"Two Punk Kids" Harry Williams & Sam Stern! Gary Stern Interview Chicago Pinball Expo 2008

**“You should sell me Williams!”** — That’s the kind of story you don’t hear every day in the pinball business! In this fascinating 2008 interview at the Chicago Pinball Expo, Gary Stern shares a memorable story about his father, Sam Stern, and his connection to Williams pinball. **A special thanks to my buddy Tom Slama and his crew**, who were at the expo, filmed this interview, and caught the opportunity with Gary for this great conversation. Thanks to Tom and his crew, we get to revisit this fascinating piece of pinball history! As Gary tells it, his dad was a **35-year-old punk kid** when he went to see Harry Williams, who was a **38-year-old punk kid** himself! Sam had started out as a pinball distributor in Philadelphia, but that meeting with Harry would become an important moment in pinball history. Gary describes how his father walked into the Williams office, sat in Harry Williams’ chair, put his feet up on the desk, and jokingly told him, “You should sell me Williams.” The story takes an interesting turn, with Sam Stern eventually acquiring a 50% interest in Williams. Gary also talks about operating pinball machines and shares insights into the business side of the industry, offering a fascinating glimpse into the people, personalities, and deals that helped shape pinball history. If you love classic Williams games, Stern Pinball, and the colorful characters who built the pinball industry, this interview is packed with stories you won’t want to miss! 🎥 **Filming credit:** Tom Slamma and his crew — thanks for capturing this great interview and making it possible to share with the pinball community!