Universe

Universe, released by D. Gottlieb & Co. in 1959, emerged during the golden age of electro-mechanical pinball machines when space-themed games were particularly popular following the launch of Sputnik and the escalating Space Race between the United States and Soviet Union. This timing made Universe particularly relevant to the cultural zeitgeist of the late 1950s.

The machine featured classic electro-mechanical components and artwork that celebrated the cosmic frontier, with illustrations of planets, stars, and rockets that captured the public's imagination about space exploration. The playfield likely included standard features of the era such as pop bumpers, kick-out holes, and scoring lanes, all themed around an astronomical motif.

As with many Gottlieb machines of this period, Universe would have been built with the company's signature attention to reliability and craftsmanship. The game's release coincided with a time when pinball was still establishing itself as a legitimate form of entertainment, fighting against bans in many major cities. Games like Universe helped maintain pinball's popularity in locations where it was legal, offering players an escape into the fascinating realm of space exploration through mechanical gameplay.

While not among Gottlieb's most famous titles, Universe represents an important piece of both pinball and space-age pop culture history, reflecting society's growing obsession with space travel and scientific advancement during the late 1950s.