Big Broadcast (Junior)

Big Broadcast (Junior) is one of the earliest mechanical pin games from D. Gottlieb & Company, a pioneer in the development of coin-operated entertainment. Produced in January 1933, this machine comes from the formative years of pinball's history, a period of rapid innovation and experimentation. Its name likely nods to the star-studded Hollywood film 'The Big Broadcast,' the first of which premiered in 1932.

The gameplay of Big Broadcast (Junior) is characterized by its pure mechanical design, featuring 10 steel balls and ten snap traps - holes that snap shut once a ball scores in them, preventing repeat scoring in the same spot. Operators could set the machine for one cent or five cent play, providing an accessible entry point for patrons of the era.

The Junior was the compact model in Gottlieb's Big Broadcast line, advertised at 32 inches long by 18 inches wide with removable legs, priced at $21.50. While little else is known about this particular machine's artwork or design nuances, its existence serves as a reminder of the fascinating history and development of pinball over the past century.