Sources
IPDB and Flipcommons Catalog contributed to this record.
Conflicts resolved (1 field)
- theme
- IPDB Theaters used IPDB Night Life used IPDB Movies Flipcommons Catalog Theater used Flipcommons Catalog Nightlife used Flipcommons Catalog Movies used
Sources agree (5 fields)
- technology_generation
- electromechanical IPDB, Flipcommons Catalog
- month
- 8 IPDB, Flipcommons Catalog
- year
- 1936 IPDB, Flipcommons Catalog
- player_count
- 1 IPDB, Flipcommons Catalog
- ipdb_id
- 227 IPDB, Flipcommons Catalog
Single source (8 fields)
- ipdb.corporate_entity_name
- IPDB Rock-ola Manufacturing Corporation used
- ipdb.image_urls
- IPDB ["https://www.ipdb.org/images/227/image-1.jpg","https://www.ipdb.org/images/227/image-2.jpg","https://www.ipdb.org/images/227/image-12.jpg","https://www.ipdb.org/images/227/image-13.jpg","https://www.ipdb.org/images/227/image-14.jpg","https://www.ipdb.org/images/227/image-15.jpg","https://www.ipdb.org/images/227/image-16.jpg","https://www.ipdb.org/images/227/image-17.jpg","https://www.ipdb.org/images/227/image-18.jpg","https://www.ipdb.org/images/227/image-19.jpg","https://www.ipdb.org/images/227/image-3.png","https://www.ipdb.org/images/227/image-4.png","https://www.ipdb.org/images/227/image-5.png","https://www.ipdb.org/images/227/image-6.png"] used
- ipdb.notes
- IPDB The playfield hyphenates the game name as "Big Bank-Nite" while the backglass and manufacturer advertisement text do not. A manufacturer ad shown here points out the use of "shakeproof" light bulb sockets for bayonet lamps "like those used in automobile headlights" instead of the screw-type sockets and bulbs, identifying the bulbs as "standard Mazda No. 51 lamps". In the Encyclopedia of Pinball Volume 1, author Dick Bueschel writes that movie theaters, in order to increase attendance during the Great Depression, would give gifts to patrons or would draw for prizes using the numbers on the ticket stubs. In 1936, 'Bank Night' was started, which was a cash giveaway of five to twenty dollars to the lucky patron with the matching ticket stub numbers, but the winner had to be present to collect, otherwise the amount would increase for the next show. This pinball machine carried the same theme, as shown on the backglass and the playfield holes. The Register holes represented buying the movie ticket, the Winning Number holes compared to matching the ticket stub, and scoring a Player Present hole was necessary to collect the prize. Lights on the backglass reflect when each of these three functions was achieved. Artwork in the lower playfield shows patrons up on stage in front of the spinning cage used to draw the winning tickets. There are two ways to win: 1) Scoring 4 holes in a row horizontally, vertically, or diagonally in the upper playfield grid. 2) Scoring one of the two Register holes, both Winning Number holes, and either of the Player Present holes would award the player the value shown on the lower playfield Bank Dial. If no win, then the Bank Dial would increment as a carry-over feature to the next game until it was won. This dial also increased every time the Bank Increases hole was made. This game is not equipped with a payout mechanism, but payouts would be made by the location if the backglass showed the Register, Winning Number, and Player Present components were achieved. The payout would range from 50 cents to $2.50. Bueschel also writes that this game has slanted woodrails, not only for appearances' sake but to prevent the parking of cigarettes on it. He seems to suggest that either Rock-Ola was the first manufacturer to do this, or this was their first game to have this. used
- ipdb.notable_features
- IPDB 6 balls for 5 cents. Illuminating backglass. Lamps: #51 bayonet used
- corporate_entity
- Flipcommons Catalog rock-ola-manufacturing-corporation used
- title
- Flipcommons Catalog big-bank-nite used
- name
- Flipcommons Catalog Big Bank Nite used
- slug
- Flipcommons Catalog big-bank-nite used