Episode 163 – Pintastic Quickie

Slam Tilt Podcast·podcast_episode·analyzed·Apr 3, 2021

Analysis

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TL;DR

Pintastic New England 2021 confirmed for November 18-21 in Sturbridge with tournaments, vendors, and new hotel ownership improvements.

Summary

Ron Hallett and Bruce Nuttingale of the Slam Tilt Podcast interview Dave Marston about major announcements for Pintastic New England 2021. The show is moving to November 18-21 at the Sturbridge Host Hotel and Conference Center (same venue as previous years under new ownership), with tournaments including the Silver Ball Rumble and Bells and Chimes, vendor hall, family activities, and special guests. The episode also discusses other 2021 pinball shows, vaccination progress, and Bruce's acquisitions of Stern cabinets for custom builds.

Key Claims

Pintastic New England 2021 will be held November 18-21 at the Sturbridge Host Hotel and Conference Center
high confidence · Dave Marston announced the dates and location directly on the podcast as an official announcement
Dave Marston has attended every Pinball Expo since 1985 and has been involved in pinball for over 50 years
high confidence · Dave Marston stated directly: 'I've been to every Pinball Expo. This is like what 1985? 1985 was the first one and even then I had already been in pinball for almost 20 years.'
The Sturbridge venue has new ownership that is investing in improvements including overhauling guestrooms and increasing TV channels by a factor of 15
high confidence · Dave Marston: 'There's a new owner on the hotel and they're spending a lot of money fixing up the place, overhauling all the guestrooms. The number of TV channels in the guestroom apparently has been increased by a factor of 15'
Limited edition pass sales for Pintastic 2021 are projected to open in late April
high confidence · Dave Marston: 'projecting that same lead time against our November 18th open for this year's show, probably late April we will open up for limited edition pass sales'
The Silver Ball Rumble and Bells and Chimes tournaments will be held at Pintastic 2021
high confidence · Dave Marston: 'Tournaments will have at least the Silver Ball Rumble and also the Bells and Chimes tournament. They've already said they're on board.'
Ron Hallett won the inaugural Silver Ball Rumble tournament and won over a grand in prize money
high confidence · Ron Hallett: 'I won the inaugural Silver Ball Rumble. Yes, you did. I came close... I won a ridiculous amount for that first year.'
Pinball Expo will be held on Halloween weekend (later than usual dates)
high confidence · Dave Marston and Ron Hallett discussed that Pinball Expo 'They're Halloween weekend. Yes, which I've already heard complaints about'
Pinball Expo has updated its website with new information and is integrating antique/vintage arcade games and coin-op history into the show

Notable Quotes

“I've been to every Pinball Expo. This is like what 1985? 1985 was the first one and even then I had already been in pinball for almost 20 years.”
Dave Marston @ early in episode — Establishes Dave's deep historical involvement in the pinball community and industry longevity
“His license plate is literally pinball... P-I-N-B-A-L-L”
Ron Hallett @ early in episode — Personal detail highlighting Dave's dedication to pinball culture
“They saw us as a cash cow or something. But we also were outgrowing it.”
Dave Marston @ mid-episode — Explains the venue search process and pricing pressures from previous Sturbridge ownership
“November 18th to 21st. That's Thursday through Sunday as usual.”
Dave Marston @ mid-episode — Official confirmation of Pintastic 2021 dates
“I won the inaugural Silver Ball Rumble. Yes, you did... I won a ridiculous amount for that first year.”
Ron Hallett @ mid-episode — Personal pinball tournament history and prize payout context
“I think they only paid out like the top four or something like that. So I won like over a grand for that.”
Ron Hallett @ mid-episode — Details on early Silver Ball Rumble payout structure
“I have the new job, but, you know, I think I have enough days just to go to Pintastic... I'm not going to Expo this year.”
Bruce Nuttingale @ mid-to-late episode — Bruce's attendance priorities and scheduling constraints for 2021 shows
“He's way ahead of his time. The weird thing about him, everything about him, they mention he's a West Coast boy, but then when I actually heard the interview with him, he had a very noticeable like New York type accent.”
Ron Hallett @ discussion of Harry Williams — Discussion of vintage pinball designer history and background

Entities

Dave MarstonpersonRon HallettpersonBruce NuttingalepersonPintastic New EnglandeventSturbridge Host Hotel and Conference CentervenuePinball Expoevent Silver Ball Rumbleevent

Signals

?
event_signal: Pintastic New England 2021 officially announced for November 18-21 at Sturbridge Host Hotel venue; represents return to in-person format after 2020 COVID cancellation/relocation plans
high · Dave Marston: 'The dates are? November 18th to 21st... And we are back in Sturbridge.'
?
venue_signal: Sturbridge Host Hotel under new ownership investing significantly in facility improvements; prior ownership had become cost-prohibitive, new owner adding function rooms and facility upgrades
high · Dave Marston: 'There's a new owner on the hotel and they're spending a lot of money fixing up the place... the old ownership of the Sturbridge place was really jacking up the fees on us'
?
event_signal: Pintastic 2021 confirmed to include Silver Ball Rumble and Bells and Chimes tournaments with IFPA points sanctioning
high · Dave Marston: 'Tournaments will have at least the Silver Ball Rumble and also the Bells and Chimes tournament. They've already said they're on board.'
?
business_signal: Multiple pinball shows scheduling November dates; Pintastic moved to November 18-21, Pinball Expo moved to Halloween weekend; fall 2021 show season expected to be heavy
high · Ron Hallett: 'Do you think the fall is going to be very show heavy? Oh yes... Allentown is hinted on July'
?
event_signal: Pinapalooza announced as new pinball show in Batavia, New York at Batavia Downs racetrack venue; hosted by Bruce Nuttingale and team; dates pending NY state COVID restrictions
high · Bruce: 'I actually am one of the guys helping out those guys... The venue is Batavia Downs... It was originally supposed to be planned for this spring'

Transcript

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0:00

Coming to you from beautiful upstate New York, this is the Slam Tilt Podcast, a show about all things pinball. I'm your host Ron Hallett, you're with my co-host Bruce Nuttingale. A-dee-ho, beepaloskies! And welcome to episode 163. And we're going to be talking about a very exciting announcement that has just occurred, but actually when we're recording it hasn't occurred yet. It's going to occur tomorrow, but when we release this, it will have just occurred. Are you confused yet, Bruce? I am not confused. I'm smart. That's debatable. But we have a guest. We do! Who's going to tell us all about this exciting announcement. And this is a man that I've...man, I've known him for a long time. He's one of the few people I know that has been to every pinball expo. Well, I guess except the last one because it was virtual and that'd be... I was there virtually. Okay, there you go. He's speaking. I am speaking in the course of Dave Marston. Hi. How's it going Dave? Going great. Busy though with our campaign to tell people about what's happening with Pintastic New England. And yes, I'll verify that I've known you for a long time Ron because we did interact at the old Fun Spot tournament which mainly video games but there were some few pinball players there. Yeah, they used to actually have a pinball tournament kind of. It was the greatest type ever. You're the best type ever. You just kept putting money in and playing the games over and over until you get the highest score you could. That's how it was. But Dave has been to every Pinball Expo. This is like what 1985? 1985 was the first one and even then I had already been in pinball for almost 20 years. So I operated back in the day. After Pinball Expo came out the first time and they thought it was going to be a one and done. I think many of us realize that we need to get the pinball community together and we couldn't have predicted back then that it would result in manufacturers having to prioritize selling directly to us the players. That was a long way in the future. But in the 50 plus years that I've been involved with pinball, I've tried to get a good public reputation for the game which you know going back to 67 I don't know, I think that's a good way to do it, that was hard to do. And tried to bring the community together in many ways including a lot of seminars at PinballExpo, which was fantastic and an occasional seminar at PlayFX even. And the online stuff, I was present at the creation of Rec.Games.Pinball back in 1990, that was another way in which the community came together. But let's talk about what's happening this year, 2021, so get The drum roll ready. Oh, getting the drum roll ready. Getting the drum roll ready. Actually, you might be one of our first guests that's been into pinball longer than Bruce. That's old. Wow, that's very nice, Bruce. Before Dave starts, though, I want to say he has the greatest license plate. His license plate is literally pinball. And not like ones for the eyes or anything like that. It's P-I-N-B-A-L-L, which I always thought that when I saw that I'm there like wow. Yeah, at lucky timing to get that license plate too. Like how long have you had that license plate? Since New Hampshire allowed seven letter license plates. So that's not that long, over 10 years. Yes, live free or play pinball or both or die or something like that. Wow. Okay, so, Pintastic New England, which was going to be in a new hotel for the first time at this new location last year, but then COVID happened. Right. And that hotel was very easy to work with, accommodating us, knowing that we would have to cancel. We continued talking with them, but this year we needed to change the dates. We wanted to go later in the year, It's minesome guys, see we haven't struggled the gnomes yet but we would like to have another opportunity. I know they say the next as an acronym for jó Åˆčballs ask to get your dirty我llies off your accounts from complete rooftop�� ếtěěč πο mics çπι frogčkoѿ ts kiŽ Spotify as you mighty évšč ts věčstžø했어èý jáččce kâmiio constructingio depìščly néŭ Nam aš Им ašë čekativěščision and you can do some nice tours of some of the ski resorts and come see some candle making and all that other fun stuff up in Massachusetts. Yeah, I would be pretty sure that the fall foliage will be gone by then. Yeah, yeah, by November definitely. Whether there's snow on the ground, you can't tell. No, you never tell. So... But there is a lot of stuff to do for families also. So if this is going to be your first vacation, definitely a nice time of the year to be up in New England. And you could buy that Christmas pinball machine at our show. There you go. I like that idea. That is the time of the year for sales of pinball machines into home game rooms. All right. So let's give us the details. So the dates are? November 18th to 21st. That's Thursday through Sunday as usual. And we are looking at having all the things we have every year. Now the outdoor flea market, we have to wait and see. You know, it could be a warm spell and it could be feasible. So we'll have a plan B if not. But the other part of the news is the location. We're back in Sturbridge. Oh, okay. That's actually funny. So it's everyone where they know to go. Right. Well, we can confuse them anyway because the exit numbers have changed. So you guys coming eastbound on Interstate 90 from upstate New York, you are now going to take exit 78, which is the same exit you always took, but it's called exit 78 now. And we will have Kevin O'Connor as our guest artist. He's done a fabulous poster and he's changed the zero to a one in the year. By now, other special guests will be our usual high quality special guests. We might even get some that we've been unable to get with our summer dates. So we're going to make the best use we can of this time of year. I like Kevin O'Connor because he did the KISS artwork, the greatest artwork ever on a pinball machine. Thank you, Gene. Thank you for coming on. Thank you. I will not be there. They did not pay me enough. Sorry.

11:11

For more info, visit hat gord truths.com I was in, yeah, in 2000, yeah, the same year. It was 2016 when we went there. They had an artist who was doing caricatures of everybody. So me and Bruce was like, let's do one. And that's, I ripped those off for our logo because I cannot draw. No, neither can I. You're lucky you get a stick figure out of me. So Pintastic will always have a soft spot in my heart for that. Yes. And for the fact that it's one of my greatest tournament victories. Yes. I won the inaugural Silver Ball Rumble. Yes, you did. I came close. And we were in much different competition for later years. Yeah, the competition is stiffer now than it was when I won. But I mean, you still had some of the better Northeast players there the first year. And the first year they did some bizarre thing where I think they only paid out like the top four or something like that. So I won like over a grand for that. I won a ridiculous amount for that first year. Mark Blythorn, сложно as possible with Job J.J.: movies, you need to come to the show. J.J.:The show is great. J.J.:I did not realize, once you said it was in Sturbridge, I'm just like, oh yeah, because that's like a buck twenty for me, as opposed to the Boxborough, which was going to be like three hours for me. J.J.:Yeah. J.J.:Yeah, there's gains and losses, so you guys in upstate New York will definitely have a shorter driving time. J.J.:Even New York city and all the other guys. J.J.:There'll be benefits for that. That's the good thing I've gotten. J.J.:Most of Connecticut. J.J.:Yep. Surprisingly Montreal is a shorter driving time to Boxborough by about half an hour. Yes it is. But, you know, in the grand scheme of things, pretty similar driving time. And everybody should just check their maps. 366 Main Street, Sturbridge, Mass is what you put into your MapQuest or Google Map application and find the best route. So when does the hotel bank open up for everyone? Soon as we announce. Good. Okay. So Saturday when you guys hear this, if you haven't done anything besides listen to us, book your hotel room. Yeah, we will be opening up pass sales a little later on. We need to make sure we've got everything straight with the people who bought passes for 2020 and said roll them over. And that will be a similar lead time. So given the lead time we had on the limited edition passes for 2019, projecting that same lead time against our November 18th open for this year's show, probably late April we will open up for limited edition pass sales. do not don't want do gove Hey Ron, I might get to go to a pinball show finally again in three years. Yay, the whole of the show. You should do a podcast seminar again so me and Bruce can get it for free. That's, that's under consideration. Ooh, because Bruce is far more entertaining than me. Oh, definitely. Definitely. Now, I did say to all the participants in our podcaster panel last year that you can't I guarantee that you'll be on the podcaster panel every year because we want to have you. Yes, you did. Oh, I totally agree. So, so you have to know... Totally agree with that. I totally agree that only the podcasts that have been around a long time should get on. Over five years. Over, over five years, yes. How about over five years or over 150 episodes, whichever... Oh, there you go. I like that. Yes. I like the way you think. That's a good idea. Winner, winner, chicken dinner. I have a question for Bruce. Yes, sir. Bruce, you mentioned that you haven't been to a show in a long time, so did you intend to go to Pinballooza in upstate New York? Yes, I actually am one of the guys helping out those guys. And do you know if they have a plan for 2022? I've asked him a couple times and he is... it's all dependent on our great governor himself. I've been in contacts. I actually have seen the venue. I've actually walked through the venue. I've helped mark out the electricity for the venue. Hey, Bruce, Bruce, what show is this? What are you talking about? You just said it, Pinapalooza. What's Pinapalooza? I have no idea what this is. You go look up the website. It's actually not really live. It's actually a hidden website. It's Pinapalooza. The world's most underpublicized pinball show. Yes It was originally supposed to be planned for this spring and of course nothing opened up this spring so he was delaying it till either 2021 late which was going to probably be at the beginning of October or early 2021 The

19:59

GotO ай I'm going to be a perfect time where everyone bring games, meet each other for the first time or second time out of this whole year and have a great get together. That could do it healthy and safety. Let's talk about the other show that Dave's involved with, Expo, which also had an announcement very recently. It did. And they're later in the year too than they usually are. Yes. They're Halloween weekend. Yes, which I've already heard complaints about, but what are you going to do? Yeah, cuz kids and everything like that, yeah, people with families. But you guys updated your website. Yeah, that was a big change in attitude on Rob Burke's part to really seriously invest in some web development. Good. I think probably because of last year with the virtual show and he's getting more acclimated to online having some major role in pinball shows, The Pinball Show is even though you really want to be in person to play the games. PinballExpo.com. They've updated the site with all the new information as much as they could put on there. They got a timer. I always like the timers. 207 days, 22 hours, 39 minutes and 12 seconds. And the Reserva room is literally right on the first page. A button. That's great. That's a good idea. Yes. But I know I'll be going to Pentastic this year, barring anything with, you know, vacations. I am going away in December hopefully this year for a cruise, hopefully knock on wood. But I have my two, I got my second shot this past week, so I am all... Congratulations! I got sicker than a dog and plus at the same time I got my second shot, I had a kidney stone. Oh! So I was hating life. So you got, so you have Pfizer? I had Pfizer, so I am all good. I got sick the day after. I had a hundred and one temperature. I had the aches and the chills, but after day two, not a problem. Wow, I'm getting scared. Don't! It's just what it's your, that's actually a good thing. Yes, they said that the more side effects you have, the better. Yes. Yeah, your body can actually react to it better. I think that if you're not feeling any side effects, that means you're such a healthy, superior individual that You wouldn't even get it anyway. Or two things, or you've already had it. I guess. That's another reason they say. But, no, I'm definitely going to be, I have the new job, but, you know, I think I have enough days just to go to Pintastic. I'm not going to Expo this year. And I like to save my days possibly for the future for Texas if it's all going to happen. Who knows. But Pintastic, since it's a nice drive, I'm going to be, and I have a brand new pen. I've got a new basement to do. Yes. And Ron, I got the house. Yes, Bruce got the house. More details on the next podcast. Yes, we will. You'll have to wait. It's like a teaser. But, uh, yes. Now, when you're talking about Pinball Expo, I should mention also that there's a new submenu for games because it's not just pinball. He's really blending in his past experiment with a video game show that's going to be C Bar지막 is a game that is being integrated in and is talked about getting some antique games and I don't know what its connections are there but I'll be interested to see the history of coin-up going back to the very beginnings of the 20th century is the kind of expectation that he's setting up there. So like a history thing? Almost like a Silverwall Chronicles. Well I'm thinking more like they're like older arcade equipment maybe. Like a Pacific Pinball Expo. Yeah, like when they had the basketball games, you know, where the guy throws it or the golf games, the Genkos. Those are great games. They're way ahead of their time. Did you see the one that was posted a couple days on Facebook with the actual racetrack in the pinball machine? Like it was a pinball cabinet. I think I've seen that before. And it's actually like a figure eight, but it actually goes over the other part of the track. The time trials are yet a couple it's I never seen it before I was very impressed like wow now south and engineering is that Harry Williams yes when he was out in California is the company existed like sixty four and sixty five only short-lived company yeah yeah three left with us yep designer for that and I believe he also Was the first to do the mini golf game with the mannequin that cuts into the nine holes that has been remade a few times including by Bromley. He was way ahead of his time. The weird thing about him, everything about him, they mention he's a West Coast boy, but then when I actually heard the interview with him, Yes. that they had, he had a very noticeable like New York type accent. It's like, okay, so no, he wasn't originally from California. No no But he spent a lot of his time there Let just say that So again we have Pintastic New England It going to be November 18th through the 21st Which is very exciting What was the official name? It's got a full name. It's the Steward Bridge something something hotel. It's the Steward Bridge Host Hotel and Conference Center. Exit 78 on I-90 East, if you're going the way. We're going. And then there's another renumbering that after you take that turn and go on to I-84, you will be taking exit 6B instead of exit 3B. Okay. So hopefully your GPS is updated with this proper information. I'm sure Google will always be right. Yes. Last time I was there, I bought my 9-ball. Yeah, I remember that. I remember thinking that it looked better than mine. Still does. Yeah. I'm not sure if I can look better now. I have to get that pinball playfield eventually. Yeah. Hey Ron, guess what else I picked up this past week or two. It got shipped to me. Got shipped to you. Uh, I don't know. What? Your Alien Pinball. No! Two new Stern cabinets broken down. Oh, from California. Yes, sir. They're like Ikea, like cabinets for pinball assemble? Yes, they are. They're broken down. Yes. My wood guy, Vance, who we've talked about a couple times, he's going to get the cabinets. He's got our playfield, so they're almost done, so you'll have your playfield hopefully in the next month, Ron. Cool. And he's going to put these together, and what's going to be made of em is, of course, Dragon Fist because the cabinets on those always sucked, and Shit silver, which will be Quicksilver. I got the stencil kits coming. Excellent. Yes. So, make your way out to Sturebridge, Massachusetts. Check it out. Behave yourself. Alright, so I'm going to stop here for the day, let's get the show started. This is the show, this is a show where you can learn something about yourself and what you do to be a better person. Get up, behave yourself. Yes. It's a great time. With all this lead time, we will be able to monitor everything that's happening. Some tragedy at some other pinball show before us, we'll be able to react accordingly. Yep. Now, look at where we were six months ago or five months ago, where the numbers started up taking, you know, so you can see how much we're getting better. And in the past two or three months, we've had a lot of vaccinations inoculate, you know, That's all the good stuff where our numbers hopefully will start going back down again and stay down. And then eventually we'll get to herd immunization where we're over 78%. Herd immunity. Yeah, I call it immunization. But it's 78% where we can actually consider everyone good to go. And that's what we're hoping for. I think I heard the numbers in New York State. It was 37% have the first shot and almost 19 to 20% have their complete. So we're moving up. Even I am moderately positive. When you get your shot or you're too so healthy? Oh, you can get it this you get April 6th because they open that up and they open up another location Close to where I work and I found out about it. So I am going in Tuesday. Oh good for my first shot. That's easy What did you say get out? You'll have a sore arm. Mm-hmm. So David you have any your shots yet? I have the first one and C Bar),in the next week, I'll get the second one. Yep. Good. Congratulations. Zach, we all know from our show, he's getting his on Sunday. He's getting the one shot only. He's getting the Johnson & Johnson. Yes, he's gonna get the baby wipes. No more tears. So appropriate. So I think we're getting back in the groove. Hopefully. Yes, I hope so. Hopefully by the end of the year. I'm going to go ahead and wrap up with a few things that I think are important for this week. I think we need an outlet. I need a show and I need it now. I do. I do. It's not going to be now, but I'm very hopeful that the whole... Well, we are recording this just before Pinbrew in Ohio. Yes we are. That's going to be... This is this weekend, right? Or is it next week? Weekend of April 9th. Okay. So yeah. So next week. Yeah, next week. Thank you, thank you. Yeah. So, yeah, they're the first one, so that'll be interesting. Yes. It just seems kind of early. Yeah, I kind of agree with that. I don't know. All the show promoters are gonna be watching to see the… Oh yes, of course. Yeah. Because you've got to think of things like, it can't be a situation where the show promoter has to enforce things like masks and stuff. Because people suck. They just won't wear them. They do. People suck. Yeah. Not our listeners. They're all great. I'm sorry to interrupt the recording. But they understand how we mean they suck. Everyone wants to get around the rules. Guess what? Follow the rules. Hopefully, we'll all be done with this stuff. Hopefully, sooner. But don't forget, it's the anniversary today. Did you know that, Ron? Happy anniversary.