Roller Catch

Roller Catch, a rare and enigmatic electro-mechanical pinball machine, has piqued the interest of collectors and historians alike. The lack of information about its manufacturer, designer, and exact release year adds to its mystique, making it a fascinating specimen in the world of vintage pinball. All that survives of this game is a picture of the backbox, showing a one-player woodrail game with bulb scoring up to 8 million points. Its sports theme centers on roller derby and roller skating: the backglass depicts four women on roller skates against an abstract background of circles and stars, two of them apparently competing for dominance as in roller derby, though none wear helmets and their clothing is mismatched rather than uniformed. One skater's shirt bears the word "FRANCE."

The machine's dating comes from an unexpected source: in the 1956 Hollywood film "Trapeze," actor Tony Curtis is seen next to this game with its backglass illuminated. Movie stills reveal that the lower cabinet artwork matches that of Williams' 1948 'Stormy,' allowing historians to deduce a manufacture date sometime between 1948 and 1956.

Beyond the backbox and its brief screen appearance, little else is documented about Roller Catch's design or gameplay. Its unusual roller derby theme and its cameo in a major Hollywood film make it a captivating curiosity for collectors and historians seeking out rare and mysterious machines.