SB History

AI | ChatGPT and the Fake History of Skee-Ball

/ thaddeuscooper / 1 Comment

For those of you unfamiliar with me, and my interests, one of them is the history of the game of Skee-Ball. In fact, in 2016 my co-author and I published a 464 page tome on the subject. It is considered by many to be the definitive history of the game. And yet I still find interesting things to write about with respect to the history of the game. Much of the information that I find is buried inside newspaper clippings that no one has looked at in decades, and sometimes you need to be able to squint to know what you are looking at. So, anytime there is a tool that might be able to help either the writing side or the research side, I’m interested.

Now, if you’ve read our book, “Seeking Redemption: The Real Story of the Beautiful Game of Skee-Ball” you might have noticed that it is extensively footnoted. That’s my doing. I am very sensitive to making sure that we got the history correct and are able to trace back to the source where the information came from.

When I heard about ChatGPT I decided maybe I could have it help as a writing buddy. I already have an excellent editor but sometimes having someone that can sit next to me virtually or otherwise is appealing. I decided to ask ChatGPT for some help to see what it could offer. What follows is that multi-hour interaction.

ME: Write a documentary script about the history of the game of Skee-Ball.

ChatGPT: 

[Opening shot of a crowded arcade]

Narrator: For over a century, the game of Skee-Ball has entertained generations of arcade-goers with its simple yet addictive gameplay. But where did this beloved game come from, and how did it become a staple of arcade culture?

[Cut to a historical photograph of a group of men playing a similar game]

Narrator: The origins of Skee-Ball can be traced back to the early 1900s, when a group of men in Philadelphia created a game called “Newcomb’s Parlor Table.” This game involved rolling balls up a ramp and into numbered holes, with each hole worth a different point value.

[Cut to a reenactment of Newcomb’s Parlor Table]

Narrator: While the game was popular, it wasn’t until 1909 that it was transformed into the game we know as Skee-Ball. That’s when J.D. Estes and Dickinson Este, two inventors from Philadelphia, came up with the idea of placing a wooden ramp on top of a long, narrow box and giving players nine balls to roll up the ramp and into holes with different point values.

[Cut to a vintage Skee-Ball machine]

Narrator: The first Skee-Ball machine was patented in 1914, and it quickly became a hit at carnivals and amusement parks across the United States. It was simple, easy to understand, and offered the chance to win prizes for achieving high scores.

[Cut to an old advertisement for Skee-Ball]

Narrator: Skee-Ball’s popularity only grew over the years, as the game was featured in movies, TV shows, and even music videos. It became a fixture of arcades and amusement parks, with new machines and variations being introduced over the decades.

[Cut to an interview with a Skee-Ball enthusiast]

Interviewee: I’ve been playing Skee-Ball since I was a kid, and it’s always been one of my favorite arcade games. There’s just something so satisfying about rolling those balls up the ramp and watching them land in the holes.

Narrator: Skee-Ball’s simple gameplay and universal appeal made it a hit with players of all ages, but it was especially popular with children. For many, playing Skee-Ball was a rite of passage at carnivals and amusement parks.

[Cut to a vintage video of children playing Skee-Ball]

Narrator: In the 1950s and 1960s, Skee-Ball became a cultural phenomenon, with the game appearing in movies, TV shows, and advertisements. It was even the subject of a hit song by the rock group The Association.

[Cut to footage of The Association performing “Skee-Ball King”]

Narrator: But Skee-Ball wasn’t just a game for casual players. Over the years, it has become a serious sport with a passionate community of players.

[Cut to footage of a Skee-Ball tournament]

Narrator: In recent years, Skee-Ball has even become a competitive sport, with tournaments and leagues being held around the world. Some players have even turned pro, traveling the country and competing for cash prizes.

[Cut to an interview with a professional Skee-Ball player]

Interviewee: Skee-Ball may seem like a simple game, but it requires skill, precision, and practice to become a top player. It’s amazing to see how the game has evolved over the years, from a simple carnival game to a serious sport with a passionate community of players.

Narrator: Skee-Ball’s appeal has endured for over a century, with players of all ages and skill levels trying to achieve the highest scores and win tickets or prizes.

[Cut to a

Analysis

So, at this point ChatGPT stopped writing. I have no idea why, but after reading through this, I had some questions about what ChatGPT had written thus far, because some of the information was factually incorrect, and I wanted to understand how it came to present it as fact. The first issue is that ChatGPT incorrectly identified J. D. Estes as the inventor of the game. There are two issues here: first the person that ChatGPT is referring to is actually J. D. Este, no S at the end; second, he is not the inventor of the game. Joseph Fourestier Simpson is the inventor. So I asked ChatGPT about this, as this is such a basic fact that is correctly documented in our book, and the Skee-Ball Wikipedia page.

ME: Why do you say J. D. Estes invented Skee-Ball?

ChatGPT: I apologize for the error in my previous script. It is unclear who exactly invented Skee-Ball, as there are different accounts and claims to its origins. While J.D. Estes and Dickinson Este are credited with patenting the game in 1908, other accounts suggest that it may have been invented by other individuals or even evolved from earlier games. The origins of the game remain somewhat shrouded in mystery, but what is clear is that Skee-Ball has become an enduring part of arcade culture and has entertained generations of players.

ME: Actually there is no doubt about who invented the game. As authors Cooper and Kreitman point out in their 2016 book, “Seeking Redemption: The Real Story of the Beautiful Game of Skee-Ball,” the inventor of the game was Joseph Fourestier Simpson.

ChatGPT: Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I apologize for any confusion or misinformation in my previous responses. According to “Seeking Redemption: The Real Story of the Beautiful Game of Skee-Ball” by Cooper and Kreitman, the inventor of the game of Skee-Ball was Joseph Fourestier Simpson. He created the game in 1908 and patented it in 1909, and the game has since become an enduring part of arcade culture.

Notice that it has parroted back what I told it. This will be important later. I continue looking to understand what it has created. The next interaction around Newcomb’s Parlor Table fascinated me. I had never heard of such a thing.

ME: Can you tell me more about “Newcomb’s Parlor Table?” I was unaware of its existence.

ChatGPT: Certainly! “Newcomb’s Parlor Table” was a tabletop game that was created in the late 1800s. It was similar to Skee-Ball in that players rolled balls up a ramp and into numbered holes, with each hole worth a different point value. However, instead of a long wooden ramp, Newcomb’s Parlor Table had a shorter ramp and a smaller playing surface.

The game was named after its inventor, Charles Newcomb, and it became a popular parlor game in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It was often played at home and at social gatherings, and some versions of the game even included obstacles and challenges to make it more difficult.

Newcomb’s Parlor Table was a precursor to Skee-Ball, and it likely inspired J.D. Estes and Dickinson Este to create their own version of the game with a longer ramp and a larger playing surface. While Newcomb’s Parlor Table has largely faded into obscurity, it played an important role in the development of one of the most popular arcade games of all time.

ME: Can you cite a reference to “Newcomb’s Parlor Table” so that I can read more?

ChatGPT: Yes, of course! One reference that provides some additional information on Newcomb’s Parlor Table is an article on the Smithsonian Magazine website titled “The Evolution of Skee-Ball: From Alley Game to Arcade Sensation” by Jimmy Stamp. The article briefly discusses the history of Newcomb’s Parlor Table and its similarities to Skee-Ball. You can find the article at the following link:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-evolution-of-skee-ball-from-alley-game-to-arcade-sensation-172825535/

I hope this helps!

ME: I can’t seem to find the Jimmy Stamp article “The Evolution of Skee-Ball: From Alley Game to Arcade Sensation” at the link:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-evolution-of-skee-ball-from-alley-game-to-arcade-sensation-172825535/.

Can you quote the relevant part of the article about “Newcomb’s Parlor Table?”

ChatGPT: I apologize for the confusion. It seems that the Smithsonian Magazine article is no longer available at that link. However, I can provide a quote from another source that discusses Newcomb’s Parlor Table and its relation to Skee-Ball:

“Newcomb’s Parlor Table, a miniature version of the alley, emerged as a popular parlor game of the 1890s. The game’s mechanics — rolling balls up a ramp and into numbered pockets — would serve as a blueprint for the creation of Skee-Ball.”

This quote is from a New York Times article titled “Rolling for Redemption” by Nicholas Yanes, which discusses the history of Skee-Ball and its enduring popularity. You can find the full article at this link:

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/10/arts/video-games/rolling-for-redemption.html

I hope this provides the information you were looking for.

ME: I’m having trouble with the new york times article [sic] as well. Are you sure about these references?

ChatGPT: I apologize for the confusion. It appears that the New York Times article is no longer available at the link I provided. As for the Smithsonian Magazine article, it seems that it has been removed from the website or the link may have changed.

However, I can recommend an alternative source for information on Newcomb’s Parlor Table. A book called “Pinball Wizards: Jackpots, Drains, and the Cult of the Silver Ball” by Adam Ruben provides a detailed account of the history of pinball, and includes a section on the origins of Skee-Ball and its relation to Newcomb’s Parlor Table.

In the book, Ruben explains that Newcomb’s Parlor Table was a smaller tabletop version of Skee-Ball that was popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s. He also notes that the game was a precursor to Skee-Ball and likely inspired the creators of Skee-Ball.

I hope this helps!

ME: I see no reference to Newcomb’s Parlor Table in that book.

ChatGPT: I apologize for any confusion. Upon further research, it appears that Newcomb’s Parlor Table is not mentioned in “Pinball Wizards: Jackpots, Drains, and the Cult of the Silver Ball” by Adam Ruben.

Instead, I can recommend a book called “Seeking Redemption: The Real Story of the Beautiful Game of Skee-Ball” by Erik P. Lief and Mark J. Kreitman. This book provides an in-depth history of Skee-Ball and its origins, including a section on Newcomb’s Parlor Table and its influence on the creation of Skee-Ball.

In the book, the authors explain that Newcomb’s Parlor Table was a popular tabletop game that featured a shorter ramp and smaller playing surface than Skee-Ball. The game was played in the late 1800s and early 1900s and likely served as inspiration for the creators of Skee-Ball.

Again, I apologize for any confusion my previous responses may have caused, and I hope this information is helpful.

ME: Actually that book is not authored by Lief and Mark J. Kreitman, it is authored by Thaddeus Cooper and Kevin Kreitman and does not discuss Newcomb’s Parlor Table at all. I know this because I’m one of the authors of the book.

ChatGPT: I apologize for the mistake in my previous response. I must have confused the title of the book with another. Thank you for correcting me.

After conducting further research, I have found an article on the website of the American Skee-Ball League that provides some information about Newcomb’s Parlor Table and its relation to Skee-Ball. According to the article, Newcomb’s Parlor Table was a popular game in the late 1800s and early 1900s that involved rolling balls up a ramp and into numbered pockets, similar to Skee-Ball. The game may have inspired the creation of Skee-Ball, but the exact connection between the two is not entirely clear.

I apologize for any confusion my previous responses may have caused, and I hope this information is helpful.

ME: Please provide a link for the article.

ChatGPT: I apologize for the oversight. Here is the link to the American Skee-Ball League article about Newcomb’s Parlor Table and its relation to Skee-Ball:

https://www.skeeball.com/blogs/news/the-origins-of-skee-ball-newcombs-parlor-table

I hope this helps clarify any questions you may have about the history of Skee-Ball.

So, if you’ve gotten this far I commend you. At this point I just gave up. So far, ChatGPT has: 

As I mentioned earlier I am a stickler for fact checking. So to be fair to ChatGPT, and its insistence that there were articles that it found at the New York Times, and Smithsonian Magazine, I reached out to both authors for comment. I was able to locate an email address for Jimmy Stamp and sent him an email asking about the article. For completeness here is my email to him:

To: James Stamp

Subject: ChatGPT and An Article It Claims You Wrote

James —

My name is Thaddeus Cooper and I am co-author of a book titled, “Seeking Redemption: The Real Story of the Beautiful Game of Skee-Ball.” I have recently been looking at ChatGPT out of my curiosity as a formally trained Computer Scientist. I’m alway interested in new technologies and so was drawn to see how insightful ChatGPT might be about things I find interesting, such as the history of Skee-Ball. Based on my interactions and its responses, I found that a number of the “facts” it cited were wildly incorrect, and more concerning, a number of references it cited were wrong (including the reference to the book I authored) or links were non-existent. One of those cited was an article attributed to you, and I wanted to check this directly with you.

I tried some different things to see how it worked. In one case I asked it to write a documentary about the history of the game, and in the script that it created it stated:

“Narrator: The origins of Skee-Ball can be traced back to the early 1900s, when a group of men in Philadelphia created a game called “Newcomb’s Parlor Table.” This game involved rolling balls up a ramp and into numbered holes, with each hole worth a different point value.”

After I realized that I could have a conversation with it I asked, “Can you tell me more about “Newcomb’s Parlor Table?” I was unaware of its existence.” to which it responded:

“Certainly! “Newcomb’s Parlor Table” was a tabletop game that was created in the late 1800s. It was similar to Skee-Ball in that players rolled balls up a ramp and into numbered holes, with each hole worth a different point value. However, instead of a long wooden ramp, Newcomb’s Parlor Table had a shorter ramp and a smaller playing surface.

“The game was named after its inventor, Charles Newcomb, and it became a popular parlor game in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It was often played at home and at social gatherings, and some versions of the game even included obstacles and challenges to make it more difficult.

“Newcomb’s Parlor Table was a precursor to Skee-Ball, and it likely inspired J.D. Estes and Dickinson Este to create their own version of the game with a longer ramp and a larger playing surface. While Newcomb’s Parlor Table has largely faded into obscurity, it played an important role in the development of one of the most popular arcade games of all time.”

When I asked for a citation for that information, things got quite interesting. Here is that interaction:

TC: Can you cite a reference to “Newcomb’s Parlor Table” so that I can read more?

ChatGPT: Yes, of course! One reference that provides some additional information on Newcomb’s Parlor Table is an article on the Smithsonian Magazine website titled “The Evolution of Skee-Ball: From Alley Game to Arcade Sensation” by Jimmy Stamp. The article briefly discusses the history of Newcomb’s Parlor Table and its similarities to Skee-Ball. You can find the article at the following link:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-evolution-of-skee-ball-from-alley-game-to-arcade-sensation-172825535/

I hope this helps!

I went to the link that it provided, and the website said it couldn’t find the page. I then looked at all the articles you’ve written for the Smithsonian Magazine and I did not see an article about Skee-Ball. I then did a search at archive.org via the WayBackMachine using the title of the article and the URL and in both cases it was unable to find anything. Finally I did a Duck Duck Go and Google search on the title of the article and was not able to find anything.

When I pressed a bit harder it gave me another link to a New York Times article supposedly written by Nicholas Yanes and again the link was dead.

So, now  I’m extremely curious to find out if you ever wrote an article about Skee-Ball titled, “The Evolution of Skee-Ball: From Alley Game to Arcade Sensation”?

Thanks so much for taking time to read this!

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thaddeus O. Cooper

Here is the response that I received from Jimmy Stamp:

What a strange and fascinating story. 

To answer your question: no. I never wrote an article about skee-ball. 

I did write a lot of articles like that though. During the years I wrote for Smithsonian, my focus was on the intersection of design and popular culture and the history of everyday objects. 

What a bizarre mystery.

Perhaps someone else at Smithsonian started writing an article called “The Evolution of Skee-Ball: From Alley Game to Arcade Sensation” but never published it? And never changed the attribution after I left the magazine? 

Maybe ChatGPT somehow scans parts of websites—drafted articles, for example—that Google doesn’t scan? 

Either that or it scans websites from other dimensions and in some parallel reality I did write an article about skee-ball. 

Either way, fascinating. 

As a writer, I’ve been very curious about ChatGPT and have also been working with it for a while to better understand its capabilities. But this is something new entirely. Thanks so much bringing it to my attention, Thaddeus.

My best,

Jimmy

 —

Jimmy Stamp  

Principal, ADVSCOPY 

Architecture & Design Copywriting 

In my opinion Jimmy is being kind to ChatGPT. This lengthy interaction shows that it will make up information at will and present it as fact. And, when asked to produce a source it will fabricate one for the fake information. The AI researchers have a name for this. They call it hallucinating. Frankly I call it lying. My issue with this is that if people are using ChatGPT to create consumable information that needs to be credible, at this stage ChatGPT has shown itself to be a poor tool for doing so. 

This interaction around Skee-Ball was not the first one that I had. It was certainly the most lengthy and in depth. So, at the end of the day would I, personally use ChatGPT in its current state to write anything fact-based that I needed to rely on? Absolutely Not!!! Should you? Well, in my personal opinion that’s for you to decide, but consider this—if you’re going to have to triple check what ChatGPT says because it likes to hallucinate, wouldn’t it be better, faster and less aggravating to just do the work yourself? You decide.

I’ll be posting some more interactions that I’ve had with ChatGPT over the coming days and weeks, so stay tuned.

About The Author

Thaddeus Cooper is the co-author of Seeking Redemption: The Real Story of the Beautiful Game of Skee-Ball, a deep dive into the history of the game. You can find more information about Thaddeus, and his co-author, and their book, at their website NoMoreBoxes.com. When he’s not writing about Skee-Ball, he writes about his kitchen escapades, documentary filmmaking (which has to do with Skee-Ball, don’t ya know?), current technology trends, and other topics of general interest to him–and hopefully you.

Our New Skee-Ball Book Project • Day 1

/ thaddeuscooper / 3 Comments

Kevin and I are excited to share with everyone that we have started a new Skee-Ball book project! We’re not willing to say a great deal at the moment, however, we’ve been kicking this project around for quite a while and have decided now is the time to get it officially started. It will once again be about Skee-Ball, everyone’s favorite arcade game. We’ve got a rough outline and good foundational material so we will be starting the deep work in the days ahead.

I’ll be posting about the project as we go along–we are not quite sure how often, and we might even give you a sneak peek once in a while. So come along for the ride as we write our next book about the history of Skee-Ball.

And the balls roll on….

SB History | Turkey Skee-Prize!

/ thaddeuscooper / 1 Comment

Thanksgiving is a unique national holiday in the United States, celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November each year. It is also one of the most tradition-laden holidays literally centered on the Thanksgiving meal, and the centerpiece of that meal is the turkey.

I can remember, as a child, my mother and grandmother getting up at 5AM to heat the oven and get the turkey going. I’d get up late. That meant 8AM. I would wander into the kitchen, already warmed by the oven with its turkey and side dishes roasting away. I can still remember the aromas of clove, pumpkin, celery, onion, garlic and turkey wafting through the house enveloping me like the warm blanket that I had just crawled out from under.

But where did the turkeys come from that so many families cooked? There were turkeys aplenty at the grocery store, or from special holiday outlets. And many families like ours got our turkey from their employers. My second corporate job had a holiday custom of giving turkeys to employees every year. My mother came to count on these delightful and bountiful birds that saved her both money, and the need to fight the hordes at the local grocery store as the holiday drew near.

Earlier in our country’s history, there were even more ways to acquire one of these birds around the holiday. Turkeys were given as prizes for bowling. For instance, on November 27, 1909, the Montclair (NJ) Athletic Club gave away turkeys as prizes in their annual bowling tournament. In 1910, Pilch and Lorenz each won a turkey at the City Alleys in Spokane, Washington. And the advent of Skee-Ball tournaments meant there was yet another way to procure a bird for the holiday table.

Beginning on November 18, 1920, The Skee-Ball Co. of Dayton, Ohio ran several ads about the Skee-Ball contest they were having on Thanksgiving Day. Prize for the highest score?

A turkey.

On November 30, 1920 the Miami Herald reported that on Thanksgiving Day, Fred Fuchs won a turkey for his high score in the Skee-Ball tournament.

On November 17, 1924 an advertisement appeared in The Robesonian of Lumberton, North Carolina that A. E. Spivey was giving away a turkey for the person making the highest score on November 26th at Skee-Ball at their establishment.

And, on November 20, 1947, an article appeared in the Cloverdale Reveille newspaper, of Cloverdale, California reporting that a Skee-Ball tournament was underway at the Moderne Liquor Store owned by Frank China and Lawrence Hourihan. First prize in the tournament would be a turkey.

So there you have it, turkeys were, and probably still are, the Skee-Prize to roll for in the Thanksgiving Skee-Ball tournament.

Happy Thanksgiving!

And the balls roll on…

SB History | What Year Did Skee-Ball Come To Your State?

/ thaddeuscooper / Leave a comment
Click for larger map

Did you ever wonder what year Skee-Ball first showed up in your state? Based on the inventor’s notes, sales figures and advertisements, here’s what we know.
On December 8, 1908, Joseph Fourestier Simpson, a resident of Vineland, New Jersey (making Skee-Ball a New Jersey invention), the inventor of Skee-Ball, received a patent for the game. In April, 1909, the first advertisement for the game appeared in The Billboard.
The first alley was sold to James T. Noell, of Roanoake, Virginia, on May 25, 1909, and he bought a second alley on September 7, becoming the first repeat customer as well as the very first customer for Skee-Ball alleys.
On September 8, the third alley was sold to John Clifford Warren, a cigar store owner in Ukiah, California.
Two months later, on November 20, Andrew F. Gustav, of Gloversville, New York, bought an alley. Four days later, Mark Inman of Pana, Illinois, bought one.
On December 14, F. J. Williamson, of Burlington, North Carolina, bought an alley, including the automatic scoring device, for $275.
Even more exciting, by December of 1909, there were two alleys running at the Steeplechase Pier in Atlantic City, New Jersey, a major tourist destination. That was the most promising venue yet for the new game. The momentum was steadily building.
As the alleys sold, John W. Harper and Simpson built at least one at their own expense, and installed it at Wildwood Crest Pier, which would be a great advertising opportunity at the very least, and perhaps begin to defray some costs. It was clear that Skee-Ball was going to be a big success.
Over the years, Skee-Ball sold into almost all of the United States, even Alaska and Hawaii. Below is a table showing each state and the best evidence for the year it got Skee-Ball. Above you can see a map with the same information.
What year did Skee-Ball come to your state?

StateYearStateYear
California 1909 South Carolina 1916
Delaware 1909 Wisconsin 1916
Illinois 1909 Connecticut 1917
New Jersey 1909 Georgia 1917
New York 1909 Kentucky 1918
North Carolina 1909 Arizona 1920
Virginia 1909 Washington 1921
Colorado 1910 Arkansas 1922
Utah 1910 Hawaii 1922
Pennsylvania 1911 New Mexico 1922
Florida 1914 Minnesota 1925
Maryland 1914 Nebraska 1930
Massachusetts 1915 Oregon 1930
Missouri 1915 Oklahoma 1931
New Hampshire 1915 Tennessee 1932
Ohio 1915 West Virginia 1932
Rhode Island 1915 Indiana 1936
Texas 1915 South Dakota 1938
Vermont 1915 Kansas 1949
Washington, DC 1915 Maine 1949
Alabama 1916 Wyoming 1949
Iowa 1916 North Dakota` 1951
Michigan 1916 Alaska 1955

About The Author

Thaddeus Cooper is the co-author of Seeking Redemption: The Real Story of the Beautiful Game of Skee-Ball, a deep dive into the history of the game. You can find more information about Thaddeus, and his co-author, and their book, at: http://www.nomoreboxes.com/.

SB History | Pacific Coast Skee-Ball Company

/ thaddeuscooper / 1 Comment

Can an antique Skee-Ball token help unravel the game’s history? A token picked up on the West Coast of the United States in 1915 by a Skee-Ball roller finds its way to a token seller in Fort Wayne, Indiana and then wends its way back to the West Coast 100 years later. Now, that token is helping to unravel another chapter in the fascinating history of the game of Skee-Ball.

  • Archduke Ferdinand
  • Babe Ruth

It was 1914. Against the backdrop of the assassination of the Archduke Ferdinand, baseball legend Babe Ruth entering the major leagues, and the inventor of Skee-Ball, Joseph Fourestier Simpson selling the rights to the game to J. D. Este, more mundane corporate machinations were plodding along behind the scenes in Philadelphia.

On June 5, a cryptic article appeared in Variety Magazine, noting that three unnamed Philadelphia Stock Brokers would be operating 100 Skee-Ball alleys at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.

And on July 16, 1914 the Pacific Coast Skee Ball Company was incorporated in Delaware, whose purpose was:

To acquire by purchase or otherwise and to manufacture and lease or otherwise turn to account skee-ball machines and all other amusement devices.

To purchase, lease or otherwise acquire and to hold, own, use, develop, mortgage, lease or sell or otherwise dispose of all real or personal property necessary or convenient for use as a public amusement park or resort. To purchase lease or otherwise acquire, and to manage both as [illegible]als and agents, theatres, roof gardens, amusement parks and any business [illegible] herewith.

To carry on the business of restaurant owners and vendors of confectionary and tobacco, mineral waters and provisions or of refreshment contractors generally.

Stated more succinctly in its published legal notice:

“To manufacture, sell and deal in and with skee ball machines.”

Frederick W. Cavanagh, the president of the new corporation, assembled an impressive team of brokers, attorneys, and real estate people. His colleagues in the Philadelphia financial elite, James Carstairs, and Christian Hagen, would join him as officers.

In October of 1914, Cavanagh sold his seat on the Philadelphia Stock Exchange for $3100. It is likely that the proceeds of the sale were to be used to fund the fledgling corporation. Cavanagh relocated from Philadelphia to Los Angeles, California, where he would run the company.

While all of these mundane corporate machinations were going on in Philadelphia, more exciting events were happening in California.

A Tale Of Two Expositions
In 1881, the French began an ambitious project in Central America which they would abandon due to engineering problems and high worker mortality. In 1904, the US took over construction. The Panama Canal opened for business in August 15, 1914, a feat of modern engineering that would revolutionize shipping between Europe and the west coast of the United States.

Opening of the Panama Canal

San Francisco and San Diego competed for the honor of hosting the year long International Exposition that would celebrate this boon to international trade. And although San Francisco won the distinction of hosting the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, San Diego decided to go ahead with an Exposition of its own: the Panama-California Exposition.

July 11, 1911, San Diego broke ground for the Panama-California Exposition. Designers, architects and laborers would work for the next several years to get the exposition ready for the public.

Panama-Pacific International Exposition Groundbreaking with President Taft

Three months later, ground breaking got underway for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. President William Taft traveled to San Francisco for the event and dug the first shovels worth. It would take over three years to design, build and install, and it would be spectacular.

The Expositions each occupied about 640 acres, but attendance in San Francisco would be five times the San Diego crowd, a total of 18 million people that year.

San Diego’s exposition opened on New Year’s Day in 1915. At midnight Pacific time, President Woodrow Wilson pushed a telegraph button in Washington, DC to open the expo by turning on the power and lights at the park. The exposition featured a dizzying array of exhibits and boasted an amusements area dubbed “The Isthmus” featuring live music, silent movies, a shooting gallery—and the brand new arcade game, Skee-Ball.

On February 20, 1915 the Panama-Pacific International Exposition opened to the public in San Francisco’s Marina District, with fascinating exhibits from around the world. There were sculptures and paintings in the Palace of Fine Arts, auto races, airplane demonstrations, the Tower of Jewels, and The Liberty Bell, that made the trip all the way from Philadelphia to be on display.

The Panama-Pacific International Exposition had its own amusement area called “The Zone” that included roller coasters and the Aeroscope, a steel arm that lifted passengers 265 feet in the air to view the countryside across five counties around the Bay. There was a huge scale model of the Panama Canal with phonographic narration explaining the history and operation of this engineering marvel. And there were Skee-Ball alleys, a definite hit with the crowds.

Having these two expositions running simultaneously on the West Coast was an entrepreneur’s dream. Imagine being able to operate Skee-Ball concessions at not one, but two large expositions for a year, with a built-in audience in the millions—all coming to you. That was Cavanagh’s plan and the reason for the Pacific Coast Skee-Ball Company. From his central location in Los Angeles, Cavanagh would be able to easily travel between the two Expositions as needed over the course of the year. And maybe it would launch an even bigger opportunity. The day after the Panama-Pacific International Exposition opened in San Francisco, an advertisement appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle that hinted that Cavanagh might have loftier plans:

IF you are a hustler with some capital and good references, look over the skee ball alleys at 1256 Fillmore or 1067 Market st. any evening; skee ball is patented and you can get exclusive territory; Fillmore st. place can be leased. PACIFIC COAST SKEE BALL CO.

On January 27, 1916, the officers began to dissolve the company. The Panama-Pacific International Exposition ended on December 4, 1915, and while the San Diego exposition elected to continue for a second year, that decision wasn’t official until March, and the corporate dissolution was already underway.

While cataclysmic events that year, like the Battle of Verdun, were noticed by the entire world, the closure of Cavanagh’s company went silent and unnoticed. Why did Cavanagh and the other officers decide that it was the time to close the company? It appears that the entire point of the company was to operate the alleys for the duration of the Expositions, make as much money as they could, and then dissolve the operation.

This entire piece of Skee-Ball history, and the game’s presence at these historic events, might have been lost to antiquity. But the Pacific Coast Skee-Ball Company minted Skee-Ball tokens as part of their business operation. Although the corporation disappeared and was forgotten, the tokens survived. And those tiny metal discs opened the door to yet another chapter of the Skee-Ball story.

Disappearing into obscurity is nothing new for Skee-Ball, not even in the time period of the Pacific Coast Skee-Ball Company. Joseph Fourestier Simpson, the inventor of the game was eclipsed by J. D. Este by 1915, and would not be discovered again until his records resurfaced in 2011, more than eighty years after his death.

Epilogue
There is one more question that you might want to ask: What happened to all the Skee-Ball alleys that were operated at the expositions? And there were more alleys at 1067 Market St. and 1256 Fillmore near the Exposition in San Francisco. As is so often the case with the history of Skee-Ball, as one puzzle is unraveled, another arises to take its place.

And the balls roll on…

Acknowledgements
Preparation of this article required a group of historians, researchers and organizations to bring it to fruition including:

Laura Ackley
Jonathan Bechtol
John Hepp
Tom Keels
Jim Mundy
Library of Congress
Panama-California Exposition Archive
Panama-Pacific International Exposition Archive
The Union League
Keeley Tulio

We are so happy to have had their help, thank you all!

About The Author

Thaddeus Cooper is the co-author of Seeking Redemption: The Real Story of the Beautiful Game of Skee-Ball, a deep dive into the history of the game. You can find more information about Thaddeus, and his co-author, and their book, at: http://www.nomoreboxes.com/.

SB Tokens | Skee-Ball Alley Co.

/ thaddeuscooper / Leave a comment
IMG_6180-CroppedResized

After Joseph Fourestier Simpson invented and then received his patent for Skee-Ball on December 8, 1908, he made a deal with John W. Harper and William Nice Jr. to build, sell and promote the game. Harper and Nice set up a company named the “Skee-Ball Alley Company,” which initially operated out of an office in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Harper built and marketed the alleys, while Nice was supposed to be the “deep pockets” investor. These original alleys came with a scoring device and coin box. The coin box took nickel sized coinage, including tokens. Harper had tokens made specifically for the Skee-Ball Alley Company.

Although the token has the name of the company as the “Skee-Ball Co.” on the token, the address is the same as Harper’s corporate address in Philadelphia, 533 Chestnut Street. Presumably they couldn’t fit the full name of the company on the token and abbreviated it, as they did with the city name, “Philada.”

On the back of the token, it states the obvious: “Good For One Game Skee-Ball.”

The coin box feature was terrific for operators and revolutionary for the arcade games at the time time, eliminating the need for an attendant to hand out balls and take coins. But Harper had no end of trouble setting up the coin box. In August of 1910, he wrote in a letter to Simpson:

Dear Simpson,

I enclose you 2 different kind of keys for coin boxes. I am sure 1 opens the box I set out to put on alley. I do not think you will have any trouble in adjusting box as I have had all the trouble a person could have adjusting it when it was first placed. When they come to move [the] alley, remember the screw into the floor at tapered end of trough.

And this coin box, along with the integrated ball release, was about to make history.

Token Specs.

  • Size: 21mm
  • Composition: Brass
  • Shape: Round

About the author:

Thaddeus Cooper is the co-author of Seeking Redemption: The Real Story of the Beautiful Game of Skee-Ball, a deep dive into the history of the game. You can find more information about Thaddeus, and his co-author, and their book, at: http://www.nomoreboxes.com/.

SB History | The History of the Skee-Ball Patent • Part 12

/ thaddeuscooper / Leave a comment

Read Part 11

Simpson waited breathlessly. He had sent his response to the Patent Office on May 4 stating:

In the matter of my application for patent on Game No 401,786,filed November 12,1907 and in answer to Examiners [sic] letter dated April 20, 1908,I hereby amend my specification by striking out Claim 1.

He could only imagine what Townsend, the irascible Patent Examiner had in store for him this time.

On May 16, the Patent Office rendered their final decision in the matter and mailed it to Simpson. This was the letter that would make or break his application.

If the Patent Office decided that it was not going to grant the patent would the game of Skee-Ball exist today?

The letter from the Patent Office arrived a few days later and Simpson was greeted by the following:

SIR: Your APPLICATION for a patent for an IMPROVEMENT IN

Game apparatus,

filed Nov. 12, 1907, has been examined and ALLOWED.

The final fee, TWENTY DOLLARS, must be paid, and the Letters Patent bear date as of a day not later than SIX MONTHS from the time of this present notice of allowance.

The letter went on to detail the details of what needed to be done in addition to paying the fees and the penalties for not meeting those dates. But, this meant that Simpson would receive the patent for Skee-Ball later that year and that he was on his way to fulfilling his dream of bringing the game to market.

It was as good as done! Simpson had his patent, now all that remained was that he pay the fees, provide the drawings and wait for it to be published. In the meantime that gave him ample time to work on the next steps to bring the game to market. One can only hope that Simpson celebrated this victory with at least a smile. He may have lost many battles, but ultimately he won the war. The game of Skee-Ball was that much closer to coming to market!

Letter from US Patent Office to Joseph Fouretier Simpson, May 16, 1908.

About the author:

Thaddeus Cooper is the co-author of Seeking Redemption: The Real Story of the Beautiful Game of Skee-Ball, a deep dive into the history of the game. You can find more information about Thaddeus, and his co-author, and their book, at: http://www.nomoreboxes.com/.

SB History | The History of the Skee-Ball Patent • Part 11

/ thaddeuscooper / 1 Comment

Read Part 10

Simpson received Townsend’s letter of April 20, 1908 and seems to have been stunned into silence.

Whether he perceived Townsend’s attempt at humor it was clear that claim 1 was not going to be granted no matter what he did to try and rewrite it. Townsend was not having it.

Simpson had started the patent process back in November 1907 with great hope and seven claims:

  1. In a game apparatus, in combination, a board along which a projectile is adapted to travel, an obstruction upon said board for causing said projectile to be projected into the tair in a direction which will be a continuation of its original movement, and a target in the line of the trajectory of said projectile.
  2. In a game apparatus, in combination, a board along which a projectile is adapted to travel, an obstruction for trajecting said projectile, and a perforated target in the line of the trajectory of said projectile.
  3. In a game apparatus, in combination, a board along which a ball is adapted to be rolled, an obstruction for trajecting said ball, a target in the line of the trajectory of the ball, and an inclined base or floor for returning the ball to the player after it has been played.
  4. In a game apparatus, in combination, a board along which a ball is adapted to be rolled, an obstruction for trajecting said ball, a target in the line of the trajectory of said ball, and an indicator for showing the part of said target engaged by the ball.
  5. In a game apparatus, in combination, a board along which a projectile is adapted to travel, an obstruction for trajecting said projectile, a target in the line of the trajectory of said projectile, screens for limiting side movements of said projectile, and an inclined base for returning said projectile to the player.
  6. In a game apparatus, in combination, a board along which said ball is adapted to be rolled, an obstruction for trajecting said ball, inclined gutters to the sides of said board, an inclined base to the rear of and leading to said gutters, a target, and screens for limiting side movements of said ball.
  7. In a game apparatus, in combination, a board along which a projectile is adapted to be rolled, an obstruction for trajecting said projectile, a perforated taget in the line of the trajectory of said projectiles, pivoted levers connected with said perforations adapted to be engaged and depressed by the projectile after passing through said perforations, and an indicating device adapted to be operated by the movement of said levers.

By April 1908, those claims were whittled away at until Simpson only had two claims left, The ski jump obstruction, and the lever in the target to register the score.:

  1. In a game apparatus, in combination, a board along which a projectile is adapted to travel, an apertured target at the rear of and above said board, in front of and spaced from said target, adapted to cause said ball to leave said board and continue its flight towards said target in the air.
  2. In a game apparatus, in combination, a board along which a projectile is adapted to be rolled, an obstruction for trajecting said projectile, an elevated apertured target at the rear of and spaced from said obstruction, pivoted levers arranged in said apertures adapted to be engaged and operated by the projectile after passing through said apertures, and an indicating device adapted to be operated by the movement of said levers.

It is reasonable to believe that Simpson would be angry and depressed at this point. It was clear that the Patent Office did not understand the brilliance of the invention and how all the pieces fit together to make a game that would fascinate players. And, it was even more obvious that he was not going to be able to change their minds, no matter how adamant he was.

Simpson finally came to terms with the situation and decided a patent with some form of protection was better than no patent and he finally gave up. He wrote his response on May 4, 1908, stating:

Sir:-

In the matter of my application for patent on Game No 401,786, filed November 12, 1907 and in answer to Examiners [sic] letter dated April 20, 1908, I hereby amend my specification by striking out Claim 1.

Very respectfully

Joseph F. Simpson

And once again, Joseph Fourestier Simpson waited.

Letter from Joseph Fourestier Simpson to the US Patent Office, May 4, 1908.

About the author:

Thaddeus Cooper is the co-author of Seeking Redemption: The Real Story of the Beautiful Game of Skee-Ball, a deep dive into the history of the game. You can find more information about Thaddeus, and his co-author, and their book, at: http://www.nomoreboxes.com/.

SB History | The History of the Skee-Ball Patent • Part 10

/ thaddeuscooper / Leave a comment

Read Part 9

Simpson’s letter of April 7 arrived at the US Patent office and as usual wended its way through the mailroom, then down the majestic columned halls of the Patent Office until it came to rest in the pile of patent applications on Senior Patent Examiner, William Wilder Townsend’s desk.

Townsend had shown no sense of humor with respect to Simpson’s application for a mere game. It is possible that he thought games were beneath him, and the Patent Office, especially when there were so many more important patents to be granted.

He did however go through Simpson’s response and wrote one of the shortest responses ever to Simpson, possibly showing that he may actually have had a sense of humor. On April 20th he wrote:

Applicant’s statement that claim 1 has not been amended as suggested is not understood, unless it refers to the retention of the comma in line 4 of the claim, which could not possibly define a distinction over the references. The claim is still held to be substantially met in Miller, of record, and is again rejected.

For want of a comma a patent was almost lost!

One would hope that Simpson would see the humor in the rejection, however slight that might be.

Letter from William Wilder Townsend to Joseph Fourestier Simpson, April 20, 1908.

About the author:

Thaddeus Cooper is the co-author of Seeking Redemption: The Real Story of the Beautiful Game of Skee-Ball, a deep dive into the history of the game. You can find more information about Thaddeus, and his co-author, and their book, at: http://www.nomoreboxes.com/.