Rockettes
Rockettes Preview Image
Machine Details
Manufacturer
n/a
Year
n/a
Technology Era
n/a
Machine Description
Content Under Review
Help us improve this content
Your support accelerates our content verification efforts.
Support Our WorkThe Rockettes pinball machine, released by D. Gottlieb & Co. in 1965, capitalized on the enduring popularity of New York City's famous Radio City Music Hall Rockettes dance company. This electro-mechanical pinball machine represented a classic example of mid-1960s pinball design, when manufacturers frequently drew inspiration from entertainment and popular culture.
The machine featured artwork and theming that celebrated the iconic precision dance troupe, with backglass artwork likely depicting high-kicking dancers in their signature costumes. The playfield would have included standard features of the era such as pop bumpers, kick-out holes, and scoring lanes, all themed around the musical entertainment motif. As was typical for Gottlieb machines of this period, it probably featured their reliable electro-mechanical scoring system and characteristic chimes.
While not among Gottlieb's most widely-produced games, the Rockettes pinball machine represents an interesting intersection of American entertainment culture and coin-operated amusement devices. It exemplifies how pinball manufacturers of the 1960s sought to attract players by associating their machines with popular entertainment brands and institutions. The theme choice also reflects the era's clean-cut, family-friendly approach to arcade entertainment.