Play Meter

HOOKED ON PINBALL!
What would mama say
now pinball is okay?
By TIMOTHY JARRELL
Add Evanston, Illinois, to the
growing number of communities
that have legalized pinball and other
coin -operated machines .
The law, which was passed in
January, is remarkable in this com -
munity north of Chicago that has
gained a reputation for being rather
bluenosed. Home of the Women 's
Christian Temperance League,
Evanston only recently allowed beer
and wine to be served with meals at
restaurants.
Sundaes originated
here many years ago when soda
water was prohibited.
Bowling
alleys and pool halls are still banned .
The old pinball ordinance that
prohibited the machines was passed
In the mid sixties by what one
alderman, Peter Meyers, calls the
"an ti -saloon theory . People believ-
ed pinball was the first step toward
degradation and a life of sin ."
The passage of the new law can
be attributed to a more liberal city
council that reflects the changing
political nature of Evanston . But the
city council, wary of amusement
acades, added a few restrictions
over the objections of local restaur -
ant owners: No more than six
machines may be operated in any
No machine
one establishment.
may be operated within a certain
distance of schools and owners
must pay a $100 licensing fee .
Two aldermen, poles apart pol it-
" What do you mean you 've had no payment yet on
that new machine you sold us? I distinctly heard you tell
Mr. Bates that model would pay for itself in a short tline. "
46
ically-- Meyers, a young lawyer serv-
ing his first term , and James Lytle, a
bank vice-president -- played im port -
ant roles in convincing a skeptical
city council. " In our first discuss-
ion, " M eyers remembers, "a few
aldermen thought the machines
were inherently evil, attracted a bad
element and that there was no
socially redeeming value in kids
congregating . "
The aldermen discovered that a
city-owned community center had
electronic machines that were not
covered by the old law.
The
recreation department testified the
machines were a good operation
since it attracted kids , which was
the purpose of the community
center .
Th e head of the recreation de-
partment , Don Worth , believes the
machines have value . " I've played
those machines myself, and they
involve skills of dexterity and imagi -
The machines at the
nation ."
center are financially attractive as
well.
The city estimates it will
receive $10 ,000, about 50 per cent
of the expected gross from the six
machines next year.
In a jesting moment, Meyers told
the council he considered pinball a
sport. " I get plenty of thumb
exercise."
But not all aldermen
viewed the coin -operated machines
as innocently .
Alderman Oliver
Harris told the committee he had
been told by a member of the
Chicago Crime Commission that
pinball can easily be used as a
gambling device by operators who
reward players for free games .
Harris later defended his support of
the old ordinance to Play Meter. " I
saw no compelling reason to change
it," he said . " I received no compla -
ints from Evanston residents that an
essential quality of life would be
missing if pinball was outlawed. "
Alderman Lola Flamm was reluct -
ant to support the new law, but
eventually decided she had no right
to impose her morals on the rest of
th e community . " Sometimes I can't
mother the world, " she told her
fellow committeement. Later she
remark ed, to Play Meter, "I don ' t
like to see little kids using their
money to play pinball.
I'd be
unhappy if my kids were hooked on
But that would be my
pinball .
problem . There would be some-
thing wrong with me as a mother. "
A group of restaurant owners and
other ideal businessmen retained a