Gladiator

Gladiator, a 1956 electro-mechanical pinball machine from D. Gottlieb & Company, is a solid example of mid-1950s Gottlieb craftsmanship. Designed by Wayne Neyens with artwork by Roy Parker, this two-player game on a Historical theme saw a confirmed production run of 1,200 units. Its backglass carries Gottlieb's famous slogan: "Amusement Pinballs, as American as Baseball and Hot Dogs!"

The playfield features two flippers, four pop bumpers, two passive bumpers, two slingshots, two gobble holes, two standup targets, and dual outlanes on both the left and right, a layout that demands precision and rewards skillful play. A double match feature awards 2 or 10 replays at the operator's option, the score display tops out at 1,999 points per player, and the replay wheel maxes out at 26. The sound package is classic EM: two bells and a knocker.

With Roy Parker's gladiatorial artwork evoking the arena spectacle of ancient Rome and Neyens' balanced two-player layout, Gladiator captures the charm of Gottlieb's golden-era games and remains an appealing machine for collectors of 1950s pinball.