Back to Machines
1996

Scared Stiff

Quick Overview

B-movie horror, ghouls and Elvira, Mistress of the Dark! Scared Stiff is a pinball machine released in September 1996 under the Bally brand and built by Midway, with the voice of Elvira, Cassandra Peterson. The game evokes late-night horror movie shows, and its backbox features a player-controlled spinning three-dimensional spider. The machine was designed by Dennis Nordman and Mark Weyna.

Scared Stiff

Basics

  • ReleaseSeptember 1996
  • ManufacturerBally (Midway)
  • DesignersDennis Nordman, Mark Weyna
  • ArtGreg Freres
  • SoftwareMike Boon, Cameron Silver
  • MechanicsWin Schilling, Bob Brown, Joe Loveday
  • AnimationAdam Rhine, Brian Morris
  • Music and soundPaul Heitsch, Dave Zabriskie
  • VoiceCassandra Peterson (Elvira)
  • GenrePinball
  • ThemeB-movie horror / Elvira
  • Players1–4
  • SystemWilliams WPC-95 (DCS sound)
  • DisplayDot-matrix (DMD)
  • Units produced4,028

Characters & Creators

Elvira – Mistress of the Dark, voiced by Cassandra PetersonThe spider – the backbox's player-controlled highlightDennis Nordman and Mark Weyna – designersGreg Freres – artPaul Heitsch and Dave Zabriskie – music and sound

Standout features:

Player-controlled spinning three-dimensional spider in the backboxSix Tales of Terror and the Stiff-o-meterElvira's voice and quipsDCS sound systemTwo ramps on the playfield

Play It Live!

Come in if you dare! Stop the spider, work through the Six Tales of Terror, and play the Scared Stiff pinball machine at Arcade Museum Budapest!

Get My Ticket!

Game Objective

The player has to get through the "Six Tales of Terror": Eyes of the Bony Beast, Terror from the Crate, the Stiff in the Coffin, the Monster's Lab, Night of the Leapers and the Return of the Deadheads. Completing them raises the Stiff-o-meter. A big three-dimensional spider spins in the backbox when a ball enters the playfield trap. Pressing a flipper button stops the spider, and where it stops decides the special features and modes you get. The playfield has two ramps.

Fun Facts

  • Elvira speaks in the machine with the voice of Cassandra Peterson.
  • The backbox holds a spinning three-dimensional spider that the player can stop with a flipper button.
  • The game takes you through the Six Tales of Terror.
  • The Stiff-o-meter's level is raised by completing the tales.
  • The machine is the follow-up to Elvira and the Party Monsters (1989).
  • The planned moving Boogieman figures were dropped from production.
  • The skull pile shipped without illuminated eyes, so aftermarket LED kits exist for it.
  • 4,028 units were produced in total.
  • Recommended for fans of B-movie horror, Elvira and pinball machines with a humorous, unusual backbox.

Why Is It Special?

Scared Stiff's biggest highlight is its interactive backbox: a three-dimensional spider spins, and the player can stop it with a flipper button, choosing which feature or mode to start. The machine is the follow-up to Elvira and the Party Monsters (1989), and the third machine in the series is Stern's 2019 Elvira's House of Horrors. Several planned elements were dropped from production: the moving Boogieman figures were removed late on, and the skull pile shipped without illuminated eyes. In total, 4,028 units were built.