Gondolier

The Gondolier, produced by D. Gottlieb & Company in August 1958, is a two-player electromechanical game that whisks players off to the canals of Venice. Designed by Wayne Neyens with artwork by Roy Parker - the team behind many of Gottlieb's finest 1950s games - it was produced in a confirmed run of 900 units.

Gameplay is classic late-1950s Gottlieb: four flippers and four pop bumpers keep the action lively, two gobble holes tempt players to trade the ball for a big score, and three bullseye targets offer precision shooting opportunities. The combination of features gives the game the risk-and-reward flavor that defined the wood-rail era.

A charming period detail: the backglass carries Gottlieb's famous slogan, "Amusement Pinballs, as American as Baseball and Hot Dogs!" - the company's cheerful rebuttal to pinball's lingering gambling-era reputation, and a hallmark of Gottlieb games of this vintage.