1977 · Mattel
Las Vegas
Radiating sunburst of cobalt blue, violet and magenta rays from the centre, white four-pointed sparkle stars scattered across the rays, concentric pink, orange and magenta target wheel behind the title, black band carrying the title marquee and yellow-gold wooden outer frame.
- Year
- 1977
- Maker
- Mattel
- Type
- Solid state
- Display
- Alphanumeric
- Players
- 1
Vision analysis
On the backglass
Written by a machine from the photos, so details may be off.
Backglass
- blue
- magenta
- orange
- yellow
Fingerprint: 'FREE BALL' marquee packed with glowing yellow light bulbs, red-masked jester woman in hot-pink gown, 1970s rock band in red-green-blue playing instruments, playing cards fanned behind both groups, psychedelic sunburst of blue-violet-magenta with white sparkle stars, toy-king on striped disc.
The enormous light-bulb-studded 'FREE BALL' marquee, each letter packed with glowing yellow lamps against black, is the single most memorable feature. A red-masked jester woman in a hot-pink gown stands hip-shot on the left with playing cards fanned behind her. On the right a four-piece 1970s rock band in bright red, green and blue plays horns and electric guitar, with playing cards fanned behind them. A psychedelic blue-and-magenta sunburst of white sparkle stars fills the whole background, with a concentric pink target-wheel behind the title. Scattered red, orange and white capsules and a crown-wearing toy king on a striped disc fill the lower half.
Setting
- Radiating sunburst of cobalt blue, violet and magenta rays from the centre
- White four-pointed sparkle stars scattered across the rays
- Concentric pink, orange and magenta target wheel behind the title
- Black band carrying the title marquee
- Yellow-gold wooden outer frame
Symbols
- Rows of round yellow light bulbs inside every title letter
- Playing cards with hearts suit fanned on both left and right
- White four-pointed star sparkles
- Concentric target ring medallion
- Red, orange and white capsules and pills spilling across the bottom
- Magenta starburst behind the score panel
- Concentric striped disc beneath the toy king
Lettering
- Very large condensed sans-serif block capitals, salmon-orange fill packed with yellow bulb dots, heavy black outline with pink drop shadow, on a solid black horizontal band
Themes
- Music
- Rock band
- Playing cards
- Jester
- Psychedelic
- Arcade
- Light-up marquee
Title on it
- Free ball
Text on it
- FREE BALL
- PLAYER
- SCORE
- BALL
- 1
| Kind | Description |
|---|---|
| Woman | Upper left, red full-face mask with black markings, black bobbed hair, feathered jester headdress in red and orange; hands on hips, elbows out; wearing a strapless floor-length hot-pink gown that flares at the hem; sly expression |
| Creature | Red and black devil or jester flourish with curling tails beside the masked woman at far left |
| Man | Right side, long brown hair, green flared outfit, blowing a curved brass horn |
| Man | Right side, red shirt with sleeves, long hair, playing a brass trombone, bell pointing left |
| Woman | Right side, long red-orange hair, pale blue outfit, holding an orange electric guitar |
| Woman | Right side edge, long blonde hair, blue top, partly hidden behind the guitarist |
| Other | Small crowned king or toy-soldier figure seated at lower left centre, gold crown, red and gold clothing, on a red-and-black radially striped circular disc with a yellow rim |
| Other | Large white playing card with hearts suit held at left beside the jester woman, more cards fanned behind |
A square backglass inside a bright yellow-gold wooden frame, painted in glossy 1970s airbrushed psychedelic style. Background is a sunburst of alternating cobalt-blue, violet and magenta rays radiating from centre, scattered with white four-pointed sparkle stars. Behind the title at top centre sits a large target-like wheel of concentric pink, orange and magenta rings. The main title 'FREE BALL' runs across the upper third as enormous salmon-orange block capitals, each letter filled with rows of round yellow light bulbs, black-outlined with a pink drop shadow, on a black band. Upper left, a red-masked jester woman with black bobbed hair and feathered headdress stands with hands on hips in a flowing pink gown, beside fanned white playing cards. Below her a small crowned toy-soldier or king figure sits on a red-and-black striped circular disc. A magenta starburst at centre frames 'PLAYER', a large yellow 'SCORE' and 'BALL' labels. The right side shows four long-haired rock musicians in red, green and blue playing a horn, a trombone and an electric guitar, with fanned playing cards behind them and orange and white pills spilling across the bottom. A single player number '1' appears at left.