Pinball Expo is an event that is held annually in the Chicago area, the original home of most pinball manufacturers. The event attracts pinball industry professionals, pinball players, collectors, and enthusiasts from around the world. Founded by Robert "Rob" Berk, of Warren, Ohio, the event was inaugurated over the weekend of November 22–24, 1985 at the Holiday Inn O'Hare/Kennedy in Rosemont, IL. At the 33rd Pinball Expo, on Saturday, October 14, 2017, Twin Galaxies founder Walter Day made a presentation on behalf of Guinness World Records, issuing a Guinness award that recognized Pinball Expo as history's "longest-running pinball event."
Development Founded in 1985, Pinball Expo is the longest-running event dedicated to pinball. It was conceived in 1984 by Robert "Rob" Berk of Warren, Ohio, to honor his heroes of the pinball industry; the artists and designers. With the assistance of Bill Kurtz of Cleveland, Ohio, and later Mike Pacak of Canfield, Ohio, the trio held their first event over the weekend of November 22–24, 1985 at the Holiday Inn O'Hare/Kennedy in Rosemont, Illinois. The inaugural event attracted around 100 attendees from around the world and a dozen vendors.
The expo offers a tour of a pinball factory, an autograph session, tournaments, and an exhibit hall of pinball machines and related paraphernalia. There are seminars featuring well-known pinball experts. Attendees can also participate in a pinball tournament called "Flip Out".
On October 26, 1991, Pinball Expo launched Pinball Expo's Hall of Fame and inducted its first class of pinball luminaries: David Gottlieb, Ray Moloney, Sam Stern, and Harry E. Williams. The event is open to the general public.
By 1998, the Pinball Expo had grown to feature more than 200 machines available to play on the show floor.
Pinball World Premieres held at Pinball Expo As one of the most prestigious pinball events in the world, Pinball Expo has been chosen by many pinball manufacturers as the site for official "world premieres" of new pinball titles. Among the games released at Pinball Expo are: Year Pinball Title ManufacturerRef.1985Loch Ness MonsterGame Plan1987Laser WarData East1988Baby In The Hole1990King Kong2014Full ThrottleHeighway Pinball2016Dialed In!Jersey Jack PinballAlienHeighway PinballBatman 66Stern Pinball, Inc.The Big LebowskiDutch Pinball2017Pirates of the CaribbeanJersey Jack Pinball2018Oktoberfest: Pinball on TapAmerican Pinball2019Elvira's House of HorrorsStern Pinball, Inc.Cosmic CarnivalSuncoast Pinball2022QueenPinball BrothersToy Story 4Jersey Jack PinballMagic GirlZidware/American Pinball2023Pulp FictionChicago GamingGalactic Tank ForceAmerican PinballElton JohnJersey Jack Pinball2024The Uncanny X-MenStern Pinball, Inc.Metallica RemasteredStern Pinball, Inc.Avatar: The Battle for PandoraJersey Jack Pinball2025Star Wars: Fall of the EmpireStern Pinball, Inc.Winchester Mystery HouseBarrels of Fun
Chronology of Annual Pinball Expos Year Date Location Show Highlights Ref.11985 November 22–24Holiday Inn O'Hare/Kennedy in Rosemont, ILPremiere Technology/Gottlieb Plant Tour21986 November 21–23Williams Plant Tour31987 October 9–11 41988 October 7–9Ramada Inn, Rosemont, IL (near O’Hare Airport)51989 September 29–3061990 November 9–10 71991 October 25–27Pinball Expo Hall of Fame Inaugurated81992 November 12–1591993 September 9–12101994 November 10–13111995 October 26–29121996 November 14–17131997 November 13–16141998 October 22–25 151999 October 21–24162000 October 19–22172001 October 18–21182002 October 17–20 192003 October 16–19202004 October 14–17212005 November 17–20Wyndam Hotel, Rosemont, IL (near O’Hare Airport)222006 November 2–6 232007 October 24–28242008 October 1–5Westin Chicago North Shore Hotel, Wheeling, IL252009 October 14–18262010 October 20–24 272011 October 19–23282012 October 17–21292013 October 16–20302014 October 17–19 Pinball Expo Service and Support Hall of Fame Inaugurated312015 October 14–18322016 October 12–16332017 October 11–15342018 October 17–20Stern Pinball Inc. Factory TourBig Ball Bowler Tournament352019 October 16–19Stern Pinball Inc. Factory Tour362020 October 14–17Virtual due to COVID-19 restrictions 372021 October 27–30Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel, Schaumburg, ILStern Pinball Inc. Factory Tour382022 October 19–22Jersey Jack Pinball Factory Tour392023 October 18–21Stern Pinball Inc. Factory Tour402024 October 15–19Chicago Gaming Company Factory & Galloping Ghost Arcade Tour, Logan Arcade & American Pinball Factory Tour, Jersey Jack Pinball Inc. Factory Tour, and Stern Pinball Inc. Factory Tour to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Pinball Expo412025 October 15–18 Stern Pinball Inc. Factory Tour
Pinball Expo Hall of Fame As early as Pinball Expo '88, Rob Berk was championing the idea of a Pinball Expo Hall of Fame. In 1991 the Hall of Fame was created with the induction of Harry E. Williams, Sam Stern, Ray Moloney and David Gottlieb.
Date Inductee Ref.October 17, 2025Doug Watson, Tim Seckel, Mark Guidarelli, Keith Elwin, Rick Naegele, Jeremy Packer, Harrison DrakeOctober 18, 2024John Buscaglia, Jerry Thompson, Jody Dankberg, Fred Young, Art Stenholm, Steve EpsteinOctober 20, 2023Chris Granner, Mark Galvez, Mark WeynaOctober 21, 2022Ray Tanzer, Zofia Bil RyanOctober 29, 2021Gil Pollock, Keith JohnsonOctober 17, 2020Tommy Grant, Eulogio Pingarrón, Jack GuarnieriOctober 17, 2019Mike O'Donnell, Cassandra Peterson, Pat PowersOctober 19, 2018Elliot Eismin, Jon Norris, Ken FedesnaOctober 21, 2017Gordon Horlick, Dwight Sullivan, Pat McMahon, Brian L. Schmidt, Neal FalconerOctober 15, 2016Don Marshall, Connie MitchellOctober 17, 2015John Rotharmel, David Thiel, Lyman F. Sheats Jr.October 18, 2014Nolan Bushnell, Brian EddyOctober 19, 2013Lonnie Ropp, Suzanne Ciani, Eugene JarvisOctober 20, 2012Steve Kirk, John BorgOctober 22, 2011Mark Ritchie, John PopadiukOctober 23, 2010Python Anghelo, Gary Flower, Michael Shalhoub, Clay HarrellOctober 17, 2009Dennis Nordman, Barry Oursler, Michael Stroll, Jim SchelbergOctober 4, 2008Ted Zale, George GomezOctober 27, 2007Lou, Dave, and Meyer Gensberg (Genco), Alvin Gottlieb, John YoussiOctober 2, 2006Paul Faris, Judd WeinbergNovember 19, 2005Margaret Hudson, Roy ParkerOctober 16, 2004Robert Berk, Ed Cebula, Greg Freres, Gary Gayton, Kevin O'Connor, Michael Pacak, Joe KaminkowOctober 18, 2003Tom Nieman Ed KrynskiOctober 19, 2002Christian Marche Jim Patla October 11, 2001Gary Stern Steve Young October 21, 2000Pat Lawlor Roger SharpeOctober 23, 1999Larry DeMar Greg Kmiec October 24, 1998Gordon Morison November 15, 1997Dick Bueschel Steve RitchieNovember 16, 1996Dave Christensen October 28, 1995Norm Clark Wendell McAdams November 12, 1994Wayne Neyens September 11, 1993Steve Kordek George Molentin October 24, 1992Harvey Heiss Harry Mabs October 26, 1991David Gottlieb Harry E. Williams Ray Moloney Sam Stern
Pinball Expo Service and Support Hall of Fame Pinball Expo's Service and Support Hall of Fame was established at the 2014 Expo to recognize individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to the pinball hobby.
Date Inductee Ref.October 18, 2024Key Snodgrass, Imoto HarneyOctober 20, 2023Mark Patzke, LJ GreeneOctober 21, 2022John Jaidinger – Jaidinger Manufacturing, Richard Cesario – C&C EnterprisesOctober 29, 2021Eddie Adlum, Planetary PinballOctober 17, 2020Todd Tuckey - T.N.T. Amusements, Chas SiddiqiOctober 17, 2019Pinball LifeOctober 19, 2018Martin Ayub - Pinball NewsOctober 21, 2017Walter Day, Lloyd OlsonOctober 15, 2016Jay Stafford, Dave MarstonOctober 17, 2015Marco SpecialtiesOctober 18, 2014Shelly Sax, Churchill Cabinets, Foremost Plastics
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