Happy Tour

Happy Tour, manufactured by Bally in June 1964, is an interesting footnote in the world of electromechanical pinball. Designed by Ted Zale, it is the Italian Add-A-Ball version of Bally's 1964 'Grand Tour', produced in a confirmed run of just 250 units - a rarity born of the export markets where replay awards were restricted and Add-A-Ball play was the norm.

The gameplay of Happy Tour is defined by its dual flippers and three pop bumpers, which provide a balanced challenge for players. Four of Bally's distinctive mushroom bumpers add an extra layer of complexity, while two slingshots and a right outlane ball return gate keep the ball in motion. The game also features Bally's "butterfly rollovers" - the company's term for the switches located in the large horseshoe lane surrounding the pop bumpers.

With its Travel - World Places theme and single-player Add-A-Ball format, Happy Tour offers a glimpse into how American manufacturers adapted their games for overseas markets in the 1960s. Ted Zale contributed many designs to Bally's catalog in this era, and this scarce Italian variant is a distinctive example of his work for collectors to seek out.