- Tubelator AI
- >
- Videos
- >
- Entertainment
- >
- Pinball: From Illegal Gambling Game to a Classic Pastime | American Obsessions
Pinball: From Illegal Gambling Game to a Classic Pastime | American Obsessions
In the series premiere of VICE's American Obsessions, we take a look at the beloved game of pinball, its controversial history and days of corruption, and dive into the story of the family rooted deep in the nostalgic game's past and future.
Between the 1940s and 1970s, pinball was notoriously banned in some of the biggest cities in the United States, due to claims that it was a mafia-run gambling device that was corrupting the youth of America. It wasn't until 1976 that expert Roger Sharpe testified in court to demonstrate that pinball was a game of skill and not of luck, after which the ban was lifted in New York City.
This, however, wasn't the end of the game's long battle for legality, and some cities today still do not allow pinball in their districts. But now the game is making a comeback — both in court and in the world of gaming.
VICE follows pinball fans, including breakout musician Mac Demarco, and beloved playfield artist Dirty Donny, to learn more about the game's place in American pop culture. We then travel to the 2014 annual Pinball Expo in Chicago to meet with the Sharpe family and watch the best players in the world battle for the reigning title.
Up Next: Meet the Celebrities and Millionaires of Competitive Gaming - http://bit.ly/eSports-P1
Watch more American Obsessions: http://bit.ly/American-Obsessions
Click here to subscribe to VICE: http://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE
Check out our full video catalog: http://bit.ly/VICE-Videos
Videos, daily editorial and more: http://vice.com
More videos from the VICE network: https://www.fb.com/vicevideos
Like VICE on Facebook: http://fb.com/vice
Follow VICE on Twitter: http://twitter.com/vice
Read our Tumblr: http://vicemag.tumblr.com
Follow us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/vice
Install Tubelator On Chrome
Video Summary & Chapters
No chapters for this video generated yet.
Video Transcript
[Music]
nowadays it's like people come into a
bar and they're like oh look at that old
thing in the corner you know but it's a
lot more complicated than that it's not
just like a boom boom hit the things on
the side it's a little
worldness you like the 70s where the
ball's a little slower but the artwork
is like super bright do you like the 80s
where the ball got quicker I mean all
are great it's the same counterculture
appeel as comic book art skateboarding
the rock and roll if you think about how
you're rocking the game and the ball is
rolling there's something about that
wild rebellious Parian American Spirit
one of the ways that TV and movie
portrayed a bad kid they were playing
the pinball machine it's like crap you
start playing it and you just can't
stop
[Music]
this weekend is a really big tournament
and show the Chicago pinball Expo it's
the 30th anniversary of
[Music]
it
their's slip out tournament with $10,000
on the
[Music]
line there's seminars every day you have
all designers pinball manufacturers so
it's a pretty big deal this
weekend pinbal industry is almost 100
years old now we finally have created a
trading card set that commemorates the
history of pinball oh there I am yeah
there I am except I'm much younger
looking on the card Walter I want you to
sign I want to sign later on sign where
your cards for
me hey two great Legends meeting there
you
go my
friend thank you very much my pleasure
sir you have over a th events around the
world you have over 28,000 players
ranked in the world pinball rankings and
you know we're back as being iconic
