Midway Manufacturing Co.

Midway Manufacturing Co., founded in Chicago in 1958, earned a reputation as an innovative maker of coin-operated amusements and pinball machines through the 1960s and 1970s before becoming closely tied to Bally following a 1969 acquisition that led to the Bally-Midway era and shared technological advances in electromechanical and early solid-state pinball systems; Midway’s experimental spirit produced notable hybrids like Baby Pac-Man, a 1982 arcade title that combined video maze gameplay with a mini pinball playfield, showcasing the company’s willingness to blend digital and mechanical entertainment formats. Throughout the 1970s and early 1980s Midway contributed to the transition toward electronic scoring, synthesized sound, and more complex playfield mechanics, helping to broaden pinball’s appeal and influence later manufacturers. Although Midway’s direct involvement in pinball production diminished after Bally exited the pinball business and the company ultimately filed for bankruptcy in 2009, Midway’s legacy endures through its arcade classics and collectible pinball titles, including Rodeo, Race‑Way, Flying Turns and Rotation VIII, which remain sought-after examples of mid-century coin-op design and innovation.