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The Pinball Expo is an event that is held annually in the Chicagoland area. It attracts pinball industry professionals, pinball players, collectors, and enthusiasts from around the world. Founded by Robert "Rob" Berk, of Warren, OH, the event was inaugurated over the weekend of November 22–24, 1985 at the Holiday Inn O'Hare/Kennedy in Rosemont, IL.

The Pinball Expo
Born
The Pinball Expo

(1985-11-22) November 22, 1985 (age 38)
Rosemont, IL
OccupationPinball Industry Convention
Years active1985–2017
Known forCelebrating the Pinball culture
Websitehttp://www.pinballexpo.com/

The birth and growth of the Pinball Expo

Founded in 1985, the Pinball Expo is the longest-running event dedicated to pinball. It was conceived in 1984 by Robert "Rob" Berk of Warren, OH with the purpose of honoring his heroes of the pinball industry; the artists and designers. With the assistance of Bill Kurtz of Cleveland, OH and later Mike Pacak of Canfield, OH, the trio held their first event over the weekend of November 22–24, 1985 at the Holiday Inn O'Hare/Kennedy in Rosemont, IL. The inaugural event attracted around 100 attendees from all parts of the world and a dozen vendors. The expo offers seminars, a tour of a pinball factory, an autograph session, tournaments, an exhibit hall of pinball machines, parts, and related paraphernalia, and much more. On October 26, 1991, the Pinball Expo launched the Pinball Expo 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.

Chronology of Annual Pinball Expos

Year Date Location Show Highlights this Year
1 [1] 1985 November 22–24 Holiday Inn O'Hare/Kennedy in Rosemont, IL Premiere Technology/Gottlieb Plant Tour
2 [2] 1986 November 21–23 Holiday Inn O'Hare/Kennedy in Rosemont, IL Williams Plant Tour
3 [3] 1987 October 9–11 Holiday Inn O'Hare/Kennedy in Rosemont, IL
4 [4] 1988 October 7–9 Ramada Inn, Rosemont, IL (near O’Hare Airport)
5 [5] 1989 September 29–30 Ramada Inn, Rosemont, IL (near O’Hare Airport)
6 [6] 1990 November 9–10 Ramada Inn, Rosemont, IL (near O’Hare Airport)
7[7] 1991 October 25–27 Ramada Inn, Rosemont, IL (near O’Hare Airport) Pinball Expo Hall of Fame Inaugurated
8 [8] 1992 November 12–15 Ramada Inn, Rosemont, IL (near O’Hare Airport)
9 [9] 1993 September 9–12 Ramada Inn, Rosemont, IL (near O’Hare Airport)
10 [10] 1994 November 10–13 Ramada Inn, Rosemont, IL (near O’Hare Airport)
11 [11] 1995 October 26–29 Ramada Inn, Rosemont, IL (near O’Hare Airport)
12 [12] 1996 November 14–17 Ramada Inn, Rosemont, IL (near O’Hare Airport)
13 [13] 1997 November 13–16 Ramada Inn, Rosemont, IL (near O’Hare Airport)
14 [14] 1998 October 22–25 Ramada Inn, Rosemont, IL (near O’Hare Airport)
15 [15] 1999 October 21–24 Ramada Inn, Rosemont, IL (near O’Hare Airport)
16 [16] 2000 October 19–22 Ramada Inn, Rosemont, IL (near O’Hare Airport)
17 [17] 2001 October 18–21 Ramada Inn, Rosemont, IL (near O’Hare Airport)
18 [18] 2002 October 17–20 Ramada Inn, Rosemont, IL (near O’Hare Airport)
19 [19] 2003 October 16–19 Ramada Inn, Rosemont, IL (near O’Hare Airport)
20 [20] 2004 October 14–17 Ramada Inn, Rosemont, IL (near O’Hare Airport)
21 [21] 2005 November 17–20 Wyndam Hotel, Rosemont, IL (near O’Hare Airport)
22 [22] 2006 November 2–6 Wyndam Hotel, Rosemont, IL (near O’Hare Airport)
24 [23] 2007 October 24–28 Wyndam Hotel, Rosemont, IL (near O’Hare Airport)
24 [24] 2008 October 1–5 Westin Chicago North Shore Hotel, Wheeling, IL
25 [25] 2009 October 14–18 Westin Chicago North Shore Hotel, Wheeling, IL
26 [26] 2010 October 20–24 Westin Chicago North Shore Hotel, Wheeling, IL
27 [27] 2011 October 19–23 Westin Chicago North Shore Hotel, Wheeling, IL
28 [28] 2012 October 17–21 Westin Chicago North Shore Hotel, Wheeling, IL
29 [29] 2013 October 16–20 Westin Chicago North Shore Hotel, Wheeling, IL
30 [30] 2014 October 17–19 Westin Chicago North Shore Hotel, Wheeling, IL
31 [31] 2015 October 14–18 Westin Chicago North Shore Hotel, Wheeling, IL
32 [32] 2016 October 12–16 Westin Chicago North Shore Hotel, Wheeling, IL
33 [33] 2017 October 11–15 Westin Chicago North Shore Hotel, Wheeling, IL

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 References
October 14, 2017
October 15, 2016 Don Marshall Connie Mitchell
October 17, 2015 John Rotharmel David Thiel Lyman Sheats Jr.
October 18, 2014 Nolan Bushnell Brian Eddy
October 19, 2013 Lonnie Ropp Suzanne Ciani Eugene Jarvis
October 20, 2012 Steve Kirk John Borg
October 22, 2011 Mark Ritchie John Popadiuk
October 23, 2010 Python Anghelo Gary Flower Michael Shalhoub Clay Harrell
October 17, 2009 Dennis Nordman Barry Oursler Michael Stroll Jim Schelberg
October 4, 2008 Ted Zale George Gomez
October 27, 2007 Lou, Dave and Meyer Gensberg (Genco) Alvin Gottlieb John Youssi
October 2, 2006 Paul Faris Judd Weinberg
November 19, 2005 Margaret Hudson Roy Parker
October 16, 2004 Robert Berk, Ed Cebula, Greg Freres, Gary Gayton, Kevin O'Connor, Michael Pacak, Joe Kaminkow
October 18, 2003 Tom Nieman [34] Edward Krynski [35]
October 19, 2002 Christian Marche [36] Jim Patla [37]
October 11, 2001 Gary Stern [38] Steve Young [39]
October 21, 2000 Pat Lawlor [40] Roger Sharpe [41]
October 23, 1999 Larry Demar [42] Greg Kmiec [43]
October 24, 1998 Gordon Morison [44]
November 15, 1997 Dick Bueschel [45] Steve Ritchie [46]
November 16, 1996 Dave Christensen [47]
October 28, 1995 Norm Clark [48] Wendell McAdams [49]
November 12, 1994 Wayne Neyens [50]
September 11, 1993 Steve Kordek [51] George Molentin [52]
October 24, 1992 Harvey Heiss [53] Harry Mabs [54]
October 26, 1991 David Gottlieb [55] Harry E. Williams [56] Ray Moloney [57] Sam Stern [58]

References

  1. ^ PINBALL EXPO '85 - The First 'Hurrah by Russ Jensen
  2. ^ PINBALL EXPO '86 -THE SECOND 'HURRAH' by Russ Jensen
  3. ^ PINBALL EXPO '87: It's The People by Russ Jensen
  4. ^ PINBALL EXPO '88: Another Great Show by Russ Jensen
  5. ^ PINBALL EXPO '89: My Wife Comes Along by Russ Jensen
  6. ^ PINBALL EXPO '90: Pinball Expo '90: A New Decade by Russ Jensen
  7. ^ PINBALL EXPO '91: The Seventh Year by Russ Jensen
  8. ^ PINBALL EXPO '92: There! They Did It Again by Russ Jensen
  9. ^ PINBALL EXPO '93 by Russ Jensen
  10. ^ PINBALL EXPO '94: The 10th Year by Russ Jensen
  11. ^ PINBALL EXPO '95: The Year of Sunshine by Russ Jensen
  12. ^ PINBALL EXPO '96: The Year of Coincidences by Russ Jensen
  13. ^ PINBALL EXPO '97: The 13th Year by Russ Jensen
  14. ^ PINBALL EXPO '98 by Russ Jensen
  15. ^ www.pinballnews.com
  16. ^ www.pinballnews.com
  17. ^ www.pinballnews.com
  18. ^ www.pinballnews.com
  19. ^ www.pinballnews.com
  20. ^ Pinball Expo website
  21. ^ www.pinballnews.com
  22. ^ www.pinballnews.com
  23. ^ www.pinballnews.com
  24. ^ www.pinballnews.com
  25. ^ www.pinballnews.com
  26. ^ www.pinballnews.com
  27. ^ www.pinballnews.com
  28. ^ www.pinballnews.com
  29. ^ www.pinballnews.com
  30. ^ www.pinballnews.com
  31. ^ www.pinballnews.com
  32. ^ www.pinballnews.com
  33. ^ Pinball Expo website
  34. ^ Tom Nieman Biographical Card
  35. ^ Edward Krynski Biographical Card
  36. ^ Christian Marche Biographical Card
  37. ^ Jim Patla Biographical Card
  38. ^ Gary Stern Biographical Card
  39. ^ Steve Young Biographical Card
  40. ^ Pat Lawlor Biographical Card
  41. ^ Roger Sharpe Biographical Card
  42. ^ Larry Demar Biographical Card
  43. ^ Greg Kmiec Biographical Card
  44. ^ Gordon Morison Biographical Card
  45. ^ Dick Bueschel Biographical Card
  46. ^ Steve Ritchie Biographical Card
  47. ^ Dave Christensen Biographical Card
  48. ^ Norm Clark Biographical Card
  49. ^ Wendell McAdams Biographical Card
  50. ^ Wayne Neyens Biographical Card
  51. ^ Steve Kordek Biographical Card
  52. ^ George Molentin Biographical Card
  53. ^ Harvey Heiss Biographical Card
  54. ^ Harry Mabs Biographical Card
  55. ^ David Gottlieb Biographical Card
  56. ^ Harry E. Williams Biographical Card
  57. ^ Ray Moloney Biographical Card
  58. ^ Sam Stern Biographical Card
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