Balls of Steel: How Pinball Became Cool Again

They sit in the corners of dimly-lit dive bars, blinking brightly and begging for quarters. If you slip one a dollar or two, it comes to life, shouting familiar phrases from licensed films and awarding you three shots to score the most points possible. Other than a little distraction, pinball doesn't have much of a purpose; most machines are clearly labeled with the reminder that playing is “for amusement only." But as innocent as the fun may seem, it wasn't always this way. Pinball—like prostitution, murder, and dealing dope—was illegal for almost four decades in New York City (as well as Chicago, Los Angeles, and a few other major American cities).

When Fiorello LaGuardia was sworn into the Mayor's Office in 1934, he made it his mission to banish corruption and erase the stereotypes of Italians as gangsters. He hit the mob where it hurt the most—by taking sledgehammers to their slot-machines. By 1942, similarly coin-operated pinball was considered gambling, seen as games of chance rather than games of skill. So LaGuardia sent his police force to round up any remaining machines, destroy them, and dump them into the city's rivers like traitorous wise guys sent to sleep with the fishes.

Today, you don't have to don scuba gear to get your game on. The ban was lifted in 1976 after pinball wizard Roger Sharpe proved to a stunned City Council that pinball involved more skill than chance by calling out his shot Babe-Ruth style before their very eyes. It flourished in settings like Steve Epstein's esteemed Broadway Arcade—where Lou Reed held his wedding reception—until redevelopment pushed the venue out of Times Square along with porn shops and peep shows, once again lumping pinball in with seedier pass times. But perhaps because of its kitschy appeal, gastropubs, skates shops, and showrooms across the city are bringing pinball back in a big way, and for once, a New York mayor was on board! During his term, Bloomberg upped the machine maximum from four to nine tables on-sitewith no need for an arcade license.

Mint machines can garner $25,000 or more from serious collectors, there are new manufacturers in Jersey and Amsterdam, and NYC has its very own league, boasting nearly 300 members. You can ball like a gangster no matter what your affiliations—here are some of the best places to do so.

RELATED: The 10 Coolest Pinball Machines Of The Ages
RELATED: Pinball Was Illegal in NYC For Over 30 Years
RELATED: A Completely Un-Creepy Guide to Meeting Strangers at Bars

Neighborhood: Kip's Bay, Manhattan
Location: 362 3rd Ave.
Website: modernpinballnyc.com
Vibe: All-ages fun

This Kip's Bay "interactive showroom" opened last fall with Broadway Arcade's Steve Epstein at the helm. Here, you can pay by the hour to try out dozens of collector-worthy tables, all set to free play. You can also book private parties. If you need a few pointers, sign up to take lessons from world pinball champion Francesco La Rocca. And save your receipts—your admission fee acts as credit toward the eventual purchase of a machine.

Neighborhood: Lower East Side, Manhattan
Location: 153 Essex St.
Website: facebook.com/twobitsarcade
Vibe: Old-school games and lots of booze

If your nostalgic tendencies extend beyond pinball, this LES bar is perfect for you. Here, pins sit side-by-side with a bevy of classic arcade selections for those who get tired of tilting. In the back corner of the bar, you'll find two interesting artifacts from pinball's iffy marketing history: Revenge From Mars and Star Wars Episode One are hybrid "Pinball 2000" machines, which combine arcade game screens with traditional pinball playfields for integrated shots. If all those graphics have you feeling thirsty, you've got options, since the bar has wine, sake, craft beer on tap, and forties for the truly classy.

Neighborhood: East Village, Manhattan
Location: 402 E. 11th St.
Website: facebook.com/reciprocalskateboards
Vibe: Skate shop

Voted best skate shop by The Village Voice in 2013, you can pick up custom decks designed by local artists, streetwear, and gear for various skill levels while checking out the store's painstakingly restored machines. It was one of the first locations in NYC to host Wizard of Oz, notable because it is manufactured by Jersey Jack Pinball, the first company in ages to join Stern in producing new games.

Neighborhood: Long Island City, Queens
Location: 10-93 Jackson Ave.
Website: creeklic.com
Vibe: Pinball, comedy, and food together at last

Though it hasn't been around long, Creek & Cave boasts the largest and best selection of pinball machines in Queens, so if the 7 is running, it's well worth the one stop into LIC from the city. While you're at it, be sure to catch a comedy show in the bar's two performance spaces-they host everything from open mics to improv to established ensembles. In the summer, the patio promises to be a hot-spot, as the restaurant has an excellent reputation for its Cali-style Mexican cuisine and in-house infused tequilas.

Neighborhood: Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Location: 860 Manhattan Ave.
Website: facebook.com/SunshineLaundromat
Vibe: Hipster laundromat

There's no sense in putting off hygiene for the sake of pinball, especially if you're in Greenpoint, where you can feed quarters into washers, dryers, and some of the most beloved pinball titles amongst fans. If you're lucky, you'll meet owner Peter and his co-pilot Hannah, a Labrador Retriever who inspired the quirky murals painted on every available inch of blank wall. These eccentric flourishes and absurdest flyers posted here and there will have you scratching your head and laughing your (dirty) socks off.

Neighborhood: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Location: 143 Havemeyer
Website: facebook.com/jackbar
Vibe: Updated dive

Back when it was known as Satellite, this location was one of the first bars in Williamsburg to host more than one or two lonely tables. They've retained the $5 High Life and shot special, but after a recent renovation have expanded to a great selection of craft beers as well, and everything is available by the pitcher. Not to mention the room they made for more machines, featuring some ultra-fun ones that you won't see anywhere else.

Neighborhood: Park Slope, Brooklyn
Location: Multiple locations between Union and 12th St. along 5th Ave.
Websites: See bellow
Vibe: Pinball and microbrews

Your flipper fingers are sure to sting after a night out along what's referred to amongst neighborhood ballers as the Park Slope Corridor. Each of these bars has two things in common: great beer on draft and plenty of space dedicated to pinball. Order meat pies or opt for free popcorn at High Dive, Commonwealth, or Monro Pub; check out live jazz (from the corner of your eye, of course) at Fifth Estate; chill on Mission Dolores' spacious year-round patio; sign up to DJ a five-song vinyl set at Owl Farm between rounds; or simply lounge at Skylark, where the pins compliment the 1970s living-room vibe. Several of these spots host special keg taps and brewery nights as well, including Bar Great Harry, just a short walk over to Smith Street from the main drag. Tip your bartenders well and they just may show you some pinball tips of their own.