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The Classic Pinball Podcast
The Classic Pinball Podcast
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#96 Turkey and Bull - The Classic Pinball Podcast

PodcastAnalysis updated 3d ago39 min listenBy George
From the creator

Dave and George talk Turkey and Bull. No one is surprised. Holiday themed game: Turkey or not? Discussion and play on this episode features the pinball El Toro. (Now you get it?) Happy Thanksgiving!...

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Highlights

  • El Toro is a rare game with only slightly over 2,000 units produced
  • El Toro has 30,000 original plays recorded on its counter
  • Early 1970s Bally games featured a unique glass-and-playfield lift design with A-frame arms
  • Modern pinball games have overly complex rule sets that discourage casual play
  • The Mandalorian topper costs approximately $2,000-$3,000
  • Jim Patla designed El Toro and used similar design elements like top lane guides in other games like Kiss
  • Mushroom bumpers were discontinued after the early 1970s due to maintenance complexity
  • El Toro's coin door was a notable early innovation featuring slots for nickels, dimes, and quarters
  • Ray Davidson (presumably a tournament player or industry figure) requested the hosts do a show on Rush
  • Carl D'Angelo and Tom Graff have discussed Rush on podcasts as popular among elite tournament players

Notable quotes

“I don't like thinking when I'm playing pinball. I want it to be more reactionary and kind of maybe one or two chess moves ahead, not like 19.”
George
“People have more money than cents. I don't blame Stern. If you get suckers coming over they're going to buy that thing.”
George
“El Toro... there's nothing. It is the only game in a pub for miles around and it is the pinball machine. Guess what you're going to play it because if you want to play pinball you're going to play this game.”
George
“It's almost like no one played this game, George. Stop broughting it in!”
Dave
“Tread very carefully. Underneath is a little E-clip that holds each one of these things, these bumpers on there. Then try to put them back on and the spring and the thing on there. The first thing is, look at the Eclipse, and then look in your parts box. Do I have one?”
Dave
“You don't crank them down gorilla tight you do them just snug so you don't crush the freaking brass thing in the middle there because it'll sound like crap.”
George
“I'm going to modify this back. I'm going to alternate translate. It's going to be the Mexican Weather Girl as the back glass. It'll turn heads.”
Dave

Entities

  • Bally· company
  • Gottlieb· company
  • Stern Pinball· company
  • Valley Coin· company
  • El Toro· game
  • Elektronika· game
  • Fireball Classic· game
  • Ghostbusters· game
  • Halloween· game
  • Knight Rider· game
  • Mandalorian· game
  • Mata Hari· game
  • Rush· game
  • Supersonic· game
  • The Classic Pinball Podcast· organization
  • Carl D'Angelo· person
  • Dave· person
  • George· person
  • Jack· person
  • Jim Patla· person
  • Maureen· person
  • Ray Davidson· person
  • Tom Graff· person

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