Hidden artwork on pinball machines
Many pinball machines have some hidden artwork on their playfields. Small details that are hidden underneath a plastic or other assembly, that you cannot see without removing parts from the playfield.
Other machines don't hide artwork but have secret references that only insiders know of. Names, initials and other things are drawn on the playfield.
If you know more references or hidden artwork (and have pictures) you may always email me..
Bad Cats
The backglass of Bad Cats shows a lot of funny details (that mostly have to do with cats).
One reference can be found at the bottom right corner: the Pinball Python is a reference
to Python Anghelo who did the artwork on this game.
Cirqus Voltaire
This is probably the most known 'hidden artwork'. Everyone who shopped this game will like this thank you.
It's at the left side of the game, above the menagerie standup target.
This is a closeup of the left and right bottom slingshot switches. 'Pop' and 'Duke'.
According to this website,
Duke is a reference to the father of John Popaduik (the designer of this game).
Totally at the top of the playfield, hidden below plastics, are the first names of the people who
worked on this game.
The artwork for this game was made by Linda Deal. John Popaduik is drawn as the acrobat on the backglass, and herself as the ringmaster.
The 'RRR' that can be found on this game refers to Cameron Silver. RRR are his initials for a highscore on a pinball machine.
On the TNT box you notice the name Joos. This is a reference to Joe Joos Jr, who worked at Williams.
See Theatre of Magic.
At the right you also see the name Hanley. This is a reference to
Mike Hanley, a close friend of John Popaduik.
His name appears three times on the game, as you can see on
the playfield, also on the backglass, and if you enter a secret code it will also show up on the display.
No I won't tell you the secret combination.
Cirqus Voltaire really has a lot of hidden artwork and other references.. too much to list it all.
If you look close at the backglass and playfield you'll notice a lot of names and initials.
Here's for example 'Redhawk Grille'. The cat is supposed to be John Popaduiks own cat
(see also World Cup Soccer and Theatre of Magic).
Comet
On Comet PF plastics, there are several references to the people involved in the game.
One example is Barry's Game Gallery on the plastic next to the left flipper.
Creature from the black lagoon
The pink car at the bottom of the playfield has 'Trudeau' as brand name.
John Trudeau is the designer of this game.
Diner
Mark's world famous chili is probably a refence to Mark Ritchie who designed the game
(or Mark Sprenger who did the artwork ?).
Funhouse
In the back (underneath the ramp) it has the interstate sign and Kansas - Feel the Power.
Both are a reference to Pat Lawlors earlier game Whirlwind.
On the backglass are also references to Whirlwind, see picture. At the top it says 'Ride the Whirlwind'
and at the bottom we learn Rudy was discovered in Kansas.
According to this interview,
John Youssi is the man with the kid on his shoulders. The boy is his son,
who also was his inspiration for Rudy.
The Getaway and High Speed
Game designer Steve Richie is drawn on the Getaway backglass as the person driving the sports car.
The idea for High Speed was based on a true story. He was actually chased by the cops at 146 mph in his 1979 Porsche 928.
T-shirts of the people in the rollercoaster on the backglass say 'Comet' and 'Cyclone'.
These were previous games by Williams with an amusement park theme.
Junk Yard
The backglass and playfield give a clue where this junk yard is located: it's behind Tony's Palace,
the casino in Bally's Who Dunnit? pinball machine.
Lights, Camera, Action
In the rocks the name 'Norris' is spelled out.. this is Jon Norris the game designer.
(N of Norris starts below left support of Golden Gate bridge.)
Lost World
Dinos playing pinball !! Hidden at the bottom left of the playfield under the apron, it says: John Borg (the designer)
and 'Jurassic Park Lost World'.
The Machine: Bride of Pinbot
This face is hidden in the artwork on the cabinet.. try to find it.
Mary Shelly's Frankenstein
Same like on Lost World, hidden at the bottom left of the playfield under the apron, it says: J. Borg (the designer) and 'Frankenstien' (notice the incorrect spelling).
Pirates of the Caribbean
As Pirates of the Caribbean is a Disney license (which is indicated in the right outlane), there are some
hidden references to this. Underneath the flippers the Mickey Mouse silhout is clearly visible (3 black circles,
in picture right on top of the Shoot Again insert).
Safe Cracker
Not really hidden on the backglass but not something you notice immediately..
as this is a Pat Lawlor game there is the joystick thing with red button on it.
Scared Stiff
Elvira's control.. turn her on and off, hot and cold.. The brand name is SOSUMI,
'So sue me'. More references are explained on Robert Winters Scared Stiff website.
Silverball Mania
One of the pinball machines shown on the backglass of Bally's Silverball Mania is Bally's Wizard.
Star Wars
Seems Williams / Bally artists were not the only ones adding hidden things to their playfields.
Data East Star Wars has a hand sticking out 2 fingers underneath the Deathstar assembly.
Tales of the Arabian Nights
An explenation of the hidden references can be found on this website.
Theatre of Magic
According to a post on rec.games.pinball, these cats on the backglass (the black one is difficult to see)
are the cats of Linda Deal (who made the artwork) and John Popaduik (the game designer).
See also Cirqus Voltaire and World Cup Soccer.
The locks on the cabinet are of the brand 'Joos Lock Company'. This is a reference to Joe Joos Jr. who used to
work for Williams.
Jokerz is for instance one of the games Joe worked on and is credited for on the playfield.
See Cirqus Voltaire.
Touchdown
On Gottliebs Touchdown, the names of some of the people involved are written on the players jerseys -
Dave Zabriskie and Larry Day.
Truck Stop
Truck Stop was the first game made after the merger between Williams and Bally.
On the right side of the playfield this plastic refers to the merger.
At the left side there's also has an 'interesting' plastic. Pictures by
Clark Mills.
Twilight Zone
This 'TV Land' plastic is hidden at the top right corner underneath the ramp.
It's not very visible, especially not on a dirty game on location.
It is a reference to the games Pat Lawlor made before Twilight Zone.
- Tokyo: Banzai Run
- Los Angeles: Earthshaker
- Kansas: Whirlwind
- Chicago: Funhouse
- TV Land: The Addams Family
In the backglass there's a book 'My travels with Rudy' by P.M.L., a reference to Funhouse.
Whirlwind
In the back left corner of the playfield underneath the ramp, it says 'visit the fault'. This is a reference to Earthshaker, the previous game Pat Lawlor designed.
Whitewater
In the bottom left corner of the translight we see carved in the rocks 'M. Fink', 'Wet Willy Colville runned these here rapids - 1848' and a figure playing a pinball machine.
According to this interview with John Youssi, who made the artwork on this game, is the geeky man and girl on the backglass.
World Cup Soccer
According to a post on rec.games.pinball, the cat on the speaker panel of this game is that of
John Popaduik (the game designer).
See also Theatre of Magic and cirqus Voltaire.