In late July, 2006, Pingeek caught a flight to Las Vegas for the one and only Pinball Fantasy show, an awesome show organized by Herb Silvers of Fabulous Fantasies, the best in ground up restorations and one of a kind pins, since 1988. Herb himself has been a collector since 1972.  

This has to be the most exciting show Pingeek ever attended, which took place 24/7, kicking off at 9 am on Friday, July 28th, and ending at 4 pm, Sunday, July 30th.  This was the 10th Anniversary Reunion Show, which is unique since this is one of only three Pinball Fantasy shows.

This show actually took place at the Union Plaza Hotel, across from where the nightly Fremont Experience light show takes place, unlike Pinball Fantasy 1996, which had taken place at the Riviera Hotel & Casino.

The video opens outside the hotel with a very brief look at some really cool lights along Union Plaza. The pinball action then begins, with Mad World, 4 Queens, Fireball, Kings & Queens (this title as seen in the movie Tommy, played by Roger Daltrey).  But the show coverage is just beginning!  Other pins seen in action include KISS, Domino, Champ, Xenon, and a sparkling Major League (pitch and bat). You also get to see Don Mueting and Rob Hawkins, authors of The Pinball Collector's Resource, checking out a classic Gottlieb Pleasure Isle. These guys have both been collecting information on pinball since 1975, and Rob shares something very interesting about the history of pinball in California.  

Next, we see Mr. Pinball of Mr. Pinball Classifieds troubleshooting a Gottlieb Hi-Diver.  Daina points out some interesting things on the repro backglass for this particular game and shares an interesting tech tip about electromechanical pins. The next interview is with Greg Maletic, the man behind the upcoming dvd release of The Future of Pinball, recently renamed, Tilt. Greg discusses how and why this movie was made, which features the story behind Williams' last games under the Pinball 2000 platform before their pinball division closed it's doors forever. 

The next game featured isn't exactly pinball.  It's a 70's horseshoe throwing Williams simulation game:  Ringer. Then, it's time to interview another vendor, Pinball Mania, featuring a unique product, pin cab protectors to keep pinball legs from digging into the cabinet.  

Coverage continues into Friday night showing a couple shots of tournament action, spectators playing lots of pinball, then it's back to the pins!  The next game featured is a Williams 1963 Big Daddy pin. Next is a very odd Bally Gold Rush pin, with a kick out hole where the ball would normally drain. The next game shown is Nip It, featured in the classic tv show, Happy Days.  

At approximately 3:30 am, Saturday morning, Pingeek's show coverage continues, with a couple show fans, and more pinball machines, starting with X's & O's, then Laser Cue, Radical, then it's a real treat:  Herb Silvers one and only King Of Diamonds, the first retro pinball machine, with moving score reels, just like the original 1967 classic, 4 player action, backglass target animation, and so much more! This game by the way, will be available this summer, 2007.  See Fabulous Fantasies web site for more info.

Later that morning, it's an interview with another vendor, Ray Johnson, owner of Action Pinball located in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Ray has been in the pinball business for many years, and had quite an assortment of pinball parts at the show.  

After that, Pingeek visited The Pinball Hall Of Fame, featuring a brief walk through showing the games inside.  A couple games are caught in action, including a rare Williams 50's Tic-Tac-Toe, a Speedway 70's racing game, a rare Q-bert's Quest, and a very rare Italian wedgehead pinball machine: Impacto, featuring day-glo babes and stationary targets that actually drop!  

Back at the show, Pingeek interviews Sam Harvey, legendary pinball collector and historian, who records serial numbers of every pinball machine at a show, so the game's history can be traced.  Next, it's some doubles tournament pre finals.  The next event is the drawing for a Bowling Queen pinball machine, provided by Tim Arnold.  Tim also shows off his Bally Sky Diver's pin, with a unique ball shooter kit.  Later that night, we get to see a Pirates Of The Caribbean in action, a brand new Stern pinball machine at the time, and a brief clip of a really odd Namco Panic Park videogame, made in 2000, and quite rare.

Sunday coverage includes highlights of the tournament finals, including the legendary Rick Stetta breaking a million points on Eight Ball Deluxe, winning a tournament for the first time since 1995. You will also see an interview with Rick, and shortly after, he takes on a Bally 60's electromechanical game, Bazaar.  But wait, there's more!  In between all this Pingeek caught highlights of the rollergirls tournament, with genuine rollergirls and as the show winds down, you get to see a Herb Silver's Muscle Car custom pinball machine. Wrapping up this dvd are highlights of The Freemont Experience light show and even Elvis makes an appearance!

$10 for the dvd, plus $2.00 to cover first class shipping anywhere in the USA. If you want priority USPS shipping within the USA, it's $5.30 to cover priority with delivery confirmation, for much faster shipping, and highly recommended.  International orders welcome basically anywhere the US post office delivers. Shipping is extra outside the US. To get a shipping quote, http://www.usps.com/ . One dvd in a thick plastic case weighs 5 oz, shipping from Richmond, VA 23229 to anywhere in the world.  

1 hr. 36 minutes total running time.

Place your orders here.  Paypal me at pingeek@pingeek.com, with your name, address, number of copies you wish to order, method of payment (US money order (instant shipping), personal check (held 7-10 days to clear).  http://www.usps.com/ for international buyers to get a shipping quote.  The dvd packaged is 5 oz., and ships from Richmond, VA 23229.

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