The Pinball Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization founded in part thanks to donations, which are still accepted. Tim Arnold is a veteran arcade operator who owned Pinball Pete’s in East Lansing, Michigan. But why is Tim Arnold Mad at Elton John?
After filming a video there in 2004, Elton John snubbed the Pinball Hall of Fame. Tim Arnold, who was promised $500 and concert tickets but never received them, has issued an open challenge to wrestle Sir Elton John.
The Pinball Hall of Fame Owner’s Dispute with Sir Elton John
In 2004, Elton John and renowned filmmaker and photographer David LaChapelle worked on the exhibit when they came across the Pinball Hall of Fame. After learning that the museum on East Tropicana Avenue and Pecos Road was home to a vintage 1976 Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy pinball machine, a film crew visited Tim Arnold.
On the same machine, John’s seen playing pinball. The six-person crew used a 35-mm film camera to gather footage of the business. As a result, John performed Pinball Wizard at The Colosseum, and the footage was wildly entertaining.
On the other hand, Arnold is still reading TILT after being promised $500 and tickets to one of John’s shows at Caesars Palace, as he has long claimed that this was meant to be the fee for using the museum.
In May, John’s second run, The Million Dollar Piano, ended. Arnold was never present while he performed and he was also not paid the $500 he was promised.
I offered to settle this like a man, in the squared circle, a cage match, one round, winner takes all, But did I ever get paid? Did I ever see Sir Elton in a show? Hell, no.
Tim Arnold
Arnold had also specified the location of his fight with Elton: the air-conditioned confines of Cobo Arena in Detroit, which was known for hosting professional wrestling events.
I can still out-fix ya, and I can still out-fight ya. You don’t want any part of this.
Tim Arnold
Although he didn’t specify what this is. (Source: Review-Journal)
Did They Ever Settle the Issue?
Arnold had plans to relocate the Hall of Fame to a 176-acre site on the east side of Las Vegas Boulevard, close to the 65,000-square-foot Harley-Davidson showroom and across from the Bali Hai Golf Club and the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign.
He purchased the site at auction for $4.6 million and wanted to relocate his attraction within the next 18 to 24 months. He had 1,000 machines that he owns and maintains, with 800 in storage because his current 8,000-square-foot facility can’t accommodate all of them.
In addition, he now has a crew that can tinker with the equipment and run the business — however, as he puts it,
Ninety percent of the time, when a person who begins a museum departs or dies, the museum dies, too. I own the market for people who drive to Las Vegas in passenger cars looking for stuff to do. They will be glad to find us near the Welcome to Las Vegas sign, and next to a giant Harley Davidson shop.
Tim Arnold
He’s less enthusiastic when talks about the disputed $500 come up.
My offer to settle this stands: Step into the squared circle.
Tim Arnold
(Source: Review-Journal)