#Slot Machines #Frank Polk #Pollack Investments

Preserving a Legacy: Michael A. Pollack and the Art of Frank Polk

In an exciting announcement, Michael A. Pollack, the founder of Pollack Investments, has unveiled a monumental achievement in the preservation of American art. The private exhibition of Frank Polk's extraordinary carved slot-machine sculptures showcases what is believed to be the largest surviving collection of this unique artwork. Located in Pollack's museum in Mesa, Arizona, the collection celebrates a fascinating intersection of American folk art, Western heritage, and the early days of casino culture.

The collection honors years of meticulous acquisition and conservation by Pollack, featuring sculptures of miners, prospectors, cowboys, Native Americans, and even a rare self-portrait crafted entirely from solid wood. These stunning pieces are seamlessly fused with vintage slot-machine mechanisms, emphasizing their artistic value over mere novelty. Notably, out of less than 100 sculptures ever created, approximately 72 are known to exist today.

Pollack vividly emphasizes the uniqueness of these pieces, stating, "These are not novelties. They're works of art. Frank Polk's attention to detail, especially in the faces, is second to none. He blended Western themes, storytelling, and gaming in a way that still feels alive decades later."

Frank Polk’s Vision in the Desert

Frank Polk started his artistic journey by producing these remarkable sculptures in 1951, under the contract with the Character Manufacturing Company in Reno, Nevada. Each sculpture was meticulously hand-carved and equipped with a slot-machine mechanism, commonly from Mills or Pace models, ingeniously integrated into the structure. The designs featured life-size sculpted metal 'guns' that served dual purposes as slot handles, and the facial expressions captured humor and personality.

Polk’s vision led to a new form of interactive entertainment, merging sculpture with gaming and mechanical invention. He crafted 6-foot-tall figures that replaced conventional neon displays, offering a narrative experience that resonated with visitors.

A Journey of Passion and Competition

Pollack’s quest to assemble this magnificent collection took several years and was riddled with competition from prominent casino figures. He recalls a lost auction to casino mogul Bill Harrah, only to later acquire the same piece following Harrah's passing. Today, individual Polk sculptures are treated as fine art, with significant sales including a cowboy figure entitled 'One-Armed Bandit' that fetched $43,000, and a Native American carving that surpassed $100,000.

Among Pollack's treasured items is a figure of John Wayne, complete with interchangeable cowboy headwear, representing the cinematic persona that Wayne embodied. Pollack describes it as, "playful, cinematic, and pure Polk."

Cultural Importance and Future Plans

The preservation of this impressive collection at Pollack's museum is not just about safeguarding art; it reflects a vital aspect of social history. Pollack acknowledges the significance of these sculptures in recalling the gambling experiences of past eras, specifically in the nostalgic settings of places like Virginia City in the 1950s. He comments, “These machines were played by thousands of people over decades, representing a time when gambling was tactile and theatrical, long before screens and algorithms took over.