Pinball Heroes: Mike Pacak

The Pinball Blog·article·analyzed·Feb 28, 2009

Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.016

TL;DR

Mike Pacak interview on founding Pinball Expo and building pinball's largest collection.

Summary

Interview with Mike Pacak, co-founder and organizer of Pinball Expo, covering his background running arcade game rooms for 21 years, his massive personal collection of pinball machines (700+), arcade games (200+), and related memorabilia, and his perspectives on Expo's 25-year history and role in the pinball community.

Key Claims

Mike Pacak ran a chain of 76 game rooms from 1975 to 1996
high confidence · Direct statement from Mike Pacak in interview
Mike Pacak owns over 700 pinball machines, 200 arcade games, 100+ jukeboxes, thousands of translites, hundreds of backglasses and playfields
high confidence · Direct statement from Mike Pacak regarding his collection
Pinball Expo has run smoothly for 24 years (from the interview date perspective, indicating ~25 years at time of publication)
high confidence · Direct statement from Mike Pacak
Mike Pacak also runs a show in Ohio that has been operating for 5 years
high confidence · Direct statement from Mike Pacak
Pinball Expo features over 200 playable machines
high confidence · Direct statement from Mike Pacak describing Expo
There was concern about Stern Pinball's viability in 2009
high confidence · Direct statement: 'at this point we are concerned if Stern will still be around come Expo time'
Gary Flower served as host for Expo fireside chats
high confidence · Interview question about Gary Flower's role

Notable Quotes

“I have more flyers and schematics and manuals than anyone on earth. I also have over 700 pinball machines, 200 arcade games and over 100 jukes as well as thousands of translites, hundreds of backglasses and playfields. I have 18,000 sq feet of crap here!”
Mike Pacak — Demonstrates the massive scale of Pacak's personal collection, illustrating his deep commitment to pinball preservation and history
“No, never did think it would go this long. I am proud of the many good friends I have made over the years. I look to Expo as a large family reunion.”
Mike Pacak — Reveals Pacak's emotional investment in Expo beyond business—emphasizing community and relationships as core to the event's success
“Well at this point we are concerned if Stern will still be around come Expo time. Without them Expo will be very different!”
Mike Pacak — Reflects 2009-era industry anxiety about Stern's financial stability during the post-recession period
“A place to hang out and meet anyone that's ever had anything to do with pinball and play over 200 machines.”
Mike Pacak — Pacak's mission statement for Expo encapsulates its role as the pinball community's central gathering point

Entities

Mike PacakpersonRob Berkperson Pinball ExpoeventStern PinballcompanyThe Pinball BlogorganizationGary FlowerpersonNickpersonAllentown ShoweventChicagoland Showsevent

Signals

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business_signal: 2009-era concern about Stern Pinball's financial viability and potential impact on Expo's future participation
high · Pacak: 'Well at this point we are concerned if Stern will still be around come Expo time. Without them Expo will be very different!'
?
community_signal: Pacak's emphasis on treating people well and personal relationships as key to Expo's success and industry support
high · Pacak: 'We just try to treat people right and they usually help us' and 'I am proud of the many good friends I have made'
?
event_signal: Pinball Expo functions as community reunion with 200+ playable machines and gathering of industry figures and enthusiasts
high · Pacak: 'I look to Expo as a large family reunion' and 'A place to hang out and meet anyone that's ever had anything to do with pinball'
?
event_signal: Pinball Expo reached 25-year milestone; described as running smoothly for 24 years with established status as premier pinball gathering
high · Direct statement: 'Expo is 25 years young this year' and 'Expo runs smooth has for 24 years'

Topics

Pinball Expo history and operationsprimaryMike Pacak's personal pinball collection and preservation effortsprimaryArcade game room operation (historical)secondaryPinball community and eventssecondaryStern Pinball financial viability (2009)secondaryCompetitive pinball play and leaguesmentioned

Sentiment

positive(0.85)— Pacak expresses genuine pride in Expo's longevity and the community it has built. Tone is warm and reflective. Only concern expressed is about Stern's 2009 viability. Overall reflects satisfaction with his role in pinball preservation and community building.

Transcript

web_scrape · $0.000

We interviewed Rob Berk, the man behind Pinball Expo for Pinball Heroes a few weeks ago, but Rob doesn't work alone. His partner in crime is Mike Pacak and The Pinball Blog tracked him down and pestered him with our questions. Some of the questions were the same as we asked Rob, partly because we didn't know that both of them would reply and partly because it saves any serious effort on our part! The Pinball Blog. So you're Mike Pacak, co-founder and organiser of the fantastic Pinball Expo. What do you do when you're not sorting out the event? Mike Pacak. Well for 21 years from 1975 until 1996 I ran a chain of 76 game rooms here in USA. Since then I buy, sell, and operate games and parts. I visit many amusement parks each year as well. TPB. I hear you've got a few flyers stashed away, anything else you collect? MP. Well I have more flyers and schematics and manuals than anyone on earth. I also have over 700 pinball machines, 200 arcade games and over 100 jukes as well as thousands of translites, hundreds of backglasses and playfields. I have 18,000 sq feet of crap here! TPB. I organise the UK Pinball Show and normally by the end of the weekend I'm sick of the sight of the damn machines. Do you normally have a pinball sabbatical after each Expo? MP. No, Expo runs smooth has for 24 years. I also put on a show here in Ohio now for 5 years and attend several other shows too. TPB. Expo is 25 years young this year, did you ever imagine when it started you'd reach such a milestone? Anything you're particularly proud of? MP. No, never did think it would go this long. I am proud of the many good friends I have made over the years. I look to Expo as a large family reunion. TPB. Anything in 2009, you're particularly looking forward to? MP. Well at this point we are concerned if Stern will still be around come Expo time. Without them Expo will be very different! TPB. I've heard through the grapevine that some of the industry legends have extreme 'rider' requests. Crates of beer, hookers, winnebagos and even a dwarf dancing crew. How far will you go to get the guests that the people want to see and hear? MP. Well, that is generally true about operators and trade shows, but not a collectors show like ours. We just try to treat people right and they usually help us. TPB. Surely it's about time Gary Flower was replaced as host for the fireside chats? MP. No, he does a good job. TPB. Are you much of a player? (I'm talking about PINBALL!) MP. Yes not too bad. I belong to a league here in Ohio TPB. Other than Expo are there any must see events or places around the globe? MP. If you mean pinball-related the Allentown Show & Chicagoland Shows are a must TPB. Finally, can you sum up Expo in one word or sentence. MP. A place to hang out and meet anyone that's ever had anything to do with pinball and play over 200 machines. Thanks to Mike Pacak for taking the time to answer my questions - even if I wasn't quite able to drag him down to my level! Cheers Nick The Pinball Blog