Way back in 2010, I learned there are still laws on the books in Oakland pertaining to pinball.  The laws in question are:

A.

It is unlawful for any person to keep or use in any public place any pinball machine equipped with any device which cancels and records the cancellation of free games won without the actual playing of said free games by the player.

B.

It is unlawful for any person to keep or use in any public place any pinball machine game which permits the insertion of more than one coin per game.

These laws deal with pinball at a time when it was still a gambling game.  Pinball made so much money in that format that even the mob got involved.  Today, the laws are basically ignored: they’re antiquated and everyone knows it.  A few times I thought it might be fun to mount a campaign to “legalize” pinball in Oakland and get these old laws struck from the books.  The reality is they’ve never hindered the growth of modern pinball in Oakland.  And anyway, it’s kind of cool to be an “outlaw” playing pinball, right?

(A) was related to a thing called a knockdown switch.  If you earned some credits on a pinball machine, you told the bartender or soda jerk and he paid you out in anything from cash to cigarettes to prizes, after which he’d hit the “knockdown switch” to clear your credits so the next player could play.  Modern pinballs still retain the credit count, even after a reset, which might be a holdover from these days.

(B) seems particularly targeted at a special kind of pin game known as Bingo that was popular from around the 1950s through the 1970s.  Flippers were added to Pinball games in 1947, but a lot of people still liked to gamble, and Bally, in particular, knew it.  So while they made “games of skill” with flippers, which were “For Amusement Only”, they also made Bingos, which were for gambling.  Bingos became very popular, and like slot machines, they allowed players to insert many coins (over 100 was not uncommon) to better your odds or returns.

Musician Lonnie Irving made a great song about Bingos.

Well, it now appears the City of Oakland is going to finally, officially, get rid of these laws:

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Jackpot-Oakland-decriminalizing-pinball-machines-5565613.php

But note: I have it on fairly reliable word that some Bingos still operate around the Bay Area.  Could the striking of such laws usher in some of the Chinese Bingos?  Not likely, but who knows.

Check out PPM’s Membership levels.  The basic membership pays for itself after only seven visits and the Duo membership pays for itself in just five visits.  Makes a great gift, too.

PPM MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM Help support the Pacific Pinball Museum by becoming a member. Annual memberships come with benefits! Drop by the museum or write to info@pacificpinball.org to get your membership today!
BASIC MEMBERSHIP   Individual: $100 – Unlimited regular admission for one adult for one year. Includes 10% store discount, PPM newsletter and Invitations to Members-Only events.

Duo: $150 – Unlimited regular admission for two adults for one year. Includes 10% store discount, PPM newsletter and Invitations to Members-Only events.

Family: $200 – Unlimited regular admission for two adults and two children 16 & under for one year. Includes 10% store discount, PPM newsletter and Invitations to Members-Only events.

Contributing: $250 – Unlimited regular admission for one adult and one guest. Includes 10% store discount, 10% off party room rentals, PPM newsletter and Invitations to Members-Only events.

Sustaining: $500 – Unlimited regular admission for one adult and two guests. Includes 10% store discount, 10% off party room rentals, PPM newsletter and Invitations to Members-Only events.

Premier: $1,000 – Unlimited regular admission for one adult and up to four guests. Includes 10% store discount, 10% off party room rentals, PPM newsletter and Invitations to Members-Only events. Your name added to the donor wall at the museum and online. Behind the scenes personal guided tour.

Benefactor: $2,500 – Unlimited regular admission for one adult and up to five guests. Includes 10% store discount, one free party room rental, PPM newsletter and Invitations to Members-Only events. Your name added to the donor wall at the museum and online. Behind the scenes personal guided tour.

Patron: $5,000 – Unlimited regular admission for one adult and up to six guests. Includes 10% store discount, one free party room rental, PPM newsletter and Invitations to Members-Only events. Your name added to the donor wall at the museum and online. Behind the scenes personal guided tour.

Angel: $10,000 – Unlimited regular admission for one adult and up to eight guests.  Includes 10% store discount, one free party room rental, PPM newsletter and Invitations to Members-Only events. Your name added to the donor wall at the museum and online. Behind the scenes personal guided tour.

CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP Starting: $50,000 – Pacific Pinball Museum is looking to engage with other companies in the community to benefit your mission statement as well as ours. Our facility can be used to hold a team building event, a meeting place with education and entertainment built in, or for a corporate outing or party.  Let us customize a unique sponsorship package to fit your needs. Please contact us at info@pacificpinball.org and let’s discuss available options. .

Contact info@pacificpinball.org or call 510-205-6959 for more information.

Eric W, head honcho of the Bay Area Pinball Map will be hosting some tournaments at Gestalt Haus in San Francisco. Eric took the lead in getting in touch with the operator and convinced them to put in a solid lineup.  I’m excited to see what’s he got planned!

Address is: 3159 16th St, San Francisco, CA94110

Tue July 15, 7:00 PM
Gestalt’s first ever pinball tournament!  Format: Barroom Two-Ball: play 2 balls with barroom skills: nudging, slide saves, shake outs, bang backs, death saves — anything the tilt allows!  (If there even is a tilt!)  Doors open at noon, register at 7pm, starts at 7:30.  1/4 WPPR points.  $5 entry plus coin drop — prizes 1st: 50%, 2nd: 25%, 3rd: 15%, 4th: 10%, plus drink coupon.

Tue August 5, 7:00 PM
Format: Time attack format – Highest scores in three minutes.  Doors open at noon, register at 7pm, starts at 7:30.  1/4 WPPR points.  $5 entry plus coin drop — prizes 1st: 50%, 2nd: 25%, 3rd: 15%, 4th: 10%, plus drink coupon.

Sunnyvale Public Library
665 W. Olive Ave.
Sunnyvale, CA 94086

http://sunnyvale.ca.gov/Departments/SunnyvalePublicLibrary.aspx

Chris Harkins on Simpsons while three-time Pin a Go Go champion Josh Lehan looks on. Photo by Gene X Hwang/Orange Photography

Gene X Hwang will be hosting his first IFPA Tournament which is a benefit for a program through which he mentors kids called First Exposures.  Gene is a professional photographer and co-founder of Orange Photography.  His arcade and pinball photos are some of the best you’ll ever see!

When: Sunday, June 22 at 12 PM.

Where: Private collection in Oakland of ’90s and newer machines.  Address will be posted on Facebook event page, or if you pre-register here, or email the Tournament Organizer:

How Much: $15.  Additional donations appreciated.  All games on free play.

WPPR Points: This tournament will award full world pinball player ranking points.

Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/639658089442564

Current lineup: Tron, World Cup Soccer, Theater of Magic, White Water, Spiderman, Monster Bash, Fish Tails, Congo, Lord of the Rings, Star Trek LE and others.  Games which may be used in the tournament may change without notice.

Two Three Bay Area players are currently at the IFPA World Championships.

The first is local phenom and 2011 PAPA World Champion Andrei Massenkoff of San Francisco. Andrei is arguably the best “flow” player in the world.

The second is a relative newcomer to the scene, Andreas Pedersen, also from San Francisco and originally from Denmark. He’s been showing in recent results he’s got some chops, finishing 3rd at the Pacific Pinball Open against tough competition.  I’ve watched Andreas improve by leaps and bounds over the last couple years and as good as he’s become I think he still has many unexplored weapons in the arsenal.  I imagine as he starts to use them he’ll continue to surprise.

The third is Joey Springer of Santa Cruz (thanks to James for letting me know).  I did a three-tournament series at Hi-Life Pizza and Joey won all three!

Follow the standings here.

Good luck guys!

(EDIT: Someone pointed out to me that Joey Springer is also competing this year.

A huge thanks and big congratulations to Tom Collins for taking on the Pin a Go Go pinball tournament this year.  He did a great job running his first ever tournament and I was very happy that he put his own ideas into the event.  It’s a very tough event to run, with many first-time-ever participants (who have lots and lots of questions!), but that’s also why it’s one of the most satisfying. No doubt some of the first-timers will be back.

Kids Division:

Nick Fitzpatrick (1st), Aviana Smith (2nd) and Joaquin Dansuelo (4th). Third place went to Rory Riekki, who missed the awards ceremony, but did come back later for the trophy!

In the Open Division, Josh Lehan is Re-repeat Champion, meaning yes, he’s won this event an amazing three years in a row.  That’s an absolutely staggering achievement.  Oh, and he took 2nd the year he didn’t win.  Super congrats to Josh!!

Open Division Finalists:

1. Josh Lehan
2. Kyle Takigawa
3. Chris Harkins
4. Louise Wagensonner
5. Usama Farage
6. Alex Pierson
7. Darren Ensley
8. Walter Hurwitz
9. Chris Lindboe
10. Dan Dempsey
11. Shon Dolcini
12. Richard Leavitt

Congratulations to the top 12 Novice Finalists:

1. Echa Schneider
2. Brian O’Neill
3. Marty Oakes
4. Rory McClure
5. Lionel Martin
6. Challisa Parisi…
7. Josh Notebom
8. Perry Farrens
9. Scott Witschen
10. Nick Fitzpatrick
11. Ellen Frankel
12. Matt Henri

And the rest of the players, as submitted to the IFPA:
13. Chris Heilig
14. Aaron Schneickert
15. Dwayne Smith
16. James Squires
17. Jeff Le
18. Michael Mattsson
19. Per Schwarzenberger
20. Matt Sarnoff
21. Matt Willmarth
22. Andreas Haugstrup Pedersen
23. Thomas Cowan
24. Rod Oakes
25. Amilcar Cifuentes
25. Alex Samonte
27. Perry Farrens
27. Ellen Frankel
29. Tanner McBurney
29. Matt Henri
31. Stephen Kleckner
31. David Joud
33. Devon Kelly
33. Challisa Parisi
35. Nick Fitzpatrick
35. Bella Gershtein
37. Lionel Martin
37. Brian ONeill
37. Joey Springer
40. Bob Schwarzmann
41. James Edes
41. Jon Olkowski
41. Josh Notebom
41. Andrew Nunes
45. Rory McClure
45. Kevin Riekki
47. Bob Klossner
47. Mark Birsching
49. Jason Delano
49. Loren Drowne
49. Cary Carmichael
52. Jake Bondar
53. Julie Gray
53. Aviana Smith
53. Echa Schneider
53. Carey Binford
57. Scott Witschen
57. Eugene Gershtein
59. David Rockholt
59. Courtney Klossner
61. Allison O’Neill
61. Jim Sousae
63. Dave Easterla
63. Kiana Lee
65. Russell Dare
65. Sean Campbell
67. Marty Oakes
67. Ford Bechtle
69. Bryce Greenfield
69. Jeff Fehervari
71. Robert Kipperman
71. Kreig Kaufman
73. John Gimera
73. Mark Fitzpatrick
75. Nina G
75. Ryan Wooley
77. Jennifer Eaton
77. Chris Kochan
79. Felicia Torrez
79. Joseph Romero
81. Eric Wagensonner
81. Jim Anderson
83. Mark Skoff
83. Erin Ray
85. Craig Okruhlica
85. Gene X Hwang
87. Christel Macabeo
87. Masha Dare
89. Samuel Roden
89. Izzy Schwartz
91. Wes Andrews
91. Rocco Lange
93. Josh George
93. Mlke McBurney
93. Richard Hammond
93. Tony Urso
97. Jenn Coleman
97. Sebastian Taylor
99. Tom Kriske
99. Anthony Battiato
101. Kevin Lee
101. Thurston Bowdy
103. Jeannie Rodriguez
103. Paul Welka
105. Mike Glick
105. Mike Bodak
107. Martin Johnson
107. Vanessa Elliott
109. Crystal Sturgis
109. Selena Shook
111. Randy Howell
111. Kim Woodward
113. Chris Gershtein
113. Cosmo Gould
113. Zach Daniels
113. Harvey Bondar
117. Katherine Fehervari
117. Larry Ozeran
119. Mike Witschen
119. Axel Szymanski
121. Chris DeLeón
121. Keith Parkins
123. Martha Benitez
123. Glen Braun
125. Dana Woodward
125. Emily Baza
127. Monica Braun

Tom revealed that his next project is to explain pinball through interpretive dance.  Here he is demonstrating how a tilt bob works.

All kidding aside, great job Tom!  And congrats to everyone who came out in support of pinball and a great cause!

This Friday, May 23, Playland not at the Beach will be open from 4 PM- 10PM as part of their “Replay for Life” fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.  Playland has over 30 pinball games, carnival games, miniatures and historical Playland artifacts.

For more info, visit their site HERE.

The Professional and Amateur Pinball Association with world champion Bowen Kerins have put together a Metallica tutorial for your viewing pleasure.  Also be sure to check out past live competition footage here.

This will be my 5th Pin a Go Go!

Hey groovy people in pinball land, don’t forget this weekend starting Friday is the annual Pin a Go Go pinball show!  200+ pinballs in two big showrooms, pinball tournament, pinball parts, accessories and lots more.  All proceeds of the show go to benefit local youth charities.

More info HERE.

According to the weather people, it’s going to be hot this year, particularly on Friday when temps will be in the 90s.  Saturday and Sunday will cool about 10 degrees but that’s still quite warm.  Pinball is hot and thirsty work so be sure to hydrate and/or bring some extra bucks to buy a frosty beverage at the snack bar (which will be open for your convenience).

See you at the show!

When: June 5, 7:30 PM

6 Holes !!!
6 Strokes !!!
6 PACK !!!

PRE REGISTER (32 spots) at http://tinyurl.com/lz5tryt

$15 & a 6-PACK of beer!! (or root beer, or craft soda)
Cash prizes to top 5
Beer/Soda prize to top 3
32 people cap (sorry, our house is not huge)
Please RSVP/Register only if you are sure you can/will make it
WPPRs awarded

This tournament will be held at Russel and Masha’s place in the South Bay.  Format is Pin Golf with a 6-stroke limit.  The address will given to you once you register.

If you have questions you can ask them on their Facebook event page HERE, or if you’re not on facebook you can message me via my contact link and I’ll be sure to relay it to them.  (Just don’t wait till the last minute).