To Flip and Tilt in LA – A Guide to Pinball in Los Angeles

If I were to ask you, "Name some big pinball cities," what are the towns that spring to mind? I'll hazard that Chicago (birthplace and primary manufacturing hub of the sick science) is number one, followed in some particular order by Seattle, Portland, Pittsburgh, and a milieu of other Midwestern cities. Let's not sleep on the state of Texas, as it's becoming a manufacturer's paradise, too. HOWEVER: one metropolis y'all probably aren't name-dropping is Los Angeles. We're well known for Hollywood, freeways, smog, and sunny sprawl, but Pinball? They still make that? You imagine a tanned Angeleno saying, attempting to emote surprise through the Botox freeze.

It's easy to see how pinball – an indoor activity if ever there was one – has thrived in American locales like the Midwest and the Pacific Northwest: wet weather, low temperatures, and long, dark winter nights encourage people to gather in warm, boozy environs like dive bars and bowling alleys (prime habitats for location pins). Whereas, in SoCal, we're so blessed with opportunities to touch grass under a seemingly endless summer sun that it's forgivable to assume pinball is an afterthought, at best. But folks, I'm here to tell you that pinball is alive and well in La-La-Land and competing successfully against our embarrassment of entertainment options.

A child of the 70s who was lured off the path of the silver ball by video invaders from space, I eventually returned to the flipping fold thanks to the efforts of my millennial offspring, diving into the LA scene in late 2022. As the threat of COVID receded, I turned on, tuned in, and flipped out at a variety of hotspots, many of which I continue to compete at regularly. 

Read on to learn about some of these locations and the cool folks who keep them jumping.

Note: Photos by Jeff Dodson unless otherwise stated. 

EightyTwo 

707 East 4th Place, Los Angeles

The setting sun backlights the Art Deco geometry of the downtown skyline as I cross the Los Angeles River on the iconic East 4th Street Bridge. Descending into the Arts District, I approach the low-slung cinderblock complex that is home to the longest-running pinball league in LA: EightyTwo (established in 2014). I hang a hard right on East 3rd Street and enjoy the favor of the parking gods tonight, finding street parking just steps from the bar. 

Rocking up to security, I'm waved through with a dap and I make sure to sign in for the LA Pinball League's 61st(!) season before I start my warm-up play on a few of the lineup's 20-plus pins, ranging from early solid-state machines through DMD classics and into the current era, all maintained by the legendary Danny "Backglass" Belrose (more on him later). Bopping along to the live DJ's vintage dance set, I put what feels like five bucks into a dialed-in and very nasty Harlem Globetrotters. Suddenly, the squawk of a megaphone tells us it's time to assemble, and the league's tournament directors, Cory Casella and Jim Cantiello, hand out group scoresheets and remind us to plunge our extra balls and wash our hands.

Cory (a swimwear designer by trade and the 2026 California State Women's Champ) and Jim (a television producer specializing in live red carpet events) are continuing the work of beloved pinball impresario Molly Atkinson, whose trailblazing Echo Park location Pins and Needles inaugurated the LAPL back in 2010. "She would HATE me saying this, but Molly Atkinson is the literal Pinball God of Los Angeles," Jim tells me. In the lean times before the current SoCal pinaissance, "Molly was one of the collectors putting their pinball [machines] out in the wild for the skaters, outcasts, and weirdos, really keeping the arcade ethos alive…it was as close to pinball heaven as one could imagine." (Side note: Molly's silent partner in Pins and Needles was pinball legend Keith Elwin, and some of Keith's games are still on route at EightyTwo!)

Molly was EightyTwo's initial pinball operator, so the league moved there with the Pins and Needles collection in 2014; Jim joined the LAPL in season 17 (its first at EightyTwo); Cory joined in 2017 after moving to LA from New York: "I kind of stumbled into league with my friend Caitlin," she recalls. "But I’m a joiner, and I’m highly competitive. For me, LAPL quickly became my social life." Cory considers Molly a pinball mentor of sorts: "[She] always encouraged me…I loved watching her play and often asked her for advice."

In 2019, Molly decided to move back east, and she tapped Cory and Jim to run the LAPL in her absence. "I couldn't say no," Cory states. "At the time, there were only two leagues in LA, and I remember thinking that if Jim and I didn't step in, this league could go away." Jim says, "Being asked to take over LA's longest running pinball league with Cory was a true honor…no matter how busy my career or life gets, I will find time to continue [keeping] this weekly community alive." 

Running the LAPL has been a rewarding experience for the two Tournament Directors (TDs). Cory cites the growth of the pinball community, specifically among women, as a highlight: "When I started playing pinball, it was the only league in Los Angeles. I was also one of maybe five women in LA who played pinball. Since then, we have had a huge increase in women players. I'd like to think I'm partially responsible for helping create a community for women to feel safe and have fun." Jim is proud of fostering a welcoming environment, stating, "It's especially gratifying when I see a newbie returning for a second week. It's even better when they return, letting their freak flag fully fly. That lets me know that Cory and I are running a league where folks feel comfy to be themselves."

Jim Ellwanger, a copywriter and editor, has been playing in the LAPL since its second season, a testament to Cory's and Jim's efforts. In the late 1990s, while living in Pittsburgh, he played in the Steel City Pinball Association, a small league based out of a pair of coffeehouse locations (the league and business both now defunct). "After I moved to LA in 1999, I discovered there wasn’t a comparable pinball league anywhere nearby," he says. "I’d occasionally search online to see if one had started up, and finally in 2010 I saw something about a new league, the Los Angeles Pinball League, that had just started up at a place called Pins and Needles in Echo Park…I joined the league for its second season at the beginning of 2011, and have stayed with it ever since." Another long-standing member is Sheri Howell, a salon owner and accomplished artist, as well as a well-traveled pinball player and collector. "I grew up around Los Angeles and I love the city, so EightyTwo feels comfortable to me," she states. "The people are great and I love the atmosphere. Street ball is always a good time!"

Cory is quick to point out that the LAPL is thriving with the support of EightyTwo: "The bar has invested in the league and invested in us. They cover the cost of all league fees, they pay for the trophies, no matter how ridiculous or carried away Jim gets in his trophy selections. Any time we run a tournament idea by them, they sign on! They pay the IFPA fees for all tournament players. They have firmly kept the cost of every pinball machine fifty cents no matter how new or limited edition the games are. They also often check in with us to make sure the vibes are staying fun and chill. While we are a sanctioned league, we have the feel of a casual one and that’s important to everyone involved."

Speaking of support, this being pinball, having an on-site tech is key, and at EightyTwo, the pins are ably wrangled by the aforementioned Danny. Actor, writer, musician, skateboarder, and longtime pinball pro, the St. Louis native discovered the charms of pinball early on: "My Poppa Tom told me in an actual arcade one day that video games were a garbage rip-off and pinball took real skill, with the opportunity of winning free [games] with matches and replays and such," he reminisces. "I remember my uncle John…he was a huge guy…so he would throw the game back and forth, put it up on his knee and bounce it against the special lights, then charge us a quarter to play." Danny came up in the early nineties, playing with the likes of Bowen Kerins, Rick Stetta, and Keith Elwin. After spending time in the pinball Mecca of Portland, Oregon, he moved down to LA, working at Pins and Needles and EightyTwo, where he learned a little about teching, he says, "But not much, because all techs are paranoid about you stealing their jobs…then somehow by accident I became a GM and had to learn to fix shit real quick." Hats off to Danny for keeping EightyTwo's lineup humming!

If you're looking for a fun, affordable, and easy way to get into an IFPA-sanctioned pinball league in Los Angeles, the LAPL at EightyTwo is a great choice. With a full tournament calendar, you won't have to wait long for a new season to kick off, either!

AYCE Gogi / On Tilt 

7128 Van Nuys Blvd, Van Nuys

Los Angeles is a sprawling metropolis, and the San Fernando Valley comprises a massive chunk of the city proper. Cruising down the 405 South, I'm minutes away from the spiritual heart of location pinball in the physical heart of the Valley, AYCE Gogi/On Tilt Van Nuys (established in 2016). Pulling into the capacious and toll-free parking lot of the large retail property AYCE presides over, my blackened Angeleno heart grows a size or two – no time wasted cruising for a space here! 

It's league night, as evinced by the laminated placard on the front door that warns casuals On Tilt is closed for a private event. Walking into the lobby, the first thing you notice is that it's jammed full of pinball machines – then the smoky fragrance of grilling meat hits you as you enter the main dining room of this bustling Korean barbecue restaurant. The On Tilt pinball bar is at the very back of the establishment, and it's already full of players warming up on a well-curated collection of pins, including classics (Jungle Queen) and rarities (Star Gazer), cool DMDs (Congo, NBA Fastbreak), and lots of high-end moderns from a range of manufacturers (from Beatles to Beetlejuice, the list goes on and on…).

One of two establishments owned by Shane Nazari (a second AYCE Gogi opened in West Hills in 2020), the OG location has hosted high-octane league play since 2017 and is currently in its 17th season, with more than 70 members and a waitlist virtually from day zero. Shane presides over the IFPA-sanctioned league like your cool older brother who's generously allowed you to tag along with him to the arcade, his gruff exterior not quite hiding the great affection he has for his patrons and fellow pinheads, which is reflected in the immaculate condition and stunning scope of his frequently-rotated lineup of games.

His first pinball machine was Eight Ball Deluxe, "the LE version with the funky Pac Man-style backbox," he recalls. "That was it…I was hooked." However, it wasn't a straight line from EBD LE to his current estimable collection, as Shane had to sell off his starter set to help fund the opening of AYCE Gogi Van Nuys: "When the opportunity of opening AYCE Gogi presented itself, prior to opening I was sans pinball machines…the Walking Dead Pro and Iron Man Vault Edition I had were the last to go as we needed additional funds." It wasn't long before Shane resumed building his collection, though, and the lobby and bar were quickly populated with pins. "Seeing home-use only LEs get slapped around was definitely difficult to watch, but I soon rationalized that these games were made to be played and as long as maintained as [one would] a home collection, people would enjoy [them] and they would last," he says.

Shane was, of course, correct: his wide-ranging collection of great games has attracted a diverse group of devotees, including many well-respected movers and shakers in the world of pinball. Renowned pinball streamer, longtime pro player and TD, and newly minted pinball designer Karl DeAngelo (IE Pinball, INDISC, Barrels of Fun's Winchester Mystery House) has been participating in the On Tilt league since its second season. "What I think is great about the league is that it has such a diverse range of players, from people there primarily to socialize and have fun to the very competitive players," Karl states. "It’s much more laid back in general than other leagues I’ve been a part of." Cory Casella calls On Tilt her "other local love" in addition to the LAPL. "I’ve been a part of that league since 2018, and I attribute so much of my growth as a competitor to playing there," she says. "It really is the most exciting place to play in Los Angeles…Shane also gives so much back to the community and his league members." LAPL pinball stalwart Jim Ellwanger has also played in the On Tilt league since its inception (talk about consistency!): "It definitely has a little bit of a different feel than the LAPL, since it’s less casual (with an entry fee and cash payouts each season) and attracts some more accomplished players that don’t regularly play in LAPL," he notes.

Ryan Gratzer, co-creator of the beloved Pinball Map website and mobile application, is a big fan of both sides of Shane's business: "I like that Shane always gets the newest games from every manufacturer, so we get to play some really rare machines," he tells me. "I also really like the food. It's great to start each league meeting with a delicious meal." Jeff Dodson, the auteur behind the Dirty Pool Pinball streaming and podcasting empire (Praise the Great Pyramid), and sound and music design for Barrels of Fun (Dune, Winchester Mystery House), recently returned to league play at On Tilt after a long hiatus. "It's wild to see how Shane has grown the community into one of the largest and most passionate crews of mixed pinball lovers in Los Angeles," Jeff enthuses. "His unfiltered attitude has made for a very strong family vibe at On Tilt."

Contributing to the community's sense of fun is Berenice Ramirez, a dedicated pinball player and event coordinator (in addition to her day job as an insurance agency account rep) who coordinates recurring theme nights for the On Tilt league (most recently, "Bring Back the 80's & 90's"). "It’s so much fun watching everyone enjoy the celebrations and theme nights!" she enthuses. "I love that everyone has so many great suggestions and ideas…that’s what makes it exciting and keeps me energized. And I love to dress up and celebrate!"

As if Shane wasn't busy enough running a restaurant empire, he also sells pinball machines via On Tilt Pinball. "Everyone has their first pinball purchase story and how they got screwed over…or got a junk game," Shane asserts. "My goal was always to do the opposite: buy a pre-owned game at a great price with a great experience. Most of those customers I still have today." It's more for the love of the game and the players than it is a side hustle: "Pinball sales for me is minimal and more of a service…if I can assist in getting you what you want, I'm here to help, but it was never a top priority to become a pinball seller," he says.

A true gem of the SFV, AYCE Gogi/On Tilt is a must-see location, whether you're looking to play Grade A pinball or enjoy a succulent Korean meal – and if you want to get into the On Tilt league, I recommend you get on that waitlist ASAP…it isn't getting any shorter! (Pro-tip: if you can't stand the wait for Van Nuys, check out the On Tilt West Hills league, currently in its fifth season…it's also IFPA-certified, and open to all comers with no entry fee.)

Revenge Of 

3420 North Eagle Rock Boulevard, Unit #1, Glassell Park

I'm heading south on the 2, the gently rolling hills of Glendale scrolling beside me like vaudeville stage scenery, as I journey toward the artsy and welcoming neighborhood of Glassell Park. Nestled against the westward slope of Mount Washington, this district is a patchwork of cozy homes, corner stores, bars, restaurants, and mixed-use spaces, flourishing with new retail ventures. Exiting the freeway onto Eagle Rock Boulevard, my destination looms into view like a Borg Cube, its striking matte black and red paint job radiating dominance over its corner location: I've arrived at the Revenge Of pinball-industrial complex (established in 2022). Strolling through the checkerboard-tiled bodega which fronts the pinball rooms, I exchange pleasantries with the counter staff over the pop-punk blasting from the sound system, then cut through the indigo-illuminated "space station" room (watch out: facehuggers overhead!) and head into the terminus of the location, its cavernous underground lair, to sign in for Revenge Of's 13th season.

A bona fide destination with a theme park-quality atmosphere that provides endless Instagram clout-trap opportunities, Revenge Of has a 26-pin lineup at present, focusing on limited-edition modern titles, with the occasional DMD sprinkled in. They also have a superior collection of comics, graphic novels, books, and collectibles – and with their sibling cafe, And Destroy, a few steps away, top-notch caffeination options abound. Amazingly, this location came into being when the growth of a personal pinball collection collided with the growth of a design and fabrication business. 

Co-owner Joe Kuntz (a post-production executive) is yet another alumnus of Molly Atkinson's Pins and Needles crew; his first pin was Data East's Star Trek. When COVID put the kibosh on location play in 2020, co-owners Jeff Eyser and Joe Myers (owners of FTB Design) came through with a very generous gift: "It was tough not being able to go anywhere to play," Joe recalls. "Jeff and Joe knew how much I missed it, so for my 40th birthday they surprised me by pulling together to get me five pinball machines! We kept them at our warehouse where Jeff’s set fabrication company was."

The collection quickly outgrew its ever-shrinking share of FTB's warehouse space, and the three entrepreneurs began mulling over options. "We started talking about how nice it would be to move the machines into a small commercial space where we could go play whenever we wanted or at least have a private place to store them and play," Joe tells me. "The more we talked about it, the more we realized that our other favorite thing, comic books, was also in need of a new kind of space. A lot of comic shops were starting to close, and it felt like there was room to rethink what a comic shop could be. It really got us thinking, let’s open a comic shop with pinball in LA, because they really do go together well." While pinball is growing in Los Angeles, most locations cater to the 21-plus crowd, relying on bar traffic to help pay the rent. Revenge Of's model, pairing pinball with comics and collectibles, allows them to be one of the few all-ages pinball locations in town. "We’ve built something where adults and kids alike can feel comfortable," says Joe. "We see a lot of parents with young kids making memories together and bonding in a way that’s harder to find in the world of screens we live in now."

Joe has presided over 12 prior seasons of the (unsanctioned) league, which has grown in size and scope – season 13 may be the biggest crew yet, ranging from Gen Alphas to Gen Xers. It's a fun and welcoming league for players at all stages of ability, with custom-made trophies awaiting the top three players in each of its four divisions. "What I find most rewarding about running league is creating a place for both seasoned players and brand-new players," Joe states. "We pride ourselves on being open and welcoming to anyone, whether they’ve played before or not." Location regular Ryan Sheldon (a technology sales executive who makes the long haul to Revenge Of from Ventura every week – a round-trip of 134 miles!), appreciates this approach: "Revenge Of draws a very diverse player base of people of all ages, races, sexualities, and gender identification, which makes it really fun each week since you never know what mix of people and experiences are going to make up your next group," he says. "Revenge Of also has a strong anti-pinball-douche policy so you don't see the rude, sweaty pinsnobs that can infest the competitive side of the hobby." 

Jordyn Saravia (executive assistant and office manager) is another league devotee who finds the environment at Revenge Of worthy of a significant commute. "Revenge Of is special because they really prioritize providing an experience and that has blossomed into a really great community for all ages," she tells me. Jordyn and her husband Kevin (an independent insurance broker) even held a Post-Nuptial Pinball Tournament at Revenge Of to include pinball friends whom they'd met after their destination wedding in Guatemala. "They were excited to help us—they even created an amazing trophy featuring one of our engagement photos!" Jordyn effuses.

Photographer Jeff Dodson posing outside of Revenge Of

In addition to weekly league and one-off special events, Revenge Of also features many recurring alternative tournaments, including pingolf and the cooperative "Howdy Pardner" format (created by Alan Robertson, co-owner of Portland's legendary Wedgehead pinball bar). Krissy Barker (Event Director at KCRW, musician, and opera singer) started running regular pingolf events for Revenge Of when she realized there were none already occurring in LA. She appreciates how the format can positively disrupt the pinball experience, providing learning opportunities for newbs and humbling experiences for pros: "Pingolf is super fun because it’s a format that can level the playing field," she tells me. "I like to run objective-based tournaments, so players are aiming for a target objective versus a target score. New players get excited because they learn how to start a multiball. Expert players get annoyed because they’ll hit every shot except for that multiball. Both experiences are fun to witness." 

Howdy Pardner flips the script on competitive pinball, grouping folks into cooperative teams that compete against each other for fun and low-stakes prizes – no buy-in necessary. Shea Hardacre, the in-house graphic designer for Revenge Of, is lead wrangler for Howdy events. "The guys at Wedgehead created an incredible format and applying that to Revenge Of, which already exists as a very casual pinball environment between our league and other non-IFPA tournaments, gives it another space for people of all skill levels to come play together with zero concerns for the occasional unfortunates of highly competitive play," he affirms. "Pinball is often focused on being GOOD at it, which occasionally breeds a few bad apples that want to gatekeep a hobby that is specifically for FUN. Passing on knowledge in a positive environment surrounded by friends that feel the same will grow a community faster than the promise of winnings and points."

Revenge Of has grown quickly and robustly into a pillar of their community, specifically because they value and invest in their community. With a commanding lineup of games, a packed calendar of recurring pinball programming, and an immersive, fantastical on-location experience, there's something for everyone here!

Walt's Bar 

4680 North Eagle Rock Boulevard, Eagle Rock

Backing out of my garage on a typically balmy Wednesday night, I fire up my navigation app, which immediately asks me, "Driving to Walt's Bar?" – GET OUT OF MY HEAD, WAZE! I think, and it's all downhill from here (literally) as I descend from the foothills of north Los Angeles toward Eagle Rock, bound for the weekly five-dollar tournament at the only world-famous pinball bar located in a former plumbing supply business (as far as I know). Picking my way over the treacherous, root-crazed sidewalks of the darkling neighborhood that dozes behind the busy boulevard, I'm drawn to the festive signage over the entrance of the corner bar like a moth to a flame: PINBALL! it shouts in rainbow neon (adding, FINE WINE and HOT DOGS, in big block print). It looks like a busy night; the funky retro fiberglass picnic tables are packed with beautiful people, accompanied by their even more beautiful dogs. I stroll through the front door (adorned with a hand-painted admonition to the four-legged set: No Barking) into the softly lit, wood-paneled embrace of the bar, waving hellos to the regulars. They're busy warming up on the glorious backline of 10 vintage pinball machines, including a Gottlieb Surf Champ which has been in owner Jeff Johnsen's family for decades, plus several solid states and classic DMDs – no LCDs here, kids! 

Jeff opened Walt's Bar in 2018, taking over the Connor's Plumbing showroom (previous incarnations of the location included an ice cream shop and even a Vans Shoes store). The bar is named after his father, who brought that Surf Champ home in the way way back, kicking off a family obsession: Jeff tells me that he quickly sought "to learn how to fix [Surf Champ] and find as many other pinball machines to play" in the Seattle area where he came up (an ambition shared by his brothers, including Brad Johnsen, who co-founded Seattle's beloved Add-A-Ball Amusements). Jeff can often be found at the bar wrenching on pins. "I love working on games just as much as I love playing them," he asserts. When I ask him if Brad's bar had any influence on Walt's, Jeff says that both ventures were shaped by the desire to operate "a good mix of old and new games…[it's] what my brothers and I have always been into."

Walt's brought some Emerald City swagger to LA, as dl Salo, a musician and composer who built his impressive skills in the Seattle scene, confirms: "I really thought with moving to LA I was going to give up on playing pinball as much, but…[Jeff had] just opened Walt's near my house," he recalls. "Even some of the machines I had played in Seattle were brought down and put into Walt's, still adorned with initials of players I knew. And so, the pinball gods put me right back into playing weekly tournaments."  Jeff appreciates his role in helping to boost pinball in a burgeoning market, telling me, "I think the main difference between up north and down here is that the scene is still pretty fresh and new in Southern California, which to me is fun and exciting."

Walt's Wednesday night cash tournament draws two dozen or more contenders every week, with a hard core of regulars facing off against newbie drop-ins and the occasional shredder or two visiting from another city and looking to make their mark at the popular event (even though this head-to-head strikes tournament is WPPR-free). Make the Top Four, and you're in the money, baby – but the bigger draw might be getting your mug plastered on the Wall of Fame: at the end of the night, after the cash prizes are handed out, the four winners head out back to quickly hop in and out of the old-school photo booth, one photo frame per player. A small crew of trusted TDs rotates through hosting duties each week. Kevin "Kevin the Intern" Saravia is the newest TD to join the team. "I kind of forced myself into hosting at Walt's," he recalls. "Jeff actually liked the job I did and now I pop in when needed. I love the whole Walt's community, so hosting is the most fun for me. I also enjoy the free Hamm's for my efforts!" (Don't let Kevin fool you – the last time he hosted the tournament, he also won it.)

One of the best things about competing at Walt's is that, for most players, the community is more important than winning. Take it from film and TV editor Chris "Mayhew" Mayhew, a repeat winner who holds the record for playing in the most tournaments at Walt's: "I discovered Walt's shortly after it opened," he recalls. "Jeff suggested that I play in the pinball tournament. I had never played in a tournament before, but it was so fun. As I started coming every week, I started to see the same people and make good friends. The tournament became less about winning and more about enjoying the company of like-minded people. It’s probably the thing I look forward to most all week.  Having such a cool place like Walt's to hang out with all of your friends playing pinball is just the best…winning money is icing on the cake." 

Jack "Jackie Cleanhands" Deichert (camera assistant, Deadhead, and Simpsons Megafan) is on the same page. "Could I play in other tourneys elsewhere?" he asks. "Sure. But there’s something about the weekly low-stakes cash game of Walt’s on a Wednesday that I hold so dear. That, and I’m just filled with gratitude whenever I find myself hanging out with the gang in between games, and all of us are shooting the shit and compulsively refreshing Brackelope. That, to me, is better than winning all of the tournaments across town."

In addition to the weekly tournament, Walt's Bar holds a women's tournament on the second Monday of each month. It's a great way for women and non-binary folks to get into competitive pinball in a welcoming and supportive environment. Drea Klotzsche, a grant writer, is a veteran of both the weekly and monthly competitions. "Wednesday nights at Walt’s are fun, they’re where I first started developing my competitive edge and learning from players better than me, but the women’s tournaments are where I feel the most safe and seen by the community," she admits. "There’s a different energy on those nights, where we uplift and celebrate each other. It’s a sacred space, almost, untouched by toxic masculinity."

Tyler White 

Perhaps the biggest recurring pinball event on Walt's calendar is the one that only happens once a year: the Walt's Anniversary Tournament, an all-day, three-strikes group matchplay event where the winner takes home a pinball machine…the final four must compete on the prize machine itself, which is only in play for the final round, making for some great livestream moments. Tyler White, pinball evangelist and hospitality expert, bested stiff competition – including Johnny Modica, 70th in the IFPA open rankings as of this writing – to win the fourth anniversary tournament in February 2022, taking home a Gottlieb Jack In The Box. "[It] changed my life forever," he recounts. "When I die, I'll say, 'At least I won that machine,' and it's Jack In The Box – such an awesome goofy Gottlieb. I love EMs and I love Gottlieb games…shoutout to Jeff at Walt's Bar!" Recent anniversary tournaments have had as many as 80 competitors sign up, but even if you don't win, don't fret – you'll still get a cool limited-edition commemorative tee-shirt for your buy-in fee.

Jeff is proud of the impact that Walt's Bar continues to have on the players who come back week after week, honing their skills while building friendships. "It’s been really cool seeing all you guys advance and get so much better and play clean and have good flow and ball control," he tells me. "When I opened Walt’s eight years ago, the Wednesday tournament would have 25 to 30 people, and it would last about an hour; now sometimes we go past midnight." Whether you're there for a tourney, to hustle dollar games with friends, or just to crack open a four-dollar Hamm's and enjoy a fresh-toasted Bavarian pretzel while watching the sights, Walt's is guaranteed to provide good times!

Honorable Mentions 

In and Around Los Angeles

The Goldfish

I've focused on four locations that are staples of the Los Angeles pinball scene, places that are near and dear to me, because time and space are finite – but I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge some additional joints in or near LA (and to those locations I've overlooked, my sincere apologies).

Barcade (5684 York Boulevard, Highland Park)

Sure, it's a corporate chain location, but they’ve got 12 pins and they run a fun no-stakes tournament the first and third Mondays of each month. "You want bar food and Addams Family? Barcade." – Jim Cantiello

The Goldfish (5043 York Boulevard, Highland Park)

Eight pins, plus Thai street food from Sticky Rice, cocktails, and pro-level karaoke. Make sure you bring dollars to feed the change machine.

Long Beach Beer Lab (518 West Willow Street, Long Beach)

Home to a long-running IFPA-sanctioned league, 15 well-maintained pins that run the gamut from EMs to moderns, and a wide selection of craft beers. "Gonzo keeps the machines in pristine condition. It’s a great place to practice as the machines play so well." – Andy Perez

Pinbug Pomona (252 South Main Street, Pomona)

Family-friendly, 27 machines in collector condition, a cash-payout league, freeplay with entry fees (open to the public Friday through Sunday; available for special events otherwise). "Jeremy runs an amazing program at Pinbug Pomona. Anyone who hasn’t been before should definitely check it out." – Tyler White

Arrow Lodge Brewing (720 East Arrow Highway, Unit C, Covina)

Eight pins, open and women's leagues, great beer, Pie Trap pizza, kids welcome. "They usually have new Stern releases priced at 50 cents, always host launch parties, and the pizza place is delicious!" – Jordyn Saravia

We Are Family (All My Pinball Buddies and Me)

I hope you've found this an enjoyable and informative (if lengthy) take on the state of play in LA, and that I have successfully conveyed the truth about the pinball scene in Los Angeles – nascent as it may be, it is focused on the right things: building supportive communities, increasing inclusivity and diversity, growing skills, and above all, having a good time with other people on location. To the folks I've interviewed: you gave me so much more than I had any right to expect; thank you for your time and your candor…I'll see y'all on the flip side!