Python Anghelo Finishes His Own Pinbot Artwork! Chicago Pinball Expo 2008

**Python Anghelo Finishes His Own Pinbot Artwork — Chicago Pinball Expo 2008** Sometimes, the best stories in pinball history happen away from the machines… right at the bar! This story goes back to the 2008 Chicago Pinball Expo, when legendary pinball artist Python Anghelo made a rare Expo appearance. My buddy Tom Slama had something special to show him: two original pieces of artwork connected to Pinbot. Years earlier, Tom had found them at Steve Engel’s booth. Steve, of Mayfair Amusements, always had an amazing collection of pinball parts, backglasses, old flyers, and promotional packages. The artwork came out of a *Bride of Pinbot* promo pack. One piece featured the Pinbot girl, while the other showed a Pinbot hand with Python’s signature flipper fingers. Tom held on to both pieces for years. Then, in 2008, he heard Python was going to make a rare appearance at the Expo, so he brought the artwork along. And where better to show it to Python than at the bar? Apparently, that was his regular hangout spot! Phoebe Smith and Rob Berk were there that night, too. You can hear them in the background. Rob was also interested in Tom’s artwork and hoped he might consider donating it to Rob’s charity auction. With so many passionate pinball people in one place, these special pieces certainly attracted some attention. But the biggest surprise was still to come. According to Tom, when Python saw the drawings, he became suspicious about how Tom had acquired them, “like I had stolen them from his apartment,” Tom says. Tom explained that he’d bought them from Steve Engel of Mayfair Amusements. Tom, trying to calm Python down, mentioned that he was also from the Eastern Block, and that’s when Python delivered this memorable line: “I know, because I scanned you like the Terminator!” Tom says Python gave him the full Terminator scan while saying it! Then Python asked for a pencil. Tom figured he was just going to get an autograph. Not quite!