Step right up to the greatest show — Bally’s Big Show is an electromechanical two-player bursting with circus-and-carnival cheer, designed by the prolific Jim Patla with art by Dick White. With reel scoring and a confirmed run of 1,000, it’s a handsome woodrail-era piece full of midway spirit and the bouncy, chiming energy of its theme.
The layout is a lively spread: two flippers, a pop bumper, a pair of passive bumpers, two slingshots, a generous six rollover buttons, and four standup targets. The strategy hook is a nice bit of skill-shot craft — try to hit the center lane on the plunge, which lights the rollover on each side for a bonus add, giving an accurate player a rewarding start. Those six rollover buttons offer plenty of scoring to work through, while the pop and passive bumpers promise a lively, unpredictable ball and the four standups give clear objectives. It’s a clean, engaging design that rewards active play and a good opening plunge, all in service of the big-top theme.
Big Show is a fun example of Jim Patla’s dependable design and Bally’s electromechanical craft, pairing a joyful carnival theme with a satisfying, rollover-rich playfield. The circus motif was pure vintage amusement, all spectacle and midway music, and Dick White’s art brings it to colorful life. For the collector who loves the golden age of EM pinball, it’s a rewarding find. Nail that center-lane plunge for the bonus, ride the bumpers, and work the six rollovers. Some machines just radiate the joy of the fairground, and this Patla-and-White classic puts on a fine show. Come one, come all, and drop a coin.