So, this whole 'Elvira' thing...

[mikehg]

Not a complaint, just a puzzle. The tables aren't personal favourites, but I do enjoy them.

Maybe I'm too young to really get it, but what's the connection? Three pinball tables exist from a quick google, and two have made it into TPA. Was this proportionate to her fame? There does seem to be an overrepresentation of horror themed tables in pinball, so perhaps she's just ridden that wave.

Or did she love pinball herself, or perhaps have a connection to someone at Bally or something?

Or were there in fact not that many Elvira pinball tables, all things considered, and it's just that they were well designed and well loved, or easy to get licenses for, so they've ended up seemingly overrepresented in TPA?

Sorry if the answer's obvious - I did google, but couldn't find anything.

 

[jaredmorgs]

http://www.spookypinball.com/http:/spookypinball.com/spooky-pinball-podcast-show-15-5/ should answer Elivra's motivation behind pinball.

Cassandra Peterson is a huge pinball fan herself, and as far as TPA goes she made it very easy for FarSight to include both tables regarding licensing costs.

 

[Sean DonCarlos]

There are two Elvira tables - Elvira and the Party Monsters, and Scared Stiff. There were rumors of a third one in development a couple of years ago, but nothing came of it.

Cassandra Peterson (the real person behind the Elvira character) was a horror hostess back in the 80s. She would screen B-rated (or lower) horror flicks and offer Mystery Science Theatre 3000-style commentary throughout, with the same style of innuendo you find in the two pinball machines. She's also done a couple of her own movies and documentaries.

Cassandra does enjoy pinball immensely - she's been interviewed for the Spooky Pinball Podcast a couple of times where she discusses her interest in it, and she filmed a couple of short teasers for the launch of her two tables in TPA - and it is widely believed that FarSight was able to secure favorable terms for licensing the Elvira character because of this. Of course, no one knows for sure as the actual licensing agreement between FarSight and Cassandra is a business secret.

EDIT: And Jared beats me to the punch.

 

[mikehg]

Thanks both - I gave that a listen, and it certainly seems she's pretty enthusiastic about the scene, so I suppose it all makes sense.

 

[McGuirk]

Never was an Elvira fan, and I don't even like horror movies, but they're both fun tables. More power to her for being a fan.

 

[vikingerik]

There were rumors of a third one in development a couple of years ago, but nothing came of it.

Rumor was that it would have three endlessly loopable ramps.

 

[spoonman]

Two BIG reasons why we love Elvira....

 

[PinballLizard (Mark Wyda)]

She starred in her own movie called Mistress of the Dark, it's a really cool movie that holds up, a lot of fun.

Which is probably why she was chosen to do a pinball. She's got a fun, sexy character and that's what pinball is, fun and sexy

I love both her tables. Party Monsters has a style all it's own, love the music table graphics and layout. It's a classic no doubt. Scared Stiff is the perfect beginners table, and again captured I think an great style, with a lot going on. I'm very happy both tables made it to pinball arcade.

 

[PinballLizard (Mark Wyda)]

She looks amazing even today. I would marry Elvira.

 

[brakel]

She looks OK for 62. I think this picture was taken when she was sixty. She's a lot more attractive when she's just Cassandra than when she's Elvira. Elvira is supposed to be ironic. Over the top. She made fun of the movies that her show hosted.

 

[MontanaFrank]

She starred in her own movie called Mistress of the Dark, it's a really cool movie that holds up, a lot of fun.

Which is probably why she was chosen to do a pinball. She's got a fun, sexy character and that's what pinball is, fun and sexy

I love both her tables. Party Monsters has a style all it's own, love the music table graphics and layout. It's a classic no doubt. Scared Stiff is the perfect beginners table, and again captured I think an great style, with a lot going on. I'm very happy both tables made it to pinball arcade.

"Mistress of the Dark" is one of my fav movies. Besides Elvira, I love the character "Chastity Pariah", what a name. I always have good laughs when I watch this movie. I thought she was also fantastic back when she hosted her horror movies, watched them every week.

 

[night]

This is like seeing Darth Vader without his suit..

 

[Dumpstar]

This is like seeing Darth Vader without his suit..

Just spat my coffee out laughing so much. I have to agree!