Game On...Penny Pinball Beginnings

It was 1929...things weren't that great in the country. People were looking for work and wanted entertainment and amusement.

That set the stage for creative entrepreneurs to figure out ways to meet the needs for only a penny...one thin cent...one hundredth of a dollar...come play "pinball."

So aptly named since the board was a series of pins surrounding holes the balls dropped through. You scored points and tested your skill in shooting or moving the game...(this action will cause "tilt" to come in to play).

The game above is Bally Hoo, named after a popular magazine of the day. It was made in 1929...you got 7 balls for 1 cent. Later they came out with the same game playing 10 balls for 5 cents. That's where I believe the game's makers have it figured out...during the Great Depression they bumped up the price 4 cents and gave you a measly 3 additional balls to play...wowzers...and then they formed the Bally company.

The popularity of the game was remarkable. And pinball's popularity remains today...whether you like these early games, the wood rails, electro-magnetic, electronic, or digital the allure is all the same...they're cooler than the other side of the pillow.

Enjoy your games and visit us @ http://www.rocketranchroadhouse.com/

Check out some ultra cool new stuff we just posted.

It's Game Time...The Coin-op Craze

This time of the year is always a great time to remember and collect some super fun games from the past.
If it takes a coin to operate...I'm a player. I've been bug-nuts about coin-ops since I was a kid playing the jukebox, pinballs, gumballs, trade stimulators, or any other game that took a coin...usually a penny or a nickel in those days. Boy were they fun to play...requiring not only a coin, but usually some skill also. Like the Duck Hunter gumball in the picture...you got to shoot the penny right at the ducks. You always got a gumball, but you had some real fun getting it.
Some of my favorites were the "Pitch and Bat" baseball games...you and a buddy could have a lot of fun playing those. Check out the Williams Shortstop Deluxe we have for sale on the website...super cool.
The holiday season always makes me think of the cool games from my youth...boy have things changed...now it's not about electro-mechanical, it's all digital. Skill is still required...I just like all the jingle-jangle bells & whistles and things moving & whirring as you played.
You can tell I really like these based on the stuff under Coin-Op/Arcade at rocketranchroadhouse.com...I still play 'em, fix 'em, and sell 'em.
Enjoy an old time arcade or coin-op game ...and rev up the fun old skool.