In the years post-World War II, few forms of entertainment were viewed as dangerous to society as the classic pinball machine.
The big picture: Pinball was long seen as a game of chance, not skill. Police chiefs and moralists reviled the game. Cities like Columbus banned it.
Flashback: In 1956, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled these prizes made them illegal gambling machines.
What they're saying: Gov. Frank Lausche hated pinball, saying in a statement at the time: "In the main, [pinball machines] have been used hiddenly as gambling devices. People who play them become addicts just as those who previously in Ohio played slot machines."
Over time, the fervor against pinball eased.
Yes, but: A 1974 ordinance in Grove City still outlaws pinball games operated via token, coin or other fee.
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