{"product_id":"pinball-a-graphic-history-of-the-silver-ball","title":"Pinball: A Graphic History of the Silver Ball","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA richly illustrated graphic history of pinball--its origins, evolution, and enduring cultural legacy. John Chad traces the surprising, electrifying story of one of the world's most iconic arcade games.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn 1976, champion player Roger Sharpe stepped up to a pinball machine in a Manhattan courtroom. The New York City Council had convened to consider lifting the city's ban on pinball--a game that had been outlawed since 1942 for its supposed connections to gambling and organized crime. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eSharpe was there to prove that, unlike a slot machine, pinball wasn't a game of chance designed to fleece its players--it was a game of skill that required a measure of patience, coordination, and control. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eTo prove his point, he proclaimed that he would launch his ball into the center lane at the far end of the playfield--much like Babe Ruth famously pointing to the fences. Sharpe pulled back the plunger and released, and the fate of this industry and art form hung in the balance. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThus opens Jon Chad's comprehensive graphic novel on the history of the captivating, capricious--and at times infuriating--game of pinball. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eTracing pinball's roots back to the Court of King Louis XIV, through the immigrant experience of early 20th-century America, the post-war boom and bust, and right up to the present day, Chad charmingly ushers readers through the myriad facets of this distinctly American pursuit. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAlong the way, he captures not just the history, but also the artistry, cultural significance, and even the physics of the game.","brand":"Jon Chad","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52103124877613,"sku":"BS-8XD-249210","price":29.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0938\/3185\/6429\/files\/9781250249210-HD.jpg?v=1780256380","url":"https:\/\/ishookbooks.com\/products\/pinball-a-graphic-history-of-the-silver-ball","provider":"iShook Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}