# End of an Era

**Source:** Pinball News Website  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2004-12-29  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/news/krynski.html

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## Analysis

Obituary and tribute to Ed Krynski, a legendary Gottlieb pinball designer who passed away in November 2004 at age unknown. Michael Shalhoub, author of The Pinball Compendium series, recounts Krynski's induction into the Pinball Hall of Fame at Pinball Expo and his profound impact on the industry, having designed over 220 games between 1960 and 1987 and pioneered numerous mechanical innovations.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Ed Krynski designed over 220 pinball games for Gottlieb between 1960-1987 — _Michael Shalhoub presentation at Pinball Expo; article states 'over 200 games' initially, then 'over 220 games' in presentation details_
- [HIGH] Krynski left the industry in 1984 due to disagreement with industry direction toward profit over game quality — _Michael Shalhoub quote: 'He left the industry on a sour note back in 1984... it was no longer about making fun games but it was all about making money'_
- [HIGH] Krynski pioneered multiple mechanical innovations including vari-targets, laneways to flippers, carousel targets, and multiple drop targets — _Shalhoub's presentation details specific games where innovations first appeared: Airport (1969), Bank-a-Ball (1965), Dancing Lady (1966), 2001 (1971)_
- [HIGH] Ed Krynski was inducted into the Pinball Hall of Fame at Pinball Expo in Chicago (2004) — _Michael Shalhoub presented the induction and organized Krynski's family to attend despite his health challenges_
- [HIGH] Krynski suffered two strokes and two heart attacks prior to his Hall of Fame induction — _Shalhoub mentions attending him 'recovering from two strokes and two heart attacks' at the banquet_

### Notable Quotes

> "He designed more games than any other designer - he has designed over 220 games."
> — **Michael Shalhoub**, Pinball Expo banquet presentation
> _Establishes Krynski's unmatched prolific output in pinball design history_

> "He left the industry on a sour note back in 1984. He was from the old school and didn't like the way the industry was heading; it was no longer about making fun games but it was all about making money."
> — **Michael Shalhoub**, Article text
> _Captures industry philosophical divide between game design integrity and commercial priorities_

> "Michael, there is life after pinballs"
> — **Ed Krynski**, Conversation with Michael Shalhoub prior to passing
> _Krynski's personal philosophy reflecting his departure from the industry and life beyond pinball design_

> "For the first time I believe he felt recognition for his work."
> — **Michael Shalhoub**, After Hall of Fame induction
> _Indicates Krynski's design legacy had gone largely unrecognized until late in his life_

> "I made it a personal venture to make sure recognition is brought to the man who has designed more games that anyone else in the history of the game."
> — **Michael Shalhoub**, Article conclusion
> _States Shalhoub's mission to document and honor Krynski's contributions through The Pinball Compendium series_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Ed Krynski | person | Legendary Gottlieb pinball designer; designed 220+ games 1960-1987; died November 2004 from pneumonia/lung cancer |
| Michael Shalhoub | person | Author of The Pinball Compendium book series; close friend of Ed Krynski; presented his Hall of Fame induction |
| D Gottlieb & Co | company | Pinball manufacturer that employed Krynski 1960-1987; dominated industry in 1970s |
| Pinball Expo | event | Annual pinball convention in Chicago; location of Krynski's Hall of Fame induction in 2004 |
| Pinball Hall of Fame | organization | Museum/honor organization that inducted Ed Krynski in 2004; presented him with drawing of museum area in his honor |
| Wayne Neyens | person | Previous Gottlieb designer whom Krynski succeeded; managed by Krynski until end of 1970s |
| Rob Berk | person | Pinball Expo chairman who asked Shalhoub to present Krynski's Hall of Fame induction |
| Alan Tate | person | Collaborated with Shalhoub in presenting Krynski's Hall of Fame drawing at banquet |
| The Pinball Compendium | product | Multi-volume book series by Michael Shalhoub documenting pinball design history; Vol 3 dedicated to Ed Krynski |
| Airport | game | 1969 Gottlieb game; first to feature vari-target innovation designed by Krynski |
| Bank-a-Ball | game | 1965 Gottlieb game; first to feature laneways to flipper innovation by Krynski |
| Dancing Lady | game | 1966 Gottlieb game; first to feature carousel target innovation by Krynski |
| 2001 | game | 1971 Gottlieb game; first to feature multiple drop targets innovation by Krynski |
| Keeney | company | Early pinball/arcade game manufacturer; employed Krynski 1960-1963 for gun and arcade games |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Pinball design history and legacy, Industry evolution and commercialization vs. artistry, Ed Krynski's mechanical innovations, Pinball industry obituary/memorial
- **Secondary:** Pinball Hall of Fame induction process, Gottlieb manufacturing dominance

### Sentiment

**Negative** (-0.65) — Predominantly somber tone reflecting Krynski's death and health decline; however, mixed with celebratory elements of his Hall of Fame recognition and lasting legacy. Shalhoub expresses deep admiration and love for Krynski, tempered by grief and loss.

### Signals

- **[design_philosophy]** Krynski represented old-school design philosophy emphasizing fun gameplay and innovation over profit maximization; conflict with industry direction contributed to his departure (confidence: high) — Shalhoub narrative contrasts Krynski's approach with industry commercialization; Krynski's quote 'there is life after pinballs' reflects philosophical separation from industry
- **[market_signal]** Recognition and documentation of Ed Krynski's design innovations and influence becoming central focus of pinball history discourse through Shalhoub's Compendium series and Hall of Fame induction (confidence: high) — Shalhoub: 'My main goal in writing these books was to pay tribute to him... For the first time I believe he felt recognition for his work.'
- **[community_signal]** Ed Krynski departed Gottlieb in 1984 due to philosophical disagreement with industry shift toward commercialization over game design quality (confidence: high) — Michael Shalhoub: 'He left the industry on a sour note back in 1984... it was no longer about making fun games but it was all about making money. He had worked for a family run company for many years and things were never the same when the company was sold.'

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## Transcript

Story dated
December 29, 2004

Last month saw the sad death of one of the great pinball designers of the `60s and `70s, Ed Krynski.

Ed designed over 200 games for Gottlieb between 1965 and 1987, so to mark his passing we turned to the man who came to be a close personal and family friend, author of the Pinball Compendium series, Michael Shalhoub.

My name is Michael Shalhoub author of the books The Pinball Compendium.

The reason the books were written was to pay tribute to all the greats in the industry that have brought us these games. They are enjoyed by millions of people all around the world.

In the 1970's D Gottlieb & Co dominated the industry and it was all thanks to their legendary designer Ed Krynski. I have recently returned from the Pinball Expo in Chicago, this was the first time in five years I didn't see Ed, he had just had major surgery and had a pacemaker implanted.

For those who didn't know Ed, he left the industry on a sour note back in 1984. He was from the old school and didn't like the way the industry was heading; it was no longer about making fun games but it was all about making money. He had worked for a family run company for many years and things were never the same when the company was sold.

Over the years I have become friends with the man whose games I played growing up and he has been a tremendous inspiration in my work. My main goal in writing these books was to pay tribute to him.

I was asked by Pinball Expo chairman, Rob Berk if I would like to present Ed Krynski with his induction into the �Pinball Hall of Fame' at the banquet on the Saturday night. This was a great honour for me as the majority of games I played growing up were his designs. I had organized Ed's family to be there supporting this true legend as he is recovering from two strokes and two heart attacks. Ed had no idea what was going on - as far as he was concerned it was late and he wanted to go home. So there I was doing a presentation for another great in the industry. I started by telling people that very few realize that Ed Krynski has designed more games than any other designer - he has designed over 220 games.

He has never been recognized for designing pinball or gun and arcade games for Keeney in the period 1960-1963. He brought so many innovations to the game: the vari-target first seen on Airport (1969); the laneways to the flipper first seen on Bank-a-Ball (1965); carousel target first seen on Dancing Lady (1966); multiple drop targets first seen on 2001 (1971).

He has captivated players with his extraordinary designs that had Gottlieb dominating the industry from the day he took over from Wayne Neyens till the end of the 1970's. He knew what players wanted and the majority - if not all of his games - challenged players, and were successes for Gottlieb.

I then finished the talk by asking everyone to please be up standing as I asked Ed Krynski to come up and accept his induction into the Pinball Hall of Fame.

It was a great moment for Ed. For the first time I believe he felt recognition for his work.

I then called Alan Tate forward and we presented Ed with the drawing of the Pinball Museum depicting the area marked out in his honour. He was truly moved by the occasion - there were tears in his eyes.

He once told me, "Michael, there is life after pinballs".

After the banquet the Exhibit hall opened and Ed was seen there playing games with his family.

I have kept in contact with him since Expo and on the 16th of November I received the shattering news from his son Paul that his father passed away early Monday morning.  He was in the hospital all last week with pneumonia and they discovered a couple of a days ago he had late stage lung cancer.

I made it a personal venture to make sure recognition is brought to the man who has designed more games that anyone else in the history of the game. Personally, I am flooded with memories of his games and of the man that I have grown to love. I will miss having pepperoni pizza with him.

Michael, Alan Tate, Gilda & Ed.

I have just finished the third volume in the series and I have dedicated the book to him. He was devoted to his beloved wife Gilda, and his family, even though Ed is not with us physically he will be forever remembered in the games that he designed.

Michael Shalhoub

If any one would like to order either of the books, Volume one 1930's-1960's or the second volume 1970-1981 email me at pinballmaster@ozemail.com.au or visit the web site www.pinballcompendium.com

The third book in the series will be released next year covering the period 1982-2005.

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 46b625cd-ab9c-4180-918b-7bb71ab51108*