There was never an amendment to the Constitution prohibiting pinball, but that didn’t stop some major cities from banning the game from the 1930s through the mid-’70s. In fact, Oakland, California still had a ban on pinball machines as recently as 2014.
I first learned about pinball’s checkered history after trying to cajole my mom into buying a machine; you know, for the nieces and nephews to enjoy. I didn’t expect a yes, but her no was more extreme than I expected.
“My father would be horrified if he knew I had a pinball machine in my house,” she replied. “He called it the devil’s workshop and associated pinball with the mafia, as something only degenerates partook in.”
While I can’t disprove the second half of Grampa’s claims, it turns out pinball does in fact have shockingly seedy historic ties to organized crime — ties that even extended throughout this fair state.
The crusade against pinball in 1942 was spearheaded by New York mayor Fiorello La Guardia, who described manufacturers as “slimy crews of tinhorns, well dressed and living in luxury on penny thievery.” In fairness, these original machines were undoubtedly legal workarounds for slot machine bans.
While they shared the same design and feel of modern pinball machines, they had one crucial difference: no flippers. A person would plug in a coin then launch the ball down the playfield, where it would bounce around through an outlay of nails (or “pins”) in the board, and eventually (hopefully) land on one of several scoring areas. Similar to scratch tickets, any prizes won could then be redeemed by the person tending the shop.
During this time, roughly 90 percent of machines were manufactured in Chicago, which was a hotbed for organized crime under infamous boss Al Capone. It’s reported that from the 1930s through the early ’60s, these machines generated more revenue than the movies. No surprise, then, that gangsters wanted a piece of the action, and pinball machines were surprisingly easy methods for laundering money.
All it took was disabling the coin counter that kept track of the number of plays to turn them into coin-operated piggy banks that guaranteed a consistent payola.
Given its geographic proximity to the City of Big Shoulders, it’s little surprise that some schemes spilled into Iowa. Luigi Tommaso Guiuseppe Fratto — or, as he was better known in crime circles, “Cockeyed Louie” — led a satellite mafia in the Des Moines area.
Fratto was Chicago-born and a member of the Fiore mob, which had a reputation for shaking down speakeasies and similar establishments for half their profits in exchange for protection. Fratto moved to Des Moines in 1936 to act as a point man for the Chicago mob, and it wasn’t long before he began “managing” several taverns and restaurants, including Babe’s Taproom on 6th Street and Johnnie Critelli’s Spaghetti on Harding Road, which illicitly provided its patrons with booze and, you guessed it, pinball and gambling.
In later years, Fratto would be the subject of several federal investigations, some of which directly involved his connection with Al Capone and Jimmy Hoffa. But Fratto remained relatively untouched through it all, thanks largely to his many friends in politics, justice and law enforcement. Fratto was even granted an honorary lifetime membership with the Des Moines Junior Chamber of Commerce, and has a plaque dedicated for his outstanding service to the community.
Although Fratto was never convicted of any crime, he was under a federal indictment for racketeering at the time of his death in 1967. It would be another decade before the ban against pinball was finally overturned, thanks to pinball royalty Roger Sharpe, who successfully demonstrated in front of the American Association of New York that, thanks to the inclusion of flippers, pinball had evolved from a game of chance to one of skill.
Pinball has shed most of its stigma through the years. These days, it’s more likely to be condemned by a parent for depicting Elvira’s cleavage than for laundering mob money, exploiting working class gamblers or providing a workshop for the devil. Unless, of course, you were raised by Grampa.
A Mini-Guide to Des Moines Pinball
One of the benefits of having family living in the Des Moines area is that it has afforded me ample opportunities to frequent some of the very fine, very non-mafia-connected pinball venues in the area. I’ll dive deeper into each of these venues in future editions of my pinball column Bumper Crops, but for now, here are three of the best places in the Des Moines area to ’ball.
Up/Down Arcade Bar
500 E Locust St, Des Moines
Up-Down is an ideal spot for those who prefer a more retro arcade and pinball experience. In addition to serving drinks and delicious pizza, Up-Down also features more than 50 arcade games and 11 pinball machines, including iconic classics like Addams Family, Attack From Mars, and Simpsons Pinball Party, as well as the most recent release, X-Men from Stern.
Monsterama
3108 SW 9th St, Des Moines
Born in 2022, Monsterama is an absolute hidden gem of good food, kitschy vibes and an eclectic mix of pinball machines from a wide swatch of manufacturers, including Data East, Stern, Gottlieb, Midway and Williams. Limitless game play can be enjoyed for a one-time fee of $10.99. Do note: Monsterama is currently undergoing renovations and a reimagining of its space, with plans to reopen soon as Monsterama Pubcade. I for one can’t wait!
The Operating Room
5515 Mills Civic Pkwy #130, West Des Moines; 1631 SW Main St. Suite 105 in Ankeny
Both Operating Room locations have an energetic vibe with perfect pinball accommodations for the whole family or a large group of friends. In addition to plentiful drink, food and gaming options, O.R. also offers the option of renting their pinball machines for short- and long-term use.
And now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to plug another 20 bucks in the token machine. O.R. has a new Godfather machine from Jersey Jack, and I’m not going to quit until I set the high score. As it says in The Godfather, “Great men are not born great, they grow great.”
This article was originally published in Little Village’s December 2024 issue.