Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
@teamfreak16 (43655)
Denver, Colorado
May 7, 2017 4:07pm CST
This is the Elton John Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy pinball machine. I live about 1/4 mile from the Manitou Arcade, and they have this machine there. I just walked up and played it awhile ago.
The Captain Fantastic machine was manufactured by Bally Manufacturing Company in 1976. It was designed by Greg Kmeic, with artwork by Dave Christensen. It was inspired by the movie Tommy, and the backglass features Elton John in his Pinball Wizard character from the film.
The first version featured X-rated scenes on the backglass, which Bally did not originally notice. Subsequent versions have them "starred out."
Sir Elton liked it so much that he had Bally send one to all of his residences, as well as to his mum in the UK.
Bally made a home version in 1977.
This was my favorite pinball game when I was a kid. I wanted to play this one in particular because it was Elton John. I'm still not very good at it, but I still have to play it whenever I see it. Having one just up the street makes it that much better.
(Info verified by the Internet Pinball Database)
A top ten single in the UK, the song was recorded for Ken Russell's film Tommy: The Movie, which Elton appeared in, wearing four-foot high Doc Martin boots. ...
9 people like this
8 responses
@teamfreak16 (43655)
• Denver, Colorado
7 May 17
Other than up the street, I still see this one once in awhile.
@amadeo (111937)
• United States
7 May 17
@teamfreak16 that is pretty cool that they still have these or those or whatever they call it.LOL
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86855)
• United States
8 May 17
It took me forever to finally see one of those machines up close. They came out when Elton was my teenybopper idol.
I liked him in Tommy but didn't care for those big shoes (I've read that he wanted them because he was self-conscious about being relatively short [5'8"]). To me, THE performance in Tommy was Tina Turner.
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43655)
• Denver, Colorado
8 May 17
Ah yes, the Acid Queen.
I had to sneak away to play this when I was a kid. Still do! 
2 people like this
@crossbones27 (53005)
• Mojave, California
8 May 17
Great now I want to play pinball. Thanks jerk. 
Awesome song
Awesome song1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43655)
• Denver, Colorado
8 May 17
You're welcome. I had a great time!
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
13 May 17
@teamfreak16 There was one at the pier where I spent most of my free time during my teens, and one at a pub my dad frequented. One night when I was really on, I racked up so many free games on the machine at the pub I finally got too tired to go on and just had to walk away.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43655)
• Denver, Colorado
13 May 17
@DWDavis - I racked up six free games playing baseball the other day. I just left them for the kids.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43655)
• Denver, Colorado
8 May 17
I don't think I've ever seen the Bobby Orr game. Being hockey related, I'd be all over it.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
8 May 17
I never was good at pinball, I think it was because I am short.
I have always loved Elton John!
1 person likes this
@chrissbergstrom (10767)
• Banks, Oregon
8 May 17
How cool had never seen one before
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43655)
• Denver, Colorado
8 May 17
It's a cool machine. I lose a lot of balls from the way the left flippers are set up, but it's still fun.
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
7 May 17
I am surprised it is in use. That's a collectible now.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43655)
• Denver, Colorado
8 May 17
This place has a few old collectible machines in use. Some really old stuff.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
8 May 17
That arcade sounds cool. I haven't played pinball in a long time... now I wanna!
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43655)
• Denver, Colorado
8 May 17
It's always nice that it's just a five minute walk when I feel like playing.
