Alice in Wonderland

The 'Alice in Wonderland' pinball machine, released by D. Gottlieb & Co. in 1948, represents one of the earliest themed pinball machines based on a literary classic. This machine arrived during the golden age of mechanical pinball when manufacturers were beginning to experiment with more elaborate themes and artwork to attract players.

The machine featured beautiful hand-painted artwork depicting characters from Lewis Carroll's beloved story, including Alice, the White Rabbit, and the Queen of Hearts. As was typical for pinball machines of this era, it utilized a simple scoring system with mechanical reels and featured the standard complement of bumpers, kickout holes, and rollover switches. The playfield was designed to be relatively straightforward, as was common in pre-flipper era machines, focusing on the skills of ball placement and timing.

What made this machine particularly notable was its timing, arriving when pinball was still establishing itself as a legitimate form of entertainment following various legal challenges and bans in major cities. The choice of 'Alice in Wonderland' as a theme helped legitimize pinball as family-friendly entertainment, moving away from the gambling associations of earlier machines. The literary connection and whimsical artwork made it more appealing to location owners who might have otherwise been hesitant to install pinball machines.

Production numbers for 'Alice in Wonderland' were relatively limited, as was common for machines of this era, making surviving examples highly sought after by collectors today. The machine stands as an important milestone in pinball history, representing the industry's early attempts at creating themed entertainment experiences that would appeal to a broader audience.