1978–1980 · Bally & Geiger
Harlem Globetrotters On Tour
Known for Top Basket, Free Throw inline drops, Trotter Fast Break and Slam Dunk target. Open blue sky with scattered white clouds, painted globe map of the americas at centre, small twin-engine propeller aeroplane, blimp and distant ships and red-white-blue striped pole and border.
- Years
- 1978–1980
- Maker
- Bally & Geiger
- Type
- Solid state
- Display
- Alphanumeric
- Players
- 4
Known for
- Hole
Top Basket
- Target
Free Throw inline drops
- Spinner
Trotter Fast Break
- Target
Slam Dunk target
- gate
Free Ball Gate
- Goal
GLOBE
2 games under this title
On the playfield
Holes 2
- Top Basket
- Free Throw saucer
Spinners 2
- Trotter Fast Break
- Center spinners
Targets 4
- Free Throw inline drops
- Slam Dunk target
- Left player standups
- Right solo standup
Flipper 1
- Two left flippers extra flipper
Post or gate 1
- Free Ball Gate gate
On the backglass
Who and what
- man Far left, standing full-length on the striped pole, grinning, jersey 30, red-white-blue strip kit, holding a basketball overhead
- man Lower left, leaning forward dribbling, afro, broad toothy grin, red-white-blue kit
- man Left of centre, arm raised, moustache, jersey 32, one knee lifted, holding a basketball
- man Centre, tallest figure, head tilted, both hands up, striped socks, big grin
- man Right of centre, shorter, red-white-blue kit, laughing, one arm out, basketball at his side
- man Right, bent low over a basketball, dark afro, mouth wide open
Setting
- Open blue sky with scattered white clouds
- Painted globe map of the americas at centre
- Small twin-engine propeller aeroplane
- Blimp and distant ships
- Red-white-blue striped pole and border
Text on it
- HARLEM
- GLOBETROTTERS
- ON TOUR
- Bally
- 1 TO 4 CAN PLAY
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- UNITED
- globeinside.com
How it plays
-
Goals 1
- GLOBE
-
Awards 1
- Open Gate
Made by
- Design
- Greg Kmiec
- Art
- Michele "Mike" Martinelli
- Art
- Greg Freres
The cast
- Space Rider
Reference
Linked terms
- Top Basket also called Top Basket saucer also called Top Basket GLOBE saucer
- Free Throw inline drops also called Free Throw drops also called inline drops
- Trotter Fast Break also called Trotter Fast Break spinner
- Slam Dunk target also called Slam Dunk
- Left player standups also called Player targets
- Two left flippers also called split flippers
Playfield vision analysis
Written by a machine from the photos, so details may be off.
Playfield Standard
- red
- yellow
- blue
- white
Fingerprint: Hall of fame trotters title, huge gold-outlined five-pointed star center lower, red-white starburst dozens small stars yellow edges cascading down, white circular numbered inserts 1-10 wide inverted-V arrowhead, tall red-white striped drop-target bank right lane, white eagle spread wings red-white-blue banner, small running hero dark blue-white costume, portrait medallion lower left, sailing ship right, airbrushed illustration style.
The centrepiece is a huge gold-outlined five-pointed star carrying the title lettering, set against a red-and-white starburst of dozens of small red stars with yellow edges that cascades down the lower playfield. Immediately below it, white circular insert discs numbered 1 through 10 form a wide inverted-V or arrowhead. A tall bank of five red-and-white striped drop targets runs down the entire right lane. A mirrored, semi-transparent reflection of a neighbouring machine's lettering lies across the middle of the playfield glass, obscuring part of the star. Cream apron panels at the bottom carry very large flowing red script wordmarks.
Setting
- Starfield of red and yellow stars
- Tan herringbone wood-plank ramps and lane guides
- Tan and amber wood-grain lane flooring
- Dark blue side rails with cream and red pinstriping
- Cream apron panels at the bottom
Symbols
- Red five-pointed stars with yellow outlines
- Large gold five-pointed star
- White eagle with spread wings
- Red white and blue striped banner
- Concentric red and yellow target rings on bumper caps
- Playing-card-style suit motifs
- Numerals 1 to 10 in white discs
- Multiplier badges 2x 3x 4x 5x
Notable shapes
- Large central gold star cutout area, a v-shaped cluster of ten numbered white insert discs, a tall narrow lane on the right for the drop-target bank, a wire ball guide curving down the right edge, and two oval ball-return openings with metal trim on the cream aprons
Art motifs
- Starburst cascade
- Herringbone wood texture
- Herringbone chevron ramps
- Chrome and steel hardware
- Airbrushed metallic highlights
- Concentric ring targets
Themes
- Sports hall of fame
- Heroes
- Star motif
- Athletic tribute
Title on it
- Hall of fame trotters
Text on it
- HEROIC
- HALL OF FAME
- TROTTERS
- ON TIME
- A ROLLOVER AND
- EXPRESS LANE
- SPECIAL
- LOCK
- 2X
- 3X
- 4X
- 5X
- 1000
- 500
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 2
- 3
- 1
- KIDFORCE
- PINBALL
- INSTRUCTIONS
- BALL A
- PLAYER 1
- PLAYER 2
- SHOOT AGAIN
- TILT
- FOR AMUSEMENT ONLY
- MANUFACTURING CORP., CHICAGO, ILL., U.S.A.
- Bally
| Kind | Description |
|---|---|
| Man | Small illustrated running hero in a dark blue and white costume on the left side of the mid playfield, arms out, one leg lifted as if sprinting |
| Other | White eagle with spread wings clutching a red, white and blue striped banner, printed on the left apron area |
| Other | Round gold-framed portrait medallion of a man's face in the lower left playfield |
| Vehicle | Small painted sailing ship with tan sails and a dark hull on the right side of the mid playfield |
| Other | Standing figure/statue of a robed hero holding a shield, painted in gold and brown tones at lower right |
A long, vertically-framed playfield photographed under glass with strong reflections, seen at a slight angle so the top narrows away. The lower half is a red field scattered with a dense ring of red five-pointed stars with yellow outlines, over which sit white numbered rollover discs 1 to 10 in an inverted-V arrangement. Three red wedge flippers with white rubber tips and two red-bordered triangular sling shots sit at the bottom, flanked by cream-coloured apron panels carrying large red script lettering. The centre of the playfield is dominated by a large gold-edged five-pointed star on a red banner, its interior filled with red block lettering. Behind and above it are wide herringbone wood-plank ramps in tan and amber, steel posts with alternating red and white rubber rings, round pop-bumper caps with red-and-yellow concentric target rings, clear rectangular plastic inserts lit from within, a wire-form ramp and ball guide on the right, and a vertical drop-target bank of five red-and-white striped targets down the right edge. A white eagle-and-flag motif and a standee-like figure of a running hero appear on the left, with a portrait medallion in a gold circle lower left and a small ship illustration on the right. Art style is glossy 1970s airbrushed illustration, and the mirrored reflection of another machine's backglass lettering bleeds across the middle of the glass.
Playfield Space Rider
- red
- black
- gold
- blue
Fingerprint: Five astronauts in white suits standing shoulder-width across center, towering blue-white striped rocket barrels sweeping inward like crossed cannons, three cream-colored pop bumper caps styled as sunbursts, curly gold-black script logo on orange apron, mirror-polished upper arch
A row of five identical white-and-blue-suited astronauts standing shoulder to shoulder across the middle of the playfield, backs to the viewer, beneath glowing round inserts spelling a word. Two enormous blue-and-white banded rocket barrels sweep down the left and right lower playfields like crossed cannons. A huge curly script 'Bally' in yellow with black outline is painted across the orange lower apron. The upper playfield is ringed by a golden arc with three cream pop-bumper caps decorated as red-and-yellow sunbursts.
Setting
- Outer space starfield
- Black sky with scattered white and red stars
- Golden orbital arc across the top
Symbols
- Playing-card suits (hearts, diamonds, clubs, spades)
- Five-pointed stars
- Sunburst rosettes
- Stylised planet with rings
- Arrow and diamond decals
- Skull-and-crossbones stickers
- Stylised rocket shapes
Notable shapes
- Giant v-shaped centre ramp
- Two huge diagonal striped rocket tubes
- Golden orbital arch framing the top
- Sunburst pop-bumper caps
- Circular target banks with concentric rings
Art motifs
- Starbursts
- Concentric target rings
- Striped barrel shapes
- Gold trim and scrollwork
- Comic-book ink outlines
- Halftone dotted shading
Themes
- Space
- Astronauts
- Space race
- Rockets
- Planets
- Sci-fi
Title on it
- Bally
Text on it
- Bally
- SPACE
- SHOOT AGAIN
- WHEN BALL IS LOST
- LITE
- 2X
- 3X
- 4X
- some
- player
- scores
- bonus
- at
- extra
- ball
- 25,000
- 1000
- 300
- 500
- 3000
- 500 POINTS BONUS
- MILLION
- SPECIAL WHEN LIT
- WARNING
- CONSOLIDATING
- SAME PLAYER SHOOTS AGAIN
- LITE 1000 POINTS BONUS VALUE WHEN LIT
- LITE 1000 BONUS WHEN LIT
- collect
- SINGLE
- SINGLE PLAYER
- INSTRUCTIONS
- CREDIT
- FOR
- ADDITIONAL
- BALL
- 1 PLAYER ONLY
- SELECT
- OFF
- BALLY SOLID STATE PLAYER 1968 - 1982
- Ball Returning Post
- 1968 - 1982 Bally/Silver
- MADE IN U.S.A.
- GRAND PRIZE
| Kind | Description |
|---|---|
| Man | Helmeted astronaut in blue and white suit with gold shoulder trim, standing at top left beside the golden arc, facing right |
| Man | Helmeted astronaut in blue and white suit at top right, arm raised, facing left |
| Man | Group of five identical astronauts in white suits with blue legs, gold boots and bubble visors, standing side by side across the middle, backs to viewer |
| Man | Large astronaut in an orange spacesuit at lower centre, white helmet, holding a rocket launcher, emerging from a blue nebula |
| Creature | Small alien-like figure in a red helmet and dark suit between the middle astronaut group, arms spread |
| Vehicle | Two enormous banded blue-and-white striped rocket/barrel tubes angled inwards from the lower left and lower right |
| Other | Round pop-bumper caps styled as cream suns with red and yellow rays and a white star |
A space-race themed pinball playfield in red, black, gold and blue. The top has two standing helmeted astronauts in blue-and-white suits with gold trim at the left and right shoulders, flanking a black starfield arc. Three round pop-bumper caps sit in the upper playfield, each a cream disc with a red-and-yellow sunburst ring and a white star. A large white V-shaped ramp/board runs down the centre with rows of round yellow and green inserts. Mid-playfield five more astronauts in white/blue suits with visors are grouped shoulder to shoulder across a yellow winged emblem bearing the round white 'BALLY' logo badge. Below, two massive striped blue-and-white barrel-like rocket tubes sweep diagonally in from each side, framing a large astronaut figure in an orange suit holding a rocket. Score values 25,000, 1000, 300, 500, 3000 are printed around the outlanes. The lower deck is orange-yellow with a huge script 'Bally' logo on the apron, two white instruction cards filled with black bullet-point rules, and 'collect bonus' text. Colourful starburst and arrow decals fill the side lanes.
Playfield Standard
- red
- cream
- blue
- gold
Fingerprint: Huge bullseye of concentric red-cream-blue rings at exact centre, crossed by pale reversed lettering looking like reflection; horizontal row of red-white striped pop-bumper caps across upper playfield under cream parasol; identical caricature spectator faces down entire left edge; lower half carpeted in red-gold five-pointed stars on deep blue; red-white-blue bunting and starred flag across upper right
A huge bullseye of concentric red, cream and blue rings sits in the exact centre of the playfield, crossed by a pale reversed strip of lettering that looks like a reflection rather than printed art. A horizontal row of large red-and-white striped pop-bumper caps runs across the upper playfield under a cream parasol. A line of identical caricature spectator faces is printed shoulder-to-shoulder down the entire left edge. The lower half is carpeted in a dense field of red and gold five-pointed stars on deep blue. Red-white-blue bunting and a white-starred blue flag motif hang across the upper right.
Setting
- Outdoor festival or stadium crowd scene
- Red and cream arched upper structure
- Patriotic bunting and star-spangled flag motif
- Deep blue starfield across the lower playfield
Symbols
- Concentric-ring bullseye
- American flag stars and stripes
- Red-white-blue triangular bunting
- Five-pointed red and gold stars
- Circular orange-red emblems on cream plaques
- Spiral or scroll decorative motifs
Notable shapes
- Oversized concentric-ring bullseye emblem in the centre
- Broad red outer arc sweeping across the mid playfield
- Semicircular cream parasol graphic at the top
- Long angled slingshot plastics forming a v
Art motifs
- Striped red and white bumper rings
- Arched carnival marquee bands
- Radial sunburst segments
Themes
- Sport
- Festival
- Patriotic bunting
- Bullseye target
- Stadium crowd
Text on it
- MEDALS
| Kind | Description |
|---|---|
| Other | A row of roughly six identical caricature spectator heads with exaggerated round faces, printed shoulder-to-shoulder down the left edge of the playfield, each in a small portrait bubble |
| Other | A cream-coloured parasol or umbrella canopy at the top centre, printed as a large fan of cream segments with a dark hub |
A full-length electro-mechanical style playfield photographed from above inside its cabinet, framed by a varnished light-brown wooden side rail on the left and a wide black cabinet body with a chrome-trimmed edge on the right. The upper third is a busy red-and-cream festival or stadium scene: an arched band of red artwork across the top, a row of about six caricature-style spectator heads and shoulders printed shoulder-to-shoulder down the left side, red/white/blue triangular bunting and an American-flag motif with white stars on a blue field across the upper right, and a large cream-coloured parasol or umbrella canopy near the top centre. Three round pop-bumper caps with concentric red, white and blue rings sit in a row across the upper playfield, flanked by small rectangular cream plaques with orange-red circular emblems. The middle of the playfield is dominated by a very large concentric-ring emblem: a broad red outer arc, a cream and red bullseye disc, and an inner ring of alternating blue and white segments, with a faint mirrored/reversed line of pale lettering lying across it as a reflection. The lower playfield is deep blue and covered in a dense scatter of red and gold five-pointed stars, with two long white slingshot plastics edged in red angled inwards, and a lower apron carrying white printed cards and inserts. Dominant colours are red, cream/white, deep blue and gold.
Backglass vision analysis
Written by a machine from the photos, so details may be off.
Backglass Standard
- blue
- red
- white
- orange
Fingerprint: Nine grinning wide-eyed basketball players in HARLEM strip kit floating weightlessly through bright blue sky, each holding ball, green Earth showing Americas at centre with plane blimp clouds, HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS title in cream letters outlined red, four red-and-gold score windows numbered 1-4, airbrushed hand-painted style
Nine grinning, wide-eyed cartoon basketball players in matching HARLEM strip kit seem to float weightlessly through a bright blue sky, each with a ball. A painted green Earth showing the Americas sits low in the centre with a small plane, a blimp and clouds circling it. The title HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS arches across the top in cream letters outlined in red, with a cursive signature logo at upper left. Four blacked-out score windows numbered 1 to 4 are set in red and gold frames, two across the top and two across the bottom.
Setting
- Open blue sky with scattered white clouds
- Painted globe map of the americas at centre
- Small twin-engine propeller aeroplane
- Blimp and distant ships
- Red-white-blue striped pole and border
Symbols
- Orange basketballs with black seams
- Painted earth globe
- Grid of white five-pointed stars
- Two inset corner globes
- Circular b monogram at upper right
- Red-white-blue striped pole
- Small propeller aeroplane
- Blimp
- Sailing ships
Lettering
- Large cream block capitals with heavy red outline and drop shadow, arched for the top word, plus a white cursive script signature at upper left
Themes
- Basketball
- Harlem
- Globetrotters
- Tour
- Travel
- Globe
- Airplane
- Sports team
Title on it
- Harlem globetrotters
Text on it
- HARLEM
- GLOBETROTTERS
- ON TOUR
- Bally
- 1 TO 4 CAN PLAY
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- UNITED
- globeinside.com
| Kind | Description |
|---|---|
| Man | Far left, standing full-length on the striped pole, grinning, jersey 30, red-white-blue strip kit, holding a basketball overhead |
| Man | Lower left, leaning forward dribbling, afro, broad toothy grin, red-white-blue kit |
| Man | Left of centre, arm raised, moustache, jersey 32, one knee lifted, holding a basketball |
| Man | Centre, tallest figure, head tilted, both hands up, striped socks, big grin |
| Man | Right of centre, shorter, red-white-blue kit, laughing, one arm out, basketball at his side |
| Man | Right, bent low over a basketball, dark afro, mouth wide open |
| Man | Far right, jumping, both arms up, red-white-blue kit |
| Man | Lower right corner, standing, afro, jersey 8, arms at sides |
| Vehicle | Small white twin-engine propeller aeroplane left of centre |
| Vehicle | Grey blimp behind the central player, and two small ships on the water below the globe |
A painted backglass with a broad blue sky background framed by a red-and-white striped border. Across the top a large arched title in block capitals reads HARLEM, with GLOBETROTTERS in straight bold capitals beneath it, and the words ON TOUR on a curve below. Nine black-painted male basketball players with exaggerated grinning faces are scattered across the sky, all in red-white-and-blue HARLEM strip uniforms, each holding or dribbling an orange basketball; jersey numbers visible include 30, 32, 24, 33, 4 and 8. A large green-and-tan globe showing North and South America and Africa sits at the centre-bottom, ringed by small clouds, a twin-engine aeroplane, a blimp and several tiny ships. Four black score windows with red and gold frames are numbered 1, 2, 3 and 4. Corners carry basketballs, two small inset globes, a circular B monogram, a grid of white stars and a red-white-blue striped pole. The art is glossy hand-painted illustration with airbrushed shading and heavy white outlines.
Backglass Space Rider
- blue
- orange
- black
- yellow
Fingerprint: "SPACE RIDER GEIGER": seated woman in gold and orange pressure suit with bubble helmet, black armoured insect-like figure looming behind with shaggy red-orange fur mane, orange-lit face in blue helmet
The most memorable element is the towering black armoured figure with a skull-like glossy face and shaggy red-orange fur rising behind a seated woman in a gold spacesuit and clear bubble helmet. Second, the huge glowing orange-and-yellow sunburst disc that fills the centre and pushes the title lettering apart. Third, the cluster of six separate silver-framed red seven-segment score windows scattered at odd heights rather than in one neat row, including one split into two small panes reading 01 and 70. Fourth, the small white maker credit GEIGER / AUTOMATENBAU G.m.b.H. printed on the bare black left panel.
Setting
- Flat black backdrop divided by thin silver angular frame lines
- Large glowing orange-to-yellow radial sunburst disc at centre
- Swept blue and silver rocket and wing forms across the lower half
- Dark star-speckled blue field at upper left
Symbols
- Red upward arrow in a white arrow badge
- Red and gold lightning bolt over an orange disc
- Seven-segment numerals
- Silver pinstripe geometric frame
- Radial sunburst
Lettering
- Heavy italicised block capitals, red fading to yellow, thick black outline and drop shadow
Themes
- Outer space
- Science fiction
- Spacesuit
- Spaceship
- Alien
- Action
Title on it
- Space rider
Text on it
- SPACE RIDER
- GEIGER
- AUTOMATENBAU G.m.b.H.
- MATCH
- GAME OVER
- 62840
- 862840
- 01
- 70
- 0820000
| Kind | Description |
|---|---|
| Woman | Young adult, seated three-quarter profile facing right, dark hair swept back, clear domed bubble helmet over the head, gold and orange pressure suit with a round chest fitting, bare pale thigh and knee raised, mouth open, one arm forward |
| Creature | Large black armoured insect-like or skeletal figure looming directly behind the woman, glossy dark skull-like face, big shaggy red-orange fur collar or mane spreading across the shoulders, segmented black limbs |
| Creature | Second shaggy red-orange furred head at the upper left of the group, partially hidden behind the black figure's arm, only the mane and part of the face showing |
| Other | Orange-lit human face seen through a large blue circular helmet or porthette at the lower left, only forehead, eye area and nose visible |
| Vehicle | Blue and white swept rocket or spacecraft nose with a pointed fin and a dark cockpit opening running diagonally across the lower centre |
A backglass with a black background overlaid by thin silver geometric frame lines forming angular panels around a huge central orange-to-yellow sunburst disc. Across the top, a large two-word logo in heavy block capitals, red on top fading to yellow at the base, with a black outline and a wedge-shaped gap between the words. Six silver-framed seven-segment display windows are scattered around the centre: two up high, one mid-right, and two along the bottom, showing red numerals. The central artwork is an airbrushed sci-fi montage of a seated woman in a gold and orange pressure suit with a clear domed helmet, her dark hair swept back and her face turned in profile to the right, mouth open. Behind and above her looms a black armoured, insect-like or skeletal figure with a glossy dark face and a big shaggy red-orange mane, plus a second red-orange furry head at the upper left of the group. At the lower left a large blue circular helmet or porthette contains an orange-lit face. Blue and silver swept-back rocket and wing shapes run diagonally across the lower half. A red-and-white arrow badge reading MATCH sits at mid-right.