Yesterday we went back two weeks to the weekend with Judith, the Exchange Student (she is from Barcelona) and Daughter. Marvelous time! I promised you takes of the Egg Head, so let's get right to it.

Friday we went to Can Can Wonderland, a warehouse arcade that also serves food and has a band and is a generally fun place of noise and color. I was at home even before I stepped through the door, because down in the parking ramp . . .

Not my color, but that's my old love.

Lots of old pinball machines, but alas, mostly 60s and 70s tables, not the hot fast Bally / Williams classics.

This might interest long-time keen Bleatniks who remember hiatal things:

EGG HEAD! I don't know where, but I know we came across this once, and I think it was an industry magazine that had a picture of a chain store. There was a tiny glimpse of a pinball machine and I teased out enough details to identify it.

It’s okay.

It's one of those machines you seem to be watching more than playing. Some backplate details:

Everyone knew about the Univac, it seems.

		Wacky scientist! Bad art, too!
		After all these centuries, you can still throw ol' Merc up and people know he's the guy in charge of fleetness. Or flowers by wire.

I missed the era of tables like Little Pro, and I'm not sad:

		"Stroke" is the word that comes to mind

The playfield for Dodge City:

Not a bad table at all. More action than the era usually provides.

I am pleased to report that I beat the Six Million Dollar Man machine.

This is my era.

		Yellow alerts only require 50% Bionic Power, and it's not underscored.

This was quite a novelty:

		This helped identify the machine.

It's from 1920. It's called, of course, Football.

The ball, once launched, falls in the depressions, and you use your lever to kick it out. Not impossible to play. Must have been a marvel at the time, though. All those Ringo clones with their newly knitted jerseys.

Says this page: "Other machines made by Chas. Ahrens during the time period Football was produced include: Great Occultos, Jolly Fireman Racer, Steer a Boat, Belfry, and Mysterious Hand."

The girls did a hilarious karaoke routine after dinner, and then we all went home and had cake. What a day! Just like four years back but all the better for knowing we all hadn't grown apart at all. AND iut was a pleasure to be back in the arcade, especially since I could show Natalie the important games of my youth: Asteroid and Centipede, each connected with particular times in my life.

Because I was on a plane last week, I watched Perry Mason. It is the way of things. I hardly recommend it, since it chews up an hour and provides a guaranteed story. No scrolling through the back-of-the-seat screen, looking for something. Anything. I download a few ups from Paramount or Peacock or whichever, and voila, entertainment. This was season 8, which meant you might get Berger but probably not Tragg.

Yes, it's Andy on the cop side. But look at the shot:

The judge made a lot of appearances. And again, look at the shot.

Another shot of note:

Come the credits . . . ah. Well, that explains the inventiveness. Or at least the willingness to play with the basics. And he did a lot of TV.

One more thing. Here's Perry walking into the Courthouse, something we rarely see.

Something made him smile.

It’s 1932.

We’re taking a long look at the ads of The Delineator, a women’s mag.

"IF ALL the women who seek to hold their husbands would first hold their good looks, editors of beauty columns wouldn't get such a large mail... and there would be greater chances for happiness." That's the warning addressed to women by leading beauty specialists.

A warning! Don’t go all hag, or he’ll stray, and there’s a Depression on. How will you eat?

How much easier breakfast is when you just pour the cereal from the package!” Especially when you’re in the grip of a delirious fever, like lovely Leila Hyams:

Someone should do a careful study of Magazine Red, a color that bloomed in the 20s and really hit its stride in the early 40s.

Your woolies need safe suds:

SAFE suds. Makes you wonder about all those others.

“I hope I'm a little different from most girls in lots of ways. But I know I'm just like most women in this respect. I don't like to be argued with. I don't like to be preached to. And I won't be frightened into things! I like what I like.”

They’re getting really good at psychologically adept copy.

It’s April, so . . . the canned goods are in season?

The copy says that the deadly enemy of home menus is monotony. Use pre-packed pre-purchased pineapple to add wild, unforeseen spontaneity into the mix!

Do you sometimes weaken, and drink coffee?

Caffein doesn’t have its “e” here. Perhaps it was removed by the same process that removed the stimulant.

Never any good, this stuff, and everyone knew it.

First new cereal in years!

Meaning, people had been eating the same stuff year after year, with no new options.

Oh, how that would change.

Lively wool from the "Bleak Thibetan" (sic) plains.

Thibetan? It’s an archaic form of Tibetan, as you probably surmised.

Erastus Brigham Bigelow was a weaving-machine inventor. He’d be pleased to know his name still means carpets.

That'll do. Now it's time for DC Covers, a subsite I haven't updated in 10 years. Remember, nothing here is ever done.