THE ISSUE WITH
COMEBACKS
REPLAY: PINBALL’S FLIPPING BACK
Vibrant colors, flashing lights and staccato bursts of sound: A piece of Americana is regaining popularity
FEW INDUSTRIES
have endured as many close calls with extinction as pinball. Yet, despite formidable challenges from politicians, arcade video games and home game consoles, the ball-and-flipper-based pastime has not only survived but is arguably entering a new golden age. Inspired by bagatelle boards, where players move balls past pins and into holes, modern pinball originated in Chicago during the 1930s. The Great Depression was an ideal backdrop for its initial widespread popularity. Cheap entertainment was in high demand, and pinball delivered. Early pinball, like Bally by Mike Reddy Manufacturing’s 1932 game Ballyhoo, had no flippers or bumpers, which are standard on modern machines. Balls were launched, scores were tallied based on where the balls landed, and prizes were occasionally awarded. But critics complained the games were driven by chance instead of skill and therefore constituted gambling. It didn’t help that some players actually were gambling on pinball, and before long, the industry fell into political disfavor.
14
Luckbox | June 2022
2206_TOPICS_Pinball.indd 14
5/13/22 11:55 AM
