Bongo

The Bongo, manufactured by Bally in March 1964, is an electro-mechanical (EM) pinball machine that embodies the carefree spirit of its era, with a theme of dancing, happiness, and music. Designed by Ted Zale, this two-player game features a bingo card in both the backglass and the playfield that lights corresponding numbers earned during play, an entertaining carryover of bingo-style scoring into flipper pinball. Notably, the 4-player version of this design had appeared a year earlier as Bally's 1963 '3-In-Line'.

The gameplay features of Bongo are classic for their time: two flippers, three pop bumpers, two slingshots, five standup targets, and two rollunders. The machine offers 3 or 5 ball play, and the maximum displayed point score is 1,999 points per player, adding an element of friendly competition.

Bongo also features an end-of-ball bonus that awards 10 points, or 100 points when lit. A confirmed 1,050 units were produced. With its bingo-card scoring and cheerful, colorful theme, the Bongo is an appealing addition to any collection of 1960s EM games.