# Episode 5 - Guest Bounty **Source:** For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast **Type:** podcast_episode **Published:** 2015-03-17 **Duration:** 3m 53s **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://foramusementonly.libsyn.com/episode-5-guest-bounty --- ## Analysis A casual podcast episode featuring an interview with the host's daughter Ava about the Bounty magic screen bingo pinball machine. The episode includes gameplay impressions, preferences between magic screen vs. Mystic Line bingo games, and a postscript correction about Malibu Beach being the last magic screen game produced by Bally in 1980, not Bounty (1967). ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Bounty was made in 1967 — _Host postscript, citing correction from Steve Smith_ - [HIGH] Malibu Beach, made in 1980, was the last Magic Screen game produced by Bally, not Bounty — _Host postscript correction, sourced from Steve Smith_ - [MEDIUM] Bally shifted to 20-hole Mystic Line bingos after the magic screen era, but occasionally did throwback magic screen games like Malibu Beach — _Host analysis in postscript, referencing Jeff Lawton's book_ - [HIGH] Ava's best score on Bounty was 342 points — _Direct statement during Ava interview_ ### Notable Quotes > "I like their art... and that's the same with the double up that I have down in my arcade." > — **Ava**, early segment > _Indicates the guest (host's daughter) appreciates aesthetic design in magic screen games_ > "I like to challenge myself." > — **Ava**, mid-interview > _Shows player preference for difficulty and engagement in bingo gameplay_ > "Bounty, for comparison, was made in 1967, and it was made in the era right before Bally shifted to 20-hole Mystic Line bingos." > — **Host**, postscript > _Establishes historical timeline and manufacturing strategy evolution for Bally bingo games_ > "Steve Smith let me know that, in fact, Bounty was not the last Magic Screen game. that distinction goes to Malibu Beach, which I've also played." > — **Host**, postscript > _Community correction highlighting engagement and fact-checking within the pinball community_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Bounty | game | Magic screen bingo pinball machine from 1967, primary subject of episode interview | | Ava | person | Host's oldest daughter, guest interviewee discussing Bounty and other EM/bingo pinball games | | Double Up | game | Bally bingo machine with magic screen, located in host's arcade, mentioned as upcoming interview topic | | Malibu Beach | game | Bally magic screen game from 1980, identified as the last magic screen game produced by Bally (not Bounty) | | Bally | company | Major vintage pinball manufacturer, produced magic screen and Mystic Line bingo games | | Mystic Line Bingo | product_line | Bally's 20-hole bingo game line that succeeded the magic screen era | | Magic Screen | product_line | Bally's earlier bingo game line with moving screen mechanic; predecessor to Mystic Line | | Steve Smith | person | Community member who provided correction about Malibu Beach being the last magic screen game | | Jeff Lawton | person | Author of book about pinball/bingo game history; frequently appears at pinball shows with personalized autographs | | Twinkie Pop A Card | game | EM game mentioned as planned future interview topic from host's arcade | | For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast | organization | Podcast series focusing on electromechanical and bingo pinball machines | ### Topics - **Primary:** Magic Screen bingo games, Bally bingo game evolution (Magic Screen to Mystic Line), Bounty gameplay mechanics and player experience - **Secondary:** Pinball/bingo machine design aesthetics (art, sound, mechanics), Vintage pinball history and manufacturing timeline - **Mentioned:** Community fact-checking and engagement, Personal arcade collection and operation ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.8) — Warm, enthusiastic tone throughout interview. Host appreciates daughter's engagement and thoughtful answers. Community correction handled gracefully as learning opportunity. No complaints or criticisms of games; focus is educational and celebratory of machine design and gameplay. ### Signals - **[historical_signal]** Establishes Bounty (1967) as pre-Mystic Line magic screen era, with Malibu Beach (1980) identified as late-era magic screen throwback during Mystic Line dominance (confidence: high) — Postscript correction from Steve Smith; host references Jeff Lawton's pinball history book - **[community_signal]** Steve Smith's correction about Malibu Beach indicates active listening and fact-checking within community; host receptive to corrections (confidence: high) — Host explicitly thanks Steve Smith for the correction and acknowledges forgetting details from reference material - **[content_signal]** Host experimenting with interview format featuring family members as guests to discuss machines in personal collection (confidence: medium) — Episode features guest interview with daughter; host mentions Ava will return for future episodes about other machines in arcade - **[restoration_signal]** Host maintains operational arcade with multiple working EM and bingo machines (Bounty, Double Up, other machines mentioned) (confidence: high) — References to machines 'down in my arcade' and playing with actual nickels; plans future episodes about machines in collection - **[gameplay_signal]** Player (Ava) shows preference for 25-hole magic screen over 20-hole Mystic Line due to increased difficulty and chances; values technique and artistic design (confidence: high) — Direct quotes: 'Probably Magic Screen... the technique and the art' and 'I like to challenge myself' - **[design_philosophy]** Bally's strategy of occasional magic screen throwbacks (like Malibu Beach) during Mystic Line dominance suggests design iteration and market experimentation (confidence: medium) — Host analysis: 'Bally would occasionally do a throwback... They did this again with magic screens while Mystic Lines were going on' --- ## Transcript what's that sound it's for amusement only the em and bingo pinball podcast welcome again to for amusement only my special guest tonight is my oldest daughter ava ava hello hello she said so ava uh today we're going to talk about bounty which is a magic screen i know that already Do you like magic screen games? Yes. What's your favorite thing about them? I like their art. Yeah? Do you like the screen that moves? Yes, and that's the same with the double up that I have down in my arcade. Do you like the noises that it makes? Yes, but they're very loud. Do you like them when you're trying to sleep? No, and can you stop doing that to me? Well, I'll see. So, is it fun to try and get the ball into a particular spot? Yeah, except I don't win all the time. Well, I don't win all the time either. But you're really good. Oh, I don't know about that. So what's the best you've ever done on Bounty? Do you know? I don't think we wrote it on the scoreboard, did we? It was 342. That's very specific. Okay, that sounds good. So Ava, do you like the Magic Screen Bingo better or the Mystic Line Bingo better? Probably Magic Screen. And what makes that better than the Mystic Line Bingo? Probably the technique and the art. So do you like 25 holes having more chances to drop the ball in? Yes, because I don't always win. Do you like the machine more difficult or do you like... I like to challenge myself. Very good. These are all very good answers, Ava. Good job. Thank you. Thank you, Father. I didn't coach her at all. Hey. No, I really didn't. Hey. No, seriously. So does it ever frustrate you when the machine locks you out of pressing the buttons Yes very It be nice if it just let you press the buttons all the time wouldn it Yeah except that it doesn Yep. So, how many nickels do you spend playing Bounty? Probably eight. Eight? That's a good number. And do I make you spend your own nickels, or do I give you some? He gives me some nickels, that's for sure. What a nice dad. Hey! So, that's about it for this episode. I just wanted to put up a quick interview here with Ava. And she'll be back, I'm sure, to talk about Double Up and Twinkie, Pop A Card, all the EM machines that I have down here in the arcade. Say goodbye, Ava. Bye-bye. One quick postscript. I got my first correction on a previous episode. Steve Smith let me know that, in fact, Bounty was not the last Magic Screen game. that distinction goes to Malibu Beach, which I've also played. I just didn't realize it was such a late model game. It was made in 1980. So Bounty, for comparison, was made in 1967, and it was made in the era right before Bally shifted to 20-hole Mystic Line bingos. Bally would occasionally do a throwback similar to their forays back into Magic Square games during the era of magic screens. They did this again with magic screens while Mystic Lines were going on with Malibu Beach. I'd just forgotten. I need to reread that entire book from Jeff Lawton again. It's really fascinating and great reading. You can find it on Amazon or try and catch Jeff at a show. He'll give you a personalized autograph. Thanks again. You can reach me at 4amusementonlypodcast at gmail.com and you can find us online at 4amusementonly.libson.com You can find us on Pocket Casts, Stitcher Radio, _(Acquisition: groq_whisper, Enrichment: v3)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-15 | Item ID: 7f36d722-c970-4b30-a8a3-5683f789da1b*