GAD offices will be closed on Monday, September 2, 2024 to observe Labor Day.
Doesn’t that just mean a great day to play pinball? Maybe some Golden Tee PGA?
Enjoy your Labor Day.
GAD
GAD offices will be closed on Monday, September 2, 2024 to observe Labor Day.
Doesn’t that just mean a great day to play pinball? Maybe some Golden Tee PGA?
Enjoy your Labor Day.
GAD
Coming October 15 – 19 in Chicago, this is the premier pinball event of the year!
Open to the public (did we say ROAD TRIP)….
Event highlights:
PINBALL EXPO EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Tuesday, October 15:
Chicago Gaming Factory Tour & Galloping Ghost Arcade (lunch served)
Wednesday, October 16:
Logan Arcade, American Pinball Factory Tour & Enterrium (lunch served)
Thursday, October 17:
Jersey Jack Pinball Factory Tour & Seminars
Event Hall Open 12:00 Noon – Midnight
Friday, October 18:
Stern Pinball Factory Tour & Seminars
Event Hall Open 10:00 am – Midnight
Saturday, October 19:
Seminars, Autograph Session, Live Music
Event Hall Open 10:00 am – 2:00 am
Although there was a 1948 United Baby Face pinball machine in his basement, it was during the annual family vacation to visit his aunt in Florida when a very young Rob Berk became completely captivated by the wonders of the silver ball. As Berk remembers, “My dad, for whatever reason, always made it a point to take the kids to the arcade. I guess he liked pinball, so it was his way of introducing me to it. And it became our ritual. In fact, there was a bookstore called Alfies on Alton Road in Miami Beach that had two pinball games and we would just play for hours.” The connection and fascination intensified when Berk’s father added a D. Gottlieb Texan, manufactured in 1960 and the last 4-player wood rail game from the company, to the family basement.
Rob Berk’s life was to completely change when he started college at Kent State University in 1972 and discovered as he recalls, “…a room full of pinball machines as far as your eye could see, and that really got me going to the point where I decided I wanted to collect pinball machines from the 1960s.” The first game he purchased was a 1969 Williams Post Time, which also triggered his love affair for add-a-ball pinball machines. His collection has grown to over 1,000 pinball machines, spanning all eras, with his personal favorite electro-mechanical game still being that very first Post Time and for more modern machines, he counts Williams’ Medieval Madness at the top of the list.
It was this ardent passion for pinball that drew Berk into an entirely different enterprise that has endured far beyond his initial plan. With pinball all around him and reading books on the subject as well as joining a club of collectors who would get together once a month to play games, Berk had a thought that would not only change his life, but also change the fortunes of pinball for more than thirty years and counting.
Berk had an idea as he expressed, “I was such a pinball enthusiast, playing as much as I could and reading about the history of the machines and industry. In doing this I learned the names of the artists and designers responsible for the games and realized they were bringing me a great amount of happiness through what they were creating. And I thought wouldn’t it be something special to recognize them and pay tribute to them.” And so it was that Pinball Expo was born over the November 22nd-24th weekend in Chicago in 1985.
For the first time, there was an exposition dedicated to celebrating individuals, many of whom were around when pinball was starting out during the height of the Great Depression in the early 1930s. This exposition allowed collectors, enthusiasts, and hobbyists to show their appreciation. Berk established a program of seminars featuring such legendary individuals as Alvin Gottlieb, Steve Kordek, Norm Clark, Wayne Neyens—men who had shaped an industry. There were exhibits of old and new machines, parts, and a banquet to top off a weekend pinball lovin’.
This first Pinball Expo was an overwhelming success and what Rob Berk and his associates thought was going to be just a one-time affair, has endured and continued to thrive for years. Recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest running pinball exposition in the world, the Pinball Expo continues its tradition of paying homage to the wonders of pinball past, present and a peak into the future.
Beginning in 2021 the Pinball Expo was staged at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center in Schaumburg, Illinois. The festivities included a tour of the Stern Pinball factory, a full schedule of speakers and seminars, pinball tournaments, a vendor hall to find anything and everything imaginable for the pinball curious, and a host of other activities that, once again, brought the best of what pinball means to so many. For more information, please contact Rob Berk at ([email protected] or [email protected]); call 330-716-3139. Or contact us here.
Vending machines aren’t just for snacks and sodas any more. So many creative ideas to use vending thus increasing your sales, profit picture and lowing employee costs.
Now, just asking what is it your audience is looking for?
How about life saving items by the pool? Stock a vending machine with sunscreens, water wings, googles and the like to add revenue to your swimming pool. Perfect for neighborhood pools looking for extra cash flow during the summer.
Add revenue to your gym. Just think of all the items your clients forget and how convenient it would be to sell them quick items. And, especially with 24 hour gyms, vending machines don’t need employees except to keep stocked.
Think about ear buds. Phone charger cables. Pain relief medications and ointments. Microfiber towels. Health and beauty products like deodorant, toothpaste and shampoos. Whatever can be stuffed in a gym bag can be sold in a vending machine.
Grocery store or convenient store added revenue. When your customers are near the baked goods, think a fresh grinding coffee machine. Add a vending machine near the door with the quick, forgotten items like toothpaste, phone accessories and candies. Think about a vending machine to secure more expensive, small items that customers can purchase quickly without employee assistance. Reduce theft and employee time.
At the transportation hub. For airports, bus stations and train depots – anywhere there are travelers – the opportunity exists to help your customers and add to your revenue stream. Think about pain medications, stomach relief, phone accessories and candies. Create a beauty vending machine. Add a specialty drink vending machine (non-alcoholic). Anything that travelers need quickly without waiting in a line to pay a cashier. Reduces theft, employee time and adds convenience to your traveling customers.
If you have a lot of foot traffic and you are looking for new ideas to brand, add revenue and reduce problems, call GAD.
The Atom Jukebox, a lightweight powerhouse weighing just 33 pounds, sets a new standard for jukebox technology. Its compact size and portability make it the ideal music companion for any space, from cozy diners to lively bars or expansive entertainment venues. Offering a solo install feature, it eliminates the need to wait for a crew, ensuring a hassle-free setup.
With its competitive pricing and an advanced computer core allowing swift component swaps, the Atom stands as a cost-efficient solution to replace outdated jukeboxes, ushering in a new era of seamless and uninterrupted music entertainment. Step into the future of jukebox technology with the Atom, where innovation and music converge effortlessly.
SMALL IN SIZE, BIG ON EVERYTHING ELSE MEET THE ATOM
The Atom jukebox boasts a small footprint: less than 2′ high and 19″ wide — perfect for venues where wall space is at a premium. At only 33 lbs, this easily transportable and easily shippable jukebox weighs the same as a microwave oven. And if those numbers don’t impress you, this one surely will: a completely straightforward and hassle-free 1-person installation!
Because it’s from AMI, you can count on it to deliver the same sound and quality as previous jukeboxes. The Atom jukebox is a compact, yet complete entertainment package of music, videos, and digital signage.
• Give your venues’ guests access to AMI’s digital catalog of millions of songs, including entire albums, timeless classics, and the newest hits.
• Utilize content filtering to tailor the available music selection at your venues, aligning perfectly with their desired ambiance and vibe.
• Use AMI Ad Manager to craft, plan, and manage your unique advertisements for display on the jukebox and connected TVs.
• Deliver captivating in-venue entertainment with tens of thousands of selectable music videos that play on TVs you connect to the Atom.
DOWNLOAD NOW PLAY MUSIC VIDEOS
• When a patron selects a song that has an available music video, the jukebox UI (or AMI Music app UI) suggests upgrading to the video selection.
• Patrons pay a small upcharge for video selections.
• Selected videos play on the TVs you connect to your Atom.
• AMI’s Music Video On-Demand (MVOD) feature grants players access to the full library of more than 35,000 music videos.
MANAGE YOUR ROUTE
AMI Co-Pilot* makes managing your Atom, and all AMI jukeboxes, easy – no matter where you are. With countless benefits for both operators and location staff, this is one mobile app that does it all.
• Access Jukebox Remote Control Functions.
• Enable and Manage Background Music.
• Create Digital Advertisements.
• Customize the Atom’s User Interface.
• Notify AMI Music App Users.
• Troubleshoot the Jukebox.
• Earn Free Credits with AMI’s Staff Rewards Program.
• Activate Event Mode.
• View Jukebox Connections and Status Reports.
• And more!
*Feature permissions are set and controlled by the Operator Executive.
DOWNLOAD NOW PLAY MUSIC VIDEOS
• When a patron selects a song that has an available music video, the jukebox UI (or AMI Music app UI) suggests upgrading to the video selection.
• Patrons pay a small upcharge for video selections.
• Selected videos play on the TVs you connect to your Atom.
• AMI’s Music Video On-Demand (MVOD) feature grants players access to the full library of more than 35,000 music videos.
Dimensions:
H: 23.25″, W: 18.5″, D: 7.5″; Weight: 33 lbs.
ATOM JUKEBOX TECHNICAL SPECS:
• 18.5″ wide HD touchscreen display for music selection and promotions.
• High-power computer core includes the motherboard, power supply, I/O controller, and a solid-state hard drive
• IR wireless remote control
• 250-Watt, 2-Channel Amp Sound System for immersive, room-filling sound (additional 250-Watt Amp available)
• Broadband connection required for song and music video updates
• Bill acceptor (500-bill capacity)
Discover the power of the punch!
The Kalkomat Boxer is one globally renown product. Available in various products, in stock, at GAD.
American Fire Boxer
DIMENSIONS
Fire Boxer
DIMENSIONS
Combo Boxer
DIMENSIONS
All the exciting features from the G3 Fire, including worldwide online play, tracked player rankings and statistics. In addition to the glowing cabinet, the machine is equipped with a larger display, better player camera, automatic target flip, and flip games! All of this while maintaining the compatibility amongst all other G3’s that are already out in the world.
In stock at GAD for you home or commercial game room.
G3 Ice Features:
Stern Pinball has become mind readers!
Taking a breweries tour while playing the best pinball is amazing.
The map is interactive and allows you to zoom in, roll over the red bubbles and find directions.
Very exciting to get these dates from Golden Tee.
Golden Tee has consistently sets deadline for new software and hardware – and they meet these dates! Very impressive to work with Golden Tee.
GAD has service personnel that can assist our customers with upgrading their software on their existing equipment – or deliver new Golden Tee PGA games to either commercial or residential customers. Call us with questions – if you are a current or future customer! We are here to help.
Check out their other videos for in depth skills and pinball strategies.
GAD sells all types of new pinball games – and we have for 40 years. So, pinball is in our DNA.
Last year, Foo Fighters was our #1 selling pinball game. And, Stern’s creative additions to this game plus their award winning Insider Connected are the reasons why.
This year, there are so many new releases already, it will be fun to look back and see what game will do the best. However, as of now, John Wick is doing very well. Again, because Stern’s innovations are so fun to play.
And, this year, Stern has reinvigorated a number of classic titles back in to limited production. These titles include Stranger Things, Deadpool, Black Knight Sword of Rage and Iron Maiden Legacy of the Beast. If you want to find out what we have in stock – click this link. Or call GAD to find out so much more about this pinball games.
To find where you can play Stern pinball – click this link.
GAD also knows some of the best games are yet to be invented but we don’t want to forget our past! If you are looking to play any old or new pinball game, there is a great look-up at Pinball Map.