The 6th ANNUAL WHITE ROSE GAMEROOM SHOW, page 1

This show more than made up for last year when there was a scheduling conflict between Expo and York, and guess where many folks went. So, even with clear weather, it was a little slow then. Things weren't looking good this year between a solid rain forecast and the sniper attacks. It made for a fun drive from VA to PA. Did you know there's rush hour traffic in Alexandria even at 5 AM? This year though, lots of buying, selling, lots of action. It was especially weird for me. I wasn't selling anything, just buying, but that didn't stop people from constantly coming up to me asking if what I just bought was for sale, even as I was breaking down and wrapping everything. I remember balancing Buccaneer's 100 + lbs on my knee, and taking off the bolts, and a couple walked up to me asking if the pin was sale. I really wish I'd had a video camera rolling. You had to be there.

Sit back and grab some coffee or coke, because I've got 108 pics and lots of narration. I didn't stop taking pics until I was ready to collapse. This year I dragged along the Sony Mavicam FD7 disc camera as usual, but a new addition, a Walgreens 35 mm $9.99 camera, great for wide shots, even outside in the rain. So, for your viewing pleasure a nice mix of scanned film pics and disc pics.

Thanks to Jim Winter and the rest of the West VA gang for talking me into coming up on Friday for a change and Pat Gallager for bringing my Atlantis pin:)

Approximately 7:45 AM, Friday. I've got the camera propped up on the hood of my truck, since I didn't feel like setting up my tripod in the mud. This is a shot of the flea market area, and to the right are the back entrances to the show, which are locked for security reasons. The show didn't actually start until 10 am on both days, but setup is allowed between 8 and 10 am.

Here's a closeup I shot before I walked around to the front entrance. When I got to the front, there were about 10 other people waiting to get in, but more soon followed. Some were bringing in games, some just wanted to to look at what was coming in.

Panthera, made by Gottlieb, was the giveaway pin on Saturday night. I left 45 minutes before the drawing. I didn't win anyway.

Jeff Lawton, the bingo man, brings two bingos every single year, and today was no exception.

On the left, Twinkie, on the right Police Force, both I instantly liked. Twinky (which I bought dirty and cheap outside when I ran out of money), has a "Peacock" feature, as in the NBC Peacock. The ball lands in a hole on the playfield or hits another slingshot, I forgot where, a spinning effect occurs on the backglass with the lights, and you hit what looks like the start button where you want to score the points. You gotta be fast on that feature. Similar to Twiggy, uh, I mean Twinky, Chicago Coin's Gunsmoke has the feature as smoke coming out of a gun, with each smoke bit being a point value. Police Force bears a strong resemblance to High Speed, and has a moving model police car.

Ok, so I learned a cheapo camera doesn't have the flash power to photograph a row of pins. Left to right: Jokerz, Creature From The Black Lagoon, Space Ship, Hi Lo Ace. Last year, Night Rider (EM) sat where Space Ship is in this pic. Needless to say, the Night Rider is now mine, but later the Hi Lo Ace did sell, near the end of the show. It was in pretty good shape other than a minor ball count problem, sometimes starting at ball 2, rather than ball 3.

Left to right: Revenge From Mars and Star Wars Ep 1(the only two Pin 2000 pins produced, but there was a Playboy pin designed, never finished. No Good Gophers, (hilarious), and Creature From The Black Lagoon. (There were two of these set up inside).

Dr. Pinball has arrived! Bob Thurman displays a cheap but economical way to move two pins. On the left is a United pin, but I can't remember which one. The other was a Williams Superstar. I recently dropped this pic in the mail to Bob per his request. Hope he got it ok.

Left to right: Jurassic Park: The Lost World, Johnny Mnemonic, Cue Ball Wizard, Stryker Xtreme

Mayfair Amusment always has hard to find parts. Many NOS backglasses and other parts. I picked up NOS Williams yellow quarter plates $1 each. I also got some used but nice caps for my Skylab pin( purchased from the Allentown show in '99) from one of the cap boxes they had.

More Mayfair

and yet more Mayfair.

There was also a dealer who sold a lot of neon and other assorted gameroom goodies as you can see. (photo courtesy of Duffdry)

left to right, Sega Grand National, Turbo and Pacland cabarets. As you can see, Pacland is inside a Ms. Pac Man cabinet. I bought the Turbo vid later in the day, working, no sound. I've played Turbo lots of times as a teen in the arcade, but never seen the cabaret version. What a treat. This is why you show up when the show begins, first day. Pacland sold right after I bought Turbo, so I lost that one, which is ok, since I got other neat stuff.

Stern Wild Fyre, $199, no sound, some dead lamps, later dragged over a few feet, tuned up majorly and would up with a $450 asking price I think. You can't see it behind the pin, but there was a mega rare early videogame called something like Bandido. You are a cowboy surrounded by bad guys, shooting back and forth. Cheesy early Atari graphics. At $99 asking price, it was TEMPTING, but no space:(

El Dorado, Gottlieb, collectible, but I don't think it sold at $695. Cabinet had some grafitti.

left to right, High Speed 2: The Getaway, Whirlwind, Tales From The Crypt. Tales From The Crypt was ok, but I love Getaway and Whirlwind. Awesome pins.

Puck bowlers in abundance this year. I played the one on the far left. You'll see later, the kids will be all over this stuff.

More pins arriving! The floors were mopped constantly, since they were slick from all the people and trucks coming in from the rain.

Some of the games have been cut on, and the show's coming to life, slowly. This is only Friday, and it's raining.

BACK TO PINBALL CENTRAL