Gordon Morison
Born in 1930 and an Indiana native, Gordon Morison found his creative calling post-Korean War, landing a gig at Advertising Posters Co. This opened the door to his legendary pinball career, thanks to the firm's tie-ups with the industry since the '50s.
Morison became Gottlieb's go-to artist in 1970, filling the void left by Roy Parker. His prolific output? A whopping 137 games between 1971's "Galaxie" and 1980's "Asteroid Annie and the Aliens." Morison's iconic style blended comic book flair with Art Deco geometry and psychedelic vibes, shaping the visual lexicon of '70s pinball.
Morison always said that while designers built the game, artists infused it with soul. This ethos defined his decade at Gottlieb and his brief stint at Stern, even if uncredited. A fitness buff with a marathon hobby, Morison faced health setbacks in the '80s but kept hustling as a freelance illustrator—tackling projects like NOW Comics' "Slimer! and the Real Ghostbusters."
Inducted into the Pinball Hall of Fame in 1998, Morison passed away from lung cancer in 2000, just three weeks into his second marriage. His legacy? An indelible imprint on pinball artistry, captivating a generation of players.
