For 30 years pinball was illegal beginning in New York City then spreading to other cities throughout the United States. Pinball machines were blamed for corrupting the minds of children leading them down a dark path of gambling and the devil.

The wave of bans started with one man, Mayor La Guardia, in the 1940's and ended with another man, Roger Sharpe in the 1970's.

Hear the full story on today's episode of Facts-Chology!

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Sources
https://arcadology.net/new-york-pinball-ban/

https://knowledgenuts.com/2014/06/12/new-york-citys-war-on-pinball/

https://www.6sqft.com/pinball-prohibition-the-arcade-game-was-illegal-in-new-york-for-over-30-years/

https://www.history.com/news/that-time-america-outlawed-pinball

https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/did-you-know-pinball-was-illegal-in-nyc-for-over-30-years

https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/g284/4328211-new/?slide=11

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/01/the-mayor-who-took-a-sledgehammer-to-nycs-pinball-machines/267309/

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