Hi pinball fans,
I'm going to throw my hat in the ring here. ... First let me say that I would guess that most pinball players reckon that the machines they played as a kid were the best. ... I am no exception, as I do think that the Gottlieb wedgeheads of the 60's are arguably the greatest pinball machines of all time. I was born in 1953 and played many pinball machines between 1963-1968 in particular.
There's more than a few reasons why I make this claim... The fact that wedgeheads still look so good is a part of it...the fact that they have beautiful brass components underneath (bumper holding assembly, kicking rubber metal components, ball housing, spring loaded lock down bar, relay mountings etc) is part of it. ....but it's more than that. The mid sixties was a time when some really important elements came together for a short time, and then they were gone.
This was the time when (a) technology of the pinball had evolved to where all the modern components were cookin' (flippers, bumpers, kicking rubbers, eject holes etc). ...(b) game design was mature and sophisticated at Gottlieb. Wayne Neyens had been designing games for many years by now, and he always was a master of 'game concept'. ... and (c) the artwork of the great Roy Parker WAS pinball by this time, and his art made you feel like pinball was 'timeless'. ...his artwork had always been a big part of just how attractive and fun pinballs were.
So these elements came together and shone like a diamond for a few years. I reckon there's a peak year here which is had to top. ...1963 had Sweethearts, 1964 had World Fair, but what a year 1965 was. In just this one year Gottlieb released BANK A BALL, BUCKAROO, KINGS AND QUEENS, SKYLINE and ICE REVIEW. To me this was pinball's hour. These games were just fantastic in their own individual way. .....and then it was over.
At that time, when Sing A Long came out, you knew that something had changed. The art work was kinda the same but somehow it was different, and maybe not quite as good. It also had automatic ball lift...no more 'manual multi-ball!) And for me, by the time Royal Guard made its appearance, it was all over. Roy had passed away, Wayne Neyens was no longer designing the games, and time, art and technology were marching on. Soon there would be 3" flippers and all sorts of other stuff. Don't get me wrong here. I'm not saying that Royal Guard is not a worthy machine. It's fun on its own terms, but for me, isn't quite the machine that the 63-65 Gottliebs are.
Pinball has had the amazing ability to re-invent itself on more than a few occassions. 1965 is not the only great year in pinball, but it could be the greatest. 1960's Gottlieb single player wedgeheads are among the very best pinballs of all time. I think it will always be this way. ... but I was 12 in 1965 and that makes me biased, I guess.