Central Park

Central Park, designed by Ed Krynski with art by Art Stenholm and manufactured by Gottlieb in April 1966, is a prime example of the golden age of electromechanical pinball. A single-player game with a confirmed production run of 3,100 units, it is best remembered for its charming mechanical backbox animation: a monkey rings a bell every 100 points, creating a lively atmosphere for players.

The gameplay is both challenging and rewarding. The playfield features two flippers, four pop bumpers, two slingshots, and twelve standup targets. Completing targets 1 through 5 advances the yellow bonus, while completing targets 6 through 10 advances the green bonus; hitting the yellow or green target then scores the accumulated bonus. Left and right dual outlanes keep drains threatening, and scoring tops out at a displayed maximum of 1,999 points, with three bells and a knocker providing the soundtrack.

Central Park's American Places theme and mid-1960s Gottlieb aesthetic make it a favorite among collectors of the era. Trivia for enthusiasts: the add-a-ball version of this game is Gottlieb's 1966 'Hurdy Gurdy', and the artwork was for a time incorrectly attributed to Roy Parker before being credited to Art Stenholm.