1980–1985 · Gottlieb & K.C. Tabart
Panthera
Known for Left saucer, 1-2-3 lanes and Extra Ball standup. Orange and red flame sunburst, dark blue night sky, ruined arched bridge or viaduct along the bottom and shadowed cave or foliage behind the panthers.
- Years
- 1980–1985
- Maker
- Gottlieb & K.C. Tabart
- Type
- Solid state
- Display
- Alphanumeric
- Players
- 4
Known for
- saucer
Left saucer
- Lane
1-2-3 lanes
- Target
Extra Ball standup
2 games under this title
On the playfield
On the backglass
Who and what
- woman Adult golden-skinned woman, long black hair with gold bead ornaments, red-and-gold bikini top and bottoms, gold arm and ankle bands, red gem on forehead, small red wings behind her, one knee bent, right arm reaching down onto the panther's back
- animal Large black panther rearing at centre-left, tail curling up to the left, mouth wide open with white fangs and red tongue, teal highlights
- animal Second blue-black panther head below, yellow eyes, open red mouth
- other Four teal panther heads with pink inner ears, white fangs and clawed paws framing the corners behind the score displays
- other Pale green ghostly vapour or smoke blobs among the ruined arches at the bottom
Setting
- Orange and red flame sunburst
- Dark blue night sky
- Ruined arched bridge or viaduct along the bottom
- Shadowed cave or foliage behind the panthers
Text on it
- Gottlieb's
- PANTHERO
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 328 400
- 000 0 0
- 000 000
- NUMBER TO MATCH
- BALL IN PLAY
Made by
- Design
- Ed Krynski
- Art
- Agnès G. Dusaugey
- Art
- Doug Watson
The cast
- Yellow, Blue, White, Green
Reference
Linked terms
- Left saucer also called Left Collect Bonus saucer also called Collect Bonus
- 1-2-3 lanes also called 1-2-3 targets
- Star rollovers also called Right star lane
- Extra Ball standup also called Right standup
Playfield vision analysis
Written by a machine from the photos, so details may be off.
Playfield Standard
- orange
- yellow
- red
- black
Fingerprint: Panthera: enormous cream cursive signature-style word sweeping diagonally across center over woman's legs. Pair of big white-topped circular bumper caps upper center with painted fireball explosion beneath. Huge blue star with white 80 on apron under STAR SERIES. Two matching triangular ramps decorated with red-yellow flames and stars mirrored left-right. Warm orange-tan floor, cityscape background.
The most memorable feature is the enormous cream cursive signature-style word swept diagonally across the middle of the playfield over the painted woman's legs, reading almost like an artist's signature. Second is the pair of big white-topped circular bumper caps glowering in the upper centre, with a painted fireball explosion directly beneath them. Third, the apron: a huge blue star with a white 80 set into it, under the words STAR SERIES. Fourth, two matching triangular ramps decorated with red-and-yellow flames and stars, mirrored left and right.
Setting
- Painted city skyline with yellow and red skyscrapers
- Orange-tan painted floor or desert ground
- Grey cobblestone wall on the right
- Black apron with ray motifs
Symbols
- Five-pointed star
- Row of glowing blue inserts
- Scoring inserts numbered 1 to 9
- Flames
- Circular bumper caps
- Triangular ramp outlines
- Coin-slot apron plate
Notable shapes
- Large blue five-pointed star on the apron
- Mirrored triangular ramps
- Grey cobbled wall ramp on the right
- Chrome curved ball guide rail along the top
Art motifs
- Stylised comic-strip painting
- Explosion with radiating shards
- Chrome and glass reflections
- Starburst rays
Themes
- Exotic adventure
- City skyline
- Flame and explosion
- Woman in torn costume
- Race and cars
Title on it
- Panthera
Text on it
- PANTHERA
- INSTRUCTIONS
- 5 BALLS PER PLAYER
- STAR SERIES
- 80
- D. Gottlieb & Co.
- A Columbia Pictures Industries Company
- SHOOT AGAIN
- WHEN HIGH LIT
- SCORES BONUS
- 1 REPLAY FOR EACH SCORE OF 270,000 POINTS.
- 1 REPLAY FOR EACH SCORE OF 540,000 POINTS.
- 3 REPLAYS FOR BEATING HIGH SCORE TO DATE.
- SINCE 1880
| Kind | Description |
|---|---|
| Woman | Large painted female figure seen from behind, dominating the centre of the playfield; bare back and buttocks, torn skin-tight costume with a scale or chain-mesh texture, long bare legs planted wide apart with high-heeled shoes, head and shoulders lost in the orange flame burst above; one arm raised towards the left |
| Other | Painted male head in profile at the upper left wearing a red and blue headdress or hat, mouth open as if shouting, rendered in comic-strip style |
| Vehicle | Large red grille and headlight front of a car looming at the top of the playfield, painted head-on above the skyline |
Illuminated pinball playfield photographed from above through the glass, seen as a portrait-format trapezoid with the lower apron filling the bottom fifth. The centre is dominated by a large painted female figure seen from behind, bare-backed in a torn, scale-textured costume, long legs planted wide on a warm orange-tan floor. A big cream-coloured cursive word arcs across her hips and reads like a signature. Above her a burst of orange-and-yellow flame or an explosion erupts from a chrome post. The upper playfield is a dense cityscape of yellow, orange and red skyscrapers, with two large round white pop-bumper caps catching the light, a red domed structure to the upper right and three posts of glowing blue lamps along a grey cobbled wall at the right. Two white-bordered triangular ramps with flame-and-star artwork sit in the lower left and lower right, flanked by yellow posts and lit inserts reading SHOOT AGAIN, WHEN HIGH LIT and SCORES BONUS. A blue ribbon of five lit inserts runs vertically down the middle. The apron is black with a large blue five-pointed star holding an 80, cream ray motifs and silver stars, flanked by two white instruction cards.
Playfield Le Grande 8
- red
- yellow
- blue
- white
Fingerprint: Huge yellow numbered wheel ringed with pink dots, blonde woman in magenta holding 1000 sign, three cream bumpers on orange rings, upside-down clown-like figure, teal gift boxes with yellow bow, grinning striped-shirt man, bright red-yellow-blue cartoons
The huge yellow numbered wheel in the centre, ringed with pink dots and reading 10 through 90 around its rim, is the single most memorable shape. Second is the blonde woman in a magenta top and grey trousers standing centre-right with one arm thrown up, holding a white '1000' sign. The three cream pop-bumper caps on glowing orange-gold rings near the top and the small upside-down clown-like figure are also striking. Bottom centre is a cluster of teal gift boxes with an oversized yellow bow beside a grinning striped-shirt man with arms spread.
Setting
- Radiating red and orange starburst
- Deep blue star-speckled field upper left
- Plain cream cabinet sides with scattered orange and blue stars
Symbols
- Stars
- Starbursts
- Gift boxes with ribbon
- Yellow numbered wheel
- Pink dot markers
- Red and yellow radiating rays
- Playfield insert circles
Notable shapes
- Large central numbered wheel
- Blue-rimmed tunnel dome
- Two flat triangular slingshots
- Stacked gift-box block at bottom centre
Art motifs
- Reward-themed bonus imagery
- Cheering crowd of pin-up style figures
- Saturated pop colours
- Hard black outlines
Themes
- Celebration
- Bonuses
- Prizes
- Pinball artwork
Text on it
- EXTRA BALL WHEN LIT
- ADD BONUS WHEN LIT
- SWITCH
- 1000
- 50
- 100
- 400
- 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
| Kind | Description |
|---|---|
| Woman | Blonde, magenta short-sleeved top, grey trousers, yellow shoes, one arm raised, holding a white rectangular sign printed 1000; centre-right |
| Woman | Long blonde hair, flowing yellow dress, reclining/leaning pose at far left of centre field |
| Woman | Short blonde hair, pink dress with white polka dots, right side |
| Woman | Dark blue outfit with pale legs, seated or kneeling at right beside a ramp |
| Other | Green-clad figure with a hat at right edge |
| Man | Small grinning man in red-and-white striped shirt with both arms flung wide, lower centre |
| Animal | Pink and purple bird or rooster with a fanned tail at lower centre-right |
| Other | Small clown-like upside-down figure in the blue tunnel mouth, upper centre |
| Other | Sitting figure with a large red starburst behind, upper centre-right |
Full-length electronic-game playfield seen from above through glass, dominated by a red and orange radiating starburst background. Upper-left is a deep blue field with white-and-red star shapes and a small yellow 'EXTRA BALL WHEN LIT' box. Centre-top sits a blue-rimmed dome or tunnel with a small '50' disc inside it, flanked by wire ramps and three round cream pop-bumper caps on orange-gold rings. Centre-left is a large yellow numbered wheel ringed with pink dots and marked 10 to 90 around its rim. Centre-right stands a blonde woman in a magenta top, grey trousers and yellow shoes, one arm raised, holding a white sign printed '1000'. Around her are other drawn women: one in a yellow dress at far left, one in a pink polka-dot dress at right, one in dark blue, and a green-clad figure. Lower centre holds stacked teal gift boxes with a fat yellow ribbon, a grinning man in a red-and-white striped shirt with arms flung wide, and a pink-and-purple bird. Bright red, yellow and blue dominate, with white and black accents; flat airbrushed cartoon illustration throughout.
Backglass vision analysis
Written by a machine from the photos, so details may be off.
Backglass Standard
- orange
- red
- black
- teal
Fingerprint: PANTHERO: Golden-skinned woman in red-gold bikini and beaded headdress with one arm down resting on rearing black panther, gaping red mouth, orange flame sunburst background, crumbling ruined bridge arches, 1970s airbrushed style.
A golden-skinned woman in a red-and-gold bikini and beaded headdress, one arm stretched down, resting on the back of a rearing black panther with a gaping red mouth, set against an orange flame sunburst.
Setting
- Orange and red flame sunburst
- Dark blue night sky
- Ruined arched bridge or viaduct along the bottom
- Shadowed cave or foliage behind the panthers
Symbols
- Four corner panther heads with fangs and claws
- Numbers 1-4 player markers
- Orange flame sunburst rays
- Red arrow banner
- Stone arch bridge ruins
- Beaded necklace and gem jewellery
Lettering
- Arched orange block capitals with white inline and heavy black drop shadow, small white cursive maker name above
Themes
- Panther
- Jungle
- Adventure
- Ruins
- Prehistoric beast
- Tribal heroine
Title on it
- Panthero
Text on it
- Gottlieb's
- PANTHERO
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 328 400
- 000 0 0
- 000 000
- NUMBER TO MATCH
- BALL IN PLAY
| Kind | Description |
|---|---|
| Woman | Adult golden-skinned woman, long black hair with gold bead ornaments, red-and-gold bikini top and bottoms, gold arm and ankle bands, red gem on forehead, small red wings behind her, one knee bent, right arm reaching down onto the panther's back |
| Animal | Large black panther rearing at centre-left, tail curling up to the left, mouth wide open with white fangs and red tongue, teal highlights |
| Animal | Second blue-black panther head below, yellow eyes, open red mouth |
| Other | Four teal panther heads with pink inner ears, white fangs and clawed paws framing the corners behind the score displays |
| Other | Pale green ghostly vapour or smoke blobs among the ruined arches at the bottom |
Illuminated backglass panel in a rounded-corner black frame, with a bright orange-to-red flame sunburst filling the upper left and a dark blue-black night background at the edges. Across the top runs a small white cursive word, Gottlieb's, sitting above a huge arched title PANTHERO in orange-and-white block capitals with heavy black shadowing and a yellow flame inline; a small curled tail finishes the final O. Four teal-and-green panther heads with pink inner ears, white fangs and clawed paws frame the four corners, each paired with a pale number 1, 2, 3 or 4 and a blue seven-segment alphanumeric score display reading 328 400, 000 0 0, 000 000 and 000 0 0. Centre-right stands a golden-skinned woman in a red-and-gold bikini and headdress, long black hair streaming right, one arm reaching down to rest on a black panther. The panther rears at centre-left, mouth open showing red tongue and teeth, with a second blue-black panther head below it, eyes amber. Along the bottom is a crumbling ruined bridge or viaduct with arches in tan, teal, blue and red, with pale-green ghostly vapour blobs. On the right, a red arrow reads NUMBER TO MATCH in pink capitals.
Backglass Le Grande 8
- blue
- pink
- orange
- brown
Fingerprint: "GRAND" pink-and-cream 3D letters: bare-chested strongman with flaming torch, roaring lion emerging from white fur ruff, blonde woman in magenta top, four white-haired clowns, carnival Ferris wheel
The most memorable element is a bare-chested strongman holding a flaming torch whose enormous yellow-and-red flame banner sweeps across the whole upper half of the glass, with a roaring lion head bursting out of the shaggy white fur ruff around his shoulders. A second striking feature is the huge pink-and-cream 3D word GRAND tilted up out of the brown ground at the bottom right, partly cropped by the frame. Four white-haired circus clowns in yellow, magenta and blue costumes peer down from the top corners, and two red-and-white striped poles with 3 and 4 badges anchor the lower corners. Glaring coloured bulb reflections streak green, red and cyan across the glass.
Setting
- Fairground at dusk
- Ferris wheel
- Roller coaster
- Carousels
- Bunting and candy-striped poles
- Pale blue sky
Symbols
- Ferris wheel
- Roller coaster
- Flaming torch
- Carousel
- Triangular bunting
- Candy-striped poles
- Ferris wheel gondolas
Lettering
- Large blocky 3d slab letters in pink with cream/white faces and dark outline, tilted diagonally upward, emerging from the ground at lower right
Themes
- Carnival
- Fairground
- Strongman
- Circus
- Flame
- Wildcat
Title on it
- Grand
Text on it
- GRAND
- CREDIT
- MATCH
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
| Kind | Description |
|---|---|
| Man | Bare-chested strongman in red shorts with a gold armband and black boots, legs braced wide, one arm raised gripping a torch pole, shaggy white fur ruff around his shoulders, dark hair |
| Animal | Roaring lion with dark mane and open mouth emerging from the white fur ruff behind the strongman |
| Woman | Blonde woman with long wavy hair, magenta strapless crop top, pale blue jeans and pink shoes, running forward with arms out |
| Man | Grinning man with dark hair and moustache in a red short-sleeve shirt and yellow trousers, leaning forward with arms outstretched |
| Other | White-haired clown in a magenta polka-dot costume at top left, and a second clown in a yellow jacket and pointed hat beside him |
| Other | Two further white-haired clowns at top right, one in yellow with a raised arm and one in magenta polka dots |
| Other | Small distant carnival goers and ride figures scattered on the midway behind the striped poles |
Painted carnival/funfair backglass set inside a blue-painted wooden cabinet with a clear plastic window, showing bulb strip reflections across the glass. The scene is a fairground at dusk under a pale blue sky: a tall Ferris wheel with pink and blue spokes fills the left, a red roller-coaster track loops across the top, and a striped helter-skelter plus a yellow-lit carousel sit in the mid-ground. Candy-striped poles and triangular bunting run up both edges. Dominant colours are sky blue, hot pink, orange-yellow flame and red. Four characters dominate the foreground: a bare-chested strongman in red shorts and black boots planting a flaming torch; a blonde woman in a magenta crop top and pale blue jeans running beside him; a grinning man in a red shirt and yellow trousers reaching forward; and a roaring lion rising behind the strongman. Large dimensional pink-and-cream 3D letters spelling GRAND sit at the bottom right. Numbered player panels 1, 2, 3 and 4 in coloured circles frame the corners, each with a rectangular mechanical score window of digit reels.
Backglass Standard
- red
- orange
- blue
- black
Fingerprint: Giant snarling black panther with white fangs and raised white paw dominating lower centre, scantily-clad woman in leopard bikini feathered blue-black headdress and curling black tail posed on top, huge flat yellow-orange lion head with spiky red mane filling left background, two dark blue clawed bars running horizontally, red-orange flame pattern background, slanted cream block title PANTHERO
A giant snarling black panther with white fangs and a raised white paw dominates the lower centre, with a scantily-clad woman in a leopard bikini, feathered headdress and curling black tail posed on top of it. Behind them a huge flat yellow lion head with a blazing red mane fills the left half, all on a red-orange flame background crossed by two dark blue clawed bars. The slanted cream block title 'PANTHERO' runs across the top with a small 2 beside it.
Setting
- Red-orange flame pattern filling the backdrop
- Cream/silver border framing the painted area
Symbols
- Clawed paw bars
- Flames
- Numerals 1 2 3 4
Lettering
- Large slanted cream/yellow block capitals with black outline and dark drop shadow
Themes
- Jungle
- Big cat
- Adventure
- Pin-up
Title on it
- Panthero
Text on it
- PANTHERO
- 2
- 1
- 3
- 4
| Kind | Description |
|---|---|
| Woman | Tan-skinned brunette, long dark hair, small feathered blue-black headdress, leopard-print bikini, arm bands and anklets, one knee raised, long black tail curling left |
| Animal | Large black panther, mouth open showing white fangs and red tongue, one white-pawed forepaw raised, glossy highlights |
| Animal | Huge flat yellow-orange lion head in left profile with a spiky red mane, eye open, roaring |
A painted comic-style backglass inside a cream/silver border, background a red-orange flame pattern. Across the top, in large slanted cream-to-yellow block capitals with black outline and dark drop shadow, is the title 'PANTHERO', with a small numeral 2 at its right end. A tiny cursive signature word sits above the title. Centre-right stands one woman: tan-skinned brunette with long dark hair and a feathered blue-black headdress, wearing a leopard-print bikini with arm bands and anklets, one knee raised, and a long black tail arcing to the left. Below and left of her crouches a large snarling black panther, mouth open showing white fangs and a red tongue, one white-pawed forepaw raised. A huge flat yellow-orange lion head with a spiky red mane fills the left background in profile. Two dark blue bars ending in black pads with white claws run horizontally across the upper left and lower right, with small white numerals 1, 3 and 4 near them; the right side carries a red-purple blocky masonry pattern. A small white rectangular label sits at bottom centre. The paint is glossy, with a bright light reflection across the panther's shoulder.
Backglass Le Grande 8
- light blue
- yellow
- magenta
- red
Fingerprint: 'THE GRAND' in enormous slanted yellow block letters with red drop shadow, two identical grinning panicking men in open-top blue cars on pink roller-coaster track lattice, lit cyan displays, flat comic-strip heavy black outlines, hand-drawn 1960s-70s style
A comic-carousel scene where two identical laughing-and-panicking men ride in open-top blue cars mounted high against a pale blue clouded sky, framed by a pink roller-coaster lattice. The title 'THE GRAND' is written in enormous slanted yellow block letters with red drop shadow, running diagonally across the lower half. A lit cyan seven-segment display in the top left clearly reads '8 28 080'. The art style is unmistakably 1960s-70s comic strip, with heavy black ink outlines and hand cross-hatching rather than airbrushed painting. The flat magenta-pink shape pushing in from the lower right edge is a striking colour block against the otherwise naturalistic scene.
Setting
- Pale blue sky with white cumulus clouds
- Pink-and-white arcing roller-coaster or fairground track lattice on blue support columns
- Open-top blue ride cars
- Red white and blue star motifs
Symbols
- Red white and blue stars
- Seven-segment led digit displays
- Roller-coaster track lattice
- Pink-and-white striped poles
Lettering
- Large slanted chunky yellow block capitals with heavy red drop shadow and black outline, plus small plain sans-serif white labels on the display bezels
Themes
- Fairground
- Roller coaster
- Comic strip
- Amusement park
Title on it
- The grand
Text on it
- THE GRAND
- BALL IN PLAY
- CREDIT
- MATCH
- 2
- 8 28 080
| Kind | Description |
|---|---|
| Man | Elderly white-haired old man in a pink shirt with white polka dots, mouth wide open in a scream, riding in the left car; a near-identical version appears in the right car |
| Man | Companion in a yellow jacket, brown hat with goggles on the brim and a red scarf, grinning and leaning back, in both the left and right cars |
| Other | Large flat magenta-pink shape entering from the lower right, partly obscuring the end of the title lettering; identity unclear |
Backglass with a light blue sky and fluffy white cloud background, overlaid with a large pink-and-white arcing lattice structure resembling a roller-coaster or fairground ride track, supported on blue columns. Across the top sit two open-top blue cars, each carrying the same pair of caricatured figures: a panicking white-haired old man in a pink shirt with white polka dots, and a grinning companion in a yellow jacket, brown hat with goggles and a red scarf. The cars are decorated with red white and blue stars. Mounted below the cars are dark rectangular seven-segment display panels; the left one is lit and reads '8 28 080' in cyan-green digits, while the right one is unlit. Lower down, the main title runs diagonally in large chunky yellow block letters with heavy red drop shading, reading 'THE GRAND', partly overlapped on the right by a large flat pink shape. Beside the title is a black ball-in-play window containing cyan seven-segment digits with the labels 'BALL IN PLAY' above and 'CREDIT' and 'MATCH' below. The rendering is flat comic-strip illustration with heavy black outlines, cross-hatching and bold colour fills.