Headliner

The Headliner, manufactured by Bally in May 1939, is a single-player electro-mechanical game from the flipperless era of pinball. Released as Bally model number 345, it reflects the state of the game in the years before flippers were introduced in 1947, when players relied on plunger skill and nudging rather than direct ball control.

Gameplay on the Headliner is built around its 18 passive bumpers, a common playfield element of the late 1930s that scored points as the ball made its way down the playfield. With no flippers to intervene, each ball's journey carried the unpredictability characteristic of pre-war pinball.

The Headliner's theme, listed as Pageantry - Women, reflects the popular tastes of the era. Little else is documented about the machine's designer or the specific context surrounding its creation, but it remains an interesting artifact from the formative period of pinball history.