1977–1983 · Bally & Geiger
Mata Hari
Known for Top center saucer. Deep crimson and black radiating swirl ground, gold filigree scrolls and coiling serpents and dark red tufted upholstered cushion along the bottom edge.
- Years
- 1977–1983
- Maker
- Bally & Geiger
- Players
- 4
Known for
- saucer
Top center saucer
3 games under this title
On the playfield
On the backglass
Who and what
- man Grinning dark-haired man with a black moustache, black tuxedo jacket with yellow lapel edging, white waistcoat and shirt, small bow tie; stands centre, holding a pipe in his right hand and a fan of playing cards in his left, head haloed by bright yellow hair-light
- woman Reclining young woman with very long wavy copper-orange hair, bare shoulders and chest, gold disc-and-chain harness across breasts and waist, beaded anklet on her raised leg, bright red satin skirt; sprawls across the lower half, one arm reaching up towards the cards
- animal Roaring tiger head centre-bottom, orange with black stripes, bared fangs and pink tongue, resting on a striped tiger pelt
- animal Coiled golden serpents worked into the background filigree at upper left, right and lower right
Setting
- Deep crimson and black radiating swirl ground
- Gold filigree scrolls and coiling serpents
- Dark red tufted upholstered cushion along the bottom edge
Text on it
- Bally
- Mata Hari
- 1 UP
- 2 UP
- 3 UP
- 4 UP
- Ball in Play
- CREDIT
- 1-4 Can Play
- Game Over
Made by
- Design
- Jim Patla
- Art
- Michele "Mike" Martinelli
- Art
- Dave Christensen
Reference
Linked terms
- Top center saucer also called Top center scoop also called Top saucer
Playfield vision analysis
Written by a machine from the photos, so details may be off.
Playfield Standard
- red
- yellow
- orange
- black
Fingerprint: Single pin-up showgirl in black-and-gold beaded bodice center, framed by vertical ladder of ten score reels, enormous red-orange-yellow sunburst of swirling cloud petals filling lower half, two round 100 pop-bumper caps under steel arch, gold bonus multiplier arrows flanking reels, red apple target, feathered dart accents, MATA HARI script logo on red apron, vibrant 1950s glamour airbrush style
A single showgirl in a black-and-gold beaded bodice stands upright in the exact centre of the playfield, hemmed in by a vertical column of ten round score reels running down her body. Behind her erupts an enormous red-and-yellow sunburst of curling cloud petals filling the whole lower half. Two huge round pop-bumper caps marked 100 in red and yellow sit side by side under a mirrored steel arch in the upper playfield. Two white cards on the apron read INSTRUCTIONS and MATA HARI, with a big flowing script logo across the red apron between them.
Setting
- Radiating sunburst of red and yellow cloud petals
- Mirrored chrome habitrack arch in the upper playfield
- Silver ball guides running diagonally down both sides
- Red apron with white instruction cards
Symbols
- Playing-card suit motifs
- Playing-card fans
- Red apple
- Feather fans and darts
- Sunburst rosettes
- Score numerals in round white discs
- Card-suit pips on the upper arch
- Arrows and chevrons
Notable shapes
- Ten large round score reels stacked in a vertical column down the centre of the playfield, a broad mirrored steel arch spanning the top, four symmetrically paired curved ball guides forming a sweeping s-curve down each side, and a scalloped red sunburst bottoming out in a wide v behind the flippers
Art motifs
- Radiating sunburst
- Swirling cloud petals
- Concentric score discs
- Symmetrical mirrored layout
- Feather fans
- Ornate gold filigree borders
Themes
- Showgirl
- Pin-up dancer
- Exotic dancer
- Bonus ladder
- Card game theme
Title on it
- Bally
Text on it
- Bally
- MATA HARI
- INSTRUCTIONS
- Matching 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Scores
- Grip Bar Special
- 1x Bonus
- 2x Bonus
- 3x Bonus
- 5x Bonus
- 6th Bonus
- Score Again
- A
- B
- 100
- 1000
- 1000 SPECIAL
- 28000
- 19000
- 2000
- 3000
- 4000
- 5000
- 8000
- 6000
- 5000 Bonus
- 1000 and Game
- 500 and Game
- 3 BALLS PER GAME
- 1 BALL PER GAME
- FOR HIGH SCORE ONLY
- 1 REPLAY FOR EACH SCORE OF 30,000 POINTS
- 1 REPLAY FOR EACH SCORE OF 44,000 POINTS
- 1 REPLAY FOR EACH SCORE OF 58,000 POINTS
- END OF GAME REPLAY AWARD PER PLAYER
- © 1978 BALLY MFG. CO.
| Kind | Description |
|---|---|
| Woman | One adult pin-up showgirl, centre of the playfield, standing full length facing the viewer with arms out to the sides; fair skin, dark brown bouffant hair with a feathered gold headdress, black-and-gold beaded bra and brief, bare midriff and legs, smiling, holding a small feathered dart in one hand |
| Other | Two small red starburst rosette targets marked 1000, upper left and upper right, printed as radiating sun discs |
| Other | Gold chevron arrow inserts reading 5th bonus, 6th bonus and score again flanking the centre reels |
| Other | A row of five round reels marked 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 beneath the matching-scores banner, plus a single red apple-shaped insert at the right of that row |
| Other | Pairs of small standing-figure targets at lower left and lower right, each with 1000 and game or 500 and game beneath them |
A full-length electro-mechanical playfield seen through the glass, dominated by a huge red, orange and yellow sunburst of swirling cloud petals radiating from the centre. A single pin-up woman stands dead centre in a black-and-gold beaded showgirl bodice with a feathered headdress, bare midriff and legs, one arm raised; she is framed by a vertical ladder of round score reels reading 1000, 8000, 2000, 6000, 5000, 4000, 3000, 2000, 1000 downwards. Either side of her are gold arrow signs reading 1x Bonus, 2x Bonus, 3x Bonus, 5x Bonus and 6th Bonus, Score Again, and small feathered darts. The upper third is a mirror-polished steel habitrack arch with two round pop-bumper caps marked 100, red starburst targets marked 1000 and 1000 SPECIAL, and 28000 and 19000 in black-outlined numerals. A red apple target row sits under a gold banner reading Matching 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Scores with 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 round reels and a Grip Bar Special insert. The lower apron is red with a large flowing gold-and-black script logo, flanked by two white instruction cards headed INSTRUCTIONS and MATA HARI. Two red-bordered white flipper bats sit at the bottom with metal guide rails either side.
Playfield EM
- red
- yellow
- pink
- gold
Fingerprint: Mata Hari: enormous red poppy blossom dominating field with yellow center, brunette woman in black-and-gold cheongsam inside bloom, large diamond-shaped modifier area, four red sunburst decals, two pop bumpers in upper cloud section. Intense red, yellow, pink, gold, flat airbrushed artwork.
A gigantic red poppy blossom, complete with a yellow seed-centre and a face-like pair of grey eyes, swallows the entire middle of the playfield. Standing dead centre inside the bloom is a painted brunette woman in a black-and-gold cheongsam with bare midriff and hips, holding a folding fan. Four red sunburst decals reading 1000 SPECIAL and a 50,000 Advance Bonus target repeat symmetrically on both walls. The plain red apron carries one enormous yellow cursive wordmark spanning its full width. The top third is a completely different register: a red-and-pink cloud burst with two pop bumpers, a top arch and a central arrow labelled A Shot.
Setting
- Stylised red poppy flower filling the lower two thirds
- Red and pink cloud or explosion burst across the upper playfield
- Parchment-coloured map of south-east asia inset to the right of centre
- Plain red lower apron panel
- Cream and pink instructions cards flanking the apron
Symbols
- Card-suit shaped target banks on both side walls
- White arrows pointing up the a-b lanes
- Sunburst star medallions
- A small painted skull or mask motif at the top centre
- A crescent and star motif at the top centre
- Stylised cloud scrollwork in gold
- Yellow gate posts flanking the top arch
- Black and gold striped borders
Notable shapes
- The enormous poppy blossom acting as the central playfield art
- A vertical ladder of grey circular inserts running down the middle of the flower
- A tall parabolic metal arch across the top of the playfield
- A diamond-shaped arrow insert at the top centre
- Four rectangular card-suit target banks on the angled side walls
- A tilt and ends ball illuminated window at lower right
Art motifs
- Oversized poppy blossom with radiating petals
- Sunbursts and rays
- Art-deco scroll flourishes in gold
- Parchment map cartography
- Smoke and explosion clouds
Themes
- Spy adventure
- Oriental
- War of the roses style floral motif
- Travel and exploration
- Bullets and targets
Title on it
- Mata hari
Text on it
- East Coast Down
- Scores
- Match
- Special
- Making A-B Lanes Scores:
- 2000
- 3000
- 4000
- 5000
- Extra Ball
- 100
- 1000
- 13
- A Shot
- 50,000
- Advance Bonus
- Bally
- MATA HARI
- INSTRUCTIONS
- 2 TO 4 CAN PLAY
- FOR AMUSEMENT ONLY
- TILT
- ENDS BALL
- SHOOT AGAIN
- 2 PLAYS QUARTER
- 5 BALLS PER GAME
- 1 REPLAY FOR EACH SCORE OF 34,000 POINTS
- 1 REPLAY FOR EACH SCORE OF 8,000 POINTS
- 1 REPLAY FOR EACH SCORE OF 10,000 POINTS
| Kind | Description |
|---|---|
| Woman | One painted brunette woman standing full length inside the poppy centre, long wavy brown hair, black and gold patterned cheongsam-style bodice with bare midriff and hips, gold jewellery at the neck and arms, holding a folded fan in one hand, bare legs and feet, facing the viewer |
| Other | A painted flag or banner element behind the woman at her left shoulder, coloured green, white and red |
Full-length playfield shot from directly above, dominated by a huge stylised red poppy with a yellow centre spreading across the lower two thirds. Inside the bloom sits a painted brunette woman in a black-and-gold cheongsam-style outfit holding a folded fan, beside a parchment map of south-east Asia. Between them runs a vertical ladder of grey circular inserts marked with rising values from 1000. Above the flower a red oval reads East Coast Down with Scores and a Match Special badge, and below it a curved yellow banner reads Making A-B Lanes Scores with 2000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000 and an Extra Ball Special target. The upper third is a red, pink and cream cloud burst carrying two pop bumpers marked 100, white 100 and 1000 SPECIAL sunburst targets, a bank of small round inserts, a metal arch and wire gate at the top, and a central yellow arrow labelled A Shot. Two cream-white flippers, two slingshots and four red-and-gold wall target banks complete the furniture. The apron is plain red with a large yellow cursive wordmark. Dominant colours red, yellow, pink and gold; flat airbrushed illustration.
Backglass vision analysis
Written by a machine from the photos, so details may be off.
Backglass Standard
- crimson red
- black
- yellow-gold
- white
Fingerprint: Mata Hari — reclining bare-shouldered woman gold disc harness bright red skirt reaching for playing-card fan from grinning tuxedoed man, roaring tiger head at feet, huge red title yellow drop shadow split by man's yellow hair halo, green cursive factory name above, four score windows showing orange digits and numbered UP labels, crimson-black ground with gold serpent filigree
A reclining bare-shouldered woman in a gold disc harness and bright red skirt who reaches up to take a fan of playing cards from a grinning tuxedoed man in a black jacket, framed by a roaring tiger head at their feet. The huge red title logo with yellow drop shadow is split by the man's halo of yellow hair, with a cursive green factory name above it. Four inset score windows showing orange 0 digits and large numbered 1 UP to 4 UP labels frame the art at the four corners. Deep crimson-and-black ground shot through with gold serpent filigree.
Setting
- Deep crimson and black radiating swirl ground
- Gold filigree scrolls and coiling serpents
- Dark red tufted upholstered cushion along the bottom edge
Symbols
- Fan of playing cards
- Tobacco pipe
- Playing-card display windows
- Gold disc-and-chain ornament
- Tiger pelt
- Serpents
- Number 1-4 player markers
Lettering
- Large red slab-serif block letters with yellow drop shadow and black outline for the title; cursive green script factory name above; white-outlined italic numerals for the player numbers; small white serif capitals on the lit instruction panels
Themes
- Spy and espionage
- Exotic dancer
- Casino and playing cards
- Tigers and serpents
- Adventure pulp illustration
Title on it
- Mata hari
Text on it
- Bally
- Mata Hari
- 1 UP
- 2 UP
- 3 UP
- 4 UP
- Ball in Play
- CREDIT
- 1-4 Can Play
- Game Over
| Kind | Description |
|---|---|
| Man | Grinning dark-haired man with a black moustache, black tuxedo jacket with yellow lapel edging, white waistcoat and shirt, small bow tie; stands centre, holding a pipe in his right hand and a fan of playing cards in his left, head haloed by bright yellow hair-light |
| Woman | Reclining young woman with very long wavy copper-orange hair, bare shoulders and chest, gold disc-and-chain harness across breasts and waist, beaded anklet on her raised leg, bright red satin skirt; sprawls across the lower half, one arm reaching up towards the cards |
| Animal | Roaring tiger head centre-bottom, orange with black stripes, bared fangs and pink tongue, resting on a striped tiger pelt |
| Animal | Coiled golden serpents worked into the background filigree at upper left, right and lower right |
A wide, portrait-format electro-mechanical backglass with a deep crimson and black background, its red scalloped swirl pattern edged with gold filigree and serpent motifs. Across the top, a green cursive factory name sits above a huge red-with-yellow-shadow block logo reading Mata Hari, split by a small dark green rectangular window. Dominating the centre is a grinning moustached man in a black tuxedo jacket, white shirt and bow tie, holding a fan of playing cards in one hand and a pipe in the other, his head ringed by a bright yellow halo. Leaning back across the lower half is a reclining woman with long flowing copper-orange hair, bare shoulders, a gold disc-and-chain harness across her chest and waist, a beaded anklet, and a bright red skirt; she reaches one arm up to present the cards. Beneath her, a roaring snarling tiger head with bared fangs and pink tongue sits centre-bottom over a striped tiger pelt. Four illuminated score windows read 0 and are labelled 1 UP (upper left), 2 UP (upper right), 3 UP (lower left) and 4 UP (lower right). At right a lit panel reads Ball in Play above a small CREDIT window. Bottom left reads 1-4 Can Play over four circles; bottom right, in red script on a yellow patch, Game Over.
Backglass EM
- red
- black
- orange
- gold
Fingerprint: Mata Hari with title in jagged crimson block letters and dagger piercing the i, voluptuous red-haired woman in profile with bare shoulders raising curved blade over snarling open-mouthed orange tiger, tuxedoed black-haired mustachioed man center holding lit candle and fan of playing cards, crimson rose petals and gold acanthus scrollwork covering panel
A voluptuous red-haired woman in profile with bare shoulders and a jewel-encrusted bra, raising a curved dagger over a snarling open-mouthed tiger painted in saturated oranges and reds. A tuxedoed, black-haired mustachioed man stands centre holding a lit candle and a fan of playing cards, framed by a halo-like glow. The whole panel is buried under overlapping crimson rose petals with gold acanthus scrollwork, and the arched title is in blood-red jagged lettering with a dagger forming part of the letterforms. Six reel windows contain Hebrew lettering.
Setting
- Massed red rose petals
- Gold ornamental scrollwork
- Black void behind figures
Symbols
- Playing cards
- Dagger/blade
- Candle flame
- Jewelled brooches
- Rose petals
- Gold scrollwork
- Teal ovals
- Playing-card pips
Lettering
- Jagged arched crimson display lettering with black shadow, teal cursive script above, ornate gold-serif numbered player labels
Themes
- Spy
- Jungle adventure
- Orientalist
- Gambling cards
- Tiger
Title on it
- Mata hari
Text on it
- Bally
- Mata Hari
- 1 UP
- 2 UP
- 3 UP
- 4 UP
- 4 Can Play
- Bally in Play
| Kind | Description |
|---|---|
| Woman | Large red-haired woman in left profile, bare shoulders, elaborate gold and ruby jewelled bra and belt, arm extended right holding a curved blade |
| Man | Centre, black hair with side parting, dark moustache, black tuxedo jacket, white shirt and bow tie, lit candle raised in right hand, fan of playing cards in left |
| Animal | Orange and black striped tiger across the lower panel, lying down, mouth wide open with teeth and pink tongue, paws extended |
| Other | A bare foot and lower leg protruding at the left edge above the woman's shoulder |
| Other | A stack of playing cards held by the man, plus a fanned hand of cards near the woman's raised arm |
Illustated card-panel backglass on a black ground filled with a mass of overlapping crimson-red rose petals and gold ornamental scrollwork. Across the top, 'Bally' appears in teal cursive script above a huge arched title 'Mata Hari' in jagged crimson block letters with black shadowing and a small dagger piercing the 'i'. Six cream reel windows with Hebrew lettering sit in three tiers, each tier paired with an ornate gold-and-red '1 UP', '2 UP', '3 UP', '4 UP' banner. Centre: a mustachioed man in a black tuxedo, white shirt and bow tie, holding a candle in one hand and fanned playing cards in the other. Lower left, a large red-haired woman in profile with bare shoulders wearing a jewel-encrusted bra and ornate belt, arm raised holding a curved blade. A snarling orange tiger lies beneath them, mouth open showing teeth and tongue. Bottom reads '4 Can Play' over four teal ovals and 'Bally in Play' over a teal window.
Backglass Lady Death
- red
- orange
- black
- purple
Fingerprint: Swirling "Lady Death" title in fat white 3D block letters with tiny skull emblem tucked into the D, pale-skinned woman staring from center of flame field with heavy cobalt eye-shadow and red lipstick, black hair with teal highlights, white collar open over deep-purple jacket, small white skull at throat, rainbow arc of red-yellow-green-blue curving behind shoulder, grimacing demon face in flames far left, curved teal scythe blade right side.
The most memorable element is the enormous flame field with a pale, heavily made-up dark-haired woman staring out from the centre, her open white collar and skull throat emblem standing out against the fire. A rainbow arc behind her shoulder is an unexpected splash of colour in an otherwise red-and-black inferno. A grimacing demonic face is embedded in the flames at the far left, and a big curved teal scythe blade dominates the right side. The title LADY DEATH is rendered as fat white 3D block letters with a tiny skull tucked into the D.
Setting
- Wall of swirling red, orange and yellow flames
- Rainbow arc
- White radiating speed-line streaks
- Purple sky panel behind the central figure
Symbols
- Human skull
- Rainbow
- Scythe blade
- Flames
- Speed lines
- Numerals 1 2 3 4
Lettering
- Fat three-dimensional white block capitals with purple-blue drop shading and black outline, slightly arched across the top
Themes
- Gothic
- Horror
- Fantasy
- Fire
- Death
- Comic book
Title on it
- Lady death
Text on it
- LADY DEATH
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- CREDIT
| Kind | Description |
|---|---|
| Woman | Pale-skinned adult woman, chest-up, centred, facing forward with a sultant half-lidded stare; heavy cobalt-blue eye-shadow, red lipstick, black hair with teal highlights, gold hoop earrings, wide open white collar over a deep-purple jacket, bare chest, small white skull emblem at the throat. |
| Monster | Partially hidden grimacing face with bared teeth and dark eye sockets emerging from the flames at the far left edge, roughly level with the central figure's shoulder. |
| Other | Large curved teal-blue scythe or scimitar blade sweeping upward along the right side of the glass, its edge outlined in black. |
| Other | Small white human skull used as a decorative emblem inside the d of death in the title and as gold skull badges on the score-display bezels. |
Painted comic-style backglass dominated by swirling red, orange and yellow flames. Across the top a chunky three-dimensional block-letter logo reads LADY DEATH in white capitals with heavy purple-blue drop shading, and a small white human skull is set inside the first D of DEATH. Black pointed banner shapes at the top corners carry pale blue numerals 1 and 2. The centre figure is a pale-skinned woman from the chest up, facing the viewer with a sultant, half-lidded stare: heavy cobalt eye-shadow, red lipstick, black hair with teal highlights, gold hoop earrings, and a wide open white collar over a deep-purple jacket, leaving her chest bare, with a small white skull emblem at her throat. A rainbow arc of red, yellow, green and blue curves behind her right shoulder against streaks of white speed-lines. At the left edge a second, partially hidden face with a grimacing toothy mouth peers out of the flames. Two rectangular black score windows with teal and gold trim are mounted upper-left and upper-right, each with a small gold skull badge on the top bezel; the lower-right window is labelled CREDIT. Cyan numerals 3 and 4 sit in black shapes on the left and lower right, and a large curved teal scythe-like blade sweeps up the right side. No copyright line or year is legible.