RE: Coolest Who ThingSun Dec 7 14:51:22 PST 1997

[Michael Hanley <mhanley@microsoft.com>]

As well as a Who fan, i also collect pinballs.  So when Data East
announced they had aquired the rights to produce a Tommy-based game, i
started saving my schekels.   Bought one new in the box.  Then i managed
to locate the protoypes (only 11 of them built) which were made for
promotional purposes. They have a different backglass (actually, there
are 3 versions of the glass), slightly different colour cases, different
playfield with lots of extras: the airplane drops balls like bombs,
there is a shaker motor, mechanical chimes to simulate an old game,
different versions of songs and speech. Some toured the U.S., at record
stores or radio stations stirring-up interest in the play.  Two of them
were used in the Macy's thanksgiving day parade.  I managed to buy one
of those.
So now the production and prototype sit side by side (with a World Cup
Soccer for good measure) in my basement.  
I also have a Wizard! and a Capt. Fantastic, both of which were based on
the Tommy movie.
For anyone who'd like to see the prototype playfield, email me, and i'll
send you a gif.
(or for any non-Who pinball talk)
I'm also trying to track-down the other 9 prototypes (one was smashed,
it fell off a truck in Texas).  If you know someone who has one, please
let me know.
Mike
>----------
>From: 	Cptwlkr@aol.com[SMTP:Cptwlkr@aol.com]
>Sent: 	Tuesday, May 28, 1996 10:50 PM
>To: 	giorgian@capital.net
>Cc: 	thewho@mpath.com
>Subject: 	Re: Coolest Who Thing
>
>Announcing the acquisition of  my most recent and valued 'Who' thing
>...the
>data east 'Tommy' Pinball Machine...the soundtrack is from the broadway
>musical cast who went into the studio just for this sound session back
>in
>'94...the machine has a lot of great nooks and cranny's to hit and
>light
>up..and all the while you get to listen to Pete's score of the
>musical...
>a few other 'Who' things i've got....a gold album issued to the band
>for " a
>million dollars worth" of sales of Decca's 'Who's Next' ( looks great
>on the
> wall in my home office)..
>a warner bros. poster of pete (i believe its from the empty glass
>promotional
>material) personalized to me and signed by Pete ...( i haven't found
>the
>right place to hang this in the new house yet)...truly the coolest
>'Who'
>thing i have is a photo of me and Keith fromthe "Fallout Shelter" or
>Quadrophenia Tour during the fall and winter of 1973...good god i had
>some
>long hair back then....and the memories.....
>
>Best Regards.....Joel
>