The Legalization of Pinball in Canada: Canadian Coin Box Magazine August 1973

 

Pretty much every pinball player / enthusiast in the world knows the story of Roger Sharpe, who, in 1976 in a New York City courtroom, demonstrated before a judge that pinball was in fact a game of skill, Resulting in the legalization of Pinball in NYC.

NOW, what if I told you that a almost identical feat was executed in 1973 by pinball designer Jim Patla playing a Gottlieb Pro Football in a Ottawa Courtroom?

Taken from page 4 of the May 1973 issue of Canadian Coin Box magazine

 

Indeed. Here's a piece of forgotten pinball history out of the August 1973 issue of Canadian Coin Box Magazine. The Court did find that the match feature was a form of gambling.

CCBM August 1973 page 8

CCBM August 1973 page 9

 

Here are a couple more related articles out of the same issue

CCBM August 1973 page 12

CCBM August 1973 page 13

 

 

Pinball Queen sets tough pace

Looking through my pile of Canadian Coin Box Magazines, I stumbled upon another article about the Pinball Queen of Canada.

The article is from the February 1977 Canadian Coin Box Magazine titled Oriena Currie sets tough pace. The article, written by Margaret Mironowicz, is a reprint from The Globe and Mail.

The Globe and Mail - original photo by James Lewcun

At the time the article was written Mrs Currie ran Currie Distributing, Currie Amusements and was a partner in Home Games Inc. Later in the article Mrs. Currie admits "...she doesn't love [pinball] machines and doesn't play them herself, although she used to years ago."

A business woman in the 70's! That's pretty inspiring. Enjoy the scans.

Oriena Currie sets tough pace page 20
Oriena Currie sets tough pace page 21
Oriena Currie sets tough pace page 22

Prevents Pilfering

Here's one out of the 1959 Wico catalog

BINGO FRONT DOOR PROTECTOR GUARDS METAL

PREVENTS PILFERING

Ad from 1959 Wico Catalog

Here's a closeup look of the said door guard 60 years later as seen on a Bally Beach Time Bingo. Stainless steel giving added beauty.

Stainless steel coin door guard

Pilfering... Tee-Hee!

Two coinmen walk into a bar.

First one turns to the second and asks: Why so glum?

Secon answers: My machine was pilfered

He should have used a BINGO FRONT DOOR PROTECTOR GUARDS METAL

Talking of Bally Beach Time...

Bally Beach Time Bingo Head

I really should get this game up and running. It's been in storage since July 2017 :-(

With Sun Valley, It's the only magic squares moving number game you can move all 25 numbers.

Bingo in the back of the Sienna with my shadow

Wanted: Bingo Mechanic

It's the mid 50's. You have a coin-op business and you need a tech for your bingo machines.

What do you do?

You post a small ad in Billboard Magazine for a Bingo Mechanic. 

Below are a few screenshots of "Wanted Bingo Mechanic" ad's taken from vintage Billboard Magazines.

No drifters. Give Reference. Must be sober.

Pure Gold!

The worst phrase for a EM pinball repair dude

Often seen on Williams pinball schematics from around 1976

NOTICE Due to wire shortages beyond our control, some wire colors may be other than indicated on wiring diagram.

Grrrr. And my multimeter is out of batteries.

[Imagine Picard Facepalm Here]

Better hope there's a jack (jones plug) layout and detailed relay switch info.

Cheers

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