Wizard of Oz is now on location at Free Gold Watch.  The light show they’ve managed to achieve using color-changing LEDs is the most advanced and impressive in any pinball to date.  It might appear tame at first, but when certain modes are activated it goes all the way bananas.  It’s borderline psychedelic.

The SF Pinball League continues to grow with over 50 players at Wednesday’s gathering and the venue has been matching the pace by jamming pinballs in every conceivable orifice.  They’ve also added a handy change machine that goes up to 20s.  Now we don’t have to empty the change machine at the laundromat up the street anymore.

Come see the rest of it

Free Gold Watch’s Hours

Sippin’ my beer, playing pinball

Yeah

Definitely a safe go-to song if you get peer-pressured into karaoke.

Forget the three-headed Jungle Lord pinball game and make way for the new king of mutant flipper action and kinetic hedonism.  At least we know there’ll be pinball in hell, for those of us holding express tickets.

From the description:

A pentagram shaped pinball game emblazoned with fluorescent graphics by the Rev Kriss Hades depicting the lord of the deep ones. A multiplayer pinball game with five players stationed at each of the stars five points. The outer triangular walls of the star are made from ten guitars with their fret boards facing inward into the playfield, while in the central pentagon ten pop bumpers are connected to a drum machine. These are all connected to various audio effects triggered by targets positioned throughout the game. So when the balls bounce off the strings distorted open tunings are produced while the pop bumpers accompany the din with a chaotic drum solo.

I just got some exciting news.  The Belles and Chimes Pinball League is an upcoming new league that will be for women by women.  The kick-off date is September 15th.  The emphasis is on a casual and social competitive experience for all skill levels, even first-timers.  Radio Pinball Union’s Echa Schneider will lead the effort based out of the new Hi-Life Pizza at 400 15th Street at Franklin, two blocks from BART.

Echa tells me the league season will consist of eight dates, which determine a player’s qualifying standing, and all players who make at least four dates will be eligible to compete in the league finals.  So even if you can’t make the kickoff on September 15th you can still join up.  The meeting dates will be on Sundays and Mondays with the championship planned for early December.

c. Gene X Hwang, Orange Photography

Hi-Life Pizza held its soft launch on Saturday, July 27th and is working on going into full operation in the beginning of August.

This new “pinball loft”is awesome for pinball and just hanging out.  In addition to the usual chairs and tables, they have lots of tall bar chairs so you can get off your feet for a few minutes but still watch the action.

Rest yo dogs, homie

Currently there are seven pinball games supplied and maintained by top local operator TJ Beyer: Attack from Mars, Roller Coaster Tycoon, Earthshaker, Dracula, Indiana Jones (Williams), Radical and Batman: Dark Knight. Several of the games will accept dollar bills but there’s also a change machine that will take 5s and 10s.  There’s also an onsite fee-based ATM and a Bank of America ATM at Franklin and 9th.

The league website will soon have full rules and schedule.  For questions about the league check out their site: http://bellesandchimespinball.com/ or email the league at bellesandchimespinball@gmail.com

In addition to the league, expect some upcoming tournaments as well which will be open to both men and women.  So head over to Hi-Life and practice up!

Dirty Donny has done a range of customs and one-offs in the pinball world, including Hellacopters, the original Metallica custom pinball game, and now, of course, the mega-hit new METALLICA from STERN.

Donny’s latest pinball t-shirt design “No Life til Leather” was awarded to finalists at the Pin a Go Go Pin Golf tournament, and you can pick up one of your own from QuinceXV T shirts.

Pinball world champion Keith Elwin hosts Pin-bowling tournament at the Pacific Pinball Museum the weekend of August 31.  Casual Pin-Tac-Toe tournament as well.  Full details HERE!

August 3, 8pm, 1510 Webster Street

Pinball, Comedy, and Music come together in the Pacific Pinball Museum’s new Events room.

Come celebrate the first comedy showcase and 80s-90s dance party at the Pacific Pinball Museum! The quirky comedy of Jesse Elias headlines, hosted by OJ Charles Orenthal James Patterson with Ethan Orloff, Nina G: Comedian, Duat Mai, Heather Isaacs, and Loren Kraut.

Come early for pinball and stay til closing (midnight)

A portion of the proceeds goes to the Pacific Pinball Museum.  Keep pinball alive!

Adult content. 18 and up please!
$10-preorder/ $15 at the door. Link for tickets at http://pacificpinball.eventbrite.com/#
Event is wheelchair accessible!Facebook events page

EM fans will enjoy this incredible performance on Jungle Queen!

A city-wide purge of pinball machines was ordered today by Police Chief Carl W. Farrow on the basis of the 3-year-old Supreme Court of Canada ruling that the machines are illegal.

Full article here

Per Schwarzenberger, league founder, during his controversial Fonzie phase.

Registration 6:30 – 7:30 PM, Play begins at 7:30.  The league location is FreeGoldWatch, 1767 Waller Street.  Next to Golden Gate Park and one block from Whole Foods (closest place to buy a six pack).

Full rules and information here.

The major new rules this season are:

1) Your top eight out of ten scores will count.

2) The top sixteen players will play in the playoffs, not eight like last season.

Meeting Dates:

Wed. July 17th @ 7:30 PM at FreeGoldWatch, .

Wed. July 31st @ 7:30 PM at FreeGoldWatch

Wed. August 14th @ 7:30 PM at FreeGoldWatch

Wed. August 28th @ 7:30 PM at FreeGoldWatch

Wed. September 11th @ 7:30 PM at FreeGoldWatch

Wed. September 25th @ 7:30 PM at FreeGoldWatch

Wed. October 9th @ 7:30 PM at FreeGoldWatch

Wed. October 23rd @ 7:30 PM at FreeGoldWatch

Wed. November 6th @ 7:30 PM at FreeGoldWatch

Wed. November 20th @ 7:30 PM at FreeGoldWatch

Playoffs: Dec 4th.

Gene X Hwang of Orange Photography took some awesome pics of the California Extreme tournament and show.

Click HERE for more!

Congrats to the following Bay Area Players:

The Field: 

Classics: 98 players

Casual: 79.

Modern: 132

Kids: 8

FINALISTS:

(BAPA/SFPD) Chris Harkins won the Casual Division (2-game sweep)!

(BAPA) John Lautmann took 4th in Casuals!

(CCPL) Tom Collins took 3rd in Casuals!

(BAPA) Alex Samonte placed 3rd in Classics (coming back from bottom qualifier)!

(CCPL) Jesse Petersen placed 1st in Kids!

(BAPA) Bella Gershtein placed 2nd in Kids!

QUALIFIERS: (these players finished in the top 16 in their divisions.)

(BAPA) Tim Hansen – Modern

(SFPD) Per Schwarzenberger – Modern

(BAPA/SFPD) Andrei Massenkoff – Modern

(CCPL) Marcus Petersen – Casuals

(BAPA) Josh Warren – Classics

(OG BAPA) Rick Stetta – Classics

(BAPA) Mike Hafner – Classics

(SFPD) Jeff Ferhervari – Classics