Pinball has always been big on celebrity tie ins. As a result, weve got plenty of good machines to choose. For our best evaluation the quality of the game a factor well only be part of the criteria.
Well also consider the collectability of the machine, or more specifically consider if the theme enhances or detracts from the machines value to the pinball enthusiast aftermarket. Another way to look at this component is to consider the machines floor appeal in your den or rec room.
5) Eight Ball by Bally Manufacturing (1977):
This is a somewhat controversial machine in pinball circles, and some would question if it belongs on the list at all. Well get to the controversy in a moment. If you didnt live through it, you have no idea of what a big deal Fonzie from the TV series Happy Days was during the mid to late 1970s. You could even make a case that hes the most popular and influential TV sitcom character ever.
Eight Ball features Fonzie and a comely female companion in a pool hall. Or does it? The intent is certainly to suggest its the iconic Happy Days character but theres no reference made to his name. Nor is there any other Happy Days iconography present on the machine. Debate rages to this day about whether or not it was a licensed image of Fonzie, or a lookalike doppelganger changed just enough to skirt copyright laws.
4) KISS by Bally Manufacturing (1979):
You could make a case that this was a poorly timed release as by 1979 KISS was considered to be running on fumes, having just released their disco inspired album Dynasty. Fortunately, the machine depicted the band in all of their earlier glory and featured polyphonic renditions of classic songs like Rock n Roll All Night and Shout It Out Loud. The machine was fun to play, and was very popular with a production run of 17,000 units.
3) Wizard! by Bally Manufacturing (1974)
Inspired by the film version of Tommy,Wizard is often incorrectly named as the first licensed celebrity theme machine, but it definitely set off the flood of tie-in machines in the latter half of the 20th century. There were some pre-release rumors that it was based on the machine played by Tommy Walkers nemesis The Pinball Wizard in the film, but those are also incorrect. The machines artwork was created by Dave Christiansen and its long on stylish symbolism and short of specific references to the film. Thats helped the machine age well and remain a sought after collectable up through the present day. Who lead singer Roger Daltry and Ann-Margret are depicted on the backglass. Perhaps due to the films disappointing performance, the Wizard machine wasnt considered a blockbuster with a production run of 10,000 units.
2) Playboy by Bally Manufacturing (1978)
A pipe smoking Hugh Hefner and a bevy of bikini clad Playmates grace this homage to the magazine. With the Chicago roots of the magazine, a pinball machine tribute would have been a natural notwithstanding its significant cultural influence. This was the first of three Playboy licensed machine (subsequent releases were a 1989 35th Anniversary machine by Data East and a 2002 Stern Pinball release that offered both clothed and nude Playmate options) and in my opinion the best. The machine art is by Paul Faris, whos considered one of the best ever by pinball geeks. The machine is a blast to play and captures all of the cool of Playboys early days including Leroy Neimans Femlin cartoon and digitized music based on the theme to the Playboy After Dark TV show composed by Cy Coleman. And, of course, Playboys legendary bunny head is everywhere. A perfect union of a great theme, amazing artwork and fun gameplay made this a very popular machine upon release (18,250 unit production run) and is prized by collectors even today.
1) Evel Kneivel by Bally Manufacturing (1976)
The Last of the Gladiators on a great pinball machine. The fact that I could end the description with that sentence should convey why this is #1 on my list and completes a Bally Manufacturing sweep of the top 5. A simple, but fun to play design with all sorts of officially licensed Evel Knievel imagery. Fun gameplay combined with a theme that is off the charts in terms of cool makes this my choice for the best celebrity themed pinball machine ever.
Well also consider the collectability of the machine, or more specifically consider if the theme enhances or detracts from the machines value to the pinball enthusiast aftermarket. Another way to look at this component is to consider the machines floor appeal in your den or rec room.
5) Eight Ball by Bally Manufacturing (1977):
This is a somewhat controversial machine in pinball circles, and some would question if it belongs on the list at all. Well get to the controversy in a moment. If you didnt live through it, you have no idea of what a big deal Fonzie from the TV series Happy Days was during the mid to late 1970s. You could even make a case that hes the most popular and influential TV sitcom character ever.
Eight Ball features Fonzie and a comely female companion in a pool hall. Or does it? The intent is certainly to suggest its the iconic Happy Days character but theres no reference made to his name. Nor is there any other Happy Days iconography present on the machine. Debate rages to this day about whether or not it was a licensed image of Fonzie, or a lookalike doppelganger changed just enough to skirt copyright laws.
4) KISS by Bally Manufacturing (1979):
You could make a case that this was a poorly timed release as by 1979 KISS was considered to be running on fumes, having just released their disco inspired album Dynasty. Fortunately, the machine depicted the band in all of their earlier glory and featured polyphonic renditions of classic songs like Rock n Roll All Night and Shout It Out Loud. The machine was fun to play, and was very popular with a production run of 17,000 units.
3) Wizard! by Bally Manufacturing (1974)
Inspired by the film version of Tommy,Wizard is often incorrectly named as the first licensed celebrity theme machine, but it definitely set off the flood of tie-in machines in the latter half of the 20th century. There were some pre-release rumors that it was based on the machine played by Tommy Walkers nemesis The Pinball Wizard in the film, but those are also incorrect. The machines artwork was created by Dave Christiansen and its long on stylish symbolism and short of specific references to the film. Thats helped the machine age well and remain a sought after collectable up through the present day. Who lead singer Roger Daltry and Ann-Margret are depicted on the backglass. Perhaps due to the films disappointing performance, the Wizard machine wasnt considered a blockbuster with a production run of 10,000 units.
2) Playboy by Bally Manufacturing (1978)
A pipe smoking Hugh Hefner and a bevy of bikini clad Playmates grace this homage to the magazine. With the Chicago roots of the magazine, a pinball machine tribute would have been a natural notwithstanding its significant cultural influence. This was the first of three Playboy licensed machine (subsequent releases were a 1989 35th Anniversary machine by Data East and a 2002 Stern Pinball release that offered both clothed and nude Playmate options) and in my opinion the best. The machine art is by Paul Faris, whos considered one of the best ever by pinball geeks. The machine is a blast to play and captures all of the cool of Playboys early days including Leroy Neimans Femlin cartoon and digitized music based on the theme to the Playboy After Dark TV show composed by Cy Coleman. And, of course, Playboys legendary bunny head is everywhere. A perfect union of a great theme, amazing artwork and fun gameplay made this a very popular machine upon release (18,250 unit production run) and is prized by collectors even today.
1) Evel Kneivel by Bally Manufacturing (1976)
The Last of the Gladiators on a great pinball machine. The fact that I could end the description with that sentence should convey why this is #1 on my list and completes a Bally Manufacturing sweep of the top 5. A simple, but fun to play design with all sorts of officially licensed Evel Knievel imagery. Fun gameplay combined with a theme that is off the charts in terms of cool makes this my choice for the best celebrity themed pinball machine ever.
About the Author:
Ross Everett is is a well known expert on amusement and gambling technology, including pinball, slot machines and sports betting. He has also written extensively on pinball and casino game history, as well as strategies to successfully bet on NFL football. He is currently writing a multi-volume history of the pinball industry worldwide.
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