Always thought this was the worst, just plain bad art no matter how you look at it!! Colored intestines for all to see!!

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This one is ugly!

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Sometimes too much is more than enough...
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While some of these are truly terrible backglasses, I actually like some of these very much. I guess it's just a matter of taste. For instance, I love the 'Suspense' backglass and got the machine just for that backglass and theme!...Anything sci-fi I pretty much like such as the 'Duotron' above and 'On Beam', which is show above also.

Even though it's an interesting thread, I think that will only 'piss off' some of the owners of the machines, especially some of the more common ones. I would stick to just posting rare old ones that very few people would own if you are going to post at all.

Have to disagree on this one there Odin. It is a cool backglass, slap that game up beside a Pin*Bot, and stand back and admire that sci-fi connection.

Just 21...produced January, 1950....

...and just to be on board...I will post a backglass that I actually own (two of them actually!)...however I bought the machine more for the side art and historical purposes since it's the first pinball to but the flippers in the traditional 'inward down' position at the bottom of the playfield (though very far apart)...Spot Bowler is really the first to put the flippers in the traditional place.

How they arrived at the side art for this machine I can only guess...I imagine that they probably changed the theme and had the bodies made already but who really knows.

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Duotron or Magnotron has to be one of the worst playing games from the Gottlieb 70's along with Jungle King. The backglass is ok but not great by any means. I don't think it is a dog either.

You're allowed! I don't care much for Pinbot either.
Maybe I should just stick to posting pictures of my own backglasses in the "best of" threads.

So, first and foremost, I love this thread. And while I love marveling at some of the "art" that made it to production, I also really enjoy seeing some of my faves up here. Duo/Magnatron has long been a high-water mark in my eyes. (How are you gonna hate on Gordon Morrison art?! Ha-ha!)

And while I can see On-Beam as initially coming across as a bit plain, it comes alive during gameplay with the lighted animation in those plain-looking cloud.

Finally, that mixed-up straight-from-the-factory jumble on "Just 21" is priceless!

Anyhow, keep 'em comin',
Ryan

I don't really think it's a hate thing, but I just don't care for much of it and I've had a few. It's like when I read somebody saying "all pointy people artwork" While I agree some of it may be a little tacky, there are other examples where it is tastefully done like on my Pit Stop. I get the feeling sometimes peoples opinions are swayed by a brand loyalty thing.

I try to keep variety in my collection and have great machines with great art from Parker, Stenholm, Marche, Molentin, Christensen, and a few unkowns, but sorry if it disappoints you no Morison.

I was recently told by a fellow Williams collector that the unknown artist is Louis Reynard. I think he qualifies as my second favorite right behind Molentin.

I heard it mentioned that a French artist might have done the work on Big Daddy. Still one of my favorite art packages.

I'd bang the $*!T outta both of the Black Fever chicks...

HOT HOT HOT !

As time marches on I am starting to appreciate the pointy people. I love the artwork on Capersville and The Wiggler. I may be transformed from Gottlieb to all Bally. Who knows?

Adee do!

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Capersville. wiggler. and rockmakers are on my wishlist...

i am getting way more interested in 2 & 4 player bally williams games now

The girl on the left ...

Adult Louise Belcher from Bob's Burgers?

I have noticed that since this thread started Galahad is getting very hard to come by.

It looks like you want a little bit of everything by looking at your wishlist.

yep, im greedy

My first pin... Lost in a fire.

Such a great thread and hilarious comments! My vote for worst backglass is.... Spanish Eyes! (some of the backglasses posted here are serious competition for Spanish Eyes though)

Always wondered why the boxer signing autograph is sweating up a storm?...

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Well he just left the ring! See his boxing shoes?

But how many games have 2nd and 3rd players reversed?

Palooka is one of those machines that pictures of the backglass alone don't do it justice . As a whole it is a very colorful, beautiful machine. As usual, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It is one of my favorites by Art Stenholm.
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Thats what Sam H. likes you to think,
but i feel Ole Louis Reynard,
did not show up until after 1965,
That unknown artist from early 60s BLY and WMS games
is one of my favs also,
having also done BLY Star Jet and Wild Wheels and Magic Circle and
WMS Soccer and '63 Big Deal and Teacher's Pet.

Palooka is a beautiful and underrated game. I loved playing it at your place Biran and look forward to playing it again soon.

Well, the guy that told me wasn't Sam Harvey but it's possible that he heard it from him? Not sure?

Who is that mystery artist? We may never know....
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I would suspect Chicago Coin's Mustang as well. It's credited to Roy Parker but looks nothing like his style.

My first trip to Cedar Point was in 1970; There were at least eight Williams Palooka's scattered in the park with 5 or 6 in the main (Coliseum) Arcade and a couple in the Jitney (Frontier Town) Arcade. I remember as that was the first pin I played with a manual ball lifter. The last Palooka was gone by 1980 if not 1978.

I'm not sure why but Palooka reminds me of this.
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But in reality it was a tribute to this. A little before my time..
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Wow, you've got that look in' beautiful, O-din.

Nice work,
Ryan

I can't take all the credit. Robert in Utah sent it to me like that. This is what he refers to as players condition. You should see what he refers to as collector quality.

Nice Palooka! Now I want one!... lol. Did Robert restore it and paint the cabinet?

I can't blame you. It is a unique add a ball with 5 drop targets and fun game play. Robert sent it to me the way it was. It didn't need anything else.

I got a Palooka, but ashamed that i have yet to set it up and play it.
In part cause my game is missing the plastics (light shields),
or at least they are all toasted and brittle and curled beyond recognition.

I think this mystery artist is also responsible for the great artwork on United's Sky Raider gun game
and Bally Moon Shot and BLY Campus Queen and WMS Whoopee and WMS Pretty Baby.

A lot of his art shows a good deal of influence (swipes) of
Milton Caniff (of Terry & Pirates and Steve Canyon fame)

You have to wonder what they were thinking of when they came up with the name and the mauve background color is ugly!

I checked ipdb and it seems Inder manufactured some other games with odd names.... Tasty Samba anyone?

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Another Inder game backglass that I think qualifies for one of the "worst".

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It' like they made it a negative of the artwork.

I don't think Tasty Samba is all that bad. And for some reason I now have a craving for pancakes.