Silverball Chronicles

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Looking for a different pinball Podcast which isn’t about current events or pinball news? Silverball Chronicles is a monthly podcast for the true pinball nerd that enjoys learning more about the complicated dynamics, politics and characters that created their favourite pinball machines. Join Ron and Dave as they stumble through pinball history mispronouncing names, chronicling designers, telling war stories, and digging up strange and obscure facts; all while paying homage to the

hobby of pinball.

Last 90 days2items

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LatestSep 1, 2026

Featured Reviews

"I cannot believe how much I enjoy listening to this podcast that is both informative and entertaining. David Dennis and Ron Hallett obviously spend a lot of time researching each topic providing the listener with historical information balanced with their own opinions of the games. It is obvious that they enjoy what they are doing. I have no idea how much editing goes into each episode, but the pacing is perfect. You would think these guys have worked together for years. It is, by far, the best show on The Pinball Network. Highly recommended for those interested in the history of pinball."

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Silverball ChroniclesPodcast1w ago

Zaccaria of Bologna Italy

57 min listen

TL;DR

History of Zaccaria pinball manufacturer from Bologna, Italy, and Italian market regulatory constraints.

Zaccaria was a unique touchpoint in pinball in the 1970s and early 80s. They were built with an Italian flare for style, art and passion. They were more than a simple fly by night pinball firm and one which remains distinctively interesting to pinball collectors today. Podcast: Pacific Pinball Museum - Wayne Neyens and John Osborne Part 1 - Oct 2 2013 Wikipedia Zaccaria Pinball. Here Pinball News. Natale Zaccaria Interview. Here The Roger Sharpe Tapes – Unpublished Lorenzo Pinside Thread. Here

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Silverball ChroniclesPodcast2mo ago

The Complicated Legacy of John Trudeau

1 hr 47 min listen

TL;DR

Silverball Chronicles explores John Trudeau complicated design legacy and the ethics of separating art from artist in pinball.

The pinball industry is like a mirror to society. Pinball is not immune to scandal or terrible people. Case in point, John Trudeau. One of pinballs most creative and wacky designers, but also the worst person in pinball. Can you separate the art from the artist or should you? Join us this month as we review how John was introduced to pinball, his early career, working at the shoe string budget years of Gottlieb and then the boom in Williams. We also review why John is a considered a piece of garbage and how he destroyed the legacy of his games. Topcast Podcast - Ep 10 – John Trudeau - Ep 17 – Roger Sharpe - Ep 37 – Joe Kaminkow TNT Amusements Youtube - Caribbean Cruise. Here Pinball News. John Trudeau Charges. Here

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Silverball ChroniclesPodcast5mo ago

Game Plan: Smoke 'Em If You Got 'Em

1 hr 26 min listen

TL;DR

Silverball Chronicles explores Game Plan's 1970s cocktail pinball machines and their failed alcohol/cigarette licensing deals.

The pinball industry does a lot to try to innovate and stimulate sales. Things like a mechanical bell, solid state boards, the wide body pinball machines, DMD screens and even stereo sound! But one of the strangest pinball machines out there was the Cocktail, a small almost round coffee table size working commercial pinball machine. Join us this month as we chat about bad marketing ideas, Roger Sharpe's advice, John Trudeau's start in pinball, and the rise and fall... and rise and fall of Game Plan! Game Plan Pinball Fan Site. Here Game Plan Wikipedia. Here Topcast Podcast - Ep 10 – John Trudeau - Ep 17 – Roger Sharpe - Ep 37 – Joe Kaminkow Pinball News. John Trudeau Charges. Here

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Silverball ChroniclesPodcast8mo ago

The Eras Tour - Jersey Jack Pinball Part 2

1 hr 56 min listen

TL;DR

Jersey Jack's mid-era games show Pat Lawlor design influence and manufacturing struggles amid rapid growth.

Last time we spoke about where JJP came from and the rise of Jack Guarneri in Ep 44. When we left JJP they were having financial troubles or 'needed recapitalization to get off the preorder model'. Enter the investors with the Abass family. Let's talk changing business models, saying 'Brent' Abass instead of Brett Abass a few times (oops), changing artist and creating masterpieces, taking stuff out of games, amazing themes, criminally underrated games and the license to rule them all! Jersey Jack Pinball. Here and Here. Jersey Jack Pinball Podcast Ep 1 – Brent Abass 2025, Dirty Pool Pinball Podcast Ep 16. Here 2011, Pinball News. New Pinball Manufacturer. Here 2013, Huffington Post. Jersey Jack Pinball CEO Explains How He's Making The Beloved Arcade Game Cool Again. Here 2013. Pinside. Early Review of Wizard of Oz. Here 2015, Pinball News – Jersey Jack Pinball Gets New Investors. Here 2017, Modern Magazine. Nature and Nurture by Beth Dunlop. Here Brent Abess LinkedIn. Here Jersey Jack Pinball Game List. Here 2013, Slate Magazine. Can This Man Save Pinball? Here

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Silverball ChroniclesPodcast10mo ago

Pinball Tapas - Segasa-Sega S.A. Sonic Pinball

1 hr 7 min listen

TL;DR

Silver Ball Chronicles explores Segasa/Sonic, Spain's pinball manufacturer (1968-1986), known for superior art and playfield quality.

Segasa or Sega S.A. Sonic (or was it just Sonic?) Pinball was Spain's major contribution to the golden age of pinball. Its products evolved from licensed electro-mechanical arcade designs to original solid-state pinball machines under the "Sonic" brand. Established 1968, Segasa (later Sega S.A. SONIC) initially, imported and distributed American amusement machines before transitioning to local manufacturing due to import restrictions. Production ceased in 1986, marking the end of Spain's efforts for world domination and it's pinball adventure… SEGA-SONIC, una historia entre el éxito y la nostalgia (Spanish) - Here 1937 Hollywood movie Way Out West. Here Segasa/Sonic Games list. Here and Here Easy Paella Recipe. Here

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Silverball ChroniclesPodcast11mo ago

The Seasoned Vet Keith Elwin

2 hr 16 min listen

TL;DR

Keith Elwin journey from pinball champion to Stern designer examined through competitive legacy and homebrew prototype.

Check out Flip N Out Pinball for all your pinball needs! Topic begins at 12:28 Pinball has had a dramatic change since the end of the modern DMD era at Stern. The designers we all know and love from the 80s and 90s have begun to retire, slow down, or leave the industry. A new wave of designers has started to slide in and learn from the masters… The first major new designer to come along was the tournament player Keith Elwin. Some say Keith Elwin is the second coming of our lord and saviour Steve Ritchie. Others say 'in Elwin we trust'… but is that all hype? Has Keith Elwin changed the pinball designer game as much as some believe? Join us this month as we chat about the second coming golden age of pinball, Keith's dominance of tournament pinball, his deep understanding of repair, play, code, and design, his first pin, and his second smash hit follow-up! Kineticist Keith Elwin Profile Head2Head Pinball Podcast Ep. 45 - Iron Maiden Head2Head Pinball Podcast Ep. 106 - Jurassic Park Just Another Pinball Podcast - Godzilla Flip N Out Podcast with Joel E - Jaws Loser Kid Podcast - King Kong Pinside Keith Elwin Designer Profile

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Silverball ChroniclesPodcast1y ago

Pinball Down Under Part 3: Home Pin?!

1 hr 31 min listen

Check out Flip N Out Pinball for all your pinball needs! Topic begins at 7:35 In the third part of our Pinball Downunder series, we look at Homepin. Homepin was established in 2013 and was born from the hobby business of Mike Kalinowski. It seems like a really smart idea to set up manufacturing in the world's largest manufacturing country, China, but it turns out to be a mixed bag. Ron and Dave play it as straight as the possibility can from a manufacturer who struggled out of the gate, overcame some very difficult situations, knows a theme is a must, understands costs are king, and whose owner went on a podcast charm offensive, which was more offensive than charming for the pinball community. Correction: In a previous version, Taiwan was mentioned as a semi-autonomous state in the same context as Hong Kong. The episode has been edited to have this reference removed to remain politically neutral. You can read more about Taiwan here: HomePin Games List. Here The Aussie Pinball Podcast, Ep 16 – Mike from Homepin YouTube. Mike Kalinowski. Here HomePin Facebook Page. Here

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Silverball ChroniclesPodcast1y ago

Meet The Gottliebs Part 2: Alvin G. & Co.

1 hr 27 min listen

TL;DR

Gottlieb family history part 2: Alvin's era, ownership transitions, and design legacy via primary sources.

Episode Begins at 16:52 Ron and Dave Return to the Gottliebs, one of the best-known names in pinball. But did you know about Michael Gottlieb and the company he started with his father Alvin? Let's chat about Gottlieb's sale (again), the changes at the company and why they happened, Cheater the Gottlieb delivery driver, how Michael Gottlieb ended up in pinball following his family's exit, his famous pinball last name, Alvin G. & Co, when did Clowns becoming creepy, and finally what he does now! Expo Speech – Here The Gottlieb Name Change (Mylstar)- Here The Gottlieb's Picture - Here Alvin Gottlieb Obituary – Here AAMA Induction Video - Here Alvin Gottlieb Game List - here Youtube · Pistol Poker Video - here · Richard (Dick) M. Bueschel - The Pinball Historian. Pinball Expo 1985 Seminar. Here TopCast, Ep 13 Michael and Alvin Gottlieb. Pinball News. Expo 2006 Recap. Here.

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Silverball Chronicles

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