Ice-Revue, released by Gottlieb in 1965, stands as a quintessential example of the mid-sixties electromechanical era, showcasing the legendary partnership between designer Ed Krynski and artist Roy Parker. Centered around the graceful aesthetic of professional ice skating, the playfield is a masterclass in classic geometry. It eschews the complex vertical toys of the modern age in favor of a fast-paced, rhythmic game driven by four active pop bumpers, a passive bumper, and a strategic array of six standup targets that demand precision rather than brute force.
The game’s flow is defined by its top lane configuration, where each lane serves as a gateway to the pop bumpers below. Savvy players looking to maximize their score treat these lanes as a primary skill shot, aiming to navigate the ball through unlit lanes to claim the ten-point bonus before the bumpers turn the game into a chaotic, high-scoring dance. With two kick-out holes providing reliable scoring opportunities and the classic Gottlieb dual-outlane setup lurking to punish errant shots, the machine requires a delicate touch to keep the performance going.
With a production run of just over 2,000 units, Ice-Revue remains a sought-after piece of history for collectors who appreciate the simple elegance of EM design. It is a machine that rewards patience and lane management, perfectly capturing the theme of an ice skating revue where one wrong move can cut your routine short. For those who enjoy the tactile satisfaction of reel-based scoring and the crisp, mechanical feedback of mid-century pinball, this title is a charming, albeit challenging, skate across the frozen surface of the golden age.