Pinball Machine Museum Holds Over 150 Machines

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Pinball Machine Museum Holds Over 150 Machines

The Silverball Retro Arcade¹ is near the boardwalk or seaside walking path in the coastal² town of Asbury Park, in the state of New Jersey³. It houses more than 150 working pinball machines. Pinball is an arcade game in which small metal balls shoot down the machine, hitting targets in order to earn points.

The Silverball Retro Arcade is also a museum. Some of the machines are over 70 years old. They date back to the 1950s, when pinball was at the height of its popularity. The Arcade offers fans of pinball a chance to go back in time and experience their childhoods again.

William Mena is one such fan. The 24-year-old said that pinball reminds him of his father. He said that growing up they would play arcade games on the Jersey Shore in the town of Seaside.

"...He used to love all kinds of old stuff and this is just something that reminds me of him. He's not around anymore, so I come here and I play and it brings back memories from the past."

The collection of pinball machines started when the museum's co-founder Robert Ilvento started collecting pinball machines for his daughter. She has autism, and one of her favorite activities is playing pinball.

Ilvento's friend and business partner Steve Zuckerman also had a pinball machine collection. So, they combined the collections, and in 2009, the museum opened under the name Silverball Retro Arcade.

Raffi Abelson, who is 48 years old, played one of the oldest pinball machines from the 1950s at the arcade.

He said, "It's like a treat for the senses. It's physical. You can touch it; it feels very different than a video game. You can really experience it."

Patty Barber is the museum's senior vice⁴ president. She agreed that pinball is a very physical game. She said that pinball takes a lot of attention and makes you live in the moment. Barber added that it is a refreshing⁵ change from just staring at a computing⁶ device.

"Even for all of us, and for young people now, it is a very tactile⁷ game. All of these different arcade games ... you really have to use all your senses," she said.

Barber compared the return of pinball machines to the comeback of vinyl music records. She said, "It's the same as we kept that alive here with the games, and it's something different or it's something from back in time that you remember doing when you were young."

Words in This Story

arcade — n. a place where many games can be played for money

stuff –n. a group of things that are not specifically described

autism — n. a condition that causes people to have difficulty communicating or forming relationships with other people

treat — n. a reward or something special that can be enjoyed on occasion

stare – v. to look at someone or something for a long time often with your eyes wide open

tactile — adj. related to the sense of touch

vinyl — n. a strong plastic used to make music records

1 arcade   

n.拱廊；(一侧或两侧有商店的)通道

参考例句：

• At this time of the morning,the arcade was almost empty.在早晨的这个时候，拱廊街上几乎空无一人。
• In our shopping arcade,you can find different kinds of souvenir.在我们的拱廊市场，你可以发现许多的纪念品。

2 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

3 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

4 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

5 refreshing   

adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的

参考例句：

• I find it'so refreshing to work with young people in this department.我发现和这一部门的青年一起工作令人精神振奋。
• The water was cold and wonderfully refreshing.水很涼，特别解乏提神。

6 computing   

n.计算

参考例句：

• to work in computing 从事信息处理
• Back in the dark ages of computing, in about 1980, they started a software company. 早在计算机尚未普及的时代（约1980年），他们就创办了软件公司。

7 tactile   

adj.触觉的，有触觉的，能触知的

参考例句：

• Norris is an expert in the tactile and the tangible.诺里斯创作最精到之处便是，他描绘的人物使人看得见摸得着。
• Tactile communication uses touch rather than sight or hearing.触觉交流，是用触摸感觉，而不是用看或听来感觉。