# Episode 111 - Gottlieb 1960 Dancing Dolls **Source:** For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast **Type:** podcast_episode **Published:** 2015-06-30 **Duration:** 5m 29s **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://foramusementonly.libsyn.com/episode-111-gottlieb-1960-dancing-dolls --- ## Analysis Nick Baldridge analyzes Gottlieb's 1960 Dancing Dolls, a wood rail electromechanical machine notable for its innovative backglass animation featuring a tap-dancing marionette activated by stand-up target hits, along with six pop bumpers, saucers, and artwork by Roy Parker. The episode covers the machine's unique mechanical and artistic features, including the spotlight effect created by metal brackets and light bulbs behind the backglass. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Dancing Dolls was made in 1960 by Gottlieb — _Nick Baldridge, direct statement at opening of episode_ - [HIGH] The machine features a marionette that tap-dances in the backglass when stand-up targets are hit — _Nick Baldridge describing the unique backglass animation feature_ - [HIGH] Two different spotlights turn on depending on which target (left or right) is hit — _Nick Baldridge explaining the spotlight mechanism_ - [HIGH] The artwork was done by Roy Parker — _Nick Baldridge stating artist credit_ - [HIGH] Dancing Dolls has six pop bumpers and a passive bumper — _Nick Baldridge describing playfield features_ - [HIGH] Nick Baldridge likes gobble holes and is in the minority on this preference — _Nick Baldridge personal opinion statement_ - [MEDIUM] The marionette animation is not seen on any other machine — _Nick Baldridge asserting uniqueness of the feature, though not definitively verified across all EM machines_ ### Notable Quotes > "It's a wood rail machine... what is unique or unusual about Dancing Dolls it got lighted scoring but it also has a unique back glass animation. When you hit one of the stand-up targets on either side, directly above the outlanes, of course, a marionette starts tap-dancing in the head." > — **Nick Baldridge**, early in episode > _Core description of Dancing Dolls' defining feature_ > "There are actually two different spotlights which turn on depending on which target you hit. There's one on the left and one on the right." > — **Nick Baldridge**, mid-episode > _Technical explanation of how the animation spotlight mechanism works_ > "If you to examine it from the back you see there a metal bracket inside which is the marionette and behind it are two light bulbs in a small circle cut through the bracket that allows the light to shine through." > — **Nick Baldridge**, late in episode > _Detailed mechanical breakdown of the animation apparatus_ > "I happen to like them. I'm in the minority, of course, as I am with most things, that I enjoy, like these machines in general." > — **Nick Baldridge**, mid-episode > _Host personal opinion on gobble holes and retro EM machines_ > "There is a video of it on YouTube. I would encourage everyone to check that out. Seeing a marionette, which is suspended, inside the back box, dancing. There it pretty cool and a very clever setup" > — **Nick Baldridge**, late in episode > _Host recommendation for viewers to see the animation in action_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Gottlieb | company | Manufacturer of Dancing Dolls (1960); historical pinball game maker | | Dancing Dolls | game | 1960 Gottlieb electromechanical pinball machine featuring tap-dancing marionette backglass animation | | Nick Baldridge | person | Host of 'For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast'; episode 111 presenter and analyst | | Roy Parker | person | Artist who created the artwork for Dancing Dolls | | Nate | person | Host of Coast to Coast Pinball podcast; mentioned Dancing Dolls on his show | | Coast to Coast Pinball | organization | Podcast hosted by Nate; mentioned as reference source for Dancing Dolls | | For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast | organization | Nick Baldridge's podcast focused on electromechanical and bingo pinball machines | | Paradise | game | Gottlieb game referenced as having similar in-playfield rototargets with backlit mechanism | ### Topics - **Primary:** Electromechanical (EM) pinball design and innovation, Backglass animation and mechanical effects, Gottlieb game history and production - **Secondary:** Playfield mechanics (pop bumpers, targets, saucers, gobble holes), Pinball cabinet construction and hardware (wood rail, metal legs, flippers), Pinball podcast community and cross-promotion - **Mentioned:** Artistic direction in classic pinball (artwork by Roy Parker) ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.85) — Nick Baldridge expresses genuine enthusiasm and appreciation for Dancing Dolls' innovative design, unique animation feature, and artistic merit. His tone is educational and encouraging throughout, promoting related content and the game's historical significance. ### Signals - **[historical_signal]** Deep dive into a 1960 Gottlieb electromechanical machine's design innovation and technical implementation (confidence: high) — Detailed analysis of Dancing Dolls' marionette backglass animation mechanism, spotlight system, and playfield layout - **[design_innovation]** Dancing Dolls features a unique tap-dancing marionette animation system using metal brackets, light bulbs, and spotlights—claimed to be not replicated on other machines (confidence: high) — Nick Baldridge's description of the marionette animation being unique and his detailed technical breakdown of the spotlight mechanism - **[content_signal]** For Amusement Only podcast promotes Coast to Coast Pinball podcast; Coast to Coast Pinball previously covered Dancing Dolls (confidence: high) — Nick Baldridge explicitly encouraging listeners to check out Coast to Coast Pinball and mentioning it as reference source - **[restoration_signal]** Episode provides detailed technical documentation of backglass animation apparatus for hobbyists and collectors interested in EM machine mechanics (confidence: medium) — Nick Baldridge's detailed explanation of metal brackets, light bulbs, and spotlight construction behind the marionette animation --- ## Transcript What's that sound? It's 4 Amusement Only, the EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast. Welcome back to 4 Amusement Only, this is Nicholas Baldridge. Today I wanted to talk about Gottlieb's Dancing Dolls, which was made in 1960. It's a wood rail machine, and it was mentioned recently on Nate's Coast to Coast Pinball podcast. And again, if anyone, for whatever reason, listens to my podcast but does not listen to Coast to Coast Pinball, I would encourage you to check it out. So Dancing Dolls has six pop bumpers and a passive bumper. It's got a gobble hole pretty much in the center of the playfield. And it's got a couple of saucers, kick-out saucers, and a couple of stand-up targets on either side. Now what is unique or unusual about Dancing Dolls it got lighted scoring but it also has a unique back glass animation When you hit one of the stand-up targets on either side, directly above the outlanes, of course, a marionette starts tap-dancing in the head. So as the score is racking up and the unit's turning, and striking the bell to make the noise, the marionette dances. And it appears that they're tap dancing. There are actually two different spotlights which turn on depending on which target you hit. There's one on the left and one on the right. The game's artwork was done by Roy Parker and it's just beautiful. The wood rail cabinet is very attractive and at this time Godly had started to ship their games with metal legs so it has metal legs and a wood rail cabinet. It's got a manual ball lifter in a visible balls trough that you can see through the apron similar to the GG that I just picked up recently two inch flippers couple slings and rollovers It looks like a very fun game. Now, I haven't talked about gobble holes, and that's coming up. But as a preview, I'll tell you that I happen to like them. I'm in the minority, of course, as I am with most things, that I enjoy, like these machines in general. But the animation that's present on this machine is not seen on any other machine. And it's really cool to watch. There is a video of it on YouTube. I would encourage everyone to check that out. Seeing a marionette, which is suspended, inside the backbox, dancing. It pretty cool and a very clever setup If you to examine it from the back you see there a metal bracket inside which is the marionette and behind it are two light bulbs in a small circle cut through the bracket that allows the light to shine through. This is the spotlight. These dancing dolls are lit from behind by a single bulb, similar to the in-playfield rototargets as seen on God Leap's Paradise and a variety of other games. so 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 you can listen to us on iTunes, Stitcher, Pocket Cast via RSS on Facebook, on Twitter at bingopodcast and you can find me on Instagram at nbaldridge and you can listen to us on our website which is for amusement only dot lipsyn dot com thank you again for listening and I'll talk to you next time _(Acquisition: groq_whisper, Enrichment: v3)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 15355e97-bf2e-4fc7-8e17-c293f0400ace*