YOU'RE HISTORY

Story dated June 18, 2004

Television viewers who receive The History Channel can look forward to a programme about pinball coming to their screens soon.

The A&E-owned network has just visited the Stern Pinball factory to shoot the manufacturing process for the half-hour show "Hands on History" and to interview plant manager Don Thorne about how the games are made and in particular how Ripley's Believe It Or Not! is created.

The show's presenter Ron Hazelton also interviewed Pat Lawlor, designer of Ripley's Believe It Or Not and asked how his ideas are turned into reality. He also asked Steve Ritchie about his techniques. We will have to wait and see whether or not the show includes any shots of Steve's upcoming Elvis game.

After interviewing several other Stern staff the visit concluded with an interview with Gary Stern about the history of the game and the more recent games such as The Simpsons Pinball Party and The Lord Of The Rings. He spoke surrounded by games from the 1940s to the present day.

Gary said: “The public's interest in pinball continues to grow. For the History Channel, pinball is especially interesting because it is a product made in America - a very intricate product made here. The public's interest in pinball assures resale for our games.”

So look out for "Hands on History" on The History Channel in the next couple of months.

 

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