Four Stars

Four Stars, released by D. Gottlieb & Co. in the mid-1950s, represents a classic example of the golden age of electro-mechanical pinball machines. This period marked an important time in pinball history when manufacturers were refining their craft and establishing core gameplay mechanics that would influence the industry for decades to come.

The machine featured a relatively simple but engaging playfield design typical of its era, with four prominent star-shaped targets that gave the game its name. The scoring system utilized the standard mechanical score reels of the period, and the artwork likely featured patriotic or celestial themes common in 1950s pinball aesthetic. The four-star motif was both a gameplay element and a marketing tool, making the machine easily recognizable in arcades and entertainment venues of the time.

While not necessarily a revolutionary game in terms of mechanical innovations, Four Stars helped establish Gottlieb's reputation for building reliable, entertaining pinball machines during the electro-mechanical era. The game would have competed with other popular machines of the mid-1950s, a time when pinball was recovering from various legal challenges and establishing itself as a legitimate form of entertainment in the United States.