Opportunity

Opportunity, manufactured by Marvel Manufacturing Company in October 1946, is a flipperless electro-mechanical machine built during the postwar boom in pinball production. Notably, it was a conversion of no fewer than ten earlier Gottlieb machines from 1940-41, including "The Champ," "Paradise," "Sea Hawk," and others — a common practice at the time that let operators refresh older cabinets with new artwork and rules.

Gameplay is straightforward: players get five balls for five cents, aiming to score with nine passive bumpers scattered across the playfield. A kick-out hole (which Marvel referred to as a "knockout pocket") and a free-play hole round out the scoring opportunities, rewarding accurate shooting with extra plays.

The theme of Opportunity, centered on pageantry and women, is reflective of the era's cultural climate. While little is documented about the machine's specific designer, its artwork and layout are characteristic of 1940s conversion games. Opportunity remains an interesting artifact of postwar-era operator practices, illustrating how manufacturers extended the life of older cabinets through thematic conversions.