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The Classic Pinball Podcast
The Classic Pinball Podcast
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#83 Evel Knievel- The Classic Pinball Podcast

PodcastAnalysis updated 2d ago1 hr 29 min listenBy George
From the creator

Lots of topics in the longest show we have ever recorded. Over anxious Dave trashes the opening. He finally finishes a game talked about for over a year. Do they jump the shark?...

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Highlights

  • Evel Knievel pinball was designed by Gary Gaten and art by Paul Ferris
  • 14,000 units of Evel Knievel were manufactured by Bally
  • Evel Knievel jumped the Snake River Canyon on September 8th, 1974 in a steam-powered cycle
  • The Evel Knievel pinball machine was released in June 1977, coinciding with the movie 'Viva Knievel'
  • Evel Knievel assaulted a writer with a baseball bat in late 1977 while his arms were in casts
  • Evel Knievel was bankrupt within three years of the 1977 peak
  • The Evel Knievel pinball machine had hard top versions made, but the hard top option may have been discontinued due to licensing rights issues
  • Multiple IP holders may have claim to royalties on Evel Knievel pinball: the Evel Knievel estate, Harley-Davidson (trademark on playfield), and Planetary (current IP holder)
  • Dave had a customer's Evel Knievel restoration in progress for approximately one year, with an initial promise to complete by end of February that was not met
  • Evel Knievel never successfully jumped sharks; the shark jump was performed by Fonzie on water skis after Knievel hit a cameraman in practice

Notable quotes

“He made it to the other side of the canyon in his jump. Yeah. But because the parachutes opened too soon right away yes that's his problem he would have made it”
Dave and George
“Three months later, with arms in casts, him and his goons went with a baseball bat and assaulted a writer who wrote a book about him, and he didn't agree with what was written in the book.”
Dave
“playing evil knievel is akin to a warm worn pair of high-end gloves they just fit nice they're toasty a little bit worn but they just feel just right... it's pure pinball it's pure pinball no bs involved”
Dave
“We're kind of like the cliff notes of pinball. Don't come to us for accuracy. We'll entertain you.”
George
“I asked, not once, but twice, will it fit a paragon? The answer both times were yes... I get the thing home and it three inches short”
George

Entities

  • Bally· company
  • Harley-Davidson· company
  • Planetary· company
  • Pintastic· event
  • Evel Knievel (pinball machine, 1977)· game
  • Mata Hari (pinball machine)· game
  • Rush (pinball machine)· game
  • The Big Lebowski (pinball machine)· game
  • The Classic Pinball Podcast· organization
  • Dave· person
  • Dave (restorer friend)· person
  • Eric Stone· person
  • Evel Knievel· person
  • Gary Gaten· person
  • George· person
  • Maureen· person
  • Paul Ferris· person
  • Pinball Monk· person
  • Robbie Knievel· person
  • Super Dave Osborn· person
  • Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle· product
  • Extended Play Coil Coolers· product
  • Tibetan Breeze Coil Cooler· product
  • Viva Knievel· product
  • Wide World of Sports· product

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