Trio

The Trio, designed by Ted Zale and released in November 1965 by Bally Manufacturing Corporation, is a single-player electromechanical (EM) pinball machine with a happiness/music/singing/dancing theme. Its combination of flippers, pop bumpers, mushroom bumpers, slingshots, and a kick-out hole created a challenging and engaging experience for players of its time.

One standout aspect of the Trio is its use of special features to reward skillful play. The build bonus on the playfield lets players earn a free ball gate and light the special outlane, while a ball through the free ball gate advances backglass lights toward a bonus at the 10th light. A right outlane ball return gate adds an extra layer of complexity, and the maximum displayed score of 9,999 points, along with a game-ending tilt penalty, are typical of Bally's design conventions of the mid-1960s.

The Trio's cheerful theme is reflected in its art package. With an approximate production run of only 750 units, the Trio is relatively scarce today, and some located examples carry serial numbers beyond the expected range, suggesting a few additional games may have been produced beyond the official count.