Loop the Loop

Loop the Loop, designed by Ted Zale and manufactured by Bally in September 1966, is a classic circus/carnival-themed electro-mechanical (EM) pinball machine. This add-a-ball version let operators select up to five or seven balls per game, adding a layer of strategy as players competed to earn extra balls that had to be played off before the game moved on to the next player.

The machine's design and art are quintessential Bally, with a vibrant circus/carnival theme that sets the tone for the experience. Key features include two flippers, three mushroom bumpers, three slingshots, and a spinning bumper that adds an unpredictable element to gameplay. The kick-out hole and left/right outlane features create opportunities for players to earn additional points or get their ball back into play, while two bonus ladders with fixed values of 90, 130, and 150 points add an extra layer of challenge, with their values carrying over from ball to ball and even game to game until earned.

As an add-a-ball variant of Bally's contemporaneous 'Loop the Loop' replay game, this version swaps the usual replay award for a kickback on the left outlane and reworks the backglass scoring to track added balls instead of match numbers. It's a nice example of how Bally tailored the same basic game to different markets and regulatory environments during the mid-1960s.