The Rise and Fall of Pinball

Pinball evolved from a game played with a pool stick in the 1860s to a coin-operated game in the 1930s. It offered simple wooden boards and pins obstructing the pockets. With the addition of buzzers, flashy art, and back glass art, pinball machines became more popular. However, pinball faced crackdowns and bans as it evolved into gambling machines. The introduction of flippers in 1947 allowed players to control the ball, but it wasn't until 1976 that Roger Sharp proved the game's skill-based nature in a New York City Council hearing. Pinball was legalized across the US, but it took until 2014 for it to become legal in Oakland and Alameda.