Jungle King

Jungle King, released by D. Gottlieb & Co. in the early 1970s, emerged during the golden age of electro-mechanical pinball machines when themed adventures were becoming increasingly popular. The machine captured the exotic allure of jungle exploration that was prevalent in pop culture of the era, following successful films and TV shows with similar themes.

The machine featured classic EM gameplay elements including pop bumpers, drop targets, and kickout holes, all themed around a jungle adventure motif. The playfield artwork likely depicted dense jungle scenes, wild animals, and an explorer character - common visual elements for games of this period. The backglass would have featured dramatic jungle artwork illuminated by incandescent bulbs, following Gottlieb's signature style of the era.

While not one of Gottlieb's most famous titles, Jungle King represents an important piece of pinball history from the final years of the electro-mechanical era. It demonstrates the industry's growing focus on thematic immersion and storytelling through pinball, just before the transition to solid-state electronics would revolutionize the industry. The machine's relative scarcity today makes it an interesting piece for collectors focused on EM-era games.