How one High School Kid Turned a Nothing Room into More Pinball

Nudge Magazine (website feed)·article·analyzed·Feb 27, 2026

Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.024

TL;DR

High school student converts tech closet into thriving pinball arcade with 4+ classic machines.

Summary

Finn Garman, a high school student in Baltimore, documents how his father converted an abandoned theater tech closet into a functioning pinball arcade with five machines (now four), starting with a Williams Super Star and a $20 EM machine called Fun Land found on Facebook Marketplace. The project evolved into a popular student gathering space featuring classic Gottlieb, Bally, and Williams machines, a Seeberg jukebox, and student-organized tournaments, demonstrating pinball's appeal to the next generation.

Key Claims

A Williams Super Star was placed in the theater tech closet before a show, and students helped decorate and set up the room.
high confidence · Finn Garman's account of the initial setup; described as direct experience
A second machine, an old EM called 'Fun Land,' was purchased for $20 on Facebook Marketplace and set up before the show ended.
high confidence · Finn Garman's direct account; specific details about timing and price
The arcade eventually housed five machines at its peak, then reduced to four to improve accessibility.
high confidence · Finn Garman's narrative; explicitly stated in Part II
The current lineup includes a Gottlieb Close Encounters, Bally Aladdin's Castle, Williams Flash, Gottlieb Mars God of War, a Legends Ultimate arcade cabinet, and an Arcade1up Mortal Combat Cocktail table.
high confidence · Finn Garman's account of current room contents
The class of 2022 donated a custom LED sign reading 'Garman's Arcade: ALL PLAYERS READY.'
high confidence · Finn Garman's description; specific detail with class year
An authentic Seeberg Jukebox with a curated collection of 45s was added to match songs played during the school's 'Rock and Soul' production.
high confidence · Finn Garman's account; thematic connection to school productions explained
Students gather every Friday to play pinball and listen to 70s Classic Rock on the jukebox.
high confidence · Finn Garman's description of ongoing usage
Wizard and Speakeasy machines were eventually removed due to content concerns—Wizard's artwork from the 1970s and Speakeasy's theme posed potential issues with school administration.
high confidence · Finn Garman's explanation of why specific games were removed

Notable Quotes

“What happens when we run out of pinball space at home, but a good deal comes along? You don't buy the game Convert a high school tech closet into a miniature pinball arcade.”
Finn Garman @ Opening section, Part I — Sets up the origin story and core premise of the project; demonstrates problem-solving mindset
“Better to ask forgiveness than permission.”
Finn Garman @ Part I conclusion — Encapsulates the opportunistic, entrepreneurial spirit of the project; captures the DIY ethos of converting a school space without explicit approval
“One particular student made a point to tell my dad that it wasn't a real arcade, so naturally he made a point to add a game each time she said so. Eventually she realized it was a losing battle at game four.”
Finn Garman @ Part II — Illustrates the competitive, lighthearted dynamic driving the expansion and the humor in the arcade's growth
“It's always great to teach someone where the credit button is for the first time and then see them teach others later.”
Finn Garman @ Part II conclusion — Reflects the intergenerational aspect of pinball and the role of the arcade in fostering community and knowledge-sharing among students
“Damn, Finn. Sounds like a pretty righteous little spot you have over there. Makes me jealous that all we had was Smoker's Corner — and absolutely ZERO pinball machines!”
Nudge Magazine editor (responding to Finn) @ Editor's closing remarks, Part III — Validates the achievement and contrasts with the editor's own youth experience; endorses the significance of the project

Entities

Finn GarmanpersonHoly Frijoles pinball leagueorganizationWilliams Super StargameFun LandgameStern WildfyregameBally WizardgameBally SpeakeasygameGottlieb Close EncountersgameBally Aladdin's CastlegameWilliams FlashgameGottlieb Mars God of War

Signals

?
community_signal: High school student successfully building and sustaining a pinball arcade with consistent student participation (weekly Friday gatherings), demonstrating pinball's appeal to the younger generation and capacity to create sustained community engagement in educational settings.
high · Every Friday students come down to the School Arcade to blast 70's Classic Rock and play pinball, turning this insane outlandish passion project into a great experience most teenagers wouldn't get otherwise.
?
venue_signal: Successful grassroots creation of a functioning pinball arcade in a high school theater space, initially without explicit administrative approval, demonstrating viability of unconventional venue locations for pinball installations.
high · My dad waited over the next couple weeks, expecting a call from someone higher up telling him to not build a makeshift speakeasy in a high school, but it never came.
?
collector_signal: Evidence of accessible pricing in secondary market for used EM machines (Fun Land for $20 on Facebook Marketplace), demonstrating affordability barriers to entry are low for projects willing to source used/condition-challenged machines.
high · Someone told my dad about a 20 dollar pinball machine on Facebook Marketplace only about 10 minutes away from the school. The ad had just been posted.
?
community_signal: Pinball arcade functioning as an educational/mentorship space where experienced players teach newcomers, creating a self-sustaining cycle of knowledge transmission and community building.
high · It's always great to teach someone where the credit button is for the first time and then see them teach others later.
?

Topics

Pinball community engagement and next generationprimaryDIY arcade creation and restorationprimaryClassic pinball machines (Williams, Bally, Gottlieb era)primarySchool/institutional pinball installationsprimarySourcing used pinball machines affordablysecondaryCommunity building through pinball and arcade gamingsecondaryPinball content creation and documentationsecondaryMachine curation and rotation in arcade settingssecondary

Sentiment

positive(0.92)— Enthusiastic, celebratory tone throughout. Finn's narrative is proud and reflective of genuine passion for the project. Editor's closing remarks are highly complimentary and endorsing. No negative sentiment detected; even challenges (removed machines, space constraints) are framed as part of the organic evolution of the arcade.

Transcript

raw_text · $0.000

How one High School Kid Turned a Nothing Room into More Pinball By Finn Garman A month or so ago, I got a letter from a reader who wanted to write something. The problem: They’re in high school and I hate kids!! The even bigger problem: It was actually kinda awesome and showed how pinball is showing up in the next generation. The resolution: OKie, we printing this thing. Thanks so much to Finn, a student in the Baltimore area getting through my Junior year of an engineering degree. Say hey if you’re in the area, he plays pinball at the Holy Frijoles pinball league and other spots around the city. Stay tuned in the future where we find out how this frickin guy smuggled a whole ass pinball machine into his dorm room. (For real). Thanks Finn! Let’s flip! What happens when we run out of pinball space at home, but a good deal comes along? You don’t buy the game Convert a high school tech closet into a miniature pinball arcade …We converted arcade. PART 1: THE ROOM OF NO REQUIREMENT Some years back my dad was looking around the theatre and had an interesting thought. The tech closet toward the entrance had long been used as a trashcan for outdated spotlights and miscellaneous wires that we imagine once went to sound systems and control panels lost in the decades since the building's construction. This room was forgotten and overlooked by anyone who had the courage to shut down my fathers vision. Shortly before a show he decided to buy a Williams “Super Star” pinball machine and placed it in the room. The students loved the idea and were more than willing to help out, decorating the room, and relocated the concessions stand to the newly opened pinball room. About half an hour before the show was about to start, someone told my dad about a 20 dollar pinball machine on Facebook Marketplace only about 10 minutes away from the school. The ad had just been posted, so naturally a student volunteered to pick it up. The game, an old EM called “Fun Land,” was definitely not in pristine condition, but sure enough was set up before the show ended. My dad waited over the next couple weeks, expecting a call from someone higher up telling him to not build a makeshift speakeasy in a high school, but it never came. From this point it was game on. Better to ask forgiveness than permission. PART II: GETTING THE BALL ROLLING The next game added was a Stern Wildfyre, and before you could blink a Bally Wizard! was next to it, and then a Bally Speakeasy. Though the lineup shifts often at its max there were five respectable games in this room, eventually lowered to four so more people could more easily get around in there. There was an adrenaline rush from building the coolest arcade we could from a modest budget, and we were having an absolute blast doing so. One particular student made a point to tell my dad that it wasn’t a real arcade, so naturally he made a point to add a game each time she said so. Eventually she realized it was a losing battle at game four. As the Arcade formed and evolved some games came and went. Wizard’s art, which made it infamous in the 70's, was on the verge of getting us in trouble for the exact same reason 50 years later, and Speakeasy, although a great game, almost seemed like we were testing god a little with the theme. Some of the other games ended up being gifted to some of the parents that supported the art program. Currently the room Hosts a Gottlieb Close Encounters, a Bally Aladdin’s Castle, a Williams Flash, and A Gottlieb Mars God of War (Criminally underrated game,) as well as a Legends Ultimate arcade cabinet and one of the Arcade1up Mortal Combat Cocktail tables. The arcade seemed to be a hit with students as the class of 2022 donated a custom LED sign which showed off proudly, “Garman’s Arcade: ALL PLAYERS READY.” The final addition to this room was an authentic Seeberg Jukebox which plays up to a hundred 45’s with a carefully chosen collection of songs that mimics the setlist students play on stage during their “Rock and Soul” production. Every Friday students come down to the School Arcade to blast 70’s Classic Rock and play pinball, turning this insane outlandish passion project into a great experience most teenagers wouldn’t get otherwise. It’s always great to teach someone where the credit button is for the first time and then see them teach others later. On top of this my dad will sometimes even host free tournaments where the winner gets a replaced Bumper Cap or Pinball from one of the games, or more recently used 45’s as we perfect the Jukebox set. Part III: More Pinball = Good Pinball This may not be the greatest arcade of all time, but for a High School, it doesn’t get much better. Damn, Finn. Sounds like a pretty righteous little spot you have over there. Makes me jealous that all we had was Smoker’s Corner — and absolutely ZERO pinball machines! Keep on keepin’ on! No Days OFF.