Lights, camera, action — Chicago Coin’s Cinema is an electromechanical four-player wrapped in a show-business theme celebrating the silver screen, designed by a team including Albin Peters, Jerry Koci, and Wendell McAdams, with art by Lloyd Rognan. With reel scoring, it’s a characterful woodrail-era piece from one of the industry’s pioneering manufacturers.
The layout is a solid, engaging spread: two flippers, two pop bumpers, a pair of slingshots, five drop targets, and four kick-out holes. Those five drop targets give a sharp-shooting player a satisfying objective to clear, while the four kick-out holes offer a generous array of captured-ball awards to chase and the two pop bumpers keep the ball lively up top. It’s a clean, well-balanced design in the classic Chicago Coin mold, rewarding a player who works the drops and holes methodically and keeps the ball alive, all in service of the glamorous movie-house theme and the golden-age-of-Hollywood spirit it evokes.
Cinema is a fine example of Chicago Coin’s electromechanical craft and Lloyd Rognan’s artwork. Chicago Coin was one of the industry’s foundational manufacturers, and its machines carry a real piece of pinball’s deep history. The cinema theme was a glamorous, evergreen choice, all marquees and movie magic, giving the machine real period appeal. For the collector who loves the golden age of EM pinball and its pioneering companies, it’s a rewarding find. Clear those five drops, work the four kick-out holes, and enjoy the show. Some machines celebrate the glamour of entertainment, and this Chicago Coin movie-house classic is one of them. Grab your popcorn and drop a coin.