inside the main hall, looking towards the front left
For a first time visitor, the number of machines and their setting is quite spectacular, while even seasoned attendees will marvel at the range on offer this year.
Looking towards the rear left of the hall
The Marin Center is a large hall and it is packed with pinball machines from all eras.
Two rows of EM machines stretch towards the main desk
Special attention has been given to increasing the number of solid state machines from the '70s and '80s - games which have started to become more appreciated of late.
Solid state machines alongside EMs
Our count of machines over the three days gives us 410 pinballs set up as part of the show. Here's the full list:
24 |
4 Queens |
4 Square |
4 Square |
4-Belles |
ABC |
Abra Ca Dabra |
Ace High |
Action |
Airborne |
Ali |
Ali-Baba |
All Star Basketball* |
All-Star Basketball |
Apollo |
Apollo 13* |
Aquarius* |
Arabian Knights |
Army vs Navy |
Arrowhead |
Astro |
Astro |
Attack from Mars |
Avatar |
Back to the Future |
Baffle Ball |
Ballyhoo |
Band Wagon |
Bang |
Bank-A-Ball |
Barnacle Bill |
Basketball |
Beat the Clock |
Beat Time |
Beauty |
Big Ben |
Big Ben* |
Big Casino |
Big Game |
Big Guns |
Big Hit |
Big Indian |
Big Valley |
Black Knight |
Black Knight* |
Black Pyramid |
Black Pyramid |
Black Rose |
Blackout |
Blue Chip |
Bobby Orr Powerplay |
Bow and Arrow* |
Bowling Queen |
Bowl-O |
Bram Stoker's Dracula |
Breakshot* |
Bronco |
Buck Rogers |
Buckaroo |
Buckaroo* |
Butterfly |
Campus Queen |
Capt. Fantastic & the Brown Dirt Cowboy |
Capt. Fantastic & the Brown Dirt Cowboy |
Capt. Fantastic & the Brown Dirt Cowboy |
Cargo |
Catacomb |
Centigrade 37 |
Central Park |
Central Park |
Centrigrade 37 |
Challenger* |
Champ |
Cheetah |
Chicago Express |
Chinatown |
Cinema |
Circus |
Cleopatra |
Close Encounters of the Third Kind |
College Daze* |
Combat* |
Congo |
Coronation |
Corral |
Cosmic Princess |
Countdown |
Cow Poke |
Crescendo |
Criss Cross |
Criss Cross A-Lite |
Crossword |
CSI |
Cybernaut |
Cyclone |
Dealers Choice |
Demolition Man |
Diamond Jack |
Diamond Lill* |
Disco Fever |
Disco* |
Dodge City |
Dolly Parton |
Doodle Bug |
Doozie |
Doozie |
Double Feature |
Double Shuffle |
Dr Dude |
Dracula |
Dragon |
Dragonfist |
Drop-A-Card |
Duotron |
Earthshaker |
Egg Head |
El Dorado |
El Dorado |
El Toro |
Elvira and the Party Monsters |
Elvis |
Embryon |
Evel Knievel |
Evel Knievel |
Exposition |
Faces* |
Family Guy |
Fan-Tas-Tic |
Farfalla |
Fireball |
Fireball |
Fireball 2 |
Fireball Classic |
Firepower |
Firepower 2* |
Fish Tales |
Flash |
Flash Gordon |
Flight 2000 |
Flip a Card |
Flip a Card |
Flipper |
Flipper Football |
Flipper Pool |
Flying Carpet |
Flying Turns |
Four Million BC |
Freedom |
Freefall |
Frontiersman |
Full House |
Funhouse |
Funhouse |
Future Spa |
Galahad |
Galaxy |
Gamatron |
Genie |
Globetrotter |
Gold Rush |
Gold Strike |
Goldeneye |
Gorgar |
Gulf Stream |
Guys & Dolls |
Gypsy Queen |
Happy Clown |
Happy Days |
Happy Go Lucky |
Harbor Lites* |
Harlem Globetrotters |
Hawaiian Beauty |
Heavy Hitter |
Hee Haw* |
Hercules |
Hi-Diver |
High Hand |
High Speed |
High Speed 2 - The Getaway |
Hokus Pokus |
Hot Hand |
Hot Line |
Hot Shot |
Hula Hula |
Hurdy Gurdy |
Icarus |
Ice Revue |
Ice Show |
Iron Maiden |
Ironman |
Jack in the Box* |
Jacks Open |
Jet Spin |
Jigsaw |
Joker |
Jungle |
KC Jones |
Kewpie Doll |
King Kool |
King of Diamonds |
King Tut |
Kingpin |
Kings & Queens |
Kings of Steel |
Klondike |
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Knock Out |
Knockout |
Lady Luck |
Laser Ball |
Laser Cue |
Lectronamo |
Liberty Bell |
Lightning |
Lightning Ball |
Lord of the Rings |
Lovely Lucy |
Lovely Lucy |
Lucky Inning |
Lucky Seven |
Lulu* |
Madison Square Gardens |
Magic |
Magic Circle |
Mata Hari |
Maverick |
Medieval Madness |
Medieval Madness |
Medusa |
Medusa |
Memory Lane |
Mermaid |
Meteor |
Micropin |
Mini Pool |
Mini Zag |
Minstrel Man |
Miss-O |
Monaco |
Monopoly |
Monster Bash |
Monster Bash |
Moon Flight |
Moon Shot |
Moon Shot |
Motordome |
Moulin Rouge |
Mystery Castle |
Mystic Marvel |
Nautilus* |
NBA Fastbreak |
New York |
Niagra |
Night Rider |
Nine Ball* |
Nip It |
No Fear |
No Fear |
No Good Gofers |
North Star |
Nugent |
Odds & Evens |
Old Chicago |
Old Faithful |
Orbitor 1 |
Out of Sight |
Outer Space |
Oxo |
Paddock |
Panthera |
Paragon |
Party Zone |
Pat Hand |
Pharaoh |
Pin Wheel |
Pinball |
Pinball |
Pinball Magic |
Pinball Pool |
Pinbot |
Pirates of the Caribbean |
Play Ball (Chicago Coin) |
Play Mates |
Playboy (Bly) |
Playtime |
Pro-Football |
Punch |
Punchy the Clown |
Quartette |
Queen of Hearts |
Quicksilver |
Quintette |
Rainbow |
Rawhide |
Regatta |
Ripley's Believe it or Not! |
Road Kings |
Road Race |
Road Show |
Robocop |
Rock N Roll* |
Rock Star |
Rocket |
Rocket III |
Roller Coaster |
Rollercoaster Tycoon |
Rollercoaster Tycoon |
Royal Flush |
Royal Guard |
Safe Cracker |
Score-Board |
Sea Witch |
Sea Wolf |
Select-a-Card |
Sensation of 1937 |
Shangri-La |
Shindig |
Shoot the Moon |
Shrek |
Sing Along |
Sittin' Pretty |
Skipper |
Sky Jump |
Sky Jump |
Sky Kings |
Sky Line |
Skylab |
Sky-Rocket |
Skyway |
Slick Chick |
Slick Chick* |
Sluggin' Champ |
Solar Ride* |
South Park |
Southern Belle |
Space Mission |
Space Mission |
Space Odyssey |
Space Ship |
Spanish Eyes |
Spectrum |
Spin-A-Card |
Split Second |
Spot Bowler |
Springtime |
Spy Hunter |
Square Head* |
Stage Coach |
Stampede |
Star Gazer |
Star Pool |
Star Trek - The Next Generation |
Star Trek - The Next Generation |
Star Wars Episode 1 |
Stardust |
Stargate |
Stars |
Stingray |
Straight Shooter |
Strange World |
Striker |
Subway |
Super Star |
Super Straight |
Sure Shot |
Surf Champ |
Surf N Safari |
Swinger |
Target Alpha |
Target Alpha |
Teacher's Pet |
The 4 Horsemen |
The Addams Family |
The Entertainer |
The Flintstones |
The Shadow |
Theatre of Magic |
Thing |
Tigers |
Time Machine |
Time Zone |
Tom Tom |
Top Card |
Top Score |
Top Speed |
Touch-Off |
Trident |
Triplets |
Tri-Zone |
Tropic Isle |
Twilight Zone |
Twin-Bill |
Universe |
Universe* |
Viper |
Visible Pinball (Surf Champ) |
Volley |
Wagon Train |
Watch My Line |
Whirlwind |
Whirlwind |
Wiffle |
Wild Fyre |
Wild Wild West |
Wishing Well |
Wizard |
World Beauties |
World Fair |
World's Fair |
World's Series (Rock-ola) |
Zip-A-Doo |
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*These machines were not working at the time the list was created |
One of the highlights of this year's show is a special display of classic Stern machines. It is hoped to get one of every model set up in the hall in chronological order. By Thursday evening the organisers were well on their way to achieving that goal, with more machines arriving every minute.
Classic Stern machines
When Friday rolled around, the line up was complete. All 34 production models were represented and were rapidly mobbed by a crowd eager to relive memories from the '70s and '80s.
Part of the Stern line-up being enjoyed by visitors
The games in the Stern line-up were:
Dragonfist |
Viper |
Iron Maiden |
Catacomb |
Split Second |
Lightning |
Freefall |
Nine Ball* |
Flight 2000 |
Star Gazer |
Quicksilver |
Cheetah |
Sea Witch |
Ali |
Galaxy |
Big Game |
Meteor |
|
Magic |
Cosmic Princess |
Hot Hand |
Trident |
Dracula |
Nugent |
Wild Fyre |
Lectronamo |
Memory Lane |
Stars |
Stingray |
Pinball |
Pinball |
Disco* |
Rawhide |
Stampede |
Orbitor 1 |
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There were also several different types of coin-op amusement machines set up at the show, ready to be played.
Atari Video Pinball |
Hot Rods (Ball game) |
Jet Gun (Gun game) |
Long Beach (Bingo) |
Par Golf (Pitch & Bat) |
Pop Up (Balls game) |
Rocket (Gun game) |
Sea Raider (Gun game) |
Slug Fest (Pitch & Bat) |
World Series (Pitch & Bat) |
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Two of the machines in the full list were also raffle prizes. The Gorgar and the High Hand would be awarded to the luck winners from prize draws on Saturday and Sunday.
Two of the raffle prizes
These were far from the only prizes. Two large tables were laden with additional donations to the raffle. Ticket buyers could choose which of the prizes they wanted to be in with a chance of winning by placing their tickets in the appropriate container.
More raffle prizes
Beneath the huge canvas murals of classic backglasses by Dan Fontes and Ed Cassel, a display of some of the earliest pinball machines shows how the game developed from its roots into the form with which we are most familiar.
Murals hang over the earliest pinballs
The Visible Pinball machine is also here, giving visitors the chance to see the workings of an electro-mechanical Surf Champ.
The Visible Pinball
Looking through the playfield
The theme of this year's PPE is 'The Science of Pinball', so there were several hands-on exhibits set up to demonstrate different aspects of the way electricity and mechanics combine within the game.
Some of the scientific exhibits
More fun with electricity
There were plenty of vendors setting up on Thursday evening with Stern Amusements being one of the first to put their wares on display.
Parts on sale at the Stern Amusements stand
When the show opened to the public, many more had joined them. Fabrite/Pinball Fun had 2 machines set up as demonstrators (Attack from Mars and Road Show) plus 3 more new-in-box Stern games (Wheel of Fortunes, Ironman and Spider-Man).
Fabrite/Pinball Fun
Next door were Fabulous Fantasies who had the Retro Pinball King of Diamonds.
Fabulous Fantasies
This King of Diamonds was a little different as it was fitted with a rather ungainly ticket dispenser on the right hand side of the cabinet to increase its appeal to redemption operators. The attached flyer announced the game would be available from December 15th at a price of $3695.
King of Diamonds
Marco Specialties had a large stand right next to the Pingame Journal booth. Marco were not only selling their usual parts and their range of PinScore displays and replacement boards, they were also the destination for anyone wishing to play the new Stern Avatar game.
Marco Specialties
The new Avatar machine
Cointaker had a full range of LEDs on display and available to purchase, while next to them The Pinball Revival Co were selling pinball T-shirts and badges.
The Pinball Revival Co
The main entry desk was also selling t-shirts and assorted show-related goodies.
The front desk
Opposite them, Don's Custom Service had a variety of bar-style signs, mirrors and neons for your game room.
Don's Custom Service
The left side of the hall also played host to numerous vendors.
R+T Amusements had a real assortment of pinball parts as well as illuminated translite frames.
R+T Amusements
Great Lakes Modular were also in attendance with their replacement circuit boards and a pinball 2000 LCD monitor bracket.
Great Lakes Modular
Further down the hall, the Pinball Collectors Resource booth was selling all kinds of parts, flyers and glasses for older games.
The Pinball Collectors Resource stand
Next to them, Steve Ritchie was side-by-side with Doug Watson, selling unique pinball parts and imagery.
Steve's stand with Doug's next door
Extra space has been allocated to vendors this year. Illinois Pinball and Bay Area Amusements had taken over last year's seminars room - situated just off the passage into the main hall - to sell their wide range of parts.
Bay Area Amusements and Illinois Pinball's room
More parts for sale in the room
The use of the room resulted in the seminars moving into the adjacent Embassy Suites hotel, which is where the majority of visitors to the Exposition were staying. A short foot bridge connects the hotel and the Marin Center.
The bridge from the hotel to the Marin Center
There was a packed schedule of 16 seminars across all 3 days of the show, starting on Friday at midday and we have audio recordings of most of them available right here.
Melissa Harmon & Dan Fontes:
The Art of Pinball, Pinball as Art
Melissa spoke about the different fashions and trends captured in pinball artwork over the past eight decades while Dan explored the work of a number of contemporary and historic artists and the possible exchange of pinball ideas they represent.
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Click here to play the MP3 file, or right click to download it.
You can also click on the play button below to play it within this page.
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Al Alcorn, Ron Milner & Steven Mayer:
Atari's Technology Touch and How it Changed Entertainment
Al, Ron and Steven described how Atari began in the games business, who and what the influences were in dictating the direction the company took, and how Atari pinball came to be set up and ultimately closed down again.
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Click here to play the MP3 file, or right click to download it.
You can also click on the play button below to play it within this page. |
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Michael Shalhoub and Dan Robar:
Pinball Down Under
Michael described the passion and drive which made him write his earlier volumes and has led him to start working on his upcoming book 'The Pinball Machine'. Dan spoke about the pinball scene in Australia and the ways the Aussie Arcade forum has helped bring together the nation's collectors and enthusiasts
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Click here to play the MP3 file, or right click to download it.
You can also click on the play button below to play it within this page. |
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Paul Mandeltort:
LEDs for Pinball Machines - A Crash Course
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Understanding how LEDs work and their benefits and disadvantages are critical in choosing whether to use LEDs and which ones are most suitable. Paul described the different types of device and the development which has taken place in recent years. |
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You can also click on the play button below to play it within this page. |
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Greg Freres:
Whoa Nellie! Big Juicy Melons
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Greg talked about the progress of his current project with Dennis Norman - the custom EM cabinets and artwork embodied in their 'Woah Nellie! Big Juicy Melons' game. |
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Click here to play the MP3 file, or right click to download it.
You can also click on the play button below to play it within this page.
(Note: due to a technical issue, there is a drop in audio quality part way through this recording) |
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Jon Olkowski & Mads Kristensen:
How the Pros Play Pinball
Knowing how to control the ball is key to attaining high scores and winning tournaments. Jon and Mads demonstrated how to perform many of the basic ball control techniques and the theory behind them.
Because Mads and Jon's seminar was a hands-on, practical demonstration of pinball skills, we do not have an audio recording available.
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Bear Kamoroff:
How to Buy and Maintain Your Own Pinball Machine
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Bear is the author of 'Pinball Care & Maintenance' and in this seminar he passed on many hints and tips on how to buy your first machine and the likely maintenance you will be performing on it. |
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You can also click on the play button below to play it within this page. |
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Michael Schiess and Larry Zartarian:
The Pacific Pinball Museum Vision
Michael and Larry talked about the way the Pacific Pinball Museum began, how it has evolved in the years since, the current state of the museum and the aims and hopes for its future.
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Click here to play the MP3 file, or right click to download it.
You can also click on the play button below to play it within this page. |
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Doug Watson:
The Concept Art of Doug Watson
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Renowned artist Doug spoke about the inspiration and creation of his many pinball artworks. He also showed a number of ideas which were either never picked up or became the concepts which were later developed into different designs. |
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Christopher Kuntz:
Pinball Repair Tips and Tricks
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Chris explained many of the common problems which game owners may encounter and provided practical advice on ways to fix them and perform preventative maintenance to avoid future issues. |
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Jim Dietrick and Tylor Hirsch:
Pinball Restoration
Jim and Tylor explained how they restore pinball machine artwork, using a recent example to show the various tools they used and giving suggestions for the products we can buy if we wanted to follow their example.
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Warren Haack:
Slot Machines and Trade Stimulators – The Other Obsession
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Pinball has long been associated with gambling, so Warren brought along some of his classic slot machines to illustrate his talk about how they operate, the different types available and how the collector market has developed. |
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Todd MacCulloch:
My Journey - NBA Basketball Playoffs to Pinball
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All collectors start somewhere, but the story of Todd's unique transition from NBA to pinball was related in his own words, in this amusing and entertaining seminar. |
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Jim Schelberg:
Pinball in the Media
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Once again, Jim brought along a varied and diverse range of video clips showing pinball's appearances and influences on television, in commercials and on film. |
Although Jim's seminar mainly consists of video clips, we have included the audio of his introduction.
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Click here to play the MP3 file, or right click to download it.
You can also click on the play button below to play it within this page. |
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Steve Ritchie:
Pinball Geometry
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Steve gave the audience a behind-the-scenes look at how a pinball machine is designed, using AutoCad drawings of some of his designs to show the many considerations and decisions involved in the process. |
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You can also click on the play button below to play it within this page. |
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Wade Krause & Tanio Klyce:
The Making of Beatniks Koolsville – Kustom Pinball
Beatniks Koolsville is a custom game created for James Hetfield of Metallica. Wade showed how all the unique artwork was created from scratch for the cabinet, backglass, playfield and decals, while Tanio described the technical issued involved in producing this one-of-a-kind creation.
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Click here to play the MP3 file, or right click to download it.
You can also click on the play button below to play it within this page. |
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Tanio Klyce, Jeri Elsworth, Cliff Rinear and Greg Ong:
Inventors Roundtable
This final seminar saw Tanio, Jeri, Cliff and Greg describe how they became involved in pinball, the unique contributions each of them has made to the hobby and share their ideas about future developments and creations which could help advance the game.
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You can also click on the play button below to play it within this page. |
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In addition to the seminars listed above, there were also two movie screenings held in the seminars room. The first featured Randy & Keith Elwin's Pinball 101 instructional video, while the second was Tom Wyrsch's documentary Remember Playland about the famous Playland at the Beach in San Francisco which closed in 1972.
Any large pinball show cannot be complete without a number of challenging and enjoyable tournaments. PPE is no exception and World Champion Keith Elwin was in charge of them - from the adult Expert, EM, Novice and Split-Flipper divisions, to the Kids tournament and Pin Tac Toe.
Cayle George was triumphant in the Classics with Josh Warren second and Jeffrey Newmann in third. In the main Expert division, it was a win for Neil Shatz after an exciting 3 machine play-off ending on The Flintstones.
Neil receives his plaque and prize money from organiser Keith Elwin
The four finalists:
Bob Matthews (3rd), Neil Shatz (1st), Tim Hansen (2nd), Andrei Massenkoff (4th)
Finally, you can tour the Pacific Pinball Exposition 2010 for yourself with our exclusive Four Minute Tour video. Just click on the picture below to play the video.
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© Pinball News 2010
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