From the Italian manufacturer Zaccaria comes Circus, a 1977 electromechanical machine that brings all the color and clamor of the big top to the playfield. Zaccaria built a strong reputation in Europe for well-made, lively tables, and Circus shows that flair — right down to a delightful quirk where a “biri-biri” sound effect triggers when a player crosses 400,000 points, a fixed celebration baked into the hardware.
The game runs on spinners and bonus-building. The left spinner pays 1,000 a spin and nudges the bonus along every several rotations, while the right spinner lights for 1,000 via a playfield rollover. The route to a big score is to fatten the bonus, switch on Double Bonus via the center top lane, and cash in at the center saucer — which also pays an extra 10,000 on collection. Spell out C-I-R-C-U-S or max your bonus and you’ll light the Bonus Ball for another go, a rewarding goal to chase.
Bright, breezy, and a little exotic compared to its American contemporaries, Circus is a fun representative of Zaccaria’s late-70s output. For collectors who enjoy exploring pinball beyond the usual Bally, Williams, and Gottlieb names, it’s a characterful European classic with a real sense of carnival fun.