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October was the birthdate for this machine. It was designed by Ed Krynski with artwork by Art Stenholm. Low production run of 550 units. This is an add-a-ball game, the replay version being called Sing Along. This game was a variation on a classic Gottlieb game Kings and Queens, in that it contains the four side-by-side kickout holes made popular in 1965. Here, the object of the game is to complete four same-colored numbers vertically in a row to randomly cause the kickout hole to light to score an extra ball if you land in the hole when it’s lit. If you didn’t win a ball, each light in the column would award 10 points. If you have most of the lights lit, a run at the kickout holes awards a lot of points in a hurry which, in this game, also awards extra balls. One center target is also incorporated into the game, awarding 100 points when hit and lights the pop bumpers for higher scoring.Gottlieb released the game “Sinbad” in both solid-state and electromechanical formats in June of the year. Designed by Ed Krynski with art by Gordon Morison, there were 12,000 S.S. games and 950 E.M. games made. This machine is the rare two-player version of the game, of which 730 were made. Drop targets are the main theme of this game. Knocking down the single white drop target awards a 2x bonus and lights the white rollover. The three yellow drops were next. If hit, 3x bonus is awarded when the ball drains and the 5,000 rollover lights at the top of the playfield. The four purple drops were next. Making these would award 4x bonus and light the extra ball rollover. Finally, the five red drops; when hit would award 5x bonus (the maximum bonus that could register is 15,000 points times the bonus) as well as light the special rollover. Four flippers allowed for interesting play, also.This April release was produced in a quantity of 4,550 units. Wayne Neyens designed the machine with Roy Parker doing the artwork. The art theme of the machine is Playboy bunnies as the Playboy Corporation opened a big Playboy club in the Chicago area in 1960 which was a real hit. The object of the game is to light the bumpers spelling out “Slick Chick.” It’s a tough game to master. Each time the sequence is completed, a rollover lights on the play field to score 10 points. If you can complete all five roll-overs, the center gobble hole lights to score a replay. Four roll-overs on the side of the play field numbered one to four also score a replay if hit in sequence. Score is your other goal toward replays. I remember playing this game at the arcades and it was very hard to achieve a winning combination. It is considered one of Wayne Neyens’ best games and one of his favorites in the annals of pinball design.Two banks of 5 drop targets, with two kickout holes above the drop targets. Three pop bumpers, no slingshots, and two 3″ flippers. The game play/rules behind Fastdraw is rather interesting, and a bit complicated for an EM pinball. First try and score the three A-B-C rollover targets. This increases the score value of the two kickout holes (1000 points plus another 1000 for each of the scored A-B-C rollovers, for a possible 4000 points max per kickout hole). Each of the three rollovers corresponds to a pop bumper too, so scoring the “A” rollover lights its pop bumper scoring 100 points instead of 10 points. Getting the three A-B-C rollovers also turns on the “extra bonus” light (double bonus for all but the last ball). Last ball gets double bonus by default, and if the A-B-C rollover lanes are scored, triple bonus is awarded. After the A-B-C rollovers are scored, knocking down all 5 of either the right or left drop target banks will also light the corresponding right or left kickout hole for Special. (The center pop bumper alternates the Special between the right and left kickout hole.) Also each drop target knocked down increases the end-of-ball bonus by 1000 points. Finally, knocking down all 10 drop targets makes the game raise the single center black drop target on each of the two drop banks. Now this single drop target is worth 5000 points. If one of the two center black drop targets is down, again that corresponding kickout hole will alternate lit as Special (assuming the A-B-C rollovers have been scored). If both black single drop targets are knocked down, the game resets these two black drop targets again. At the end of ball all targets and features reset, so it’s rinse and repeat for the next ball/player.Another rare machine stands before you. Although 2,885 units were produced, they were all sent to France as a promotion in a contest to market Canada Dry soda. Designed by Ed Krynski and art by Gordon Morrison, this game was released in the US as a one player, two player and four player version. If you like drop targets this is your game. Fifteen drop targets live in this playfield design! If you’re skillful enough to hit all the upper drop targets, the side extra ball rollovers activate. The same is true if you hit the bottom five drop targets. If, however, you’re skillful enough to complete all fifteen targets, the specials are activated. Score is another way to win. The machines put on location in France provided high-scoring winners with monetary prizes from Canada Dry. I wish they would do this in the united States, especially in Atlantic City.This game was produced in December of the year and designed by Harry Mabs with artwork by Roy Parker. 3,000 of these machines were made. The unique feature built into this machine is the animation unit in the top center of the play field. Two mechanical men are represented as boxers in a boxing match. Lights illuminate the bout when a knockout is scored by rolling over a “KO” rollover, a “KO” target, or completing bumpers 1 to 5. This game is one of the first examples of pinball animation. Another feature of the game is the pop-up bar at the bottom of the play field, preventing you from losing your ball in play for an extended period. Since the gap between the flippers is so massive, this addendum to the play field was installed to prolong the play period of the ball. A special feature is included in the game as well as a replay if 15 knockdowns are scored in one game and a replay for every knockdown scored thereafter.Big Brave is a two-player electromechanical machine. 3,450 units were produced. Ed Krynski designed the machine and Gordon Morison was in charge of the artwork. This game was a typical Gottlieb game of the era. It has drop targets, resetting targets, bonus feature, double bonus option, and a special. Making the B I G rollover lights the pop bumpers. Hitting all five drop targets awards 5,000 points. Hitting the last drop target left when the B I G is hit awards a special. The vari-target, as it was called, was an exclusive Gottlieb design. As you hit the target – depending how hard you hit it – would result in bigger point values. It will then reset to be hit again and again. A four-player version of this game, Big Indian, was also produced.This four-player machine was produced in November of the year with 2,675 units fabricated. It was designed by Ed Krynski with art penned by Art Stenholm. Technically, a couple of firsts were incorporated into this machine for Gottlieb, like an automatic ball lifter, decagon score reels and carousel roto-targets. The carousel roto-target allow one to shoot at one or two targets at a time if flipper savvy. The star on the unit awards an extra ball. The object of the game is to achieve high-enough scores to award replays. The big points are awarded when the two 10x lights under a roto-target light up, awarding 100 times the value of the number hit. The most attractive gadget built into the game is the dancing ballerina in the backglass, which dances when certain elements of the play field are achieved. A highly collectible game in its own right.This April release came in a four-player version, also in the museum called “Royal Flush.” 12,250 games were created in this sizable run of machines. Ed Krynski designed the machine with Gordon Morison penning the artwork for the game. A very popular game in its day, the main ingredient of the play field is the battery of nine drop targets set at an angle. The object here is to complete the drop targets to complete the five card combinations represented on the front play field. Completing a combo illuminates the light in the bonus column of combos and at the end of the ball, a “scan” bonus would score the appropriate number of points to the player currently up. The drop targets reset after each ball unless an extra ball is scored via the free ball gate. A double scan of the bonus lights on the last ball. Another feature to shoot for is the three colored card sequence. These light a special on the kick-out hole.If there was a very pretty game manufactured in the ‘50s, this is it! Hawaiian Beauty was designed by Wayne Neyens with art package by none other than Roy Parker. 900 of these machines were screwed together in the Chicago factory. The game was initially called “Monkey Shine” but was later changed. This game also features the infamous “double” award. If you inset two nickels at the beginning of the game instead of the usual nickel, each won replay would score two games or double the winnings instead of one game. More coins in the coinbox was the hope of the arcade owners. The playfield is interesting in this game. Two blocked gobble holes at the top of the playfield would score 500,000 points and light lower side exit special lanes for replays. Hitting the 1-6 sequence at the top of the playfield would advance the rollovers to score 100,000 points if rolled over. Points as well as score won games.Pro Pool originated in December with 800 units being fabricated. This add-a-ball machine was designed by Ed Krynski with artwork by Gordon Morison. Two replay versions of the game were also made: a two-player version called Big Shot and a four-player version called Hot Shot. Obviously the theme of this game is the game of pool. The playfield is symmetrical and the way to win extra balls is by completing the left and/or right drop target battery. Doing so will lift the left and/or right wow rollovers for this award. The drop targets reset once the sequences are completed. Of course, an operator-adjusted score is another way to score a couple of balls. Back in the ‘70s, multiple balls or replays could be achieved on the game. Today, one free game on a current solid-state game is the common win. Operators have made it harder to achieve free games today as free games yield no income and only result in down time for the machine to earn coins in the till.Gottlieb Subway arrived in October ’66. It was designed by the classic team of Ed Krynski and art by Gordon Morison. This add-a-ball version of the game closely resembled the replay version by the name of Crosstown. This wedgehead Gottlieb has an animated backglass. Every time 100 points are scored, the door of the subway opens, revealing passengers jammed together in a comical pose. The center target is where all the action is in the game. If you happened to match the two columns horizontally by advancing the columns by hitting various spots on the game and hit the center target, the award indicated would be given. Otherwise 10 points were awarded. This game was a tough game to play, as the opening between the flippers was rather large and a hit to the center target would regularly cost you a lost ball.This replay game came out in December of the year with a four-player replay version (Vulcan) being released two months prior. 970 units were produced. Ed Krynski designed the game with Gordon Morison taking the credit for artwork. Two sets of drop targets in the firing range of the flippers make for a lot of accurate target shooting. Lighting all four green drop targets lights the extra ball target. The bonus value is doubled by hitting the bank of five drop targets. Making one to five numbered sequence lights two rollovers for a special as well as increases the white drop target value to three bonus advances. The kickout hole awards from 1,000 to 5,000 points dependent on the number of green drop targets hit at that moment in time. All in all, a nicely balanced game. Bonus is awarded upon draining the ball also.Gottlieb produced a few baseball-themed games, but Williams Manufacturing was the king of these types of games. This game, designed by Ed Krynski with art by Gordon Morison, had a run of 775 units. This is the add-a-ball version of this game, so it is rarer. The replay version is called Grand Slam. This game has eject holes which activate the roto-target, a Gottlieb exclusive device, which stops and a man is lit on a corresponding base to the eject hole on the baseball diamond. The rollover button lights when the bases are loaded. This scores 1,000 points whenever the bases are loaded. Runs and score are the ways to win free balls with this game.This game is a classic and is rated # 5 in collectible machines of the ‘60s. The game was created by Wayne Neyens with artwork by Roy Parker. Production run was 2,875 units. The main action in the game comes from the four in-line kickout holes set across the center playfield. The object of the machine is to hit a suit of four cards vertically under the kickout holes. If you get all four, a hole will randomly light up to score a free game (i.e., a special). The challenge here is to sink the ball in the kickout holes once a special is lit. All four holes can light up if you’re lucky enough to score all 16 cards. Finally, another special in the top rollover lanes randomly lights if you score just the four top cards on the pattern of cards. Score also was a factor as dropping balls in the kickout holes with many cards lit scored a lot of points very quickly.Here’s another example of a Gottlieb single-player mechanical game when all the other manufacturers during this period were developing solid-state computerized machines. Ed Krynski is the designer with Gordon Morison the artist of choice for this model, one of 1,530 machines made. The machine itself is a classic ’70s. Ten numbers is your goal here. You achieve these ten targets by hitting and rolling over the appropriate spots on the playfield. Hitting the spinner spots the numbered target the spinner stops on. If you’re lucky to complete the targets, the special lights up and advances through the ten numbers. Hitting the lighted number with “special” lit means more free time playing the game. Score for replays is your second goal. Nice artwork in a single player game, one of the last produced.Gottlieb Pop-A-Card was another classic ‘70s playfield designed by Ed Krynski with artwork by Gordon Morison. Only 825 of these units were made. The replay version of the game was called Drop–A-Card which, as usual, was a much higher produced machine. The open playfield of this game gives ample room for scoring the three banks of drop targets. To win free balls with this game, you have to either complete the 2, 3, 4, and 5 targets, or the 6, 7, 8, and 9 targets…or the 10, J, Q, K, and Ace targets. The first two options light the wow feature to award free balls during that ball in play. If you hit the 10 thru Ace targets to completion, four rollovers light up to score extra balls. Of course, score is another way to score more balls.The last game of ’65 is a two-player add-a-ball game. It was designed by Ed Krynski with art by Roy Parker. A replay model also exists by the name of Paradise. Production run was a meager 265 units; the replay game had 2,100 units fabricated. The animated backglass on this game contains a dancing hula girl. When extra balls are won, they are represented as beach balls on the backglass. If you complete the sequence A, B, C, and D in that order, a free ball is your reward. Roto lights advance and indicate the value of the kickout holes. Points set by the operator award free balls also. An interesting guide rail is on either side of the flipper drains, a variation on a theme. This game is very rare due to its low production numbers.This rare add-a-ball game was released in April. It was designed by John Osbourne with artwork by Gordon Morison. A minimal total of 270 units were soldered together at the time. This is a small number for a pinball run. The replay version had a much larger production and the name of that game was Hit The Deck. As you can see from the backglass, Gottlieb tried to experiment with a score reel that was completely different in coloring. This was to attract attention to the game and attract quarters. The object of the game is to roll over the red number and/or black number sequence inherent in the game. If you are skillful enough to get the 9 to Ace sequence, some wow options will light up to score extra balls. A kickback feature is incorporated into the game in the upper-left area. This single-player game is challenging and a rare sight to see.
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October was the birthdate for this machine. It was designed by Ed Krynski with artwork by Art Stenholm. Low production run of 550 units. This is an add-a-ball game, the replay version being called Sing Along. This game was a variation on a classic Gottlieb game Kings and Queens, in that it contains the four side-by-side kickout holes made popular in 1965. Here, the object of the game is to complete four same-colored numbers vertically in a row to randomly cause the kickout hole to light to score an extra ball if you land in the hole when it’s lit. If you didn’t win a ball, each light in the column would award 10 points. If you have most of the lights lit, a run at the kickout holes awards a lot of points in a hurry which, in this game, also awards extra balls. One center target is also incorporated into the game, awarding 100 points when hit and lights the pop bumpers for higher scoring.