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1963–1964 · Bally

3-In-Line / Bongo

Known for 3x3 grid. Flat periwinkle blue sky scattered with small pale-yellow stars.

Years
1963–1964
Maker
Bally
Type
Electro-mechanical
Display
Score reels

Known for

  • grid

    3x3 grid

2 games under this title

On the playfield

Hole 1

  • Out hole

Post or gate 1

  • Rollunder gates gates

Control 1

  • Rollover buttons buttons

Lights 1

  • 3x3 grid grid

On the backglass

Who and what

  • woman Three identical showgirls in a row below the numbered card, each with a red feathered headdress, a red and yellow circus bodice, bare pale legs, red high-heeled shoes, knees bent outward and both hands raised beside the cheeks, each standing with one foot on a large yellow ball
  • other Four small round clown-head emblems, one above each player panel, each wearing a two-peaked jester hat striped red, yellow and blue with a red pom-pom
  • other A pair of thin red balloon-like shapes flanking the centre showgirl group, and a small yellow ball shape near the middle showgirl

Setting

  • Flat periwinkle blue sky scattered with small pale-yellow stars

Text on it

  • Bally
  • 4 PLAYER
  • 3-IN-LINE
  • 1ST PLAYER
  • 2ND PLAYER
  • 3RD PLAYER
  • 4TH PLAYER
  • 806
  • 212
  • 963
  • 000
  • 4
  • 8
  • 6
  • 5
  • 3
  • 1
  • 2
  • 7
  • 9
  • 1·2·3·4 CAN PLAY
  • IT'S MORE FUN TO COMPETE
  • BALL IN PLAY
  • A GAME OF SKILL

Made by

Design
Ted Zale

Reference

Backglass vision analysis

Written by a machine from the photos, so details may be off.

3-In-Line / Bongo backglass

Backglass 3-In-Line

  • blue
  • yellow
  • red
  • pink

Fingerprint: "3-IN-LINE": pink lattice grid card with nine numbered yellow balls (magic square), three identical showgirls in red-and-yellow circus costumes on yellow balls, numbered player panels with jester heads

Distinctive

The centrepiece is a pink lattice grid card holding nine numbered yellow balls in a magic-square arrangement, flanked by two upper and two lower yellow player panels with mechanical digit wheels showing 806, 212, 963 and 000. Below it, three identical showgirls in red-and-yellow circus costumes and plumed headdresses dance with raised hands on three large yellow balls, drawn in a cheerful mid-century cartoon style. The only large word is the pink '3-IN-LINE' serif title with a white drop shadow. A rare detail is the four jester-hatted clown-head emblems repeated above each player panel, each in red, yellow and blue. The instruction pair '1·2·3·4 CAN PLAY / IT'S MORE FUN TO COMPETE' and 'BALL IN PLAY / A GAME OF SKILL' anchors the lower corners.

Setting

  • Flat periwinkle blue sky scattered with small pale-yellow stars

Symbols

  • Playing-card-style numbered grid
  • Nine numbered yellow circles
  • Jester hats
  • Five-pointed stars
  • Juggling/balance balls

Lettering

  • Large pink-red serif capitals with white drop shadow for the title; cursive script logo with red underline at top; yellow-green block capitals for '4 player'; red sans-serif capitals on white boxes for the instruction text

Themes

  • Card game
  • Magic square
  • Circus showgirls
  • Three in a line
  • Multi-player
  • Skill game

Title on it

  • 3-in-line

Text on it

  • Bally
  • 4 PLAYER
  • 3-IN-LINE
  • 1ST PLAYER
  • 2ND PLAYER
  • 3RD PLAYER
  • 4TH PLAYER
  • 806
  • 212
  • 963
  • 000
  • 4
  • 8
  • 6
  • 5
  • 3
  • 1
  • 2
  • 7
  • 9
  • 1·2·3·4 CAN PLAY
  • IT'S MORE FUN TO COMPETE
  • BALL IN PLAY
  • A GAME OF SKILL
Who and what
Kind Description
Woman Three identical showgirls in a row below the numbered card, each with a red feathered headdress, a red and yellow circus bodice, bare pale legs, red high-heeled shoes, knees bent outward and both hands raised beside the cheeks, each standing with one foot on a large yellow ball
Other Four small round clown-head emblems, one above each player panel, each wearing a two-peaked jester hat striped red, yellow and blue with a red pom-pom
Other A pair of thin red balloon-like shapes flanking the centre showgirl group, and a small yellow ball shape near the middle showgirl
Full description

A painted, cartoon-style backglass set into a white and red cabinet frame. The background is a flat periwinkle blue scattered with small pale-yellow five-pointed stars. Across the top centre is a cursive script logo reading 'Bally' in dark blue with a red underline flourish, flanked by two round-clown-head emblems wearing two-peaked jester hats in red, yellow and blue, and the words '4 PLAYER' in yellow-green block capitals. Below it, centred, the title '3-IN-LINE' in large pink-red serif capitals with a white drop shadow, flanked by four bright yellow rounded rectangular player panels with red borders: '1ST PLAYER' top left with digit wheels 8 0 6, '2ND PLAYER' top right with 2 1 2, '3RD PLAYER' lower left with 9 6 3, and '4TH PLAYER' lower right with 0 0 0. Between the lower two panels sits a pink square numbered card with a white lattice, holding nine yellow numbered circles: 4, 8, 6 across the top, 5, 3, 1 in the middle, 2, 7, 9 along the bottom. Beneath the card stand three identical showgirl figures in red and yellow circus costumes, red feathered headdresses, pale legs and red high-heeled shoes, posed with knees bent and hands raised beside their faces, each standing on a large yellow ball. Lower left and lower right are white instruction boxes with red borders: '1·2·3·4 CAN PLAY' over 'IT'S MORE FUN TO COMPETE', and 'BALL IN PLAY' over 'A GAME OF SKILL'. A red lower apron carries three blue five-pointed stars.

3-In-Line / Bongo backglass

Backglass Bongo

  • blue
  • green
  • yellow
  • red

Fingerprint: BONGO in huge arched yellow block letters between two red peanut-shaped score panels with yellow discs labeled 1 and 2, two dark-skinned dancing women in grass skirts facing each other, one holding blank pink placard, red-white-blue striped barrel marked 1 OR 2 CAN PLAY, tropical island with palm trees and parrot

Distinctive

The most memorable feature is a huge arched yellow-and-black title reading "BONGO" centred between two big red, peanut-shaped score panels, each with a yellow disc (1 and 2) on top. Second, the pair of dark-skinned dancing women in grass skirts facing each other across the artwork, one carrying a blank pink placard. Third, a red-white-and-blue striped barrel marked "1 OR 2 CAN PLAY" with a 3x3 grid of numbers above it. Fourth, the tropical framing of palm trees, a red-and-blue parrot top left and red flowers scattered across the grass.

Setting

  • Tropical island lawn
  • Palm trees
  • Blue sky with clouds
  • Red flowers

Symbols

  • Number grid 4 8 6 / 5 3 1 / 2 7 9
  • Yellow numbered discs 1 and 2
  • Red-white-blue striped barrel
  • Palm trees
  • Red flowers
  • Parrot
  • Blank pink placard

Lettering

  • Large arched yellow block letters with heavy black outline and white edge, flanked by white block sans-serif player labels on red rounded panels, with a red script logo above

Themes

  • Bongo
  • Two player
  • Tropical
  • Dancing
  • Contest
  • Island

Title on it

  • Bongo

Text on it

  • Bally
  • 2 PLAYER
  • BONGO
  • 1
  • 2
  • 1ST PLAYER
  • 2ND PLAYER
  • 3 4 4
  • 0 0 0
  • 4 8 6
  • 5 3 1
  • 2 7 9
  • 1 OR 2 CAN PLAY
  • BALL IN PLAY
  • ITS MORE FUN TO COMPETE
  • A GAME OF SKILL
Who and what
Kind Description
Woman Left: dark-skinned adult woman, black hair in updo with headband, hoop earrings, red-and-white striped bandeau top, grass or leaf skirt, dancing facing right, holding a blank pink rectangular placard
Woman Right: dark-skinned adult woman, black hair with headband, hoop earrings, red patterned halter top, polka-dot skirt, dancing facing left with arms raised
Child Small figure at the left margin behind the left woman, orange and yellow clothing
Child Small figure at the right margin behind the right woman, yellow and orange clothing
Animal Red-and-blue parrot perched on a branch at the upper left, another bird at the upper right
Full description

A landscape-format illustrated backglass, framed by a white border, showing a tropical island scene under a bright blue sky. Two dark-skinned women in grass-and-hut-band skirts and bikini tops dance on a green lawn dotted with red poinsettia-like flowers; the left woman faces right holding a blank pink rectangular placard, the right woman faces left with arms raised. Palm trees flank both edges, with a red-and-blue parrot perched at the upper left and another bird at the upper right, and small child or monkey figures partly hidden at the left and right margins. Across the top a curved red banner reads "Bally 2 PLAYER" above a large arched yellow block-letter title with black outline reading "BONGO", flanked by two red rounded score panels holding yellow number windows: the left labelled "1ST PLAYER" showing 3 4 4, the right labelled "2ND PLAYER" showing 0 0 0, each capped by a yellow disc reading 1 and 2. A red square in the centre carries the numbers 4 8 6 / 5 3 1 / 2 7 9, above a red, white and blue striped barrel labelled "1 OR 2 CAN PLAY" and "BALL IN PLAY". Two white signboards at the bottom read "ITS MORE FUN TO COMPETE" and "A GAME OF SKILL". Bold flat cartoon style with heavy black outlines.