Machine Description

Red & Ted's Road Show, released by Williams Electronics in 1994, stands as one of the most innovative and ambitious pinball machines of the DMD era. The game features talking animatronic heads of Red and Ted, two construction workers who guide players on a cross-country adventure through various American cities. This was one of the few pinball machines to feature multiple animatronic characters that could interact with players through synchronized speech and movement.

Designed by Pat Lawlor, fresh off his success with The Addams Family pinball, Road Show showcased numerous technological achievements. The game's most distinctive feature was its unique 'Super Sonic Robotic Head' system, which animated the two character heads mounted on the playfield. The gameplay revolves around a cross-country construction theme, with players demolishing buildings and completing construction projects across different cities. The machine features a complex ruleset with multiple multiball modes, city-specific challenges, and an innovative 'Rush Hour' feature.

Road Show is particularly notable for its comprehensive audio package, featuring over 500 unique speech calls - an unprecedented amount for a pinball machine at the time. Approximately 3,750 units were produced, making it a moderately rare machine. While it wasn't as commercially successful as some other Williams titles of the era, it has gained a strong following among collectors and enthusiasts for its unique features, complex gameplay, and innovative use of animatronics. The machine remains highly sought after in the collecting community and is considered one of the more ambitious designs of the 1990s pinball era.