2001

The '2001' pinball machine, released by Gottlieb in 1971, represents a fascinating intersection of pop culture and arcade gaming, arriving in the wake of Stanley Kubrick's groundbreaking 1968 film '2001: A Space Odyssey'. While not officially licensed from the film, the machine capitalized on the public's growing fascination with space exploration and futuristic themes during the Apollo era.

Designed during the golden age of electro-mechanical pinball, '2001' featured classic styling with space-age artwork depicting astronauts, spacecraft, and celestial bodies. The playfield incorporated standard features of the era including pop bumpers, drop targets, and spinning targets. The scoring system was fully mechanical, utilizing the reliable motorized score reels that were standard for machines of this period.

The machine's release coincided with a pivotal time in both pinball and space exploration history, as America's space program was reaching new heights and arcade entertainment was entering a transformative decade. While not as widely remembered as some other machines of its era, '2001' represents an important example of how pinball manufacturers incorporated contemporary themes and public interests into their designs.