Joe Cicak's Story
"The original concept for Black Hole did NOT originate at Gottlieb! Black Hole was designed and built by 2 pinball novices from Harrisburg, PA and presented in a working concept prototype to Gottlieb. This original prototype that walked in Gottlieb's front door featured the reverse slant lower playfield, backwards flippers, homeplate plexi-window, and same basic overall playfield design. The photograph shows the very first working prototype that was thrown together to test the concept of dual field play. It is decorated with quick magic marker art to jazz it up for its unveiling to a group of close friends at a party. Originally the game was built just for fun. But after playing it, it was obvious that the game had a commercial future. The prototype was packed up and taken to Gottlieb and presented to a guy named Gil (ed. Gil Pollock). He wisely bought it on the spot. I know all this because I'm the guy who thought up the idea and built it." - Joe Cicak Stunned and suspicious but recognising that the game did look like an embryonic Black Hole, SNP asked for more details.
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