Machine Description

Bally's 'Big Top' pinball machine, released in 1961, perfectly captured the golden age of circus entertainment in America. This electro-mechanical masterpiece emerged during a time when the circus was still a major form of family entertainment, and Bally capitalized on this cultural phenomenon with stunning artwork and carnival-themed gameplay elements.

The machine featured vibrant circus-themed artwork including clowns, elephants, and acrobats, all rendered in the distinctive style of the early 1960s. The playfield incorporated multiple targets and bumpers decorated as circus elements, with the signature feature being circus-tent shaped targets. The game's scoring system rewarded players for hitting various circus-themed targets in sequence, simulating the progression of a circus show.

As one of Bally's successful releases from the early 1960s, 'Big Top' represented the height of electro-mechanical pinball engineering. The game utilized mechanical relays, stepper units, and score motors typical of its era, but arranged them in ways that created engaging gameplay sequences. While production numbers aren't definitively known, it's estimated that several thousand units were manufactured, with surviving examples now being sought after by collectors for their historical significance and artistic merit.