# Episode 189 - 1959 Bally County Fair

**Source:** For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast  
**Type:** podcast_episode  
**Published:** 2015-09-16  
**Duration:** 7m 8s  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://foramusementonly.libsyn.com/episode-189-1959-bally-county-fair

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## Analysis

Nick Baldridge reviews Bally's 1959 County Fair, a landmark Magic Screen bingo game featuring the OK game (red letter game) mechanic. The episode focuses on the game's innovative features, playfield mechanics, and cohesive carnival-themed artwork, positioning it as a potential showcase at the upcoming York Show's Bingo Row in October.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] County Fair was the first Magic Screen game with the OK game (red letter game) — _Nick Baldridge, opening description of the game's historical significance_
- [HIGH] The game has Magic Screen positions up to G, which equals 7 different positions — _Nick Baldridge describing technical specifications_
- [HIGH] The blue section scoring as green instead of 300 or 600 didn't start until Circus Queen — _Nick Baldridge comparing County Fair to later Circus Queen_
- [HIGH] The game features super sections (red with white stripes, yellow with black stripes) where two balls sink to score as three — _Nick Baldridge describing playfield mechanics_
- [MEDIUM] County Fair will be featured at York Show Bingo Row in October 9-10 at York Fairgrounds, Pennsylvania — _Nick Baldridge announcement with conditional language ('may show up,' 'if it makes it to the show')_
- [HIGH] At least one bingo (1961 Bally Bikini) will be for sale at the York Show — _Nick Baldridge direct statement about available machines_

### Notable Quotes

> "County Fair was the first Magic Screen game with the OK game, or the red letter game."
> — **Nick Baldridge**, ~0:30
> _Establishes the historical importance of County Fair as an industry milestone_

> "It's really satisfying to hit Red Letter Game. And that was intentional, for sure. The noises, the sights, everything involved in the Red Letter Game is very much made to draw the player in and get them to lose quickly."
> — **Nick Baldridge**, ~3:00
> _Reveals design philosophy behind the OK game mechanic and its psychological intent_

> "I think this artwork is very attractive, and it ties in with the theme very well... I just think it's absolutely gorgeous."
> — **Nick Baldridge**, ~5:30
> _Expresses strong aesthetic appreciation for the game's visual design_

> "I think now, I'm not an artist, but I just really think this is one of the most cohesive themes that Bally produced in their bingos."
> — **Nick Baldridge**, ~6:15
> _Assessment of County Fair's thematic coherence across cabinet, back glass, and playfield_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Nick Baldridge | person | Host of For Amusement Only podcast; EM and bingo pinball expert; collector and enthusiast focused on classic bingo games |
| Bally | company | Historical pinball manufacturer; producer of County Fair and other classic bingo games discussed |
| County Fair | game | 1959 Bally bingo pinball machine; first Magic Screen game with OK game mechanic; subject of episode review |
| Circus Queen | game | Later Bally bingo game referenced for comparison; introduced blue section scoring as green feature |
| Bikini | game | 1961 Bally bingo machine; model will be for sale at York Show |
| York Show | event | Annual pinball show; October 9-10 at York Fairgrounds in York, Pennsylvania; features Bingo Row exhibition area |
| Bingo Row | event | Exhibition section at York Show dedicated to bingo-themed pinball machines; venue where County Fair may appear |
| York Fairgrounds | venue | Location of York Show in York, Pennsylvania |
| For Amusement Only | organization | EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast hosted by Nick Baldridge |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Bingo pinball game mechanics and design, Magic Screen technology in vintage pinball, OK game (red letter game) mechanic innovation, Pinball artwork and cabinet design aesthetics
- **Secondary:** York Show and Bingo Row exhibition, Vintage Bally game history and evolution
- **Mentioned:** Carnival/fair themes in pinball design

### Sentiment

**Neutral** (0)

### Signals

- **[historical_signal]** County Fair established as the first Magic Screen bingo game to feature the OK game (red letter game) mechanic, marking a significant innovation in bingo pinball design (confidence: high) — Nick Baldridge's opening claim: 'County Fair was the first Magic Screen game with the OK game, or the red letter game'
- **[design_philosophy]** Design intent behind OK game: the noises, visuals, and mechanics are deliberately crafted to create satisfying feedback and encourage rapid play and losses, demonstrating intentional psychological design (confidence: high) — Nick Baldridge: 'everything involved in the Red Letter Game is very much made to draw the player in and get them to lose quickly'
- **[design_innovation]** County Fair introduces super sections with 2-in-3 scoring mechanic (red with white stripes, yellow with black stripes), a feature that became part of bingo pinball design vocabulary (confidence: high) — Nick Baldridge: 'super sections which are the red with white stripes and the yellow with black stripes where you can sink just two in the section to score as three'
- **[event_signal]** York Show Bingo Row planned for October 9-10 with County Fair as potential featured machine; at least one Bally Bikini (1961) confirmed for sale (confidence: high) — Nick Baldridge: 'The York show again is in October, the 9th and 10th... at the York Fairgrounds in York, Pennsylvania' and 'at least one of the bingos will be for sale, the 1961 Bally Bikini'
- **[content_signal]** Nick Baldridge producing ongoing series of episode reviews on games expected to appear at York Show Bingo Row, indicating regular content alignment with community event calendar (confidence: high) — Nick Baldridge: 'I wanted to continue in my series of games which may show up at the York Show in the Bingo Row'
- **[restoration_signal]** County Fair highlighted as game speaker has never played before but expects to encounter at York Show, indicating restoration/presentation of playable vintage bingo machines (confidence: medium) — Nick Baldridge: 'This is another one that I've never played before, so I'm very much looking forward to playing it if it makes it to the show'

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## Transcript

 What's that sound? It's For Amusement Only, the EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast. Welcome back to For Amusement Only. This is Nick Baldrige. Tonight I wanted to continue in my series of games which may show up at the York Show in the Bingo Row. So, this game was made in 1959, and it's Bally's County Fair. County Fair was the first Magic Screen game with the OK game, or the red letter game. this game has magic screen positions up to G which are 7 different positions the blue section scores as green instead of as 300 or 600 that feature didn't start until Circus Queen it has the extended time tree it does not have pick-a-play. It's only got a red button and a yellow button. The red button will randomly award features and odds jumps. And the yellow button plays for extra ball after you've shot the five balls of the standard game. Now your goal, of course, is to get three, four, or five in a row on the main bingo card, or three, four, or five in a section. This game also has the popular super sections which are the red with white stripes and the yellow with black stripes where you can sink just two in the section to score as three for that particular color Now the OK game, as you're likely well aware by now if you've been following along, is the separate game which can be started by putting two balls into the orange section. When you do this, the letter which is lit in the title of the game in red will award you the indicated new red letter game. All the balls dump, and the odds start ticking up. It's a very, very unique sound to hear. And there is almost nothing like it. it's really satisfying to hit Red Letter Game. And that was intentional, for sure. The noises, the sights, everything involved in the Red Letter Game is very much made to draw the player in and get them to lose quickly. Okay. So, the playfield has the typical yellow and red rollovers, which will allow you to extend the time tree further, should you have the feature lit. Now let talk about the artwork on this game This is another game where Bally just completely knocked it out of the park in the artwork department You got a cabinet stencil which is similar to Circus Queen but much more complex It's got the tent repeated along the side, and the flag, which you may recognize from Circus Queen. but it also has balloons jutting up and floating above the flag, which is very attractive. It's got clouds in the sky, and the main cabinet color is blue. I think this artwork is very attractive, and it ties in with the theme very well, especially when you look at the back glass. Now, on the back glass, there is a scene from a fair. It's a fairground. You've got a couple playing for a prize in one of those carnival-type booths. In the background, you can see a sign that says, See the Beauty Pageant. and in the foreground you've got some ladies which are observing the horse show which is going on in the center ring now all this ties into the play field so the artwork flows pretty well from the cabinet like the approach to the fair to the back glass where you can see right as you walk in what's going on in the fair and then you proceed down the road towards the beauty pageant and that what happening on the playfield Now the artwork is phenomenal I just think it absolutely gorgeous And the way it draws your eye and the perspective shown is masterful I think Now, I'm not an artist, but I just really think this is one of the most cohesive themes that Ballet produced in their bingos. This is another one that I've never played before, so I'm very much looking forward to playing it if it makes it to the show. So the York show again is in October, the 9th and 10th, which is a Friday and a Saturday, at the York Fairgrounds in York, Pennsylvania. I hope to see as many of my listeners as possible show up and enjoy the bingo row. Also remember that at least one of the bingos will be for sale, the 1961 Bally bikini. That's all for tonight. Thank you again for joining me. My name again is Nicholas Baldridge. You can reach me at 4amusementonlypodcast at gmail.com, or you can call me on the bingos line at 724-BINGOS1. 724-246-4671 You can listen to us on iTunes, Stitcher, Pocket Casts, via RSS, on Facebook, on Twitter at Bingo Podcast, you can follow me on Instagram at nbaldridge, or you can listen to us on our website, which is foramusementonly.libsyn.com Thank you very much for listening, and I'll talk to you next time.

_(Acquisition: groq_whisper, Enrichment: v3)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: ec0cc341-7662-4107-b155-6cd8bbb05d5c*