Frisky

The Frisky is an early electro-mechanical, flipperless machine released in March 1935 by Bally Manufacturing Corporation, one of the earliest and most influential manufacturers in the industry. Frisky offers a novel twist on gameplay by simulating the casino game blackjack: players shoot as many balls as they like, aiming to score as close to 21 as possible without going over.

One of the most intriguing aspects of Frisky is what happens next. The player pulls a knob on the front of the cabinet to spin a dial on the lower playfield, determining the "dealer's" hand to beat. This mechanism was patented by Clarence H. Huenergardt, brother of Bill Huenergardt, a designer at Rock-Ola. True to the fast pace of mid-1930s play, the average game was advertised as lasting only three or four balls.

The cabinet measured about 40 1/2 inches long by 18 1/2 inches wide and was offered with either straight nickel play or a four-coin slot accepting pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters. The game proved worth revisiting quickly: just two months later Bally reissued it as a new and improved model, 'Frisky (New).' As a Depression-era gambling-themed machine, Frisky offers a fascinating glimpse into the earliest days of Bally history.