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Joe Newhart chronicles his journey from pinball hobbyist to distributor and extreme collector who bought a church.
Joe Newhart purchased a church at the end of 2019 to house both his Pinball Star Amusements distributorship and his personal collection
high confidence · Joe Newhart, speaking at Pinball Expo 2023 seminar, opening statement
Joe's son Taylor was diagnosed with mild cerebral palsy, and his therapist recommended pinball/arcade machines as a therapeutic tool for standing and leg stretching
high confidence · Joe Newhart describing his entry into pinball around 2002
Joe purchased his first three pinball machines very cheaply in 2002 for his son's therapy
high confidence · Joe Newhart recounting his initial purchases
Jack Guarnieri (now Jersey Jack Pinball founder) sent Joe a replacement empty NASCAR cabinet in 2007 without being asked, after Joe complained about minor damage
high confidence · Joe Newhart describing Jack's customer service philosophy that influenced his own approach
Joe became a Jersey Jack Pinball distributor in 2011 shortly after Jack announced the company, as someone Jack knew could handle customers and business operations
high confidence · Joe Newhart explaining his entry into distribution
Joe donated 5 Wizard of Oz machines to St. Christopher's Hospital in Philadelphia (where his son received treatment), plus additional machines to CHOP, Papa in Pittsburgh, and Project Pinball (NYC and North Carolina)
high confidence · Joe Newhart detailing his charity work with Wizard of Oz machines funded by tournament proceeds and distributor profits
Joe attributes the resurgence of pinball and the emergence of boutique manufacturers to Jack Guarnieri decision to start Jersey Jack Pinball and introduce competition to Stern
medium confidence · Joe Newhart's opinion on industry history and Jack's impact
Joe was the first distributor for Spooky Pinball and remains their largest distributor
high confidence · Joe Newhart stating this claim about his relationship with Spooky Pinball
“I'm the guy that you always tell your wife that when maybe your wife complains that you're buying an extra pinball machine, if she does that, that I'm the guy that you point to and say, well, at least I'm not him because I can't stop.”
Joe Newhart @ early in seminar — Self-aware opening joke establishing his identity as an extreme collector
“His therapist suggested maybe an arcade machine or a pinball machine... And off the cuff, his therapist suggested maybe an arcade machine or a pinball machine.”
Joe Newhart @ discussing his son Taylor's therapy — The origin story of how therapeutic need sparked his pinball passion
“You weren't happy, and that's important to me that the customers are satisfied, whether or not Stern paid for it or whoever's fault it was, it was my responsibility to make it right for you.”
Jack Guarnieri @ describing Jack's response to the damaged NASCAR cabinet — Illustrates the customer service philosophy that shaped Joe's own business approach
“I want people in the hobby to sell my games. I don't want the 800-pound commercial gorilla. I want people in the hobby that are known and that can take care of people.”
Jack Guarnieri @ when Jack recruited Joe as distributor — Reveals Jack's strategic vision for Jersey Jack Pinball's distribution model
“I attribute Jack Guarnieri to starting the resurgence of pinball and the boutique companies that came after him... When someone new came in the market, they had to up their game.”
Joe Newhart @ discussing industry history — Joe's assessment of Jack's role in catalyzing the modern pinball renaissance
“It was like an anvil dropping on my head that I have to do this... This was an idea that I had years ago and now had an opportunity with a great theme to do it with.”
Joe Newhart @ explaining his decision to pursue Wizard of Oz hospital donations — Describes the emotional catalyst for his charity work
“It's a lot of money. It's a lot of hard work. It's a lot of physical work. It's a lot of sleepless nights... Show some appreciation and thank the distributors that are here at Expo.”
community_signal: Joe Newhart credits Jack Guarnieri's founding of Jersey Jack Pinball as the catalyst for the entire boutique pinball manufacturer boom and the modern pinball resurgence. This indicates significant recognition of a single founder's impact on industry trajectory.
high · I attribute Jack Guarnieri to starting the resurgence of pinball and the boutique companies that came after him... When someone new came in the market, they had to up their game, and it also brought a lot of other players into the market.
business_signal: Joe's Pinball Star Amusements grew from a hobby side business into a multi-million dollar distribution operation selling thousands of machines. The business model of hobby-focused distributors representing multiple manufacturers proved highly successful.
high · I was thinking this was just going to be a small little side business for myself... it's grown into a business where I sell, you know, over the years I've sold thousands of games, millions of dollars worth of pinball machines.
community_signal: Joe emphasizes the value of personal relationships and trust in building his distribution business. Jack Guarnieri specifically recruited people 'in the hobby' rather than commercial operators, showing a deliberate strategy to build community-based distribution.
high · I want people in the hobby to sell my games. I don't want the 800-pound commercial gorilla. I want people in the hobby that are known and that can take care of people.
product_strategy: Charlie Emery of Spooky Pinball maintained aggressive pricing discipline, keeping prices at $6,000-$6,500 despite Joe's recommendations to raise prices. This reflects a deliberate strategy to keep boutique games more affordable than competitors.
high · Him and I had had arguments over time where I would always tell him, I think you should charge a little bit more... He always wanted to keep the price point at $6,000, $6,500.
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Joe's personal collection grew from 3 machines to 20, 40, 80, then 120+ machines across all pinball eras
high confidence · Joe Newhart describing collection growth trajectory
Joe brought 35 games to Replay Effects show, one of his largest show setups
high confidence · Joe Newhart mentioning his biggest show display
Joe Newhart @ discussing show logistics and effort — Industry perspective on the cost and labor of large show booths
“I was always proud to be their first one and their largest [Spooky distributor]”
Joe Newhart @ discussing Spooky Pinball partnership — Asserts his significant role in Spooky's early distribution success
“You weren't the first distributor I called... I called so-and-so, and after three minutes they asked me if I was ready to buy... I've been on the phone with you for an hour, and you haven't even asked me once whether I wanted to buy something.”
Joe Newhart (quoting customers) @ discussing his sales philosophy — Illustrates his customer education-first approach versus transactional sales
“If there's somebody next to you and they seem like they're new explain the game to them... I always try to be a good steward to the hobby.”
Joe Newhart @ describing his community philosophy — Core value statement about his role in growing the hobby
event_signal: Joe's aggressive marketing tactics at Pinball Expo (water bottles with labels, door hangers on every hotel door) demonstrate the competitive intensity and showmanship expected at major pinball industry events. This attracted his first machine sale and established Pinball Star's brand.
high · We did water bottles... We did door hangers... My son and I walked around the entire hotel, every single floor, and we put a door hanger with Pinball Star... And when the show was over, I got a call from Rob's partner at the time, Mike Pesak, and Mike wasn't too happy with me.
collector_signal: Joe's collecting journey shows a common pattern among serious collectors: starting with recent games (1990s) then working backward through eras (80s, 70s, 60s woodrails, pre-war 1930s games). This suggests a natural discovery and appreciation progression in the hobby.
high · My hobby went from a couple pinball machines that were from the 90s... I initially collected the 90s games... I really fell in love with wedge heads from the 60s... eventually I ended up back in the 1930s with pre-war pinball machines.
gameplay_signal: Joe observes that newer games (1990s+) with multi-balls, wizard modes, and complex rules can be exhausting after work, while older games offer addictive, simple 3-5 minute gameplay. This reflects a tension in modern pinball design philosophy.
high · Sometimes i'd come home from work after a bad day and i just wanted to have a five minute game i didn't want to play for 20 minutes... I wanted to play a simple three minute game and a lot of those older games are just very addictive and simple rule set.
community_signal: Joe espouses a deliberate strategy of educating new players and collectors with no expectation of immediate sales. He spends hours on phone calls and uses questions about preferences rather than sales tactics. This reflects a long-term customer lifecycle philosophy.
high · I always try to spend time with a newbie... A lot of times, I'll never ask for a sale. I'm just trying to educate them... I like when I hear that because it means that, you know, I'm doing what I want to do, which is kind of, again, try to be a good steward to the hobby.
personnel_signal: Joe notes that distributor count and intensity has increased significantly since 2011-2013. Early on, there were few distributors; now many more exist on the floor at shows. This indicates market consolidation and increased competition in distribution.
medium · There weren't a lot of distributors. There weren't a lot of distributors like there are today out on the floor... I think today I don't do, it's hard to get inventory number one but we don't do shows and boots of that size any longer because of the difficulty of getting the games.
business_signal: Joe explicitly states that reduced show booth sizes and inventory are driven by difficulty getting games and rising prices of machines for display inventory. This suggests current supply chain constraints affecting distributor operations.
high · it's hard to get inventory number one but we don't do shows and boots of that size any longer because of the difficulty of getting the games and also the price of the games.
restoration_signal: Joe mentions that early restoration debates centered on whether it was proper to restore games, bling them out, and restore to originality. Chris Hutchins' High-End Pins was at the center of this controversy, suggesting restoration standards were contested in the community.
medium · Back then that was a big argument you know people debate things on pin side now the cost of games back then it was the debate of whether it was proper to restore games whether it was proper to put that much money into them whether it was proper to you know bling them out as much as chris did.
community_signal: Joe's partnership with Spooky Pinball podcast via sponsorship and monthly 'Pinball Star of the Month' segment demonstrates early podcast content marketing strategy. He deliberately targeted diverse community voices (operators, location owners, collectors) beyond designers.
high · I suggested to Charlie that actually my first interaction with Charlie was asking to be a sponsor on his podcast... I wanted different people. I wanted an operator. I wanted a location owner like Brad Baker.