In the 1997 movie Cop Land, Ray Liotta tells Sylvester Stallone there are only two kinds of people in the world, Pinball People, and Video Game People. Unfortunately, Stallone was Pinball People, inferring Stallone and pinball machines were both obsolete.

An American invention, pinball really began with the wide spread use of electricity. Just as today with computers and cell phones, crafty entrepreneurs in the late nineteenth century were on the lookout for profit in the new technology. The slot machine, pinball machine, and jukebox all made their appearance around this time.

Pinball and slot machines really had a bad time; each was viewed to have an adverse affect on the morals of our youth.

Slot machines were gaming devices, pinball machines had drawings of well-endowed pin-up girls on the back glass, and what was TILT all about.

Through most of the first half of the 20th century, pinball machines were outlawed in many parts of the country. In fact, it was 1972 when the city of Los Angeles finally repealed their law banning pinball machines.

Although pinball machines were produced and improved for over 75 years, it was not until the middle '70s that pinball became an American icon. By 1975, computers and pinball combined to make a new and more exciting game. Unfortunately, this excitement did not last long, only a few years. In 1973, the first video game, PONG, debuted and this marked the downhill slide for pinball machines. Today there is only one American manufacturer of pinball machines, and they are struggling, making one or two models a year.

The pinball machine is a true American Art Form, and the Pinball Hall of Fame is a must see. It’s a wonderful place, full of times gone by. There are six rows of machines spanning 60 years; many set at 25 cents a play, with the proceeds going to charity. However, if I were in charge, instead of a typical arcade with long rows of pinball machines, I would give some history, and why by the turn of the 21st century, for pinball machines, it was GAME OVER.

Pinball Hall of Fame
3330 E. Tropicana, Las Vegas, North West corner of Tropicana and Pecos. Next to the Tropicana Cinema $2 movie theatre Hours: 11:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m., 7 days a week. FREE