Las Vegas and Pinball’s Hall of Fame
Article by BJ Adams
In the 1970s, kids didn’t have much to play with when it came to video games. The first such machines in the supermarket were made up of a black, monochromatic screen, a couple of white rectangles and a dotted line, and a few dots of pixels, in an attempt to simulate a paddle game, where, by twisting a few knobs, you could move the “paddles” to hit the “ball” and play the game of ping pong.
You might recall, or have been told stories, about this particular game, known as “Pong.” Ten years later, throughout the United States, there was a rapid expansion of video game arcades. It was a place where kids spent most of their days, often dropped off by their parents, where they played more and more advanced versions of this game.
Today, we can see the results of such a device — ten years into the 21st Century children have at their fingertips machines with elaborate CGI, dynamic sound effects, wireless controls on such devices as the Wii, giving kids access in a virtual world to just about everything they might one day be able to do in the real world: drive a car or fly a plane. Kids (and adults) can experience everything from solving intricate puzzles to role playing fantasy games on other worlds to figuring out strategies in modern warfare.
But what started all this? Years ago, even before that initial black-and-white game, there was a less-elaborate version of this amusement, the pinball machine. If you’re old enough to remember these devices, or if you’ve played a nostalgic game or two in the recent past, you’ll enjoy a visit to the Pinball Hall of Fame in Las Vegas. If you’ve never had the opportunity to play one, there’s no better place then this intriguing hall which acts as a kind of memorial to these coin-operated machines. At one time, pinball manufacturers were everywhere, but now, the only one to remain is that of Stern Pinball, Incorporated, whose headquarters are located in Illinois.
This arcade, perhaps the last of its kind, is run by Tim Arnold, who opens up the Hall of Fame for about twelve hours each day. The hours can vary; however, you can’t call to check, because there’s no phone in the building. You’ll have to make a trip to the site instead. If you’re staying in a hotel in North Las Vegas, though, that should be fairly simple to do.
The Hall of Fame may be found at 1610 E. Tropicana Avenue. If you want to relive your past, or just have a taste of what drove the Pinball Wizard in The Who’s rock opera, “Tommy,” you should head on over, as have about three hundred of Arnold’s customers each day.
About the Author
BJ Adams has a Bachelors in English Literature and a passion for travel. A freelance blog and web writer, BJ has published numerous pieces on travel and tourism around the world. Some of BJ’s work can be found at his website.