Playtime

Playtime, manufactured by United Manufacturing Company in 1957, was United's last bingo-style pinball game. It showcases the mature, feature-rich style of bingo machines by the late 1950s, including trap holes, rollover buttons, and the newly introduced Magic Squares feature, which debuted on a United bingo with this title.

Playtime's gameplay mechanics set it apart from other bingo machines of its time. Players can press buttons before shooting the 4th or 5th ball (or after the 5th, if purchased) to strategically reconfigure numbers on the One Card feature in the backglass. This interactive element, marketed as 'Magic Squares' on the backglass and instruction card (and as 'Selectable Squares' on the flyer), added a novel layer of player choice. Additional elements like the Magic Line E and Uni-hole add to the machine's complexity. Notably, Playtime shares nearly identical features with Bally's 1957 'Show Time', differing mainly in that Show Time's 'star rollovers' are called 'crown rollovers' here, and Show Time's 'Bally hole' is labeled the 'Uni-hole'.

The Playtime's design and artwork reflect the carefree spirit of post-war America, with a theme blending sports, leisure activities (fishing, golf, tennis, beach), and a touch of pin-up style femininity, typical of mid-20th-century American bingo pinball.