New Pinball Museum in OC CA

A friend of mine is opening a Pinball “museum” in Orange County, California called Pinball Forever.

Most people think pinball is fun, of course, and indeed it is very fun, but I’m posting this on TC because pinball machines are also very beautiful. A great deal of art and design go into them. If you are interested in vintage mid-century pop art from the 50’s and 60’s, and also in seeing how the styles change in later years, you will find this entertaining. My friend is very knowledgeable about pinball, its history, and about the artists who created the machines, and he does a great presentation. I highly recommend it.

For now, Pinball Forever is open for timed and ticketed events. While you're there you can follow the presentation if you want or you can go off on your own. All the machines are free play. You can play whatever you want during your visit. See their web site for current information.

http://www.pinballforever.com/welcome/

$25 to play pinball for 2 hours at a timed event? Seems like a lot of rules and kind of expensive just to play pinball for 2 hours. How many people are that hard-core into pinball to support a place like this?

Well, that's something my friend is trying to figure out I guess. As a comparison, a 90 minute 3D IMAX film costs $19 at a nearby theater.

Would like to see it, but Oooof,
that's a little outta my price range too.

Jeff(btd)

On 2012-05-08 20:39, kenbo-jitsu wrote:
Well, that's something my friend is trying to figure out I guess. As a comparison, a 90 minute 3D IMAX film costs $19 at a nearby theater.

Not really a comparison, Since a 90 minute 3D IMAX film cost Millions of dollars to produce (Typically 40 to 70 Million)
not to mention the cost of building an IMAX theater, Just how many vintage Pinball machines are at Pinball Forever?

The sad truth is video games have replaced any mainstream apeal that Pinball once had, Good Luck getting enough
customers to support it, But I wish him the best of luck.

So, I just came from one of the preview sessions at Pinball Forever (Pf). I'll address some of the earlier posts and if you have any questions, hit me up. The only other pinball museum I have been to is the one in Las Vegas so I will make some comparisons. First off, while it has fewer games than Las Vegas, the dynamic at PF is better suited for people who have a passion for retro and pinball. In LV, there are a lot of games but they are haphazardly arranged and it is more like a large arcade with a bunch of old stuff, some working some not, but it is still a lot of fun. At PF the machines are arranged by era and the owners provide a guided tour which includes history of artwork, game features and inventions plus other commentary. The tour is optional so you can choose to spend your 2 hours playing or take a few minutes and get educated and then go play. With regards to the price, I can think of other things that I pay $25 for 2 hours and walk away with not much- a movie/popcorn/drink, 1/2 an Angels game, 1.5 races at K-1 go carting,... In that respect, the price is reasonable. After each 2 hour session, the owners have to repair several games, maintain the rest of the building and get ready for the next group. It is not the type of business that you have a high school kids run while you are an absentee owner. My thoughts are that a portion of the fee is my donation to future generations so that cool stuff will continue to be around and not forgotten. I already have told my son that he and I will make a trip down there in a few weeks (took the wife this time). I plan to spread the word to my friends as well. I found PF valuable because I do not belong to a pinball club, but am looking to buy my 3rd machine for home use. Seeing and playing all of these games gave me a better idea of what I am going to look for next. That's it in a nutshell. I had a good time. Tim

Tim, it looks like you are more hard-core into pinball than the average person, since you already own several machines at home. It sounds like going to the museum is research into which machine you will buy next.

I'd pay $25 to play that Kiss pinball machine for 2 hours!
Used to spend about that much of my paper route money on that danged machine
at the jolly Jester in Danville Illinois years ago!
Are we allowed to take pictures?
Cause i really geek out on the stencilled side graphics and main lighted panels!
A lil bit pricey for this day and age,but where else are you going to find
so many machines to play
that are maintained well
in a clean environment
with no kids running around
or some person hogging your favorite machine?
Wishing much success to this endeavor!

I am definitely not hardcore when it comes to anything. It is like cars and car shows to me, I enjoy looking and being in the atmosphere, but I don't want to do it all the time and let it consume me. I have a couple of machines, one at my work and one in the garage at home. I have a large family room and would like to get a third machine for there. I work a lot of hours, so when I have a lull at the shop, I play a few games. The neighbors come over once in awhile and we play some games in the garage. I don't belong to a pinball club, those guys are hardcore and have a ton of machines.

he'd probably do better opening a barcade and have the games be pay-for play.

I discovered this thread on google, and am pleased to be mentioned here (thanks to the op!)
As a thank-you, I set up the code "tiki" on the tickets link from pinballforever.com for half-off tickets this weekend and next (makes it $12.50 for two hours unlimited play).

We offer convenient stepstools for the height-challenged:

Though he says it's more fun to play with friends!

BTW, when I bought my Tiki from Oceanic Arts a number of years ago, I was honored to meet Mr. Schmaltz--he couldn't have been a nicer guy! My Tiki now has the pinball machine he most wished for...but he's happy to share!

Mahalo!

very cool of you,
thanks for the heads up.

Jeff(btd)

The guided presentation at Pinball Forever was a highlight for me. I learned a lot. For example, did you know that through most of their history, pinball machines walked a fine line between being considered amusement and being considered gambling? You will see pointed out many features incorporated into machines in an effort to influence on which side of that line things would fall. Pinball machines were actually illegal in many parts of the country (!!), in some cases until surprisingly recent times. I was completely unaware of these gambling origins and I found it quite interesting. Ask about it if it’s not brought up.

have you checked out the pinball museum in asbury park?
http://silverballmuseum.com/

On 2012-05-23 18:10, exquisitecorpse wrote:
have you checked out the pinball museum in asbury park?
http://silverballmuseum.com/

No, I've not seen it. I HAVE been to the one in Las Vegas someone mentioned in an earlier post. As far as I know, that and Pinball Forever are all we have in the Southern CA area, if you even consider Las Vegas the Southern CA area. I suppose the AAA guide books do.

I don't know if its still open.
but I heard from a friend that there was one in the Bay area.

edit:
it is still there.
http://www.ujuju.com/
right in Alameda near Forbidden island

Jeff(btd)

[ Edited by: bigtikidude 2012-05-24 18:38 ]

On 2012-05-24 17:55, bigtikidude wrote:
I don't know if its still open.
but I heard from a friend that there was one in the Bay area.

edit:
it is still there.
http://www.ujuju.com/
right in Alameda near Forbidden island

Jeff(btd)

Thanks bigtikidude. That looks cool. I know of two other places of interest in the Bay area:

Pacific Pinball Museum
http://www.pacificpinball.org

and

Musée Mécanique (Not pinball but somewhat related.)
http://museemecaniquesf.com

I like your technique of referencing a place's nearest tiki bar as a means of giving directions.

I guess Trader Sam's is the nearest tiki bar to Pinball Forever. Go to Pinball Forever for half-price this weekend (Tiki Central discount) and then Trader Sam's for their new mugs. Sounds like fun. :)

There's also Pins and Needles @ 1623 Allesandro St. in LA. Not exactly a museum, but certainly enough tables to keep someone occupied for quite a while, and just 2.5 miles from Tiki Ti. Here's a write up in LA Weekly:
http://www.laweekly.com/bestof/2011/award/best-pinball-palace-and-tailoring--1513751/

And here's their website:
http://www.pinsandneedlesla.com/

I live on the East Coast, and sadly did not have enough time & energy to make it out to Pins and Needles last time I was in LA (I went to Tiki Ti instead...PRIORITIES!), but now it looks like I have another great pinball option next time I'm in SoCal. Thanks for sharing!

Yes. Pins and Needles has been closed for a while. I'm not sure why. Hopefully they will reopen.

What's the address for Pinball Forever? I looked on the website and could not find the location.

On 2012-05-31 15:29, catmomma wrote:
What's the address for Pinball Forever? I looked on the website and could not find the location.

Pinball Forever
1518 E Edinger, Suite A
Santa Ana, CA 92705

http://www.pinballforever.com/welcome/

Remember though that they are only open for scheduled events -- for which you must buy a ticket beforehand. Don't just show up there.

I had a great time when I went. Highly recommended.

The Pins and Needles blog (updated yesterday) says they're open this weekend but still a month or two out from completing construction. They're moving from upstairs to downstairs in the same building. Four tables set up in the lobby to play…unclear if they'll have more available for their weekend hours?
http://www.pinsandneedlesla.com/blog/

The selection of classic tables at Pinball Forever is staggering. I watched the YouTube trailer and immediately got busy adding all their tables into the Pinball Rebel database (even though I'm on the East Coast) because these good folks are keeping pinball alive!
http://www.pinballrebel.com/locator/searchlocationresult.php?busname=Pinball+Forever&showmap=yes

This also automatically places them into the companion Pinball Finder app for IOS (highly recommended!):
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pinball-finder/id390933647?mt=8

Oh, and here's the link to purchase tickets for Pinball Forever (through June 3):
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/248534

Thanks for doing that, Tiki Wachee. Very kind of you.

I know that Pinball Forever has even more than what they're currently showing. I'm guessing the plan is to gradually rotate new machines in to keep things interesting for repeat visitors. My friend only has so much space and so much time to spend. As you can appreciate, it can take a lot of time and effort to restore a pinball machine -- depending on its condition when acquired.

My friend and his pinball place, Pinball Forever, have been written up in the Orange County Register. The article is supposed to be on the FRONT PAGE tomorrow! Pretty cool. But you can read it right now here:

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/pinball-531972-miner-machines.html

You might have to be a subscriber to the OC Register to read the actual article, but I think everybody can watch the movie and look at the photos. Give it a click. It's worth a minute of your time.

Definitely worth my time checking out the video.