Show Boat

The Genco Manufacturing Company's Show Boat, dated December 1957, was among the company's final pinball releases -- Genco operated from 1931 to 1958, and Show Boat arrived near the very end of that run rather than at its beginning.

Show Boat's gameplay features two flippers, five pop bumpers, two passive bumpers, two slingshots, and a standup target. A gobble hole adds an additional scoring wrinkle. Hitting the center target lights a playing card on the backglass; lighting all the playing cards lights Specials -- and notably, this lit status carries over from game to game rather than resetting with each play.

While little is known about the designer or specific theme of Show Boat, its late-1950s Genco pedigree and carry-over playing-card feature make it a notable piece for collectors tracing the company's final years of pinball production.