Follies of 1940

The 'Follies of 1940' pinball machine emerged during a pivotal era in American amusement history, as pinball was establishing itself as a mainstream entertainment format. Released by D. Gottlieb & Co., this machine reflected the popular entertainment themes of its time, drawing inspiration from the theatrical revues and follies shows that were prevalent in American culture of the 1940s.

The machine featured classic electro-mechanical components typical of its era, with mechanical score reels, bells, and bumpers. Its playfield likely incorporated the innovations of the early 1940s, including passive bumpers and kickers. The artwork would have featured the glamorous showgirl aesthetic common to the period, matching its 'Follies' theme and appealing to the era's sensibilities.

As a pre-flipper era machine (flippers weren't invented until 1947), gameplay would have relied primarily on plunger skill and ball manipulation through bumpers and pins. These early machines were instrumental in developing the basic concepts of pinball play that would evolve into modern gameplay mechanics. The scoring system would have been relatively simple compared to later machines, focusing on hitting specific targets and achieving particular ball paths.

While exact production numbers are not widely documented for machines of this era, 'Follies of 1940' represents an important piece of pinball history, bridging the gap between the simple bagatelle games of the 1930s and the more complex pinball machines that would emerge in the post-war period. Its survival rate is likely quite low, making any existing examples valuable to collectors and historians.