Moving Units Part 2 – The Class Of 1981

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Episode Summary:

 

David and Ron are going to finish what they started last month. As mentioned in the previous podcast, from 1975 to 1980, Bally was breaking sales records. It seemed that Paul Faris's art team could do no wrong, but by 1981, the gaming industry's footing was feeling shaky.

In an effort to hold ground and boost sales, Bally pushed out some of their most creative works ever. The Class of 1981 was, and still is, the pinnacle of pinball art.

Join us as we talk about Xenon's tube shot and sound package, polaroid pictures, Kevin O'Connor's jeep,  Claude Fernandez stealing design ideas from Steve Ritchie, Margaret Hudson being a trailblazer for women in pinball, annoying in-lane/out-lane designs, and the peak of Bally's stunning art design. Also, did you know Kevin O'Conner had a jeep?

Sources:

Pinside at Pinside.com

Wikipedia: Suzanne Ciani. Here.

Internet Pinball Database Game Lists: Paul Faris. Here, Margaret Hudson. Here, Kevin O'Conner. Here, Greg Freres. Here

Xenon: Sound and Music. Ciani, Suzanne. Here

The Team Behind Bally's Xenon Pinball Expo 2013. Here

Video of Original Flash Gordon Sound Board. Here

Space Invaders "Inspiration". Swiss artist H.R. Giger. Here

TopCast:

     Dave Christensen. Here

     Margret Hudson. Here 

     Paul Faris. Here 

     Ward Pemberton. Here

     Tom Nieman. Here

Alternate Flash Gordon Sound Board. Here

Pinball Flyers. Here

Shalhoub, Michael (2004). The Pinball compendium: 1982 to Present. Schiffer
Publishing, Lt. Here

Rossignoli, Marc (2002). Pinball Memories. Schiffer Publishing, Lt. Here