Who's Goofy

The Ace Novelty Company's "Who" pinball machine from October 1932 is a rare artifact of early pinball history, produced during the brief 1932-1933 lifespan of its Chicago manufacturer.

What sets "Who" apart from many contemporaries is its gameplay: players could choose to play with either 1 cent (for 7 balls) or 5 cents, a nod to the economic realities of the Great Depression era in which it was created. The graduated skill shot on the right side of the playfield offers an early example of the challenge and reward mechanics that would become hallmarks of later pinball designs. The machine was also advertised as an "extra large size" game, measuring 32 inches long and 17 inches wide, and its playfield was additionally sold as a replacement board that operators could install in other machines in about 15 minutes.

Unfortunately, little is known about the design, art, or theme of "Who." As one of the surviving examples of an Ace Novelty machine, it remains an intriguing piece of history for those interested in the evolution of pinball and its lesser-known manufacturers.