The games origin traces back to South Jersey over 100 years ago
By Steffen Klenk
The summer season in South Jersey is truly magnificent. The boardwalk is bustling and the sound of kids laughing, seagulls and amusement park rides fill the air. Inside Jilly’s Arcade on the Ocean City Boardwalk, children of all ages try their hand at the pinball machines, air hockey, Dance Dance Revolution and auto racing.
In the back of the sprawling arcade are the many Skee-Ball machines. This popular game is fun and easy to play, for children and adults alike. The game is played by rolling a ball up an inclined lane and over a small ball-hop. The ball will then land into one of several bullseye rings. The object is to collect as many points as you can.
Skee-Ball has been a popular arcade game for decades. Its history goes back over a century. Vineland resident Joseph Fourestier Simpson was granted the patent for his invention on December 8, 1908. In less than five months, John W. Harper and William Nice Jr. began marketing the thirty-two-foot game under the name Skee-Ball Alley Company. The first advertisement for the game appeared in Billboard magazine in April 1909.
Several years later, local resident Jonnathan Dickinson Este purchased the patent and all rights to the game from Simpson, forming the J.D. Este Company to market the game. In 1914, Este installed Skee-Ball machines in rented space along the iconic Atlantic City boardwalk. After just a few short years in the business, Este sold his company in 1919.
By 1929, the game was sweeping the East Coast. The nation’s first National Skee-Ball tournament was held in Atlantic City at what was dubbed “Skee-Ball Stadium.” Over 100 players qualified to play in the tournament, with over $2,400 in prizes awarded to the winners (equivalent to $36,500 in modern times!). At its height of popularity, more than 5,000 Skee-Ball alleys were produced. Demand for the game waned in the late 1930s, and production halted altogether during World War II.
Today, the game is played socially all over the country, including Jilly’s arcade of Ocean City. Players who score more than 280 points in a single round are awarded with a free game and the chance to increase their average.
National tournaments are regularly held under the regulation of the National Skee-Ball League (NSBL). There is also an official website where the most skilled fan can purchase official merchandise, purchase tabletop and handheld machines, and learn more about the official “Skee-Ball Plus App,” allowing everyone the option to practice their skills.
From its creation more than 100 years ago, Skee-Ball continues to see widespread popularity. It is easy to see why. Just witnessing the smiles of all who play, from the youngest of children to the youngest of adults, brings joy to all!
Steffen Klenk is a multimedia journalist. He resides in Ocean City and enjoys capturing the eclectic moments of shore life.
