GORDON’S
MORISON’S PINBALL ART CLASS 101 SEMINAR
(PINBALL EXPO
2000)
by Russ Jensen
Rob Berk introduced the speaker for this
seminar, Dr. Keith Egging, who he told us was a game designer for the Japanese
game company Taito, and had been a good friend of artist Gordon Morison.
Keith began by telling us that he was going to present “a Gordon Morison pinball art class”. He then commented that designers give pinballs their “personalities”, while artists give them their “soul”. He next told us he was first going to tell a little of his personal history in the industry.
After commenting that he first got involved with pinballs about 50 years ago as a shop helper, then a mechanic, and then as an operator when he bought a Williams GUSHER, Keith told of while going to medical school operating jukeboxes and pingames on campus. He then commented that he didn’t graduate in the top of his class because of the demands of the route.
Keith next told us that Gordon
started doing coin-op art on electro-mechanical games, and then on solid
state. He then commented that Gordon
originally used a process known as “spot color” , where certain colors were
used in certain places. Later, he
continued, Gordon got involved with the “4-color Process” which led to his use
of computers.
We were then told that Gordon
suffered a heart attack in 1980, but sometime after that he went to work for
Stern, and later went to an advertising agency. Keith then told us that at the age of 70 Gordon would work 60 to
80 hours a week doing “everything” – all kinds of advertising art!
Keith next told us that he loved
Gordon’s artwork, and that he was a good friend who he misses very much! He then remarked that Gordon gave the
industry a “soul”. After next commenting
that Gordon didn’t like to sign much of his art, Keith told us that Gordon
often “lifted” the work of others, adding that he also had a “wicked sense of
humor”.
We were next told that Gordon “never
grew up” and that he loved comic books, cartoons, and toys. Keith then said that Gordon eventually died
of lung cancer, adding that it was hard for him to go on without him. He then said that some artists today are
also great. At that point Keith started showing a “slide show”, showing us
some of Gordon’s non-pinball art.
Keith then told us that Gordon loved
computers and wished he could have learned more about them. He then started telling a little about
Gordon’s house which he said was a “strange house” with various types of art
all over it, including such things as gargoyles. Keith then said Gordon also liked dragons, Egyptian things, and
space.
At that point we were shown a slide
showing an example of what was called the “stripping technique” in creating
art. Keith then told us that he first
met Gordon in Milwaukee, he then commenting that Gordon had “flexible ethics”,
a term he told us that Gordon himself had coined. He next told of Gordon having to leave Adverting Posters Co. due
to a flap over him “borrowing” some art involving Tarzan.
Keith next told us that Gordon owned
thousands of picture books, and that he loved the cartoon character Scooby Doo,
and also liked to play with toys. He
then told us that Gordon was born in Indiana but claimed to be Canadian, adding
that he liked to run and was married twice, the second time only three weeks
before his death.
We were then given the Internet
address (URL) of a website devoted to Gordon, but sadly I recently learned that
that site is no longer available on the Internet. Keith next told us that Gordon said he did art work for over 200
pinballs, although he claimed a few which he didn’t do. In Gordon’s mind, he went on, he was “the
only artist on the planet”, adding that Gordon believed that Art Deco gave
pingames “soul”.
After then telling us that all the
women depicted in Gordon’s backglasses were his girlfriends, Keith ended his
presentation by telling us that Gordon’s initials were “GAM”. He then asked if we had any questions?
The first question asked was what
games Keith himself had designed for Taito?
He answered his only game was an advanced concept pin game for Taito
Brazil and a 3D pingame for Taito Japan neither of which “saw the light of
day”. He said he did however create a skill game called ICE COLD BEER for Taito
America that sold over 12,000 units. The final question was what Gordon’s
middle initial stood for, Keith answering “Alexander”. The seminar then ended with Keith being
given a good round of applause!