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Creature from the Black Lagoon

gameactive85 mentionsFirst seen May 11, 2005Last seen Mar 17, 2026

Profile

Creature from the Black Lagoon is a classic pinball machine from the Universal Monsters era, released by Williams/Bally approximately 6 years before Monster Bash. The game is widely represented across pinball collections and venues, valued in the $8.5k+ market range as of June 2025. It features iconic design elements including multiball modes, themed mechanics, and has been used for tournament testing and competitive play across various formats. The machine remains a benchmark classic title known for its difficulty and skill requirements.

Aliases

No aliases

Relationships

  • affiliated_withMonster BashEarlier Universal Monsters pinball game released 6 years before Monster Bashmedium
  • manufacturesWilliamsManufactured by Williams as part of their Universal Monsters pinball linemedium
  • affiliated_withPlanetary PinballReleased updated code for the machinemedium
  • appears_inElectric Bat ArcadePinball machine on location at this venue in Tempe, Arizonamedium

Facts

  • achievementFeatured in Melissa Lummus's 'Storytelling in Pinball Machines' series with drive-in theater narrative and film reel mechanicshighfrom 2026-01-06
  • achievementMegan's favorite DMD-era game; represents outlier among her preferred classic gameshighfrom 2026-01-12
  • achievementDavey's first restored machine that led to creation of Chase Echo circuit board modhighfrom 2025-06-11
  • achievementReceived updated code from Planetary Pinballhighfrom 2020-12-20
  • attributeClassic pinball machine with Universal Monsters themehigh
  • attributeReleased by Universal (6 years before Monster Bash)medium

Claims (1)

  • factualhigh

    Creature from the Black Lagoon has only two-ball multiball, which is a limitation

    Source: SDTM hostsSDTM Episode 39: Top 10 Halloween/Horror Pinball Machines with special guests!

Recent Mentions (85)

  • 1992 pinball machine, has potentially best multiball in pinball, high-pressure two-ball multiball with exploitable point systems

    Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep28 - Jason Zahler - The World's Best Pinball PlayerMar 17, 2026
  • Pinball machine Todd played in doubles tournament with Bowen Cairns

    Ep 29: BobbleheadsMar 13, 2021
  • Example machine cited for LED troubleshooting (pop bumper LED reliability issues)

    episode 18. 4 weeks until springFeb 17, 2019
  • Modern pinball machine mentioned as having similar circular bowl ramp mechanics to ABC/Bolero roulette playfields

    Episode 396 - Sharpe Cincinnati Court Case - Multi-Bingo Progress - Hobby Burn-out (and redemption) - 1960 Keeney Eleven BellesMay 18, 2017
  • Spooky game with alternate translite artwork by Franchi

    Episode 68: Guns and Roses Rumors! CGC Rumors! What to expect this Fall???Aug 19, 2020
  • Classic game; Dan's restored machine has brand new playfield, new cabinet, legs, rails, glass, back glass, ramps

    The Spinner Is Lit - Episode 51 Fall Fun

Contradictions

  • Existing: Creature from the Black Lagoon released as a physical pinball machinevsConflicting: Episode 7 describes it as a 'Stern' game, but Creature from the Black Lagoon was manufactured by Bally/Williams, not Stern
    Resolved
    kept_existing · Mar 2, 2026
  • Existing: Creature from the Black Lagoon is a classic era gamevsConflicting: Episode 8 describes it as a 'DMD-era game' and Episode 9 as a 'classic pinball game,' but the machine predates DMD technology significantly if it's 6 years before Monster Bash (1998)
    Resolved
    kept_existing · Mar 2, 2026
  • Existing: Creature from the Black Lagoon is a classic pinball machine by Bally/WilliamsvsConflicting: Episodes 3 and 7 reference this title in contexts discussing Pokémon Pinball (a digital/video pinball game), suggesting possible confusion between the physical pinball machine and digital adaptations
    Resolved
    kept_existing · Mar 2, 2026

Related Glossary Terms

No linked glossary terms

  • attributeIncludes multiball mode with kick lane and snack bar mechanicshigh
  • attributeMarket value in $8.5k+ range as of June 2025mediumfrom 2025-06-04
  • attributeDifficult classic table requiring player skill and training before achieving high scoreshighfrom 2025-06-16
  • locationMachine at Grasley Garage providing power for Shack Attack testinghighfrom 2025-10-20
  • locationMachine in Bank 15 lineup as of 2019highfrom 2019-08-19
  • locationMachine at Electric Bat Arcade in Tempe, Arizona with seaweed theming decorationhighfrom 2026-01-28
  • locationFeatured in Pinball Arcade table collectionhigh
  • locationRecently acquired machine at Lumberjack Dave's collection in poor conditionhighfrom 2025-11-13
  • locationPart of Mike's ceiling/wall decoration collectionhighfrom 2025-09-24
  • Nov 3, 2022
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    Episode 93 – Hexfield ViewscreenMay 30, 2018
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  • John Trudeau-designed pinball; measured by Swinks for flipper gap comparison at 7.125 inches

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  • Classic Williams, player's condition $5,000, collector's quality up to $9,000, holds value well

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    SDTM Episode 39: Top 10 Halloween/Horror Pinball Machines with special guests!Oct 29, 2017
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  • Classic pinball machine being played; gameplay stream subject; features lower playfield visual gimmick and ramp shots

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  • Pinball game whose character appears as Easter egg in World Cup Soccer 94 TV award animations

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  • Classic Williams pinball referenced for excessive ramps and whimsical design elements

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  • Classic pinball machine referenced in video title

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  • Bally 1992 pinball machine at the location

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  • Ranked #5 in the Pinbotz guide

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  • Machine that was non-operational during the December 2019 visit

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  • Franchi's top collectible want; home bathroom themed after this machine

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  • Universal Monsters licensed Williams pinball; discussed for ESRB rating and family mode implications

    Zen Studios Interview with Mel KirkSep 16, 2018
  • Licensed Zen table based on Universal Monsters IP; features improved graphics and significantly harder physics than Pinball Arcade version

    It's Alive!Oct 20, 2019
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  • Vintage game; first tournament game Peck played (poorly) at age 10-11; now used in Auckland Super Secret Pinball Club tournaments

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  • Classic pinball machine that Grimaldi played while discovering the depth of pinball rules and gameplay

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  • Classic pinball machine in Nick's collection. Played in tournaments to demonstrate cross-era gameplay breadth.

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  • Pinball machine referenced as design parallel to Gilligan's Island for forcing players to hit all shots to qualify main mode (spelling FILM).

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  • Designed by John Trudeau; good game; praised animation ('claws bring it'); referenced alongside other quality games

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  • Classic pinball referenced as difficult game requiring player skill and training before achieving high scores

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  • Pinball machine used for Limit Flip tournament format testing with 30-flip constraint and multiball gain mechanics

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  • Classic table used in Pro/Premium/LE tiering thought experiment; would lose secondary ramp and hologram on Pro

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  • Williams licensed table with multi-track music licensing challenges and physics tuning differences between FX3 and FX

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  • Pinball Arcade table used in Major League Pinball tournament; features multiball mode with kick lane, snack bar, multipliers, and girl-finding mechanic

    Influencing the Back End of the FieldJul 18, 2016
  • Classic pinball title receiving updated code from Planetary Pinball

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  • Bally Williams up 3%, $8.5k+ range

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  • Referenced as earlier Universal Monsters pinball released 6 years before Monster Bash

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  • Classic pinball game featured in Melissa's 'Storytelling in Pinball Machines' series, focusing on drive-in theater narrative and film reel mechanics.

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  • Megan's favorite DMD-era game; described as 'the one you're always forcing me to play'; represents outlier among her preferred classic games

    Episode 109 - A Casual Look Back at 2025 w/ Megan the WatergirlJan 12, 2026
  • Classic Stern game whose toilet bowl mechanism design influenced Pokemon Pinball's left ramp feature

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  • Pinball machine at Electric Bat Arcade with seaweed theming decoration

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  • Referenced as part of Mike's ceiling/wall decoration collection

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  • Pinball machine at Grasley Garage; provides power for Shack Attack testing

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  • Classic pinball title; fishbowl mechanism design compared to Pokémon scoop design

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  • Recently acquired machine at Lumberjack Dave's collection; 'so wild' condition

    Pinball Junk Drawer Episode 85 - New Games and Books and Lumberjack Awesomeness!Nov 13, 2025
  • Davey's first restored machine; led to creation of Chase Echo circuit board mod

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  • Machine in Bank 15 lineup

    Episode 105 – Planes, Cows and Pinball MachinesAug 19, 2019
  • Existing: Creature from the Black Lagoon is a Williams/Bally pinball machine from the Universal Monsters eravsConflicting: Episode 3 and 7 compare it to Pokémon Pinball's scoop and toilet bowl mechanisms as design influences, but Pokémon Pinball is a modern Stern game (2026), making a backward influence timeline impossible
    Resolved
    kept_existing · Mar 2, 2026