Jive Time

Jive Time, released by D. Gottlieb & Co. in 1970, represents a quintessential example of early 1970s electro-mechanical pinball design. The machine captured the vibrant spirit of the era with its distinctive art package featuring dancing figures and musical motifs that celebrated the contemporary music scene.

The playfield design was notably straightforward yet engaging, featuring a classic layout with three pop bumpers, several stand-up targets, and two pairs of flippers. This configuration made it accessible to casual players while still offering enough depth for skilled players to develop sophisticated techniques. The scoring system was typical of the electro-mechanical era, utilizing rotating score reels and chimes that created the distinctive sound profile beloved by pinball purists.

Jive Time has earned its place in pinball history as one of Gottlieb's successful machines from their golden age of electro-mechanical production. While not as famous as some of their other titles from this period, it exemplified the solid engineering and reliability that made Gottlieb the industry leader of that era. The machine's theme resonated with the public's continued enthusiasm for dance music and social gatherings, making it a popular choice for bars, bowling alleys, and arcades of the early 1970s.