1994 Bally Popeye Saves The Earth

I have always liked Popeye cartoons and wanted this machine for awhile even though everyone hates it. The playfield is in excellent shape. Here are some pictures of the necessary cleaning for the game. It was very dirty as you can see. This game is a real sleeper, I thoughly enjoy the game play. I can't see what everone is complaining about. It has some hidden shots which is quite different from the standard pinball machine.
I have added two golden anchors to the head of the machine, which I think looks good. See pictures.
I have done an other modification to Popeye which is intended to preserve the lockjaw metal scoop. When I got the game, the jockjaw scoop was badly beaten. I found a NOS one for cheap and installed it. I noticed the that sides of the scoop take a beating from being hit dead on. To solve this problem and preserve the scoop, I installed two mini posts with rubbers. I did not even have to drill holes in the playfield to add the posts. I mounted them in the edges of the cut outs for the jab targets. I then shaved one side of the target to allow for the post. The result is a better protected scoop, and a much harder game. Not that it needed to get any harder than it already is. The jab targets are now that much harder to hit. See the picture to see the results.
I since had to modify these miniposts, to be stronger. I have since changed the type of posts, and then added a metal plate to connect the two posts. This has made them rock solid.
There is one last modification I am getting ready to do. The blue animal ramp on the left side obstructs the view of the inlane / outlane. I am going to modify this to show a clearer view. I am still trying to find a cheap ramp to experiment with. As soon as it is done I will post pictures.
I have also coloured in the lightning bolts with black on the flippers.
My Popeye machine is also an early production machine. You can tell by the fact it has the moulded 3-d Bluto face. I have noticed with this game there was a bunch of holes drilled for GI lights with nothing there. I have added the missing lights. There were two under the clear ramp in the upper left corner. Two more to the right of the scoop. Another two just to the left of the ramp to the upper playfield. Plus another two under the upper left playfield plastic, behind the standup targets.
I have also added another flasher under the left return lane. There was a big hole there for no reason, so I added a flasher. It is wired into the extra ball flasher in the backbox.
There is also a spot meant to have a hole drilled for a bulb under plastic #35, near the right popbumper. You can tell because there is a wireform protector and a black ring to outline a bulb. I will eventually get to it, when it needs another shop job. I will also drill a hole in the playfield to the right of the ramp to the upper playfield. It is dark over there, and I will put it under the turtle on the plastic.


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Popeye 8 of 10


1994 Bally
4 flippers, 2 lightning and 2 mini
2 levels
Auto plunger (yuck)
1 ramp
6 ball multiball, 3,4,5, or 6 at a time.


First off this game is hated by mostly everyone! I on the other hand, have an appreciation for the game. Popeye has a rap of having too many hidden shots, and it isn't an unwarranted rap. I find this adds a unique feel to the game, and makes it far more challenging. The main detractions I have for the game are the automatic plunger, and one of the blind spots is quite annoying. The animal ramp exits to the left inlane, and is a solid blue plastic, which obstructs view during normal game play. This is very bothersome and I will be correcting this feature. I will post pictures to the site when I have done the alteration.
Popeye also has a very deep rulesheet, with an extremly difficult to get to, let alone finish, wizard mode. There is 4 objectives to do before starting the Wizard Mode, #1 Multiball, #2 Collect Items, #3 Defeat Bluto companies, #4 Save animals. The game allows you to stack the different objectives and run more than one at once.
#1 to start standard 3 ball multiball you must lock 3 balls in the lockjaw. To light the lock hit both jab targets or you can do it by the skill shot. Once multiball starts make the lockjaw shot to collect jackpot, and the ramp to relight it.
#2 Collect Items, these are awarded either by a skill shot or by hitting two seperate stand up tagets then making the ramp shot. You need to collect 4 items. Once you collect the 4 items, make the left sinkhole to start 4 ball Multiball. There are 4 things to do to collect the jackpot, 2 on the lower playfield, 2 on the upper. On the lower playfield you have to hit one of the "pop" "eye" stand ups and either jab target. On the upper playfield, you have to send one into the 2X lane, and one over the Swee'pea incline.
#3 Defeat Bluto companies (modes), is the hardest part to finish on the way to the Wizard Mode. There are 4 modes, you must not only start the modes, you must win them! The modes are basic in that you just have to hit the flashing shots to win. But this is easier said then done.
#4 Save the animals, there are 5 animals to rescue. You can either spot them by the skill shot, or by selecting an animal from the animal ramp. Once an animal is selected make either the right or left loop in a hurryup to save him. After all are saved, shoot the ramp to collect animal jackpot.
Then it is on to save Olive for the wizard mode. This is a 6 ball multiball, where winning colects Olive's dowry. To complete saving Olive you must collect all 5 spinach cans, which are 2 loops, 2 sinkholes, and 1 ramp shot. I have choked each time I have been here...
Popeye is a great home game, because of the complex rules and difficulty of play. Once the left animal ramp is modified this game will be that much more enjoyable. An 8 of 10.


Current High Score


Grand Champion 1,085,585,040 ANT
Loop Champion 8 ANT
The game settings are 3 ball factory, except I have added a 6 second ball saver. The factory setting is normally NO ball save time.

Email: kstebel@rogers.com
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