Maisie

Maisie, designed by Harry Mabs with artwork by Roy Parker, was manufactured by Gottlieb in March 1947. It is an early example of a themed, flipperless pinball machine, built around a beach and water-recreation theme centered on the character Maisie.

Gameplay on Maisie is characterized by its use of electro-mechanical (EM) technology, featuring 14 passive bumpers and four kick-out holes -- flippers had not yet been introduced to pinball at this point. The backglass light animation is particularly notable, showcasing Maisie's ascent up a ladder as the player hits the "Advance" rollovers or drops a ball into a kickout hole. When Maisie reaches the top, the two white bumpers at bottom-center light up; rolling through the rollover between them steps Maisie down into the pool, awarding a replay and 10,000 points, and lights all four kickout holes for additional replays.

One of the most distinctive aspects of Maisie is its integration of light animation with mechanical gameplay elements. While this technology was not uncommon for its time, it demonstrates an early effort by Gottlieb to enhance player engagement through visual effects. The backglass measures approximately 22 inches high by 20 inches wide, and little additional information about the machine's production run is available, making it a particularly intriguing example of early pinball design.