Silverball Chronicles: A Pinball History Podcast

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Episode Summary: Pat Lawlor has a demeanor that has rubbed some the wrong way over the years. Let's face it: as a designer, you need to get strong personalities in line, meet corporate deadlines, push your creative vision to the edge, and have confidence in yourself that your product design will sell. Maybe part of that reputation was created in his early career in the Williams Pinball Shark Tank.

Join us this month as we discuss Pat Lawlor joining William Pinball, Larry DeMar's double dippin', fun child-like pinball designs, Whirlwind, that creepy shutter mech, what Python Anghelo thinks of Pat, proving the naysayers wrong, and yes, the record-breaking Addams Family.

Sources:

Pinside at Pinside.com

Internet Pinball Database: Pat Lawlor Game List. Here

Wikipedia: Pat Lawlor. Here

TopCast – Pat Lawlor 1. 2. 3.

Brown, Duncan F. Wreak'n Ball Video. Here

Shalhoub, Michael (2004). The Pinball compendium: 1982 to Present. Schiffer Publishing, Lt. Here

Want to Support the Show?

Visit our Patreon at www.patreon.com/silverballchronicles

Or pick up a tee shirt at https://tinyurl.com/kz5xt4hc

Summary Episode:

By the early 1980s, Pinball was dying. Sales in Pinball fell from peaks of 9-10,000 units to 900 units in 2 years. Video was on an upward trend, and that is where the coin op industry began to focus. Only 1 full-time designer remained at Williams by 1982, Barry Oursler. To help fill in the production line, some of the designers from the late 70s reappeared.

Join us this month as we discuss Barry Oursler, Paul Dassault, the battle of the Bi-Levels, the 'Gar Family, Tony Kraemer, hidden back glass art, and whatever the heck Time Fantasy was!

Sources:

Pinside at Pinside.com

Internet Pinball Database: Barry Oursler's Game List. Here

The Pinball Blog. Pinball Heroes – Barry Oursler. Here

Pinball Magazine. Interview: Pinball Designer Barry Oursler. Here

Versus the Goat Podcast – Barry Oursler. Here

The Pinball Podcast – Barry Oursler. Here

Teolis, Jeff. Pinball Profile. Here

Gorgar Inspiration. Here

Barracora Inspiration. Li I, 1974 by Swiss artist H.R. Giger. Here and Here

TopCast: Barry Ourlser Ep 35. Here, Mark Ritchie Ep 49. Here

Shalhoub, Michael (2004). The Pinball compendium: 1982 to Present. Schiffer Publishing, Lt. Here

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Episode Summary:

Dwight is one of pinball programming's most important figures. Throughout the 1990s, Dwight worked on some of the best-selling games of all time, added a level of polish not seen before, and brought a new level of fun and uniqueness that continues to influence programmers today.

Have fun this month, where we chat about 'Dwight Speak', Riverboat Gambler, taking pride in your work, the Star Trek Door, the final years of Williams, and Dwight's transition to Stern Pinball.

Sources:

Pinside at Pinside.com

Internet Pinball Database: Dwight's Game List. Here

YouTube: Marco TV TPF 2019. Here, Pinball Expo 2019. Here, MGC Ghostbusters

Panel 2016. Here, Dwight's LinkedIn. Here,

Podcasts: Head 2 Head Pinball Podcast Ep 76. Here, Special When Lit Ep 3. Here,

Loser Kid Ep 37. Here, Pinball Players Podcast. Here, Dwight on Pinball Profile. Here

List of Patents. Here

Dwight's Blog Spot. Here

Star Trek Flipper Code. Here

Dwight's TNG Door. Here

Shalhoub, Michael (2004). The Pinball compendium: 1982 to Present. Schiffer Publishing, Lt. Here

Want to Support the Show?

Visit our Patreon at www.patreon.com/silverballchronicles

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Episode Summary:

Pat Lawlor is a pinball statesman. He has a long, lumbering, and detailed way of explaining himself. This deep and controlled thought process is why Pat's pinball designs and mechanical toys are so detailed and dedicated to being exciting. Some would call Pat a pinball academic, others say he's a prickly fella.

Join us this month where we talk ramps, ramps, Dave talks about his Tron a bunch… in a Pat Lawlor episode (?), more cool ramps, Stern's 2000s, Pat's move to Jersey Jack and the strange Shrek/Family guy pin!

Sources:

Pinside at Pinside.com

Internet Pinball Database: Pat Lawlor Game List. Here

Wikipedia: Pat Lawlor. Here

Demons and Dragons video game. Here

Jersey Jack Pinball Podcast: Get Your Game Back! Here

TopCast – Pat Lawlor 1. 2. 3.

Nascar Gameplay Video. Here

Pinball News. Expo 2018. Here

Shalhoub, Michael (2004). The Pinball compendium: 1982 to Present. Schiffer

Publishing, Lt. Here

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Visit our Patreon at www.patreon.com/silverballchronicles

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Episode Summary:

John Borg, affectionately known as 'Borgie', entered the industry as a mechanical engineer building ramps and ended up being a designer on some of the fondest remembered nostalgia pins of the 1990s.

Join Ron and Dave as they chat about Borgie got to hang out with movie stars, review some cool mechs, discuss Bill Paxton and Bill Pullman, designers getting scripts to some of the biggest 90's blockbusters in advance of the film, chat about a cougar attack (like the animal) and watch as the industry flamed out.

Sources:

Pinside at Pinside.com

Internet Pinball Database: John Borg Game List. Here

Wikipedia: Sega Pinball. Here, Data East Corp. Here

Stern (Game Company). Here, Jurassic Park. Here,

Star Wars. Here, Lost in Space (Film). Here, The Lost World: Jurassic Park. Here,

Twister (Film). Here, Tales from the Crypt (TV Series). Here, Mary Shelley's'

Frankenstein (Film). Here, Austin Powers. Here

TopCast – John Borg. Here

Pinball Expo 2006. Pinball News. Here

Shalhoub, Michael (2004). The Pinball compendium: 1982 to Present. Schiffer Publishing, Lt. Here

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Episode Summary:

David and Ron are going to finish what they started last month. As mentioned in the previous podcast, from 1975 to 1980, Bally was breaking sales records. It seemed that Paul Faris's art team could do no wrong, but by 1981, the gaming industry's footing was feeling shaky.

In an effort to hold ground and boost sales, Bally pushed out some of their most creative works ever. The Class of 1981 was, and still is, the pinnacle of pinball art.

Join us as we talk about Xenon's tube shot and sound package, polaroid pictures, Kevin O'Connor's jeep, Claude Fernandez stealing design ideas from Steve Ritchie, Margaret Hudson being a trailblazer for women in pinball, annoying in-lane/out-lane designs, and the peak of Bally's stunning art design. Also, did you know Kevin O'Conner had a jeep?

Sources:

Pinside at Pinside.com

Wikipedia: Suzanne Ciani. Here.

Internet Pinball Database Game Lists: Paul Faris. Here, Margaret Hudson. Here, Kevin O'Conner. Here, Greg Freres. Here

Xenon: Sound and Music. Ciani, Suzanne. Here

The Team Behind Bally's Xenon Pinball Expo 2013. Here

Video of Original Flash Gordon Sound Board. Here

Space Invaders "Inspiration". Swiss artist H.R. Giger. Here

TopCast:

Dave Christensen. Here

Margret Hudson. Here

Paul Faris. Here

Ward Pemberton. Here

Tom Nieman. Here

Alternate Flash Gordon Sound Board. Here

Pinball Flyers. Here

Shalhoub, Michael (2004). The Pinball compendium: 1982 to Present. Schiffer Publishing, Lt. Here

Rossignoli, Marc (2002). Pinball Memories. Schiffer Publishing, Lt. Here

Want to Support the Show?

Visit our Patreon at www.patreon.com/silverballchronicles

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Episode Summary:

David and Ron are here again this month to use an audio medium to talk about visual art… will it work?

Art sells Pinball machines. There was no better team ever in pinball than the Art Team at Bally. From 1975 until Bally was sold to Midway in 1983, an eclectic, creative, and dedicated team of artists made some of the best art pinball had ever seen.

Come listen to Ron and Dave chat about Dave Christensen, his strange art choices, why it was so cold at Bally in the 1970s, Dave consistently mispronouncing more names, the amazing Paul Faris Bally art team, orbit spinners, and Gene Simmons's package.

Sources:

Pinside at Pinside.com

Wikipedia: Bally Manufacturing. Here, Mata Hari. Here, Evel Knievel. Here, Tommy. Here

Internet Pinball Database Game Lists: Paul Faris. Here, Margaret Hudson. Here, Kevin O'Conner. Here, Greg Freres. Here, Dave Christensen. Here

Pinball Flyers. Here

Space Invaders "Inspiration". Swiss artist H.R. Giger. Here

TopCast:

Dave Christensen. Here

Margret Hudson. Here

Paul Faris. Here

Ward Pemberton. Here

Tom Nieman. Here

Shalhoub, Michael (2004). The Pinball compendium: 1982 to Present. Schiffer Publishing, Lt. Here

Want to Support the Show?

Visit our Patreon at www.patreon.com/silverballchronicles

Or pick up a tee shirt at https://tinyurl.com/kz5xt4hc

Episode Summary:

Join David and Ron this week as they ride on a dirt bike made of quarters and fueled with pinball players' tears with Steve Ritchie. Through this awesome time in pinball, the bestselling designer ever, continued to build his legacy and, as you'll see in this episode, redefined pinball as the industry struggled to survive.

Come listen to Steve's iconic Williams System 11 and WPC machines. There is high praise for Larry DeMar, the alternate theme for Rollergames, Dave and Ron fanboying about T2 and Star Trek: TNG, and Steve Richie being cooler than Dave.

Sources:

Pinside at Pinside.com

Wikipedia. Steve Ritchie. Here

Internet Pinball Database: Steve Ritchie Game List. Here

Walsh, Matt – IRC Interview. Here

TopCast Episode 32. Here

Head 2 Head Pinball Podcast. Chris Granner. Ep 71. Here

Williams Promo Videos: No Fear, T2 ,The Getaway, Star Trek: TNG

Steve Ritchie Interviews and Seminars on YouTube. Here

The Pinball News. Expo 2003: An Interview with Larry DeMar. Here

Shalhoub, Michael (2004). The Pinball compendium: 1982 to Present. Schiffer Publishing, Lt. Here

Want to Support the Show?

Visit our Patreon at www.patreon.com/silverballchronicles

Or pick up a tee shirt at https://tinyurl.com/kz5xt4hc

Episode Summary:

Gottlieb was a giant in the pinball industry. Some would say that they created more fun in the Electro-Mechanical era than all the other manufacturers combined. When the sea change of the Solid-State Era appeared on the horizon, Gottlieb, the industry giant, began stepping on rakes and never fully recovered.

Come hang out with a slightly bitter Dave and an always chipper Ron as they chat about Gottlieb's EM dominance, the industry transition to solid-state, what each company's technology was like, their favourite System 1 machines, vari-targets, and the industry's worst piece of garbage spinner!

Sources:

Pinside at Pinside.com

Wikipedia. Gottlieb. Here

Internet Pinball Database: Gottlieb System 1 List. Here, Gottlieb EM List. Here

Kriesel, Dennis. This Week in Pinball. The Dawn of the Solid-State Era. Here

Credit Dot Pinball. Stumbling into Solid-State! Gottlieb System 1. Here

Shalhoub, Michael (2004). The Pinball compendium: 1982 to Present. Schiffer Publishing, Lt. Here

Want to Support the Show?

Visit our Patreon at www.patreon.com/silverballchronicles

Or pick up a tee shirt at https://tinyurl.com/kz5xt4hc

Episode Summary:

Python Anghelo was an eccentric, passionate, charming, classically educated, combative, spiteful, and caring individual. He gave his all for pinball. Python is a guy who added social commentary to his back-glass art, added Easter eggs to his work, drank a lot, fought with leadership over creating unique worlds under glass. Python burned bridges, tossed insults, and pulled no punches along his life's journey. He was a nut for sure.

Join us this month as we discuss Python's upbringing, joining the coin-op industry, getting into verbal fights with co-workers, drinking on boats, Steve Kordek, cows, more butchering of names, a poll joke, and Python's legacy. Sources:

Python Anghelo Website. Here

Internet Pinball Database. Here

Pinside at pinside.com

Wikipedia: Python Anghelo. Here, Steve Kordek. Here

TOPCast Pinball Show: #10 Python Anghelo. Here

Python's World Video. Here

Python's GoFund Me. Here

Seminar video of Python at Northwest Pinball and Arcade Show 2013. Here

David Hevesi. New York Times. Steve Kordek, a Pinball Innovator, Dies at 100. Here

Shalhoub, Michael (2004). The Pinball compendium: 1982 to Present. Schiffer Publishing, Lt. Here