Ace High

Ace High, designed by Wayne Neyens with artwork by Roy Parker, and manufactured by D. Gottlieb & Company in February 1957, is a fine addition to any pinball collection. This single-player electro-mechanical game, produced in a confirmed run of 2,100 units, carries a cards and gambling theme - a long-standing favorite subject in pinball design - and its backglass bears Gottlieb's famous slogan: 'Amusement Pinballs, as American as Baseball and Hot Dogs!'

What sets Ace High apart are its varied gameplay features. Two flippers, four pop bumpers, three passive bumpers, two slingshots, three bullseye targets, two gobble holes, and dual outlanes on each side create an engaging layout. Unusually, the two slingshots sit at mid-playfield just below the bullseye targets, while the two rubbers nearest the flippers do not kick. The maximum displayed point score is 7,990,000 points, with sound provided by three bells and a knocker.

Ace High also occupies an interesting spot in Gottlieb's history: single-player Gottlieb games up to and including this one had no match feature or Game Over relay, meaning the flippers could still be activated even after all balls had been played. Single-player Gottlieb games made after Ace High added a match feature and a Game Over relay that cut power to the flippers. An Extended Play prototype version of the game was also made, and Roy Parker's classic artwork captures the spirit of mid-century card play, making this a charming representative of 1950s Gottlieb design.