Machine Description

Moon Shot, released by Bally Manufacturing in 1963, captured the intense public fascination with the space race during the early 1960s. This electro-mechanical pinball machine arrived during a pivotal time in American history, just as NASA's Mercury program was in full swing and the goal of reaching the Moon was becoming a national priority following President Kennedy's famous 1961 speech.

The machine's design incorporated space age aesthetics that were characteristic of the era, featuring artistic renderings of rockets, astronauts, and lunar landscapes. The playfield likely included orbit-themed scoring lanes, rocket ship targets, and possibly countdown bonus features, though specific gameplay details are limited in historical records. As with most electro-mechanical machines of this period, it would have utilized mechanical relays, stepper units, and score reels to track player progress.

Moon Shot represents an important piece of pinball history, demonstrating how manufacturers incorporated contemporary events and public interests into their themes. The space race theme would become increasingly popular in pinball design throughout the 1960s, with Moon Shot being one of the earlier examples of this trend. While not as well-documented as some other machines of its era, Moon Shot serves as a testament to how pinball reflected and contributed to popular culture during the golden age of electro-mechanical pinball machines.