Frank’s Bar, Merrick, NY, 1976
Season 17 Week 1
It was truly a worthy and welcoming Wednesday as we opened Season 17. And what a way to do it by breaking our attendance record with 48 players! Thanks to everyone who came out! It got a little bumpy and butts-to-nuts, but that’s how it goes and we’ll spread people out a bit more next time.
David Brady started his season off full-blast with not just a win, but a win by a big margin. In group match play, David got 40 out of a possible 42! Wow! A full 6 points ahead of Gabriel Jensen in 2nd and the 3-way tie of Jeff Neuman, Paul Skuta and John Lautmann for 3rd!
Jonny Chase took the side-challenge: 2-balls 1-hand on Fish Tales in the 4-player final. He was the only player to start a multiball of the group. He takes home a t-shirt.
See everyone next week for Flipper Frenzy!
Interior of John D’s Restaurant, Perry, NY
Pacific Pinball League Season 17 starting Wednesday 9/6!
- Pacific Pinball Museum, Alameda, CA
- $10 discount entry, all games on Free Play
- Wednesday nights. Show up any time before 7 PM. View the schedule here.
- Facebook Group here.
The Pacific Pinball League (aka the PPM League) is a fun, social, competitive league for everyone. All skill levels are welcome, even first-timers. We explain all the rules before play begins so don’t worry if you’ve never done anything like this before. Just come ready to have a good time.
Special pricing: Playing in the league is included with admission to the Pacific Pinball Museum. Additionally, there’s special discount pricing of $10 ($12 savings off regular admission) for League members on League nights. PPM Annual Pass Holders are always free.
Quick Facts:
Where: The Pacific Pinball Museum, 1510 Webster Street, Alameda. Public Transportation: From Oakland, take the 51A bus to Webster and Santa Clara. From SF, take BART to 12th Street and then take the 51A bus, or you can take the O bus from SF, which picks up in the Embarcadero area of downtown.
When: Wednesdays. Play starts at 7PM.
How to Join: Just show up any league night before 7pm.
Atari trade show booth
Airborne Avenger
Three Atari employees, including George Opperman, review the backglass artwork for the Airborne Avenger pinball game, about 1977.
Hercules
Middle Earth Pinball Assembly
Racketeers, corrupt union men battled over pinball
“Games were supplied by criminal syndicates, sometimes in collaboration with corrupt local officials. And when those syndicates started fighting for market share, things could get pretty exciting.” Link
A murder, or even a “war” over the operation of pinball machines may seem ridiculous by today’s standards
“A murder, or even a “war” over the operation of pinball machines may seem ridiculous
by today’s standards, though actually the issue was present throughout much of America, and
particularly rural and southern Illinois during the mid-twentieth century. Rather than a game for
amusement, “operators” used pinball, from its inception in the 1930s and throughout the 1960s
for gambling. Significant profits from illegal gambling and its history with organized crime
created an environment of regional racketeers. They controlled territories like feudal lords,
ignoring state laws and sometimes resorting to violence to drive out competition. Rural areas
may have been particularly susceptible, where counties or small towns might significantly
increase revenue by charging small licensing fees for “amusement devices” and ignoring the
more nefarious usages. Tavern owners may have welcomed the machines as a means of
attracting customers or receiving a cut of the pinball profits. Meanwhile the owners or as they
often referred to themselves the “operators” of these machines often used any means possible to
ensure no matter the tavern, only their machines would be in use.” Link
Season 16 Week 10 Recap
It was a crab and carb-filled celebration this Wednesday at the Pacific Pinball League. David Brady took the top spot with 7.5 wins in 9 rounds of head-to-head play, but just barely! With a lucky half-point bye to say bye-bye to 2nd place Tim Chevalier with 7, and Mark Garretson also with 7 in 3rd (tie-breaks were based on strength of players faced).
The side-challenge – One ball “Price is Right” on Addams Family – was won by Peach. Peach wagered all his chips going low-ball in the 4-handed final with only 2M, banking on the others busting out, and won… chips! Curious crab chips. Do they taste like crab? Or do they just have crab seasoning? The crab is featured prominently on the bag. One might assume a crustacean-flavored experience. What chip chicanery was at play? Consumer confusion and crab chip photos ensued as we attempted to suss out this mystery. But also Peach won a T shirt. I, for one, am shell-shocked!
Welcome to newkid Michelle K Gorthy, notching 4 wins her first night out, and welcome back to Meghan Long.
Thanks also to Marie Prasch Brady for bringing some awesome cookies!
Next week is PLAYER’S CHOICE. I’ll post a poll and you, the viewers, will decide which format we play!
Make the rest of the week awesome, and I’ll see you next time!
Season 16 Week 8 Recap
Another Wednesday and it was anything but woebegone, as we have a new winner! Congrats to Todd Caris for ending the night taking only 2 strikes in six rounds of dynamite play! Then we had a big 4-way tie for 2nd between David C. Lee, Nicole Roulette, Mattie Culkin and Mike Miller. That pushed newkid Topey Plourde down to 6th, but that’s still a fantastic first-time showing! I played with Topey on Wizard and he took us all down and turned on that magical 100,000 light! Way to go new guy!
In double-side challenge play, Stephanie Martens took the win on Fan-tas-tik in Price is Right for a T shirt and Everett Fisher got the win playing the teeny-tiny Flip Side! He wins girl scout cookies and his second Grand Lake Theater movie pass!
Super thanks to my helper Abigail Garcia and check out some of her pics! Also thanks to the person (or persons – I was running around and didn’t see) who brought all the awesome snacks. Especially Pocky! I discovered those back in the ’80s and got my whole 4th grade class hooked on them.
Next week we play the league’s most controversial format! Pin Golf! Some love it, others hate it. Philosophers continually debate it! Prepare to be humbled and see where your game needs work. Pin Golf combines control skills, accurate flipping, a little bit of luck, and quite often some learning of the rules of these games the tough-love way!
Standings will be updated soon. Have a great rest of the week everyone. Thank you as always for coming out and bringing your good vibes with you. See you next week!
pinballbayarea.com 