Every May I ditch my wife and run off to Dixon alone for three days to play pinball machines. Not this year. She came with me this time. Why? Did she develop a sudden interest in playing pinball? Nope. I have yet to see her play a single game. Here’s why. The Pin-A-Go-Go pinball festival […]
A Different Drummer: The Don of pinball
I bought my Medieval Madness pinball machine fresh off the factory floor from the only distributor for Chicago Gaming in California, a most industrious, voluble, and experienced man known as Don, of Don’s Custom Service, right up the road in Vacaville. Don is also one of the co-founders of the annual Pin-a-Go-Go Pinball Festival in […]
A Different Drummer: The pinball remake
Seven months ago I wrote about pinball. It’s a lifelong hobby of mine that I stepped away from for 40 years. I wrote about my history, pinball history, and brought them both up to date. I hinted that I was building up, saving up, to purchase my third pinball machine. Then I dropped the topic. […]
A Different Drummer: Ball 2, Extra Ball!
For 50 years pinball machines were made and played in America. From the introduction of the flipper in 1947 to the mid ‘90s, over 5,000 different pinball machines were manufactured. Arcades flourished, bowling alleys, skating rinks, pool halls, bars and diners rang with bells and clanging quarters. Because of its illegal status in major cities, […]