Fun in the sun — Chicago Coin’s Blondie is an electromechanical single-player wrapped in a beach-and-swimming theme, designed by a team including John Gore, Jerry Koci, Al Schlappa, and Albin Peters, with art by the legendary Roy Parker. With light-based scoring, it’s a characterful woodrail-era piece from one of the industry’s pioneering manufacturers, radiating breezy seaside charm.
The layout is a lively, engaging spread with a classic period feature: two flippers, two pop bumpers, a generous four passive bumpers, a pair of slingshots, and a gobble hole. That gobble hole is a hallmark of the era’s bold design philosophy — the daring, high-risk feature that swallows the ball for an award — while the combination of pop and passive bumpers promises a wildly bouncy, unpredictable ball that demands active nudging. It’s a clean, bumper-rich design in the classic mold, rewarding a player willing to brave the gobble hole for its prize while keeping the ball alive, all in service of its sunny beach theme.
Blondie is a fine example of Chicago Coin’s electromechanical craft and Roy Parker’s warm, characterful artwork. Chicago Coin was one of the industry’s foundational manufacturers, and its machines carry a real piece of pinball’s deep history. The beach-and-swimming theme was pure seaside fun, all sunshine and surf, and Parker’s illustration brings that easygoing warmth to life. For the collector who loves the golden age of EM pinball and its great artists, it’s a rewarding find. Brave that gobble hole, ride the bumpers, and soak up a little sunshine. Some machines just radiate the joy of a day at the beach, and this Chicago Coin classic is one of them. Grab your towel and drop a coin.