Replica "Zoltar Speaks" Fortune Teller Demo (inspired by 1988 film "big")

[er10b]

hmmm... I'm no expert on these machines, but I would assume that the music from the real machine was provided by a motor-driven record player given it's age.

Now I wish I had an original one so I could take the bottom covers off and have a look inside...

[pitts8rh]

@er10b

If by the original one you mean the prop built specifically for the movie, I doubt that there was anything inside except a motor to move the head and lights for the annunciator panels (but I don't know for sure). There were many coin-operated fortune tellers produced in the early to mid 20th century for amusement parks and arcades, but the Zoltar fortune machine from the film never existed as a production unit..

[HipHopJun]

Incredible!

[warrengonline]

This is AWESOME!!

[esneprod]

Thumbs up if you're watching in 2012! =]

[warrengonline]

@esneprod I watched it when it first came out and just last year also. I like JACK with Robin Williams too.

[shindimaster]

Perfeita a réplica. Parabens.

[mozartjoke]

Dear Pitts8rh, could you give me your emai addres? I'd like to send you a mail with some questions. By the way this machine is incredible! Thank you for post it! I watch it already 200 times...:)

[pitts8rh]

@mozartjoke

I sent you a PM with the requested information, but I'm guessing you no longer have any questions about the video after giving it a thumbs down. I guess I'd hate it too if I had watched it 200 times...

[ozziesrobots]

Hey if you still have it shoot me an email

Great job BTW :)

[opticalill]

about how much does it cost to build your own?

this is so awesome!

[Emily2128]

gawd, I always found those robotic tellers creepy!! but yet I can't stop staring at it.

[DrKlevtSoftCom]

It's just unbelievable. It's great. Love this movie. I'd love to learn about the manufacturing process Zolter machine.

[beasst94]

very epic man- love it

would u build one for me if the price was right?

[ogiebendogie]

According to worstpreviews com/headline php?id=20202 the original is in the lobby of the Falcon Theater. Great job on this replica!

[pitts8rh]

@ogiebendogie

I appreciate the tip. I have updated the info based on your comment. The photo at your link shows a figure that has some minor differences to the actual figure that appeared in the main film, although this slightly different copy does show up in the extras on the DVD. They either built two, or more likely they just had multiple figures (the shirt colors and the face painting are slightly different).

[qwer58j]

That was pretty cool.

[liamblackere]

Where did you obtain the music from? Its really cool ,Is it not from the film "Big" ?

[pitts8rh]

@liamblackere

I recreated the music on keyboard using Cakewalk Sonar for the midi sequencer with various soft sythesizers for the orchestral sounds. It is, as you noted, based on themes from the film, which had to be adapted to fit the timing of the machine's operations and the video, although I should make it clear that no original sounds from the film were used. The machine itself can play several different original tunes, as well as the more familiar one that you hear.

[Skyrodude]

Awesome mate

[maicwand]

Just amazing! fantastic job!

[chaddvanzanten]

Holy cow. That's just astonishing. Does it really function as an arcade game? Does it start up because of the inserted quarter? Do the lights activate in the way the video depicts? Does it grant the wish if you get the coin in the mouth and not grant it if the coin misses? This is one incredible replica!

[pitts8rh]

@chaddvanzanten

It is fully functional with the motions, lights, music, and sound effects shown here. It dispenses the card only if you hit the mouth. If you miss the mouth, the coin ramp stays in the last position to make it easier to tweak your aim on subsequent plays, but once you finally hit the mouth, a motor resets the coin ramp to the neutral starting position just before the machine stops.

As for wishes being granted, only those who have actually paid and played know for sure!

[chaddvanzanten]

@pitts8rh -- Ah, but does it work while unplugged? Heh heh. Great work on the machine and great job on the video. MANY KUDOS.

[cashmereandcake]

Wow wow wow. This seriously takes the cake. How much is this machine...?? It really is a must have...

[javoman13]

nice.

[allstar2bein2023]

Awesome.

[DerGeisterbahnFreak]

Looks just like the original. Great Job

[JOEmega64]

INCREDIBLE job. 

[valentineshoney]

F#@%ing awesome =D

[BergamoStreetArmy]

Great! Where can i buy this incredible machine???

[pitts8rh]

@BergamoStreetArmy

If interested please read the last paragraph in the updated information under the video.

[albie1981]

I want to buy one please!



[crazyghostfreakdude]

this is NOT good

[TupacOD]

bloody amazing, although, i bet yours has to be plugged in to work? ;)

[filmfocus]

if only the last fading shot was of the unplugged socket!

[porsche558]

That is the coolest thing I have seen in a long while! Great job making a movie replica!

[postmann1000]

cool

[jpcguy]

Fantastic. If it doesn't infringe on any copyrights, you should put it into mass production. I know I'd buy one.

[DJ4000VOLT]

Dear Santa,

[RMJ1984]

Really scary machine :P amazing if you could actully get a wish granted like that.

The only that is missing is to show that its Disconnected from power :)

[arlichar11]

@RMJ1984 my idea was to make battery powered, and just have chord laying on ground to give that effect.lolol

[pitts8rh]

@arlichar11

I thought about doing that-making the machine inoperative (but trickle charging an internal battery) while plugged in, and then switching to battery/inverter power when unplugged. It would have been fun for the first couple of demonstrations but not very practical for unattended operation.

[unstoppableguy]

This is brilliant! I wanna get one. Cool video and music. So eerie and haunting!

[blbarchi]

I would love to know how you made this game. The issue in Make magazine didn't really get into the nuts and bolts of how you did it. If you could make the game into a kit, I would definitely be interested in buying such a kit, as would many other people.

[erikals2]

You're a legend - making the same machine 20 years after the movie featuring it came out

What did the original machine use as a soundtrack (breathing)?

[pitts8rh]

@erikals2

I would guess that they did something similar to what I did-make scary breathing sounds into hands cupped around a microphone. To be honest I really don't know anything about the original machine.

[voicetube]

Just finished watching this CLASSIC film (Big) and have to say, BRAVO!! Man, you captured it SO damn well!! Just curious, for what amount are you selling the unit (treasure!)?

[southport97]

Creepy as Gaga

[thebrokenrattle]

Watching this late at night...I said to myself "Oh God, the music as well" Very eerie, very awesome

[dannymosquito]

Yep thats a cracker... Mate unbelievable. Such a great piece of artwork....

[macnutz]

I remember being fascinated by a Zoltar machine as a child, nearly sixty years ago. My Southern Baptist parents wouldn't let me near it as they were actually afraid of it like it might be demon possessed. I was utterly fascinated by it and even had a couple of dreams where Zoltar was in my house at night telling me things I could never remember the next day.

[thecphughes]

Looks good fantastic job!!

[KaydeyRai]

Cool, I love this piece of music

[Manceinion]

Every time I watch that film I very predictably say 'I want that machine!' Very impressed. Hope to see it in action some day. =)

[markchee5]

this is awesome



[MANCHESTERMAN01]

Oh my god I am so jealous I would love one of these machines.

This is a work of art an exact copy of the original... BRILLIANT.

[bundeligafan]

wow that's amazing

great job

[Yioa101]

If only it could grant wishes....

[FearNoArt83]

This is absolutely amazing!  Big is my favorite movie of all time, and to finally find someone who took the time to create an exact replica is astonishing! Hopefully someday I'll be able to stop by Kilroy's and check it out for myself. I also have been trying to research the original prop but can't find any information on it. I feel like it must exist somewhere, and they wouldn't throw away such an icon after its reception at the box office! Great work!

[googlexxxxxxx]

The Zoltar machine used to scare me when I was a kid, great film though

[Back7sword]

I need to own that right now.

[abob77807]

That's so awesome, I saw a "Zoltar" machine on the Santa Monica Pier but was disappointed because it was a dollar to use it and it didn't move. Finally someone who appreciates the original one from the movie :). Now I just to have a road trip to see it!

[remixnick]

I am MEGA impressed by this, you have done a lovely job mate! The Zoltar machine is one of my favourite things on earth and it's so cool so see you have made such a fantastic replica. Big you up from the UK ;)

[eturnald]

simply amazing



[toonzeroerify]

thats so awesome!

[Twinsfan28]

WOW! That is an amazing replica. You said it's at Kilroy's? The movie big is one of my favorites, I've always wanted a Zoltar machine. This was really need to see.

[pitts8rh]

Thank you. It will continue to be on display at Kilroys for the foreseeable future or until I sell it. It makes another short appearance in the video that I made for Kevin's shop. You can view it by searching here for Kilroys7777 or by visiting his website at kilroysusa.

[Satmoche]

Looks insanely good !!

Good job on Zoltar !

I have one question though, where did you get the song which is played when Tom Hanks faces it ?

[pitts8rh]

Thank you.

I'm not sure which music you mean, but both of the pieces that you hear in this video were created by interpreting original film themes and making new musical arrangements to fit the time constraints of both the video and for the one minute run cycle of the machine. In this case I used Cakewalk Sonar software for MIDI sequencing of Garritan Personal Orchestra (GPO) sampled instruments, which included strings, handbells, and a glass armonica, as well as several others.

[lynxeh]

that is awsome !!! luv the film so much and too see how accurate u made that to the original is brilliant .

[loran7866]

this is a beautiful piece of artwork but in real life the design with the quarter hitting the zoltars mouth would do accumulated damage that would eliminate some of its cool ominous effect.

[pitts8rh]

I agree that the original design (as an arcade machine) was not very practical or robust for a number of reasons. Nevertheless, this replica has been in operation approaching a year at Kilroys in Minneapolis and has sustained very few signs of use. The molded parts are quite resilient, and a little "patina" is a good thing.

[pinkhobo666]

brilliant

[LilPun7586]

This is rad! I've also wanted the replica from the movie but it isn't manufactured. Do you have a rough estimate as to how much it cost to make this on your own?

[pitts8rh]

The few thousand that I spent in materials pales in comparison to the more than the year and 4 months of full-time effort that went into it. When I sell it, I figure my time will probably be worth about a nickel an hour. But it was fun, and fortunately I didn't do it for the money.

[enigmaevolver]

mystic overtowes, creeping footsteps, a train pulling up, you get off the train arrive at your hidden destination of choice, gasping, breathing, lust the beads of sweat pouring in anticipation - you ask and it says - your wish is granted?

[pitts8rh]

I know... It's the same crushing letdown that Ralphie felt when he decoded his first secret message with his new Secret Society Decoder Pin.

[mikeferr107]

You did a hell of a good job on this video. If you're not a filmmaker, I can't imagine why not. Thanks for an entertaining vid that features a great looking machine.

[haxanthrobo]

BRAVO! I LOVE IT!

[cetera06]

This is absolutely awsome my friend! congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!

[zersockpuppet]

Amazing job. I've wanted a machine like that ever since I saw the movie as a teenager. They do sell some voice activated Zoltar machines for around $8,000, but they can't compare to this custom one. The only way it could be better is if it could actually grant wishes!

[EarlsOfSweetSwing]

This is so cool! It's great to finally see a faithful replica as opposed to those lame talking ones "inspired by the movie" that you sometimes see in arcades.

Now the real question: Does it grant your wish when you unplug it, too? ;P

[toolinger]

I am like many posters would love to see how you made it. I love the sound effects and the motion.

Please post a video when you get a chance. Great job!!!

[pitts8rh]

I have taken some walkaround video details of the machine mechanism in operation, but unfortunately most of the actual construction process was documented with photos, not video. I have started to put a video/ slide show together, but it will only be of interest to a select few. Thank you for the comment.

[HSC1000]

So hang on a minute! This is probably the ONLY real Zoltar machine out in the world. This is so cool. You've made an exact replica (amazing). Ive seen some other Zoltar machines but they look stupid....probably got something to do with copywright maybe?

But yeh thumbs sup dude! Perfect - its got the freaky feel to it as well.

You are very talented individual

[TED5165]

I've wanted to make one of these for a while, although I had planned one on a smaller scale. This is great, would love to see how you did it!

[pitts8rh]

Thanks. A short video / slideshow of the construction process is coming as soon as I can edit one together. Until then you can see another very short Zoltar clip in the "Kilroys" video (search for user kilroys7777). Watch for the disappearing head!

[cingle2004jp]

This scene seems vaguely familiar since I watched such a movie in the childhood..

[pinballwizard214]

WHAT A GREAT JOB!!!!!!!! I have not seen anything that close

to the motion picture version.. I would muck like to see your video on the construction of this machine.. Again, A Great job.

[khtime]

Beautifully done!!

[greenecycle]

CREEPY! As as kid I was scared to death by the episode of Twilight Zone with William Shatner in the diner, pumping coins down a table top "fortune teller" head and getting answers that seemed to come true. He went nuts at the end or something. I had nightmares about that stupid thing. So, thanks for posting....I think.

JG