1960 Gottlieb Dancing Dolls
Manufacturer : Gottlieb
Year : 1960
Players : 1
Type : Electro-mechanical
Theme : Music - Dancing
Production : 1,150 units
Status : Sold
Gottlieb’s Dancing Dolls (1960) is a single-player electro-mechanical (EM) pinball machine from the woodrail era, designed by Wayne Neyens with artwork by Roy Parker. Best known for its unique animated backbox feature, the game brings a theatrical flair to classic EM gameplay. With its combination of engaging mechanical animation, active pop bumper action, and controlled shooting, Dancing Dolls stands out as a distinctive early-1960s title.
Game Features
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Single-player electro-mechanical (EM) pinball machine
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Classic woodrail cabinet design
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Mechanical animated backbox with “dancing” dolls
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Dolls light up and spin when 70,000-point targets are hit
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Backbox lighting resets each ball, requiring reactivation
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Two flippers with traditional EM layout
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Six pop bumpers in a central cluster for fast action
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Two kick-out holes and one “gobble hole”
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Light bulb scoring in the backbox (pre-reel style)
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No playfield specials (no extra games awarded during play)
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Approx. 1,150 units produced
Overview
Dancing Dolls blends classic EM gameplay with one of the more memorable mechanical animations of its era. The backbox “dancing” feature is the highlight—triggered by reaching specific scoring thresholds, it adds a visual reward that players must relight each ball, keeping gameplay engaging and goal-oriented.
On the playfield, the cluster of six pop bumpers creates lively, unpredictable action, while the kick-out holes and gobble hole introduce both scoring opportunities and risk. The game emphasizes controlled shooting over chaos, rewarding players who can consistently hit key targets to build score.
As one of the later Gottlieb machines to use light bulb scoring instead of reels, Dancing Dolls captures a transitional moment in pinball design. Its combination of animation, rarity, and classic woodrail charm makes it especially appealing to collectors who appreciate early mechanical creativity.
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View Restoration Details Playfield (Top Side) • Fully disassembled, cleaned, waxed, and conditioned • New rubbers, lane guides, posts, bulbs, and pinball • New flipper bats • Standup switches and rollover switches polished and adjusted • Plastics cleaned and conditioned Playfield (Underside) • Complete flipper rebuilds (coils, stops, switches, links, springs) • Pop bumper assemblies rebuilt • All relays cleaned, filed, and properly adjusted • Stepper units fully disassembled, cleaned, and calibrated Cabinet & Bottom Board • New power cord and fuse holders • Bottom board fully disassembled and cleaned • Relays, step units, and score motor serviced and adjusted • Jones plugs cleaned for solid connections • Cabinet cleaned inside and out Backbox / Head • Scoring reels disassembled, cleaned, and properly adjusted • Stepper units and relays serviced • New bulbs installed Additional Work • Weak or burned coils replaced as needed • Coin door fully disassembled, cleaned, and polished with new coin entry plates • Chime box cleaned, polished, and rebuilt • Shooter assembly polished with new springs installed • Metal trim, side rails, and legs polished • New locks, bolts, and leg levelers/castors installed • New sheet of playfield glass installed • New bulbs installed throughout entire game Warranty ✔ 1-Year Warranty (local sales) ✔ One service visit included within first year (includes playfield waxing, rubber replacement if needed, and full function check)