# Past Times Pinball History Ep 28: Elektra

**Source:** Past Times Arcade  
**Type:** video  
**Published:** 2024-10-02  
**Duration:** 1m 9s  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckMlPrrTvrU

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## Analysis

Past Times Arcade showcases the 1981 Bally Electra, highlighting its historical significance as the first solid-state pinball game to feature an upper and lower playfield under Plexiglass, with three total playfields and an additional ball in the lower playfield. The episode credits designer Claude Fernandez and artist Tony Ramuni, and notes the connection to Black Knight (1980), which pioneered the upper playfield concept.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Electra (1981) is the first solid-state game with an upper playfield and lower playfield under Plexiglass — _Host states this as a defining historical fact about the game's significance_
- [HIGH] Electra features three playfields in solid-state format with an additional ball in the lower playfield — _Host emphasizes this as a unique feature distinguishing it from prior games like Gottlieb's Haunted House_
- [HIGH] Black Knight (1980) was the first game to have an upper playfield, released the year before Electra — _Host provides year and design lineage context_
- [HIGH] Claude Fernandez was the lead designer on Electra — _Host credits at opening_
- [HIGH] Tony Ramuni created artwork for both Electra and Black Knight — _Host credits artwork on both games to same artist_

### Notable Quotes

> "What makes this game historically significant is this is the first solid state game that actually has an upper playfield and a lower playfield."
> — **Host (Past Times Arcade)**, ~0:25
> _Establishes the core historical claim about Electra's innovation_

> "So this is under Plexiglass also unique—this has an additional ball in the lower playfield."
> — **Host (Past Times Arcade)**, ~0:35
> _Details the mechanical distinction and three-playfield layout_

> "Some other games have a ball that will drop down into the lower playfield, for instance, Gottlieb's Haunted House, but this is the first game that actually features three playfields in a solid state format."
> — **Host (Past Times Arcade)**, ~0:45
> _Clarifies the distinction between Electra and prior multi-playfield designs_

> "Black Knight was released the year before. It's the first game to have an upper playfield."
> — **Host (Past Times Arcade)**, ~1:00
> _Provides historical context linking Black Knight to Electra's design evolution_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Electra | game | 1981 Bally solid-state pinball machine with dual playfields; subject of this episode |
| Bally | company | Manufacturer of Electra |
| Claude Fernandez | person | Lead designer of Electra |
| Tony Ramuni | person | Artist for both Electra and Black Knight |
| Black Knight | game | 1980 Bally game; first to feature an upper playfield |
| Haunted House | game | Gottlieb game referenced for prior multi-playfield design |
| Gottlieb | company | Manufacturer of Haunted House |
| Past Times Arcade | organization | Museum/arcade hosting and producing this pinball history series |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Pinball hardware innovation: multi-playfield design, Solid-state pinball transition era (1980-1981)
- **Secondary:** Bally vs Gottlieb design competition, Pinball artist/designer credits

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.85) — Host presents Electra with pride and appreciation for its historical significance; tone is educational and celebratory of innovation

### Signals

- **[historical_signal]** Episode documents significant mechanical innovation in solid-state pinball era (1980-1981), showing rapid design evolution with upper playfields emerging as competitive feature (confidence: high) — Black Knight pioneered upper playfield in 1980; Electra refined concept with dual playfields in 1981

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## Transcript

for this episode of Pas times Pino history we're going to feature this 1981 balet Electra lead designer on this is Claude Fernandez artwork by Tony runi what makes this game historically significant is this is the first solid state game that actually has an upper play field and a lower Playfield so this is under Plexi also unique this has an additional ball in the lower Playfield some other games have a ball that will drop down into the lower Playfield for instance got Le's haunted house but this is the first game that actually feature three playfields in a solid state format one last fun fact about this really interesting Black Knight was released the year before it's the first game to have an upper play field artwork also on that Tony ramuni come on in pastimes arcade check out B Electra

_(Acquisition: youtube_auto_sub, Enrichment: v3)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 64314ee0-58ad-474d-97ef-c8fd06c496fe*