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My motivation when writing this book was to pay tribute to the designers and artists who have brought so much pleasure to millions around the world. I wrote the book as a tribute to all those who were part of pinball's amazing history. The book includes the stories of four of my heroes, all of whom I am in contact with on a regular basis. These guys are Norm Clark, Steve Kordek, Ed Krynski and Wayne Neyens - my heroes. Over the past few years I have not only met them but have become very good friends with them. My favourite Norm Clark game is "Spanish Eyes" (Williams 1972), favourite Steve Kordek game is "Friendship 7" (Williams 1962), favourite Wayne Neyens game is "Sweethearts" (Gottlieb 1963) and my favorite Ed Krynski game is "Joker Poker" (Gottlieb 1978). I have asked them to write a few words on what they thought of the book.
Norm Clark writes:
Michael, you did a bang up job. The research on every topic was outstanding. You seemed to reach into every nook and corner for the information. I was very impressed with the amount of detail you achieved on the pin games. I was also impressed with the background on the designers. I learned a lot about the designers in the industry that I didn’t know. I just want to let you know what a swell job you did on the book. I have read just about all the books written on Pinball and must say that in my opinion none of them has done a better job. The pictures and write-ups of the pins were just great as was the background of the Industry. Keep up the good work.
Steve Kordek's comments:
Michael, a truly amazing book, I got a lot of kick from reading it. I have seen every book written on pinballs and yours sits next to my other favorite book written by Roger Sharpe called “Pinball”. I have read the entire book and am fascinated with the effort you put in. I keep wondering how much your phone bills are. I enjoyed reading about my good friend Harvey who is no longer with us. I worked with him for twenty years at Genco, and it was from him that I learned to make successful game layouts. It was also exciting reading comments and articles. I loved working in the industry, and your book brought back so many wonderful memories. I give you credit, Michael, as you keep pushing to get results. God bless you and your family, Michael.
Ed Krynski’s remarks:
I very much enjoyed your book; you have done a great job putting it together. I love the stories as well as the photos. They all brought back memories, some that I have long forgotten. When I left the industry back in 1984, the last thing on my mind was pinball games. I had moved on with my life and wanted nothing to do with them. After reading the book my feelings have changed, and now look forward to attending Pinball Expo and catching up with old acquaintances. I have met a lot of people that have a passion for certain things but yours for pinballs is unbelievable. Keep up the good work.
Wayne Neyens notes:
I have finished reading The Pinball Compendium, cover to cover and I must say it is the greatest. I started out skimming the book, selecting highlights, then went back and read every word and carefully examined every picture. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed it; you are to be commended. The Photography is outstanding and the games are displayed beautifully. The detail on the boards and glass is sharp enough to really understand each game. All in all it is a great book, Michael, and you are to be congratulated.
Comments from the Gurus about the second volume.
Norm Clark Comments:
Michael, have finished reading the book, along with the first volume you sure covered the Pinball Industry. The pictures of the games are great. The amount of detail is terrific. I enjoyed reading about the people I worked with and the friends I have made in the industry and have re-lived plenty of memories. This is a great book, one that I have enjoyed reading over and over again, keep up the good work and am looking forward to your next book.
Greg Kmiec comments:
Michael has captured the essence of the pinball industry during the 1970's and he presents the inside story on how elements of design, technology, artwork and marketing contributed to a game's success. His book is a "must have" for all pinball curious people, from aficionados to collectors to researchers.
Wayne Neyens writes:
Having read Volume l of the Compendium series, which I enjoyed very much, I was eagerly awaiting Volume ll. Upon its arrival I immediately sat down and scanned the entire book. To say the least I was not disappointed, it was every thing that Compendium l was and more. At my leisure I then sat down and read it cover to cover. The pictures, of course are all great, the sharpness and the position on the pages and giving the credits to the owner of the machine was great. But what I enjoyed the most was reading all the write-ups of the different personalities. To name just a few of the great articles Roy Parker, Gary Stern, Lyn Durant, Dave Gottlieb and my old friend Jimmy Johnson all come to mind.
I' ll. be looking forward to Volume III with all the great pictures of the '80s games and all the great stories that go along with them.
Steve Kordek adds:
What a masterpiece, I enjoyed it better than the first, there is so much detailed information, you have brought back so many wonderful memories, your documentation and detailed information shows your love for the game, you obviously have a great passion for it and I often wonder what your phone bills are. Many of the ideas I put on the playfield came from events occurring in my life, I thank you for all your hard work and am sure those who see the book will truly appreciate it, Bless you and your family for this tremendous effort paying tribute to those in the industry.
Steve Ritchie comments:
Michael Shalhoub's Pinball Compendium is a great documentary of our business. I especially like the personal insight he gives readers into the personalities behind the pin game business, and the great photos he has come up with. I learn something new every-time I pick up the book.
Ed Krynski adds:
An amazing book, plenty of wonderful photos bringing back so many memories, I particularly enjoyed the section on the pinball pioneer. When you first contacted me I knew you were a determined man. Looking at the book shows me your dedication to the game as it emphasizes a great love for it. Being inducted into the pinball hall of fame was a special moment for me and my family; I appreciate all your hard work, looking forward to seeing you again.
Alvin Gottlieb, One man who has been a huge inspiration in my work is Alvin Gottlieb, the son of David Gottlieb who formed D Gottlieb & Co back in 1927, the year Alvin was born. I have always had a passion for their games as the majority of those I played growing up were Gottlieb’s. The name Gottlieb will be around forever, not only did Dave build an empire that would dominate the pinball industry for many years, but he also built the Gottlieb Memorial Hospital on West North Avenue, Chicago that fulfilled his dreams. I asked Alvin to write a few words about the book:
Dear Michael, your second book about pinballs is the most comprehensive documentary that I have ever read on the subject. The details of each game show an interesting insight to the designer's efforts to make a game that would hold the players interest throughout the play. As a participant in the creation of these games, I never thought there would come a time when pinball collectors would have such an interest in game design that there would be a need for books such as yours to cover the operation of each machine in such an interesting manner. The photos, which are great, brought back memories of the hours of meetings analyzing each game's actions, sounds, play board colors and overall artwork all in the vein of attracting the people to the game and then keeping their interest to continue playing. Your description of each game is a boon to anyone that has an interest in games but not able to get to each and every machine in operable condition to understand the magnetism of its play appeal.
Over the years, I wrote the copy for the brochures, (advertising flyers) that were aimed primarily at the operators and distributors, trying to show and tell them of the new features of the next game to go into production. The text was written to translate the games appeal into increased profits of the operator. I like your approach that tells about the games in a way that focuses primarily on the interesting and entertainment aspect.
Your books have been a great help to me because there is no way I could remember all of the details of games we produced in my 34 years at D. Gottlieb & Co. Designers such as Wayne Neyens and Eddie Krynski remember all the nuances of their creations like favorite children but I fondly recall the sales numbers in a similar way. It was great making products that entertain people and I am enjoying the fact that there are more and more collectors having fun with "Amusement Pinballs" and your books fill a need for those who want to get deeper into the fascination of "The Rolling Ball". Alvin Gottlieb
The Third book 1982-2005
The book was reviewed by Tim Ferrante at GameRoom Magazine:
The author's prior two works, The Pinball Compendium 1930s - 1960s and The Pinball Compendium 1970 - 1981, are hobby best sellers. This is the third and final book in the trilogy and covers 1982 through today, the most popular collecting time period. You will be immersed in nearly 300 pages of color photos ranging from commonplace games to prototypes that never got past a whitewood (did you know that Data East was planning and partially built a MAD Magazine pinball?) Shalhoub repeats the successful formula established in his second book by contacting dozens of pinball people, the majority of which are no longer a part of the industry. Nearly every game pictured is accompanied by commentary written by someone who worked directly on it. Shalhoub steps back at every chance he can get, wisely permitting designers, musicians, artists, programmers, executives, authors, publishers and convention organizers to tell the broad story. It's a tactic that gives readers the most up close and personal accounts they'll ever come across. The photos are never ending and if you have yet to experience a book by Schiffer Publishing, you already know what to expect in terms of quality. Glossy paper stock, full color imagery and hardbound with coated dust jacket. It's a bit sad that this is the swan song of the series as they're great fun to read and filled with information you won't find on the Internet. That alone should be reason enough to gift it to yourself. It, along with his other books, get our highest recommendation.
This book is a must for every pinball enthusiast, it has been acclaimed by many as the best pinball book to date.
Legendary Pinball designer Norm Clark was asked to review the book this is what he had to say.
Hi Michael:
I spent the day yesterday reviewing your book. I spent a lot of time reading it and went over it with a fine tooth comb.`I want to tell you that you did a bang up job. The research on every topic was outstanding. You seemed to reach into every nook and corner for the information. I was very impressed with the amount of detail you achieved on the pingames. I was also impressed with the background on the designers. I learned a lot about the designers in the industry that I din`t know. Also about the men who started the industry, the owners and founders. In 1954 when I started in the industry, information about games and who designed them were kept under wraps. The designer of the game was not permitted to put his name on the game. As you know, back then there were not a lot of pinball designers. At Williams after Harry Mabs retired, Steve Kordek was the sole designer and then in the sixties Sam Stern gave me a chance at designing games and Steve and I were the only designers until I Joined Bally in 1975. Well Michael I just want to let you know what a swell job you did on the book. I have read just about all the books written on Pinball and must say that in my opinion none of them have done a better job.The pictures and write-ups of the pins were just great as was the background of the Industry. Keep up the good work.
Your friend. Norm.
This is what Alvin Gottlieb said about the book:
Your book 1 was a pleasant surprise in that it included details I had long forgotten. An excellent piece of work and I am sure it will become a standard reference "Compendium" as you call it.Well done.
Alvin
This is the review Gordon Hasse gave to Tim Ferrante for GameRoom magazine.
The dictionary defines compendium as "a short, complete summary; an abridgement". Michael Shaloub's newly released The Pinball Compendium 1930s-1960s is that and more. The "more", in this case, are the 607 color photos and 23 black and white ones that make this survey history a "must have" for pinball collectors and a visual treat for fans of American pop-culture everywhere. Shaloub, like so many foreign authors before him, is quick to recognize and celebrate the uniquely American pinball machine as a global pop-icon. And while the history presented is largely derivative, the extensive collection of photos that accompany it do the game and the author proud. Pinball collectors can never seem to get enough color photos of games, but Shaloub's offering may come close. Because in 240 glossy pages he presents 306 different pinball machines in full color. You'll find photos spanning pinball's first four decades of production that include 107 Gottlieb games, 90 Williams, 36 Bally, 17 United, 15 Genco, 13 Chicago Coin, 9 Exhibit, 4 Stoner, 3 each from Rock-Ola, Keeney and Midway and a single example from Mills, Nasco, Pacific and Universal. There's also one foreign game and one of unknown origin shown among the games in the 30s section. Except for the earliest games, which lacked backglasses, there are two photos of nearly every machine: one of the backglass and one of the playfield. The backglasses are shot almost head-on while the playfields are shot at a slight angle from above. When the two photos are butted together they present an excellent picture of the complete game. Some of the highlights of the book are the four pages showing all six of Gottlieb's "Fairy Tale" series games in one place at one time. In full color. Another is being able to view such an extensive presentation of the rarely seen United non-bingos. It's also exciting to see so many Williams woodrails from the 40s and 50s -- Williams games of that era being far scarcer than their Gottlieb counterparts. Yet Shaloub manages to find 31 of them to show us along with 52 Gottlieb's. Well done, Michael! The even rarer Genco's are another treat. And no fan of the 60s can argue with the 131 games from that era on display for their enjoyment. The Pinball Compendium is divided into five chapters. One for each of the four decades and a concluding chapter entitled "Keeping the Dream Alive". In the spirit of promoting pinball fellowship and understanding, Chapter 5 features short pieces by or about 35 different pinball people from here in The States and Down Under. You'll see many familiar faces and meet lots of new ones among the collectors, restorers, enthusiasts, authors, publishers, industry figures and suppliers featured here. They're just some of the people who keep the hobby and the game of pinball fun and viable. Sadly, there's not a woman among them. Perhaps calls to Margaret Hudson, Julia Slayton and Lynnae Clark are in order for Volume 2? No review of The Pinball Compendium would be complete without mentioning the excellent series of interviews with industry giants that are sprinkled throughout the text. A little history from the horses' mouths. And what a stable. Alvin Gottlieb. Steve Kordek. Wayne Neyens. Norm Clark. Ed Krynski. Plus, Alvin Gottlieb's tribute to and memories of his late father David and an exclusive bio of designer Harvey Heiss written by his daughter (the sad news of Heiss's death was learned as this book review was being written). It doesn't get much better than this. Nothing will prevent this book from becoming a sell-out hit. However, there are a few things that might make for an even better Volume 2. First, most of the prices listed below the machines are more fanciful than real if they represent US dollars. Second, the book desperately needs an index. Its absence will annoy collectors looking to quickly locate photos and will hurt sales to libraries and other institutions. However, author Shalhoub acted quickly once the missing index became known. It can be found here so book buyers can print out their very own copy. Collectors may also be disappointed in the usefulness of the photos as guides to restoration. A number of games are shown with either incorrect plastics or rubbering and many are incomplete. The final concern is the questionable inclusion of pitch and bats, pitch and bat type arcade games and particularly the Genco 400 and Golden Nugget uprights (which I did not include in any of the pinball photo totals) in a dedicated pinball book. Nothing short of actually playing the antique games depicted in The Pinball Compendium will satisfy the true believer. But until that day rolls around, this book is bound to remain the heads-on favorite as the next best thing.
In the future there will be more reviews added by the legends
THE PINBALL COMPENDIUM (1930s – 1960S) by Michael Shalhoub
(A review by Russ Jensen)
Pinball books over the years since the 1970’s have been authored primarily by Americans, plus one Canadian, and several from across the Atlantic. In the past few years authors from “down under” have come into view. First came Marco Rossignoli in 2000 and this year PINBALL COMPENDIUM (1930s - 1960s) by Michael Shalhoub.
Pinball books of the past contained much information on the games themselves, but, with a couple of notable exceptions, not a great deal about the industry people responsible for them. Two of these exceptions were Roger Sharpe’s pioneer work PINBALL (1976) and Canadian Edward Trapunski’s SPECIAL WHEN LIT (1979).
In 1987 I wrote an article describing that year’s Pinball Expo which I subtitled “It’s The People” telling how much of my enjoyment of the shows was meeting and conversing with the great industry people who attended. I think that that same phrase exemplifies Michael’s book also. Michael, by the way, has gone a step further than past authors by not only providing information on the great industry people, but also other “pin people” such as collectors, historians, magazine publishers, etc.
Michael’s information on the people came primarily from telephone interviews and e-mail, unlike authors of the past who had the luxury of doing personal interviews with industry people. And I can say he did remarkably well considering the methods he had to employ.
The basic format of the book was to divide the history of the game into chapters for each decade, with subsections for each year within that decade. His review of pinball history employed very nice large color pictures of games in chronological order with written descriptions describing each game’s features. This method very aptly told the history of the development of pinball over the decades covered.
Strategically sprinkled throughout the book were numerous inserts presenting the interview materials he had gathered from industry greats. Also included were some great photographs that were provided to the author by these wonderful people! A later chapter presented all the information he gathered from the other “pin people” previously mentioned (collectors, etc.), which also included nice photographs of the people talked about.
The book also showed prices for the games pictured. After reading the book many remarked that the prices seemed high, some even conjecturing they were in Australian dollars. The prices were in American dollars however, with Michael just feeling personally that that is what the game should be worth.
So in summary let me say that this is a great book – especially for fans of older pins (and fans of modern pinball who are interested in the history of the game they enjoy.) The book contains wonderful pictures, history, and some great interviews. Modern pinball fans will probably enjoy even more the next book (now in preparation) covering the 1970s through current games.
