Card King

The Card King, manufactured by Gottlieb in August 1971, holds an interesting place in the company's catalog: it is the version of Gottlieb's 'Pop-A-Card' made for export to Italy, with coin pricing set at 100 lire for one play and 2 x 100 lire for two. Designed by Ed Krynski with artwork by Gordon Morison, this single-player Add-A-Ball electro-mechanical machine carries Gottlieb's ever-popular playing-card theme, and a healthy 2,340 units were confirmed produced.

Key to Card King's gameplay is its emphasis on target shooting. A 5-bank of drop targets and two 4-bank drop target sets offer multiple opportunities to rack up points, complemented by two stand-up targets and four star rollovers, while two pop bumpers add an extra layer of challenge and excitement above the two flippers.

The Card King's Gordon Morison artwork suits its playing-card theme, and its Italian-market origin makes it a distinctive variant for collectors. As a relatively lesser-known machine from this era, Card King remains an interesting and collectible piece for pinball enthusiasts seeking a glimpse into Gottlieb's export business and the development of drop-target-driven gameplay in the early 1970s.