Venice

The Venice pinball machine, designed by Don Hooker and manufactured by Bally, is a rare and fascinating piece of electro-mechanical pinball history. Although its exact year of release remains unknown, it's clear that this machine pushed the boundaries of what was possible in pinball design during its time. As an EM machine, Venice features a unique blend of mechanical and electrical components that would become a hallmark of Bally's innovative approach to pinball.

One of the standout features of Venice is its use of trap holes - 20 of them, to be exact! This adds an extra layer of challenge and excitement to gameplay, as players must carefully navigate their ball around obstacles to avoid losing it. The Mystic Lines feature also makes a notable appearance, which likely added to the machine's mystique for players back in the day. But what really sets Venice apart is its innovative "Special Game" feature, where players can press buttons to rearrange colored sections on the card in the backglass - a unique and intriguing twist that was only available with specific features purchased.

The World Places theme is classic Bally, evoking the era's sense of adventure and exploration. Don Hooker's design work on Venice showcases his ability to balance playability with visual flair, resulting in a machine that's both challenging and visually stunning. Unfortunately, little else is known about this machine beyond its basic features and specifications - but for pinball enthusiasts, that only adds to its mystique.