The History of Pinball Part 1: The Electromechanical Era

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  • Опубліковано 1 гру 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 259

  • @willowfarmer6550
    @willowfarmer6550 Рік тому +104

    My jaw literally hit the floor seeing all of those tables getting destroyed. RIP.

    • @interwebpsychiosis
      @interwebpsychiosis Рік тому +7

      That one hurt

    • @devonboulden2496
      @devonboulden2496 Рік тому +3

      I cheer if it's Space Station or Space Shuttle machines. Some machines are too boring to save. BTW: That was TNT Amusements. I love Todd and his friends. They do lots of videos so whenever I want to walk down memory lane, they have a video for it.

    • @bralex2670
      @bralex2670  Рік тому +4

      Space shuttle aint too bad. Space station on the other hand, maybe

    • @sailingsvzara
      @sailingsvzara 11 місяців тому +1

      @@bralex2670 Do you know why Todd was throwing machines off the roof?

    • @bralex2670
      @bralex2670  11 місяців тому +3

      It's been a while but I think those tables were beyond repair

  • @Valmont1978
    @Valmont1978 9 місяців тому +17

    I watched this entire 4 part series with my mother in law and we laughed the whole time. Way to go making an extremely informative and entertaining series that for whatever reason is peppered with coyotes and ducks. I instantly shared it on my socials! Absolutely magnificent. I was hoping that you'd spend more time on individual tables through the years. Dr. Dude and his Xcellent Ray is my favorite pinball machine of all time! But there was a lot of story to tell and I know you couldn't spend too much time on an individual table. Keep up the awesome work!

    • @bralex2670
      @bralex2670  9 місяців тому +3

      Thanks there were definitely a few tables i could've talked about more. Radical is also a lot fun :)

    • @slimbomb
      @slimbomb 6 місяців тому

      Pinball FX has that in one of the packs, I turned my tv 90° and have been playing it. It’s awesome

  • @Exar_Kun
    @Exar_Kun Рік тому +12

    This is literally the best documentary in the history of the universe!!

  • @slimbomb
    @slimbomb 6 місяців тому +11

    I knew the pinball destruction was coming but god that was actually painful. My whole dream is to work with pinball machines, those were beautiful.

  • @CaptainFoufeu
    @CaptainFoufeu Рік тому +8

    My grandfather fought in World War II and he often told me about the Gottlieb Tank, Bally Dive Bomber and Chicago Coin Battleship. They're the reason America won the war!

    • @bralex2670
      @bralex2670  Рік тому +2

      Facts we couldnt have made it through without em

  • @BallenvanStaal
    @BallenvanStaal 2 роки тому +34

    Great video. You obviously did your research and spiced up the sometimes quite dry stories with catchy lighthearted humor. Love it!
    I even saw a glimpse of one of my own videos in there. What great honour! :)

  • @Kerlimann
    @Kerlimann 6 місяців тому +2

    Aside from the fact that this is the most comprehensive and educational documentary about pinball I've ever come across, I really LOVE the way you tell stories....so entertaining and never a boring moment! This rulez, YOU rule!

  • @kennethd4958
    @kennethd4958 Рік тому +11

    How do you only have 2.1K subs?? This documentary is awesome. Funny, entertaining and insanely informative.. perfect blend.

    • @tehKJM
      @tehKJM Місяць тому

      There’s a lot more skillful video producers than you think

  • @tylermcmichael8515
    @tylermcmichael8515 Місяць тому +1

    You seem relatively young, which makes this exhaustive history lesson on pinball the more impressive.

  • @zamiadams4343
    @zamiadams4343 2 роки тому +17

    Absolutely brilliant, I'm a big pinball nut and this was fantastic, thank you!

  • @bakatono666
    @bakatono666 2 роки тому +6

    This video is awesome! I watched it twice in a row. Learned a lot and a new respect for the old school pins. Thank you for this!

  • @JohnShepherd104
    @JohnShepherd104 2 роки тому +13

    Looking forward to Part 2! Keep up the good work. I would appreciate a few more moments to see the table designs as we move threw time.

    • @bralex2670
      @bralex2670  2 роки тому +4

      Thanks for the feedback. I get that, but I had to do it this way just to get along at a reasonable pace. There's just so much to cover

  • @ChadTheBird
    @ChadTheBird Рік тому +3

    NOT NEARLY enough subs! This series is dope.

  • @solidghost4525
    @solidghost4525 3 місяці тому +4

    The golden age of pinball is coming back folks. You can smell it.

  • @Safalo
    @Safalo 2 роки тому +8

    UA-cam has been randomly recommending later parts, and now that I finally started watching I'm glad it did. That half hour flew by!
    Good info and good humor, I'm definitely here to stay and watch everything else you've got

  • @gopernoperstrains3160
    @gopernoperstrains3160 Місяць тому

    I’ve watched through this series a stupid number of times. It was especially entertaining when I was first getting into the hobby. I now have 4 EM’s, 3 of which I restored and the 4th is in progress. I’d love to see a video from this channel talking about your favorite EM machines or additional noteworthy EM’s. Great work.

  • @EpikYeti
    @EpikYeti 2 роки тому +7

    You really did a great job making this both informative and entertaining! Great stuff!

  • @LoQProductions
    @LoQProductions 2 роки тому +5

    This was a great watch, can’t wait for part 2!

  • @licoricewhip
    @licoricewhip 2 роки тому +13

    This is very informative and entertaining! Great stuff here, Bralex.

    • @bralex2670
      @bralex2670  2 роки тому +2

      Great! I'm glad to hear you liked it! Keep on the lookout for part 2 whenever that comes out. I think the story will get more interesting from there.

    • @treyjohnson4035
      @treyjohnson4035 2 роки тому +1

      Pinball is wonderful, I myself want the Halloween one.based on the movie.. I take it that the one in Rocky 3 might have been a.prop?

  • @OGKend
    @OGKend Рік тому +2

    I cried when they destroyed the pinball tables😢

  • @yumemirai4419
    @yumemirai4419 2 роки тому +8

    I never thought I'd be interested in this but this was a blast.

    • @mhm6
      @mhm6 Рік тому

      There’s a pinball movie that came out in 2023. It’s actually an entertaining movie with good humor and plot

  • @IndieArcadeWave
    @IndieArcadeWave 6 днів тому

    Amazing video! Thank you for filling in a huge gap of time for me. I didn't know much about the start of the pinball space other than the big players and the bans regarding gambling. On to part 2.

  • @grouuter
    @grouuter Рік тому +1

    I'm so amused for these machines. The history is so relevant now.

  • @TampaTec
    @TampaTec 2 роки тому +6

    Great job with info, narrating, editing. 👍

  • @rexdeanrds
    @rexdeanrds Рік тому +1

    Amazing, perfect, I only want to see documentaries in this style from now on.

  • @enkisson666
    @enkisson666 Рік тому +1

    Awesome video. I just got my first pinball machine from a friend and it's actually mentioned here. 1963 Gottlieb Sweet Hearts.😊 Loving it has its small issues but works nonetheless. Thanks.

  • @bheasy1
    @bheasy1 2 роки тому +5

    As a pinball person, I didn't know some of these facts. Great job!

  • @00Mandy00
    @00Mandy00 Рік тому +1

    I saw a pinball machine used in gambling as late as 1987. This is truly an amazing video.

  • @nickcarter4006
    @nickcarter4006 Рік тому +1

    Video game history is so evergreen on UA-cam, but this story is even more interesting. I want to hear some classic pinball voice clips go memetic

  • @jimmyhuesandthehouserocker1069

    Bally at one time was big in bowlers, I'm not an authority but I'd say around the 1940's 'n 50's. Bally made some beautiful walnut and chrome, ball bowlers and if only I had enough space I'd guarantee you I'd have one by now. They had about a 12 foot lane and a black weighted rubber ball the size of a coconut. I knew a certain Betty Jastatt who had one in her basement 'n my passion was to play it and I did some repair work on it, too. The electro-mechanical engineering in how it was 6 players and it kept regulation bowling score was incredible, it was truly an electro-mechanical computer. Around 1982, I wrote to Bally and they send me a wiring schematic for free

  • @JIm-w1b
    @JIm-w1b 11 місяців тому +1

    Keeney, what you don't remember, was a big name in bowlers from about the late 40's to the early 60's. Bally and Williams both made bowlers. Bally bowlers were beautiful scaled-down bowling alleys 12 feet long, with 6 players, replete with walnut hardwood and chrome castings and I would pay $10,000 to have one today. Scaled-down bowling commonly found in big-city bars, was once a genuine sport that many people took seriously and even had tournaments. The balls were about the size of coconuts and the pins around a foot high. The genius electromechanical system kept regulation score.

  • @londonpinball
    @londonpinball Рік тому +1

    Thanks for the shout out. This video was very entertaining.

  • @thingsiplay
    @thingsiplay 5 місяців тому +1

    I'm mildly amused. A very interesting documentation, can't wait to watch the rest of the series. You deserve way more subscribers.

  • @SpaceSloth707
    @SpaceSloth707 5 місяців тому

    Very nice video! Good humor and jokes, and also educational/informative. Quite cool and interesting to see the evolution of pinball machines.

  • @parkerbohnn
    @parkerbohnn 2 роки тому +1

    This is a great video on pinball for pinball historians or any serious pinball player. Most people worked a job but for me I always played pinball at least eight hours a day for the last 50 or 60 years.

  • @jayducharme
    @jayducharme 11 місяців тому +1

    Well done! Zaccaria made some of my favorite tables, really challenging to play with some interesting innovations. I wish they had kept going.

  • @ButchMccracken
    @ButchMccracken Рік тому +1

    Super awesome job. So much research and detail. Love it.

  • @frauenhm
    @frauenhm 2 роки тому +1

    These videos are so much fun! Nice job on all the history and entertaining presentation.

  • @jessierocket3955
    @jessierocket3955 Рік тому

    your script and delivery is PERFECTION!! xD loved it!

  • @herbertpocket8855
    @herbertpocket8855 2 роки тому +2

    Incredible mix of well researched facts and amusing jokes. I had no idea that Microsoft Pinball Arcade had so many important classic tables

  • @jimmyhuesandthehouserocker1069

    those colored lights on Beamlight were actually horse capsules, for medicine

  • @Bryan-qe5xt
    @Bryan-qe5xt 2 роки тому +2

    Very good. Looking forward to part 2!

  • @tehKJM
    @tehKJM Місяць тому +1

    Florello probably was unable to hit Rudy in funhouse.

  • @cyperus4589
    @cyperus4589 Рік тому +1

    Omg i actually shed a tear for those poor machines being tossed off the roof... Like for real that's just heartbreaking

    • @bralex2670
      @bralex2670  Рік тому +2

      Oh don't worry. Those particular machines were from TNTamusements and were beyond repair.

  • @pfredflyer
    @pfredflyer 2 роки тому +2

    Loving the series man! Educational and funny

  • @wimkuijpers1342
    @wimkuijpers1342 2 роки тому +1

    Very nice video. My first pinball was a Keeney's Colorama (1963 It was their last game). On this machine I learned how to repair pinballs. Later also learned the digitals and now recreate them virtual with Visual Pinball.

  • @jimmyhuesandthehouserocker1069
    @jimmyhuesandthehouserocker1069 2 роки тому +1

    The backglass on Big Deal features the Beatles, sitting around a card table, and I don't why this game isn't the famous classic you'd think it would be. You'd think everybody would want it

  • @Cameroo
    @Cameroo Рік тому

    Man. I really loved this series. Thank you for all your hard work on it!

  • @KNWIII
    @KNWIII Рік тому +1

    "Jesus Christ, that's a lot of sisters!" 🤣😆🤣😆 Fantastic video. Thanks!

  • @wildernessgames
    @wildernessgames Рік тому +1

    Junkyard music (although that was a cop of "Money"). Cool vid.

  • @fenomozo9108
    @fenomozo9108 2 роки тому +3

    In my country, Colombia, those bingo machines are refered as Pinball and are everywhere. There are like 4 o 5 actual Pinball Machines in my town (Bogotá). Is really sad.
    Great video, by the way.

  • @strykerking
    @strykerking Рік тому

    This is so good, can't wait to watch the rest of the series. Great work.

  • @viccamppinball
    @viccamppinball Рік тому

    Fantastic video! Such an important and informative EM video. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and passion.

  • @jessyjava
    @jessyjava 9 місяців тому +1

    This video rocks thanks for making this!

  • @CyberUrza
    @CyberUrza Рік тому

    I really love this series of videos. They are informative (and funny).

  • @ExpressoMechanicTV
    @ExpressoMechanicTV 2 роки тому +1

    Fascinating. Very well researched and entertainingly presented.

  • @tonerotonero1375
    @tonerotonero1375 Рік тому

    Beautiful. I bet the customer will be happy. I never heard about this shaker. Interesting..

  • @michaelbixler87
    @michaelbixler87 2 роки тому +1

    Great video! I love the “slapstick”comedy! Very informative and entertaining!

  • @tristanwegner
    @tristanwegner Рік тому +1

    Pinball machines are actually called Flipper in Germany. Today that makes more sense, since the pins are mostly gone, but the flippers are still central.

    • @bralex2670
      @bralex2670  Рік тому +1

      Interesting. I always thought flipperball would o made more sense

  • @gamezilla345
    @gamezilla345 Рік тому

    my brother out here doin' the lord's work

  • @Snowsea-gs4wu
    @Snowsea-gs4wu Рік тому

    At 21:45 “until the heat death of the universe”. Now that is settled LOL! Cool video, thanks!

  • @luigi_garcia
    @luigi_garcia Рік тому

    Fantastic job! Super interesting and hilarious. Such unique machines Pinballs! I was crazy about them when I was a kid, but they disappeared fast and I never got the chance to savor them. After seeing this, hell, I need to have one! I opened Pandora's Box and there's no turning back. Big thanks man, subscribed!

  • @colinmurphy2127
    @colinmurphy2127 8 місяців тому

    A great 4 part history of pinball.
    I still have to rate funhouse as my all-time favourite, closely followed by theatre of magic.
    I can remember in the mid to late 70’s an amusement arcade in Mablethorpe in the UK still had the old bingo pinball tables and also some jigsaw pinball tables (possibly Rockola), the arcade also had a quick draw game where you faced off against a six foot tall talking cowboy opponent for the princely sum of 2p

  • @jackcan
    @jackcan Рік тому

    love your presentation style, thanks so much for sharing! fascinating stuff

  • @casedistorted
    @casedistorted Рік тому +1

    Fantastic video! Def make more, and y'know.. turn into that huge youtube channel

  • @screwthenet
    @screwthenet 11 місяців тому +2

    I have researched hte history of games, pub games, arcade games, slot machines and vending machines, and I LOVE IT ALL! THe older the better. This video was a long time coming and I have not seen the like anywhere else on youtube from what I can remember ( One or two channels might have a similar vid idk). BUT SUBBED! ^

    • @bralex2670
      @bralex2670  11 місяців тому +1

      Thanks :) I'd love to look into the history behind other old arcade games (like the one's you mentioned)

    • @screwthenet
      @screwthenet 11 місяців тому +1

      There are videos here and there to help, like this dude in vegas that collects very old boardwalk arcade machines from the 1960s and earlier. Hes got punching machines, old proto "pinball" I think, and shooting gallery lil machines, etc. Old slot machines from the 19th century and vending machiens pop up here and there on youtube, so check those out too. Super cool stuff, and eveyrthing goes back to old lawn games and pub games from europe. There was even supposedly a "vending" machine for "holy" water at an ancient greek or roman shrine 2000+ years ago lol So they say :P@@bralex2670

  • @stephenalexander3057
    @stephenalexander3057 2 роки тому

    Really awesome work man! Great commentary, editing, and humor to make a perfectly enjoyable, informative video! Bravo

  • @huey222
    @huey222 Рік тому +1

    Kudos on this accomplishment!

  • @dcocz3908
    @dcocz3908 Рік тому

    8:55 That pile of games, all they need is a shop, a few new bulbs and rubbers and they'll be back in action

  • @zpmc55
    @zpmc55 Рік тому

    Hey dude! I recently got into the history of pinball, so I stumbled upon your channel. Just want to say that I really enjoy your video style. Whatever it is that you do in life, keep it up!

  • @affableshadow
    @affableshadow Рік тому +1

    Thank you for this!

  • @RadioactivFly
    @RadioactivFly 11 місяців тому +1

    23:28 I was expecting a limerick lmao

  • @tnpatriot7468
    @tnpatriot7468 Рік тому

    Good video....looking forward to parts 2 and 3

  • @TiltingT
    @TiltingT 2 роки тому

    Great video! Really enjoyed it.. cant wait fir part 2... Solid State!

  • @lukewarmloser
    @lukewarmloser Рік тому

    I like this video because i decided to learn about pinball machines right now

  • @jerrymcsendee
    @jerrymcsendee 2 роки тому

    I expected something informative but dry.
    Informative, detailed, well-researched, indeed; but you're f'ing hi-larious dude. Not just pithy, but a real and consistent style of humor.

  • @Custer_X
    @Custer_X Рік тому +1

    An home state of Ohio has an arcade called Pastimes Arcade. They have the oldest pinball machines on display. They are called World's Fair Jigsaw, Bumper, Whiffle, Whiz Bang, Top Hat, Humpty Dumpty, Four Stars, Ballyhoo and 3 in Line.

  • @gravebeast9752
    @gravebeast9752 8 місяців тому

    This is the most early UA-cam video I have seen in a long time

  • @Notester82
    @Notester82 2 роки тому

    WOW, this is such a dope overview of pinball so far, can't believe this is just part 1! :D It was neat to see how some of the things that are common in pinball today got their start in the past and some of the history (like the ban + destruction of pinball tables and people being opposed to rolling score counters) is wild, whew. Also love some of the pinball tables you featured, I have a thing for minimalist/abstract art and interesting game mechanics (i.e. Williams' "OXO", one that I played a bit of prior to watching), so I took a liking to stuffs like Gottlieb's "Super Score", Rally's "Schuss", and Gottlieb's "Skipper".
    As I type this comment, I feel the urge to just binge the rest of the series, heh! ;u; Will pace myself instead, but I'm looking forward to watching the rest of this series!

    • @bralex2670
      @bralex2670  2 роки тому

      Rally tables hit different >:)

    • @Notester82
      @Notester82 2 роки тому

      They really do, it seems! "Flower's Child" especially, they went out with a bright, colorful bang. 💙

  • @Hyperbolic_G
    @Hyperbolic_G Рік тому

    ToTAN music during the smash up scene was a fantastic choice

  • @roccocasazza4145
    @roccocasazza4145 10 місяців тому +1

    The Four Horseman football game was probably a reference to the nickname being for a group of players at Notre Dame

  • @CaptNRetro
    @CaptNRetro 2 роки тому

    this is fantastic, welcome to the club of youtubing pinball historians!

  • @cubingclip8073
    @cubingclip8073 2 роки тому +1

    super under rated

  • @andrewfischer48
    @andrewfischer48 Рік тому +2

    1969 the rock opera tommy was released about a blind boy saved by pinball, 1974 tommy the movie with stars like nickleson and tina turner ann margret elton john

  • @HerrBerzerk
    @HerrBerzerk 2 роки тому

    Great Video you made there!

  • @TheGameGuruTv
    @TheGameGuruTv Рік тому

    If you havent, try Pinball FX 22 VR, Pinball in VR is truely amazing, next level! Lovely video btw

  • @Seemsayin
    @Seemsayin Рік тому

    Dude... you're funny. Great video.

  • @lukewarmloser
    @lukewarmloser Рік тому

    This is good video i like the editing its funny

  • @EpicStatues
    @EpicStatues 6 місяців тому

    Great doc, congrats!

  • @Experternas
    @Experternas Рік тому

    In Sweden Pinball machines are called Flipper due to the most important aspect of the game.

  • @crudemocha248
    @crudemocha248 2 роки тому

    Amazing videos, very funny and informative

  • @Furluge
    @Furluge 2 роки тому

    2:54 - "There for no substitute for quality" Now you can't unsee it. :D

  • @troin3925
    @troin3925 5 місяців тому

    I can't imagine pinball without flippers.

  • @fu1r4
    @fu1r4 7 місяців тому +2

    Williams and Bally did the best pinballs ...

  • @RyanTheAccuser
    @RyanTheAccuser Рік тому

    We will watch your career with great interest.

  • @frkol
    @frkol 2 роки тому +1

    Great! Waiting for the next part.. :-)

  • @ExNihiloComesNothing
    @ExNihiloComesNothing 2 роки тому

    Algorithm actually worked.
    Subbed

  • @retrogamestudios7649
    @retrogamestudios7649 2 роки тому

    Very pinheaded of you. Great job....onto part 2.... electricity...how did they use it to gamble back in the day? Was it designed specifically as a gambling device?.....what's the oldest working (and assuming it's the most expensive) pinball machine still in existence? Is there any videos of it..... whatever it may be

    • @bralex2670
      @bralex2670  2 роки тому

      I can't be sure if pinball was originally designed for gambling, but it definitely turned that way at some point. EM's generally aren't that expensive to get these days (at least not when compared to nowadays) but I think you'd have a hard time getting your hands on a 30's/40's table

  • @blueroseknight
    @blueroseknight Рік тому +2

    I question the validity of you saying that the first table with a safety gate was released in 1950. My arcade has a Three Musketeers unit released in 1949, and it has one.

  • @OtherMike5000
    @OtherMike5000 2 роки тому

    Excellent!