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Las Vegas Sun
Tim Arnold, a man amid the machines.
Published Thursday, April 16, 2009 | 12:46 p.m.
Updated Thursday, April 16, 2009 | 5:12 p.m.
Sun Archives
- Elton John- Stories, blogs, photos, bio.
The Pinball Hall of Fame owner is flippin’ angry and wants a piece of Elton John.
“I want him in the squared circle, a cage match, one round, winner takes all, only one man leaves alive,” is how Tim Arnold leveled the challenge today. “I’ll meet him in the air-conditioned confines of Cobo Arena.”
That last reference is to the venerable multi-use venue in Detroit that hosted hundreds of wrestling events since it opened in 1960. And, yes, there is a backstory here.
Five years ago, Elton and acclaimed photographer and director David LaChapelle were designing the stage show for Elton’s “Red Piano” production at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. During this process, they sent a film crew to the Pinball Hall of Fame on East Tropicana Avenue and Pecos Road to capture footage for a Las Vegas montage to be splashed across The Colosseum’s vast LED screens during Elton’s performance of “Pinball Wizard.” As Arnold recounts, he heard from one of Elton’s “peeps,” and days later five or six guys showed up at his business one afternoon and spent a few hours using a 35-mm film camera to shoot throughout his business, focusing on the famous 1976 Capt. Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy pinball machine that bears Elton’s image.
Arnold claims to have been promised $500 and tickets to one of Elton’s “Red Piano” performances for the trouble. Arnold’s museum, filled with more than 200 vintage games (most of them pinball machines dating back several decades), is a nonprofit, so he planned to donate the money, auction off the tickets and deliver the proceeds to his favorite charity, The Salvation Army. “He could have just written a check to The Salvation Army for all I cared.” But Arnold was never paid, never provided the undisclosed number of tickets for raffle and has never seen or heard from Elton’s camp since the filming.
“I’ve never even seen his show,” says Arnold, who of course has played the Elton-inspired game hundreds of times. “I’m ready to take him on, though. I’ve got the tights and everything.”
Like a latent volcano, this controversy stirred a few nights ago when I was interviewing Arnold for a video project and asked him if any celebs had visited the Hall of Fame. “Leonard Maltin, the film critic,” was the first answer. Then Arnold said, “But Rocket Man, Elton John, owes me $500!” Wow did we not see that coming.
Arnold has been scrambling even more than usual recently, as he prepares to move from his current spot to a larger, 5,000-square-foot facility at 1610 E. Tropicana Avenue. That address probably means nothing until you know that it sits across the street from the Liberace Museum, and there is something poetically fulfilling in those two businesses sharing the same radius. As for Elton, he finishes his Colosseum run Wednesday night. He’s playing his final ball, in other words, but can still prevent the pinball maven from flashing, “Tilt.” The advice to Elton: Bring a lot of quarters, or your favorite wrestling gear, for that payment.
This is too bad, I hope Elton John donates something at some point. The Pinball museum is one of the places we try and visit every time we visit Vegas. Heck, its one of the only places that we can even play Pinball these days. Good to hear they're moving to a bigger spot, just don't break the Dr. Who machine on the way over!
Funny Stuff. I interviewed Tim a while back and he's a very cool guy. Cheers. http://www.thepinballblog.com
It's a remarkable place and he's a remarkable guy. I loved his challenge to fight Elton in "the air-conditioned confines of Cobo Arena." Priceless.
Good luck, Tim! I hope you get satisfaction from Elton John one way or another, even if you have to take it all the way to Cobo Hall.
The Pinball Hall of Fame has a special place in my heart. I grew up in the environs of East Lansing, Michigan and played several of those exact same machines at Pinball Pete's. My favorites were the Twilight Zone and Fun House. What a pleasant surprise to find them out here.
If you are a local or a tourist, old or young, bum a few quarters and visit this place! Every one of Tim's machines give you something in return, unlike the casino machines. He has some surprises there also! If you have kids and have not taken them here, you should be in jail.
Having known Tim for many many years I can only testify to the fact that he is totally for real and the Pinball Hall Of Fame is a very important contribution to Americana that needs to be preserved forever. Hats Off and applause (Standing) to Tim for his spirit and dedication.
If you visit Las Vegas and do not stop in at the PHoF you will have missed one of the best attractions to be found anywhere, not just Vegas.
Tim's new place will be even better and allow him to showcase hundreds of great pinball and arcade games. Even if you have never played pinball a visit to the PHoF is a treat, and if you have kids they should see this place and have the chance to play some games. It is like a circus and you can be in the ring....with or without Elton John.
Best wishes Tim.
Should be an even match, provided Elton isn't allowed to wear those monster boots from the movie "Tommy".
Give him a wedgie for me, mate!