The New Pinball Wizard – move over, Tommy, there’s a new pinball wizard in town.
This story from the New York Post is surprisingly inspiring, even if you’re not a pinball wizard. You have to admire someone like NYC resident Kaite Martin, who fully dives into her passion and makes it her own.
A pinball diehard loves the classic pastime so much, she has converted her Park Slope abode into a plinky-plonky paradise — giving up the usual comforts of home to squeeze in 16 of the hulking, colorful machines into her railroad-style apartment.
“I have a couch and a bed, that’s it,” Kaite Martin, a 34-year-old bartender told The Post of her 80-by-15-foot living space, crammed with $100,000 worth of themed pinball machines, from “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” to “Robocop,” and more recently “The Walking Dead.”
Her oldest machine, which has an interstellar-themed layout, dates back to half a century ago, in 1978. Martin acquired it just a week ago for $1,800. Typically, her hunt for vintage and unique machines involves lots of begging and pleading on Internet forums, the bumper lover confessed.
Martin’s collection — now worth $40,000 more than she originally paid — isn’t just for fun and games, though. – New York Post
The article by Alex Mitchell is a must-read—it’s detailed, features some fantastic photos, and is sure to brighten your day. It tells the story of Kaite Martin, who discovered her love for pinball while working at a pinball bar. Now, she’s hosting the state championship in her tiny NYC apartment! It might sound a little crazy, but it’s the kind of good crazy that makes you want to cheer her on.
The following result was when I asked Google, “Whatever happened to pinball?”
Pinball machines have seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years. The game was popular during the Great Depression but was banned in many states in the 1940s. In the 1970s, pinball machines became more advanced with electronic circuits and digital displays, but sales declined in the 1980s with the rise of video games.
The 1940s
Pinball was seen as a moral menace and was banned in some states, including New York, due to gambling.
The 1970s
Pinball machines became more advanced with electronic circuits and digital displays.
Playing pinball in the #1970s
The pinball machine took over America in the Seventies. The addictive game featured buzzing bells, colorful artwork, and flashing lights.But in 1980 a new video arcade game called Pac Man was released- and the era of pinball machines was over. pic.twitter.com/ba479EwSSK
— Retro Coast (@RetroCoast) January 11, 2025
The 1980s
The video game boom led to the decline of pinball as arcades replaced pinball machines with video games.
The 1990s
The home video game boom continued to make pinball less popular.
What’s happening to pinball now?
The resurgence
Pinball machines are making a comeback in homes, arcades, museums, and exhibitions.
The resurgence factors
Collectors, enthusiasts, and families value the nostalgia, craftsmanship, and entertainment of pinball machines.
The resurgence machines
New pinball machines feature LED playfield lighting, LCD monitors, backboards, and interactive elements.
The resurgence companies
Stern Pinball has led the resurgence with new titles each year.
Kaite Martin’s story is proof that when you’re passionate about something, you make it work—no matter how crazy it sounds. She’s turned her tiny NYC apartment into a buzzing, flashing shrine to pinball, and honestly? It’s the kind of quirky dedication you can’t help but root for. Love pinball or not, you’ve gotta admire her hustle. So next time you hear that ding-ding-plonk of a machine, think of Kaite, living her best life in a pinball-packed paradise. Game on, girl.
Feature Image: Created in Canva Pro
