Hearts and Spades

Hearts and Spades was likely a themed pinball machine that capitalized on the enduring popularity of card games and gambling motifs in arcade entertainment. Released during the golden age of electro-mechanical pinball machines, it represented a common theme that resonated with adult players who enjoyed card games in social settings.

The machine probably featured classic playing card imagery, with hearts and spades suit symbols prominently displayed on the playfield and backglass. Like other Gottlieb games of this era, it likely employed mechanical score reels, chimes, and bells, creating the distinctive soundtrack that characterized late 1960s pinball machines. The playfield presumably included card-themed targets and drop targets, possibly with special scoring combinations based on poker hands.

While not necessarily groundbreaking in terms of innovation, Hearts and Spades would have been part of the last generation of electro-mechanical machines before the solid-state revolution of the late 1970s. These machines were built to last, with robust mechanical components and relatively straightforward maintenance requirements, which explains why some examples may still be found in working condition today.