Lock is Lit Pinball Podcast: Recent Episodes
Marc Johnston
The best pinball podcast in the Southern West Virginia area! Join Marc and Rick as we attempt to make a podcast about attempting to collect and maintain pinball machines. From crazy trips to Coin Op Warehouse, to disturbing events on the way to Pinfest, we have it all. You might learn something, you might laugh, or you might rather listen to Yoko Ono. It's the Lock is Lit Podcast, the one and only.
This is the audio from our Facebook Live broadcast from Pinfest 2019! Can't wait until next year! Part 2 of our live broadcast will be up soon!
Pinfest Official Site
Join us for a recap of the Pinball 2000 episode, as well as a discussion on the current state of pinball. We also discuss a very interesting thing that happened @ Pinfest last year, do an interview with a fine young chap by the name of Greg Taylor, and talk about what we will be bringing to our booth this year.
Tilt:The Battle to Save Pinball (seriously, watch this!)
http://tilt-movie.com/
George Gomez & Pat Lawlor @ Pinball Expo '99:
https://youtu.be/jmmfJ5p_Qxs
Allentown Pinfest website:
http://www.pinfestival.com/
Nucore Forums:
http://www.bigguyspinball.com/community/viewforum.php?f=18http://www.bigguyspinball.com/community/viewforum.php?f=18
Welcome to a special episode of the podcast, a mini documentary on Pinball 2000, a list ditch effort to save Williams pinball.
If this episode interested you at all, I implore you to watch TILT:The Battle to Save Pinball. This goes much deeper into the development of Pinball 2000, and the last days of the Williams pinball division. It also has some fascinating interviews with the people involved, including George Gomez, Pat Lawlor, Lyman Sheats, Roger Sharpe, and many others. It is available on Amazon Prime Video as well, and you can go directly to it here.
George's Expo '99 Talk on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmmfJ5p_Qxs
WMS Location Today:
https://goo.gl/maps/kpu74XYVR4w
There is also a P2K Collectors Page here:
http://www.pinball2000.de/
Planetary Pinball still has some P2K info up as well:
https://www.planetarypinball.com/mm5/Williams/pinball2000/home.html
And if you have a P2K pin, the repair guide is here:
http://pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Pinball_2000_Repair
And lastly, stay tuned...there will be more P2K info in the next episode, but be warned, Rick will be back. :)
This is part two of our live broadcast from Pinfest 2018! Goes without saying, please listen to part one before listening to this one!
Many thinks to Ivan, and the whole crew @ Pinfest for having us!
Live from Pinfest 2018 in beautiful Allentown, Pa!!
Join us as we broadcast live from Pinfest! Yes there is a lot of noise, but we were right in the thick of things, and also right across from the tournament section. This is part one, which we recorded early in the day. Part two was recorded around 6pm, and things were a tad bit quieter then.
Is this thing on? Yes, we are back! Is that a good thing? Who knows! Anyhows, join us as we fill you in on what's been going on for us pinball/arcade wise the past year. Also, we will be at Pinfest this year, and as always, we will have some sort of freebies to give out.
Allentown, Pa-May 4th & 5th!
In this episode, we get together with George "GW" Whittaker of Big Fun Amusements, and Gene Wills to discuss the latest pinball machines from Stern, JJP, Heighway Pinball, Planetary Pinball, Spooky Pinball, and American Pinball.
Keep up with Big Fun Amusements via George's Facebook page, as he posts anything for sale there first:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100013626933993
In this exciting, action packed episode, we discuss new pins by Stern, playfield issues, and do a rather long segment on boutique pinball companies!
Stern Aerosmith pin:
http://ultimateclassicrock.com/aerosmith-pinball-machine/
Batman '66 issues, more issues throughout this thread:
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/batman-66-whats-your-impression/page/28#post-3544738
Pinside thread on Boutique pinball:
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/forum/boutique-pinball
Kevin Kulek in court:
https://pinballsupernova.wordpress.com/2017/01/21/news-kevin-kulek-pinball-predator-fiasco-brought-into-court-to-speak-about-charges-against-him/
Skit-B Discussion on Pinside:
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/the-official-pinside-skit-b-predator-discussion
Scoregasm Master from Day One Pinball:
http://www.dayonepinball.com/games/scoregasm-master/
Captain Nemo from Quetzel Pinball:
http://www.quetzalpinball.com/
Pythons Pinball Circus from Circus Maximus:
https://www.facebook.com/circusmaximusgames/
Medieval Madness Remake by Planetary Pinball:
http://www.planetarypinball.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=PP&Screen=PROD&Category_Code=GAME∏_Code=PPS-MMR-LE
Magic Girl Pinball by Zidware:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcb1TyT5_c4
http://www.johnpopadiuk.com/
The Big Lebowski/BOP 2.0 by Dutch Pinball:
http://www.dutchpinball.com/
Full Throttle/Alien Pinball by Heighway Pinball:
http://www.heighwaypinball.com/
Wrath of Olympus by Riot Pinball:
http://riotpinball.com/
Lexy Lightspeed by Multimorphic:
http://www.multimorphic.com
Timeshock by Silver Castle Pinball:
https://www.facebook.com/silvercastlepinball/
Thunderbirds by Homepin:
http://www.homepin.com/
https://www.facebook.com/HomepinPinball
Pinball Gremlins by Vonnie D. Pinball:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2065029795/pinball-gremlins-pinball-machine
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/pinball-gremlins
Wrath of Cthulu by Rebel Unit:
http://www.therebelunit.com/index.html
Spooky Pinball:
http://www.spookypinball.com/
And finally, Pinfest 2017:
http://www.pinfestival.com/
We are indeed back! In this long delayed episode, we discuss Pinfest 2016, new pin purchases, and we have an interview with Ed Klemp of The Pinball Lounge in Ovieda, FL!!
A huge shoutout to our new sponsor Big Fun Amusements, West Virginia's premier Jersey Jack Pinball dealer!! Check them out here:
www.bigfunamusements.com
Also, for your enjoyment:
The Pinball Lounge
http://www.wizardamusement.com/
Batman '66 Information
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/batman-66-by-stern-new-info
Ghostbusters Issue Thread
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/ghostbuster-issue-thread
Join us to a long delayed episode 115! We discuss the Arkansas warehouse raid that we went on over the winter, a lot of new pin acquisitions, and other random things that have been going on. We will also have a booth/table at Pinfest 2016 in Allentown PA on May 5th, and 6th, so stop by and visit us!! We also talk about the future of the show going forward.
This is the documentary on the final days of Williams pinball division. A must watch!
Tilt: The Battle to Save Pinball
The Piniwiki list of vehicles that a pin will fit in:
http://www.pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Vehicles_for_Moving_Pinball_Machines
Pinfest 21016:
http://www.pinfestival.com/
First Arkansas video, which we codenamed "Arkantana"
https://youtu.be/8T7Hf9hRqus
Second Arkansas trip video:
https://youtu.be/sBttUWPNm-Q
Join us in this very special Thanksgiving episode as we give thanks to the wonderful people that allow us to have this amazing hobby, our wives!
Guests in this episode are: Rick & Tara Taylor, George "G.W." & Theresa Whittaker, Gene & Wendy Wills, and me, Marc, & my wife Shelley. We also ask some questions to get a woman's perspective on pinball, & the pinball hobby!
Check out the Amigos podcast!
L to R: Shelley & Marc Johnston, Rick & Tara Taylor, Theresa & George Whittaker, Wendy & Gene Wills
L to R: Gene, George, Daryl, Rick, & Marc
In this episode, I invite my long time friend Ken Lilly on the show for conversations about about arcade collecting in the 1990's, and of course pinball! We introduce a new show segment, "Stupid Ebay Stuff", and also welcome a behind the scenes episode editor/commentator, Vic, the podcast droid.
We have mentioned them before, but Holland Computers sells some good multicade boards:
www.hollandcomputers.com
This what we were talking about, when we discussed Omega Race:
http://www.madocowain.com/Arcade/OmegaRace/omegarace_board.html
Ken's Games:
Flipper McCoys:
Ebay Auctions:
Police Force
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Police-Force-Pinball-Machine-by-Williams-with-Custom-LED-Kit-/252100291232?hash=item3ab2592aa0
Black Hole Ramp disk???
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BLACK-HOLE-RAMP-DISC-RARE-ORIGINAL-PINBALL-NEW-Old-STOCK-WILLIAMS-BALLY-/131514275113?hash=item1e9edc9529
Michael Jordan pin:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/301768371411?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Centaur 2 (never heard of it)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Centaur-II-Pinball-Machine-Bally-1983-Join-the-Ride/181175892020?_trksid=p2045573.c100033.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131017132637%26meid%3Dbfb77b4ae3434bf1b5771181c6863c15%26pid%3D100033%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D3%26sd%3D221881389539
Rick and I make a triumphant return to the studio in this epic episode filled with epic awesomeness!
New show segment "Pin O' the Month" where we discuss the history behind Gottlieb's 1981 Black Hole!
We also discuss a long distance trip to Pennsylvania to pick up a Hurricane pin, what else we have been up to, and what the future holds!
The best Black Hole pin in the galaxy, mine!
Joe Cicak's original sketch for Black Hole:
The original Black Hole prototype:
Dragon's Lair whitewood (the only pic I could find):
Critical Mass:
Critical Mass history, and rebirth:
http://www.theyorkshow.com/cm.html
Joe Cicak's presentation A Pinball Expo 2006:
http://www.pinballnews.com/shows/expo2006/joecicak.mp3
Join me as I take the mic, and go solo without ~~the dead weight~~ Rick. I go into how I got started in podcasting, and how we make such an epic* show such as ours.
A all new regular** show is in the works, so stay tuned!
The Blue Yeti
Novation Launchpad
Audio Technica ATM27HE
Behringer Eurorack Mixer
Tascam DR-05
Custom Soundboard App
*Level of epicness may vary.
**Normallness not guaranteed.
In this long awaited episode, we discuss what all we have been up to since our last episode in January. We recap the 2015 Ohio Pinball Show, talk about a new-in-box Stern pin purchase, and discuss my trip to Asheville, NC to re-visit the Asheville Pinball Museum.
Want to add better sound to your pins for fairly cheap? We also discuss adding a powered subwoofer instead of costly full speaker upgrades.
Checkout APM's site
Asheville Pinball Museum
Be sure to check out the CoinBox Pinball Podcast, and their main site East Side Pinball!
The Coin Op Hall of Fame grand opening May 23rd & 24th!
This is the powered sub that I ordered from Amazon:
Polk Audio PSW-10 Powered Sub
And some threads on Pinside about adding external subs:
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/adding-a-subwoofer-to-pinball
Happy New Year!
On this long delayed episode, we talk a bit about what we've been up to the past couple months, and what we hope 2015 brings us.
We also announce a new contest! Make sure you listen to the end of the podcast for a pinball sound snippet. Email us your guess as to what pinball machine this sound is from, and if you are correct, you'll be entered in to win a 3 pack of LED pop bumper rings courtesy of Comet Pinball, and a custom shooter rod of your choice from Wizard Amusement!
Comet Pinball Pop Bumper Rings!
Wizard Amusement Shooter Rods!
We will be attending the 2015 Ohio Pinball Show, check them out here!
2015 Ohio Pinball Show
We will also be hitting the auctions again this year.
Auction Game Sales
And this is the very useful fuse/circuit breaker mod:
Join us as we invite our friends Marc Crouse, Roger Deem, and Gene Wills on to the show in our very first roundtable discussion. On this episode, we discuss our memories of arcades from our youth, our favorite games, and the current state of arcades today.
Elmer's Rotted Wood Stabilizer
The wood repair glue Roger mentions.
Sega Mach Storm
Good representation of how much arcade games cost the operators nowadays.
$30,000 will buy you this!
In this episode, we talk a bit about how the Power Up Retro Video Gaming convention went, and also discuss how to use LED strips to liven up your pinball machine!
LED Strips @ Amazon
These are blue, but you can get them in any color. $8!!
RGD LED Strip Kit @ Amazon
This is the RGB kit we talked about.
8 Way Terminal Block
Nice way to hook up more than one strip to a single 12v power source.
Comet Pinball
New sponsor! Check them out!
Many thanks to Ben Durfee for allowing Lock is Lit to interview him about the upcoming Power Up Retro Video Gaming Convention, in Huntington, WV on August 2nd!
In this episode, we finally announce the winner of our shooter rod contest, talk a bit about the upcoming Power Up Retro Video Game Convention in Huntington, WV, and we run down through a list of tools you will need to maintain your pins. When is a pin to far gone to save? We talk a bit about this, and much, much more in this fun filled episode!
Power Up Retro Gaming Convention
August 2nd, from 12-5 in Huntington, WV
Harbor Freight
Need some cheap tools?
Project Pinball Tournament in Fairmont, WV
July 27th, 9am. Sounds like a fun time!
Pana-Vise Electronic Work Center @ Amazon
The circuit board holder mentioned in the show.
In this episode, we invite our good friend Gene Wills into the studio! Rick interviews his daughter, Emma "Russell" Taylor to get her views on pinball, we discuss the trip we took to Coin Op warehouse, and recap the pinball tournament Rick threw for his daughter's 7th birthday!!
Coin Op Warehouse Facebook page
Lloyd @ Coin Op has some great deals, but you have to act fast!
Throwback Network!
Your one stop shop for retro podcast needs!
Wizard Amusement
Check out our sponsor Wizard Amusement. Nice custom shooter rods!
In this episode, we make a trip down to the Asheville Pinball Museum in scenic Asheville, North Carolina! Rick has some adventures involving shipping a pin from Florida to West Virginia, and we announce an exciting new contest!!!!!!
Wizard Amusement
Many thanks to our new sponsor for providing us with a couple shooter rods, as well as one to give away! They also restore, service, and sell classic pinball machines! Check them out, and tell Mike Lock is Lit sent ya!
Asheville Pinball Museum
Located in downtown Asheville, right by the Grove Arcade (no, not THAT type of arcade). They have over 35 machines set on free play. $10 let's you play till you have blistas on yer fingas!
The Pinheadz Pinball Podcast
There are a lot of pinball podcasts out there, but this one is waaay above the rest. Tune in and listen to Rod, Gaz, and Pinball Stevie give you a down under take on pinball. They are only on episode 5, but they have the podcast thing nailed. It is also very interesting to hear about the pin scene in Australia. Soon as you finish up with our episode, go there!!
STI/CRST Pinball Shipping
Need a pinball shipped? These are the recommended guys.
In episode 102, we gave you some ideas on where to buy your first pin. In this episode, we discuss things you need to bring with you when you go to pick up your pin, and also items to check before you even think about plugging your new pin in. Unfortunately, we also give you cave like voice quality, and laptop fan noise! We have been trying new ways to record the show with both of us in the same room, and we just haven’t got it down yet. Can’t blame the Yeti mics, just our idiocy. We do apologize, and bear with us, as it will get better…we hope.
Very good prices and good quality on LEDs! Check out Comet Pinball:
www.cometpinball.com
Florida area forum that has a pretty good pinball/arcade classifieds section:
www.villagebbs.com/forum
For all of your retro video gaming needs in southern WV, check out PixelNation Retro Videogame Store!
www.facebook.com/PixelnationRetroGameStore
Lock is Lit Podcast Episode 103
"The Pearisburg Incident"
In this episode, we update you a bit on new pins that we have purchased, and take you on a wild ride to a garage in Pearisburg. Oh my.
If you are interested in any of the pins/games that are mentioned in the podcast, please call Katy @ 1-260-267-5483. This is primarily her voicemail line, but leave her a message, and she will get back to you. Don't forget to let her know that Rick and Marc sent you. Thanks!
Also, thanks to our show sponsor, TJ's Fancy Caps!!
In this episode, we talk about where to find your first pin, and what to look for when you find it. Ebay, Craigslist, Online Forums, etc, it all gets covered in this hour long episode!
Welcome to the Lock is Lit Podcast Episode 101
In this episode, we will discuss why we decided to do a podcast, our pin history, and other super cool subjects!