Years ago, while on a summer vacation with her family, a young Phorm wandered the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in search of amusement. After stumbling this way and that, she rounded a corner into a pinball arcade, and found herself face to face with a pinball machine. Not just any pinball machine, mind you... --- This pinball machine:

Gottlieb's Genie, a rather singular pinball experience in and of itself. Perhaps unexciting by modern standards, in the late 1970s the table was branded by Gottlieb as being "Wide Bodied"... And one can surmise that such a description was an intentional innuendo.

Of course, the standout feature that made an impact on the subject of our story is nothing less than the artwork. Both the machine's backglass art, as well as its playfield, are positively stunning examples of genie pinup art. Tapping liberally into the mythology with no research and plenty of creative license, these genies were well beyond what "I Dream of Jeannie" had to offer at the time of release - They even show off their actual navels!

Well, the young lass at that time was already deeply interested in genies. More than that - perhaps even obsessed was the right term. But when that particular girl saw that pinball table, she knew in her heart of hearts "I want to be a genie." Corny, yeah? But true. That's why I bought a 3D shadowbox of the backglass art that hangs in my apartment.

And it's also why I commissioned a spectacular piece of me (and some friends) re-enacting the scene on the backglass (Art by BlackShirtBoy).

Anyhow, just a little genieposting today for no specific reason. Maybe one day I'll get there.

#Genie Posting