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Episode 180 - 1972 Bally Ticker Tape with Special Guest

For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast·podcast_episode·25m 20s·analyzed·Sep 7, 2015
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claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.025

TL;DR

Nick & Ava explore Bally Ticker Tape gameplay, art, and mechanics at the York Show.

Summary

Nick Baldridge hosts a deep-dive discussion with Ava about the 1972 Bally Ticker Tape, a six-card bingo machine featuring tic-tac-toe gameplay, distinctive Wall Street ticker tape artwork, and metal lockdown bars. Ava shares her gameplay preferences, strategy insights, and explains why Ticker Tape is her favorite bingo game. Nick also discusses his expanding bingo collection, including a newly acquired United Caravan and ongoing restoration of a Nightclub machine.

Key Claims

  • Ticker Tape is a six-card bingo machine from 1972

    high confidence · Nick introduces the game as 'a six-card bingo' from the 1972 Bally era

  • The game features a tic-tac-toe mechanic where the first ball goes into its own hole automatically

    high confidence · Ava describes: 'I really like how it goes in its own ball, like hole, and you don't even have to choose. It just goes into that hole'

  • The machine has a faster motor than other Bally bingos for replay counting

    high confidence · Nick explains: 'the motor is a lot faster than the other ones' and 'when you get a winner, instead of going tick, tick, tick, it goes much faster'

  • The maximum replay count on Ticker Tape goes to 9,999

    high confidence · Ava states: 'it goes up to nine thousand nine hundred and ninety nine on that machine'

  • Nick owns five Bally bingo machines and is acquiring a United Caravan

    high confidence · Nick: 'I have five ballets right now, but I'm getting a United' Caravan

  • Ticker Tape will be displayed at the York Show on October 9th and 10th

    high confidence · Nick: 'tonight i wanted to talk about one of the bingos that's coming to the York Show October 9th and 10th. This is another one from my collection called... Ticker Tape'

  • The artwork features a Wall Street ticker tape dome with line graphs on the cabinet and a couple in the backglass

    high confidence · Nick describes: 'artwork is a dome that the ticker tape used to run through on wall street' with 'a guy and a lady that are standing there in a suit and a pillbox hat'

  • Nick is still restoring a Nightclub machine with a scoring issue where it never stops counting

    high confidence · Nick: 'I'm still working on it. That one's super close to being done... The only problem is the scoring. If you get a winner, it never stops scoring'

Notable Quotes

  • “I just like Tic-Tac-Toe a lot, And that's, like, one of my favorite, like, playing games, like, when I'm alone or when I'm with a friend”

    Ava @ early — Explains her core preference for the Ticker Tape mechanic

  • “I really like how it goes in its own ball, like hole, and you don't even have to choose. It just goes into that hole, the first one, and you don't have to worry about it.”

    Ava @ early — Describes the unique automatic first-ball placement mechanic

  • “I like the Super Lines better because I get those more, so it's better for me to practice them.”

    Ava @ middle — Reveals her strategy preference for frequent practice over difficult corner shots

  • “And so how frustrating is it to get four in a row and then it searches and it finds your winner and it says, you want double or nothing? And you push the D button and then it says nothing. Then I go to my room and then come back here.”

    Nick @ middle — Humorously illustrates the frustration of failed double-or-nothing attempts on bingo machines

  • “I think you're a much better bingo player than I am... You're able to make numbers very consistently. Like that number 16. I have a really hard time with 16.”

    Nick @ middle — Nick acknowledges Ava's superior skill at the game despite her youth

  • “The motor I'm talking about counts the replays. So when you get a winner, instead of going tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick. This one goes tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick. It goes a lot faster.”

    Nick @ late-middle — Technical explanation of Ticker Tape's distinctive faster motor speed

  • “It's a really fun game. It's like the funnest I've ever played in years. And I hope you'll like it if you ever get to play.”

    Ava @ ending — Strong endorsement of Ticker Tape as her all-time favorite game

  • “In the 1950s The two different manufacturers, Pallion United... They just were in competition for making these machines”

Entities

Nick BaldridgepersonAvapersonTicker TapegameBallycompanyUnitedcompanyCaravangameNightclubgameGate TimegameBountygame

Signals

  • ?

    product_launch: Ticker Tape will be featured at York Show October 9-10 as part of Nick Baldridge's bingo collection display

    high · Nick: 'tonight i wanted to talk about one of the bingos that's coming to the York Show October 9th and 10th'

  • ?

    collector_signal: Nick expanding bingo collection with acquisition of United Caravan machine, now owns 5 Bally machines plus new United machine

    high · Nick: 'I have five ballets right now, but I'm getting a United. I thought you had like six. Only five at the moment.'

  • ?

    restoration_signal: Nightclub bingo restoration nearing completion, only minor parts and scoring bug remain

    high · Nick: 'I'm still working on it. That one's super close to being done, by the way... The only problem is the scoring. If you get a winner, it never stops scoring.'

  • ?

    community_signal: Industry figures like Vic providing strategic advice on bingo machine gameplay and features

    medium · Nick: 'I was talking with Vic up in New Jersey. Uh-huh. And he was saying that there are some newer games that have even more features... Vic has sold me his favorite numbers on card number six'

  • ?

    content_signal: Recent podcast episode covering Gate Time bingo machine features, establishing regular content production cadence

    high · Nick: 'One of the names of the new machines is called Gate Time... I did an episode on that actually last night.'

  • ?

Transcript

groq_whisper · $0.076

0:00
what's that sound it's for amusement only the em and bingo pinball podcast welcome back to for amusement only this is nick baldridge and ava she's back everybody ava how you doing good yeah um tonight i wanted to talk about one of the bingos that's coming to the York Show October 9th and 10th. This is another one from my collection called... Ticker Tape. Ticker Tape is a six-card bingo, and it's Ava's favorite game. Uh-huh. Well, it's my favorite bingo, at least. Well, there you go. So, Ava, what makes it your favorite? I just like Tic-Tac-Toe a lot, And that's, like, one of my favorite, like, playing games, like, when I'm alone or when I'm with a friend and I don't have that much to do, you know? Right.
1:08
So this reminds you of Tic-Tac-Toe? Yeah. And I really like how it goes in its own ball, like hole, and you don't even have to choose. It just goes into that hole, the first one, and you don't have to worry about it. So your strategy for the first ball is just to let it go where it wants to go? Yeah, and then I see what I can do with the other ones to make a match. And so you know that your best return on your game is to get three or four or five in a row on card number six, right?
1:54
Sort of, because I can do... I got five in a row on the fifth or fourth card. I forgot, but it was, I had never gotten five or four before, so that was really cool for me.
2:16
Yeah, it's, once you get up to, you know, actual good playing, it doesn't really matter which card you're on.
2:24

Nick @ late-middle — Historical context on the 'Bingo Pinball War' between Bally and United in the 1950s

Pop-A-Card
game
York Showevent
For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcastorganization
Vicperson
Jeffrey Lawtonperson
Super Mariogame

historical_signal: Reference to 1950s 'Bingo Pinball War' between Bally and United manufacturers, documented in Jeffrey Lawton's book

high · Nick references 'The Bingo Pinball War, Ballet vs. United' and describes competition between manufacturers in the 1950s

  • ?

    gameplay_signal: Ticker Tape distinguished by faster replay-counting motor compared to other Bally bingos, enabling quicker game cycles

    high · Nick: 'the motor is a lot faster than the other ones... when you get a winner, instead of going tick, tick, tick, it goes tick, tick, tick' much faster

  • ?

    community_signal: Young player (Ava) actively engaged in bingo gaming, machine restoration assistance, and podcast participation

    high · Ava plays Ticker Tape 5+ times daily, assists with machine cleaning and leg assembly, co-hosts podcast episodes

    • Yeah, I'm happy with a five in a row on card number one. She patted my back as consolation for my bad bingo playing. so what other things do you like about it what features on it I like the art and the playing field I like the back glass can you describe them a little bit I like the colors and the you know board play field so the artwork is a dome that the ticker tape used to run through on wall street and you can see kind of line graphs that are on the cabinet side and on the front by the coin door.
    3:11
    And the cabinet, the predominant color is green. Yeah. Green. And there's some white, too. Can you say that good now? Let me say that again. Go ahead.
    3:24
    The thing is green. All right. Thanks, Ava. Now, the Backglass and Playfield have a similar set of artwork. There's a guy and a lady that are standing there in a suit and a pillbox hat, and the lady's holding some ticker tape that actually says ticker tape on it. On the playfield there's another guy smoking a pipe on the other side of the playfield from those two people in the back glass. One of my favorite things about the back glass is the word bally. They have it lit up from behind, which is not unusual of course, but it's in red, which goes very well with the greens and the blues of the back glass. And I think it stands out quite a bit from those colors because it's right in the center of the back glass.
    4:34
    Now, Ava, what of the features that it has? It's got corners and it's got super lines. Which of those do you like playing for? I like the Super Lines better because I get those more, so it's better for me to practice them. And have you ever made it on a Super Line before?
    4:57
    Yes, but not very often. Yeah, that's my problem too. Yeah, just like I'm starting something new this year, soccer.
    5:06
    Yep. So you're ready for a soccer-themed bingo? Yeah. So I can kick and win. Wait a minute. I don't know about that.
    5:20
    So when the super line is light, do you get excited? Yeah, because... You're like, ooh, something new. No, but I do get excited very often because I really like it. But I don't say, what, that.
    5:39
    You don't like jump up and down? No, I do not. You know me. So, how about corners? I mean, do you ever play for the corners? Yeah, but I don't get them very often. I only got them once or twice, I think. Really? Mm-hmm. Oh.
    5:59
    Yeah, they come up fairly frequently. I think what's happening is you're getting too focused on the cards themselves. Because the super line shows right in the card, but the corner shows up above. and let's see do you like getting regular wins or do you try to double most of your wins I double them but sometimes I get regular because I just don want nothing Because it's either double or nothing, which means you either get doubled or nothing. And so how frustrating is it to get four in a row and then it searches and it finds your winner and it says, you want double or nothing? And you push the D button and then it says nothing. Then I go to my room and then come back here. You get a little frustrated? Yeah. That is frustrating. But you keep going. You do a good job. And at this point, I think you're a much better bingo player than I am.
    7:00
    What? Yeah. You're able to make numbers very consistently. Like that number 16. I have a really hard time with 16. I can do it. I think I'm better with ticker tape than you are in imaging. because I played it more times than you.
    7:18
    What? It's true! Yay. Yeah, I mean, you do a very good job with it. Now, I was talking with Vic up in New Jersey. Uh-huh. And he was saying that there are some newer games that have even more features than Tickertape. Now, would you like to try one of those? Or would you prefer to keep ticker tape? I would like to keep ticker tape and get rid of one of the other machines. Because we've had, like, Papa Card. That was the first machine that we ever got. You ready for that one to go? I don't. I do play it, but I've played it since I was, like, three. Yeah. So you've had your fill of it at this moment? You're ready to try something new. Yeah. Gotcha. So, Ava, do you like that ticker tape you only have to put in six coins to get started instead of the other bingos where you just put in as much as you want? Well, I don't really like putting six coins in. Because, like, we only have, like, that many in, like, a jar, you know? and they get emptied out really quickly since everybody's playing them. Yeah, all of my machines are on coin play here at the house. I've set them on free play to go to the show.
    8:56
    But when they're on coin play, we all use a communal jar of quarters and nickels to play the games. so um sometimes do you play just a single card or a couple cards or do you try to always do six cards sometimes i play a couple cards but not that very often because like i try to get six and then i once i've done really good like i've won it or something i try to go higher you know Yeah.
    9:32
    Yeah. You try to get more replays? Is that what you mean? Yeah. So, one thing that I've noticed about that game is it's pretty easy to tilt. And a lot of people who come over and try it their first time, they tilt it pretty quick. I have never actually tilted it before because I don't, like, want to tilt it. On all the machines, I don't ever tilt. I just do that, and that's it. Now you say that. You say that. Now, you don't tilt it. You don't, like, pick up the machine. But I've watched you, and you do pull the machine just like I do. Well, I do it, like, sometimes. Not very often. Yeah, the trick is knowing exactly when to, and I think you're pretty good at it.
    10:23
    I never got a tilt on that thing. She's whispering that she never got a tilt on it. I don't know that that's true because I'm pretty sure that I viewed you getting a couple tilts on that.
    10:38
    He's lying. So what I was going to say before I was told that I was lying is that... You're getting loopy here. I was thinking about lowering the tilt so that it's harder to tilt. what do you think about that are you serious at this time i've only gotten a tilt like like like zero i'm pretty sure it's a lot more than zero so hey what's the largest amount of replays that you've won on i have probably won like so um i have probably won like a hundred on it it goes up to like a thousand and well it goes up to nine thousand nine hundred and ninety nine on that machine but i've played other machines that have maybe gone more than that but that's probably the highest the second highest at least that of replays that you could that you could like play that i've ever played right um our other machines most of them are three digits so they only go to 999 or 899 actually there's a physical yeah but i like to grow up so i can do it more times you know, without spending all the quarters and stuff. Exactly, yep. That's the whole goal. Yeah, so I try to play that game as much as possible, so like I don have to get all the quarters So is your ultimate goal to try to get a thousand replays Yes I actually gotten close to that I actually gotten like 500 once Not on that game, but you've gotten about 100 on it, I think.
    12:53
    No. At one time. It was like 200 almost. Was it really? Yeah. Um, okay. I'm misremembering. Yeah, you are bad at remembering.
    13:10
    I'm bad at remembering. That's what you just whispered. I know. He really is. Thanks a lot, Ava. You're welcome.
    13:21
    All right. I think this interview is over. So a couple more questions, Ava. Do you like the all-metal lockdown bar? um you know they're made of wood but ticker tape and double up have that metal uh top where they're all metal instead of the partial wood like on bounty do you like that better or do you like the all metal like on ticker tape better i like um i like the i would say i like the stuff on ticker tape better because like it's more sturdy i guess and it has like it's harder to break it so you don't have to deal with a bunch of broken like wood and stuff have you broken the ones on the other ones no i'm just saying if you ever do yes that's that's true now do you like um you haven't played either of the new editions yet because i've had this room completely packed full of projects for a little while. Yeah, he has been packed full of this room and I haven't been able to go through the back and play Mystery or Hound Dog because the machines are all pulled out and I'm like, seriously, Dad? I just want to play it.
    14:44
    Yeah, the new ones are really awesome. They're some of my new favorites. Sure. One of the names of the new machines is called Gate Time. I forget, but I think it's another bingo, so we'll probably be talking about that on the show later on. I did an episode on that actually last night. You did? Mm-hmm. Just on the features and so forth. And we've talked about the features of most of the six cards, so I just wanted to get your opinion on it. Now, I haven't rolled 1,000 on this machine either. I've gotten several hundred replays, but I haven't been able to make it sing like that and get 1,000 or more.
    15:37
    But that will come with time. Vic has sold me his favorite numbers on card number six to get five in the line on. and you can get 300 replays if you get five in a line on card number six or 600 if you double it.
    15:55
    So what? Yeah, I mean, I thought that only go to like 100 and so. No, that's on the first two or three cards. That's as high as they go. But most of what you've gotten are four in a line and the four in the lines don't score nearly as high as five. so if you get fives then it's really something because it'll take them up now one other difference about this machine from the other bingos that i have is that the motor is a lot faster than the other ones have you noticed that i thought that i knew something was fast about that machine and I'm like, what in the world is that thing? I just couldn't remember it because I was playing one of the machines and I didn't want to lose my ball. So I'd look away and then look back really quickly and I'm like, come on.
    16:53
    Well, the motor I'm talking about counts the replays. So when you get a winner, instead of going tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick. This one goes tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick. It goes a lot faster. Yeah, that's what I thought. I was like, there's something different about the scoring thing. That's what's different.
    17:16
    Now, I'm picking up another bingo. Did you know? Again? After you just got two new bingos? Yeah, this one is from a different manufacturer, though. So it's not a ballet. It isn't? Right. I have five ballets right now, but I'm getting a United. I thought you had like six. Only five at the moment. Do you want to see a picture of the new one? Okay. All right. Fine with me.
    17:51
    I'm leafing through Jeffrey Lawton's book right now, The Bingo Pinball War, Ballet vs. United. There is a pinball war? Oh yes When?
    18:06
    In the 1950s The two different manufacturers, Pallion United What did you have to do? Well, it wasn't a war with troops on the ground necessarily Dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun No They just were in competition for making these machines Alright, so I'm almost in the right spot here I know you are because I can tell by your face. How excited I am?
    18:34
    No, you're just mad. Mad? You're not mad. You look mad. Or sad. Or... Glad. Or maddy, saddy. So you're saying I have some emotion, you're just not sure what it is. Got it.
    18:55
    Okay I found it It called Gar Gar That a C Gar Caravan. Oh, I thought it was Gar-vin because it looked like it. Gar-vin? Car-vin? United Car-vin. Because it looked like part of the A was on there. Mm-hmm. So you think that... Yeah, there's a flash in the picture we're looking at. It's kind of hard to read the title. But yeah, it's called Caravan. And see this set of numbers right here? Uh-huh. They actually spin around. That looks like a... Why is it a square? The numbers move from position to position like that. So it's like a circle except in different shapes? Yeah, isn't that cool? Nice. Yeah. So that one should be fun. I'm looking forward to that. And it's going to be a totally different player. But as far as the six card ticker tape, that's still your favorite at the moment? Uh-huh. Because I like all the techniques and strategies and challenges, you know. So you like that better than Bounty with the screen? Yep. And you like it... Well, you haven't played Gate Time yet.
    20:13
    No. I guess you'll find out if you like that one better. But it's, how do you like the speed of the game as far as how quick it is to finish your game and then start a new one? Do you like that? I like it because you can do stuff faster instead of, like, waiting a long time for it. I'm not saying that, like, it takes a long time for other machines to do stuff. But I'm just saying it goes quicker. so like if you need to do something after like you're done you can just it'll just be there in a minute it's so quick yeah there's only five balls and no extra balls so you don't have to wait for the machine to search or do any of that stuff you just push the button right and then it gives you five balls that you can have fun yep and uh and you do you have a lot of fun with yeah i usually play that machine like five times a day yeah that's that's been your exclusive machine for some time here you haven't really played much of anything else yeah that's mostly what i was like besides super mario although you've pretty much been leaving that alone since ticker tape came in i know but i still play it sometimes oh yeah no um yeah ticker tape is a really fun game and uh are you glad we got it uh-huh at first i did i said i didn't want to get it and um so now that i'm really happy actually that i got it and now i'm just cooling out cooling out so like chilling Ava, are you ready to learn how to fix the machines? I already know partly how to Oh, that's good Because you taught me how to clean them Yeah, and you've helped me clean a few of them, huh? Mm-hmm, I think I helped you clean Did you help me with ticker tape? I think, and I think I helped you with like pop a card or something Yeah, you've helped me with that several times so are you going to rebuild the next bingo that comes in for me i could i can help with the legs i've already helped um my dad with several um pinball machines that i've carried in the legs and stuff that's a big help like i did with the last one remember it wasn't gay time it was the other one. I forgot the name. Nightclub? Yeah, Nightclub. I'm still working on it.
    22:57
    That one's super close to being done, by the way. What do you have to do left? I'm just waiting on a couple minor parts and then it's good. It actually works 100%. The only problem is the scoring. If you get a winner, it never stops scoring. Oh no, not again. You have to stay up late every night and make a bunch of noise while I'm sleeping. Hey!
    23:21
    Well, all that being said, Ava, what are your parting thoughts on Ticker Tape? What do you want everybody to know about this game? I would say that I like everything about it. It's a really fun game. It's like the funnest I've ever played in years. And I hope you'll like it if you ever get to play. and my dad will be at the York show, like he said, and he might see you there. Yep. I hope I see everybody there. Yep. And you all get to play Ava's favorite game. Yay.
    24:05
    Now that means you'll be a few days without ticker tape. I know. You've done that with every machine. Well, almost every machine. Not really every machine. Almost. so you think you'll survive though those few days without me no no just kidding yes because i have soccer which is the other thing i love that's a new love huh i know because i just started it but that's good um so all right well thank you very much ava you're welcome and uh thank you very much for listening, everybody.
    24:45
    My name again is Nick Baldridge. You can reach me at 4amusementonlypodcast at gmail.com or you can call me on the bingos line. That's 724-BINGOS1 724-246-4671 You can listen to us on iTunes, Stitcher, Pocketcast, via RSS, on Facebook, on Twitter at bingopodcast. You can follow me on Instagram at nbaldridge or you can listen to us on our website, which is foramusementonly.libsyn.com Thank you very much for listening, and I'll talk to you next time. Bye-bye.