Mohr Comments On
Keeney Boxes
LOS ANGELES-That the Keeney Wall
Box has taken Southern California by storm
is no myth if one is to visit the local of-
fices and showrooms of Mohr Brothers and
see the amount of orders being booked
daily.
Commenting on the tremendous interest
in the Keeney Box Mac Mohr stated: "All
new varieties of amusement machines such
as Wired Music and the like appearing on
the market have their merits. But I sin-
cerely believe the safest investment for the
operator is the present type of Wall Boxes
combining the phonograph with the Wall
and Bar Box. The Keeney Wall Box, in my
opi'nion, heads them all in flexibility and
simplicity of installation and is adaptable
to practically the entire field."
♦
Coin Machines At
N. Y. World's Fair
38
CO IN
MACHINE
REVIEW
NEW YORK (RC)-In a return engage-
ment that sees their popularity tremen-
dously enhanced, co in machines have liter-
ally taken the New York World's Fair by
storm. Covering a wide section of the fair
grounds proper where the machines render
vending and even therapeutic service, they
come into thefr own on the Gay White Way
or the amusement center of the fair, de-
lighting in games, palm-reading allure-
ments, anti-aircraft ray guns and name-plate
machines that are patronized at all times.
A survey of the fair grounds has pro-
duced the following interesting statistics.
There are three hundred candy machines
on the fair grounds, operated by Canteen,
these machines having been placed near
washrooms, around the principal walks and
at almost every important pavilion or ex-
hibit. Over two thousand coin lockers, con-
trolled by the American Locker Company
are featured; while two hundred penny cup
vending machines operated by Dixie Vor-
tex, greets the eye at every water fountain.
Highlighting the fair and supplementing
the more sensational "guess-weight" attrac-
tions, are one hundred and thirty penny
scales, sponsored by International Muto-
scope and, in a wrinkle that is as much a
part of the fun as it is a genuine thera-
peutic aid are, for the first time anywhere,
fifty foot vibrators which Robert Hedinger
of New York has placed. The latter, penny-
vending, are very much like scales with the
exception that electric currents are sent
through the soles of the shoes and relieve
the foot-weary visitors by timely and en-
tirely harmless massages.
It is at the amusement center, with its
emphasis on fun and entertainment, that
one sees the coin machine come into its
own in the penny arcade. While thirty and
forty cents "come-ons" go begging at the
fair and even Ripley's "Believe-It-Or-Not"
odditorium, turns out to be only another
Coney Island sideshow, the penny arcade
has them comi'ng, because it is open,
honest, and what you pay for, you get.
Among a galaxy of machines, Morris Co-
hen, operator of the arcade, told of the play
the anti-aircraft ray gun is g~tting with
customers waiting for the game; while the
penny movies, bowling alley and the palm-
reading machines get young, old, wise and
unwise alike. Introduced as an experiment
in the amusement center and with some
hesi'tation, in view of the tremendous com-
petition, the penny arcade has proved itself
to be the most profitable enterprise in the
entire concession, according to Cohen.
Okeh Replaces
Vocalion Discs
BRIDGEPORT- The return of one of the
grand old names in the record industry was
announced July 5 by Edward Wallerstein,
president, Columbia Recording Corporation,
who stated that with Release No. 155 on
sale throughout the country July 5, the
name of Columbia's 35c record will be
changed from Vocalion to Okeh.
For a time, releases of many Okeh artists
will be found on both Okeh and Columbia
labels. Okeh catalog numbers will be the
same as Vocalion. The new label is a rich
purple with gold lettering.
With the switch to Okeh, Columbia opens
a smashing drive on the 35c line. All the
big Vocalion names have been taken over
with many new ones added.
"We believe that the new Okeh label will
present a string of recording stars that has
no equal in the 35c field," said W allerstein.
"In the popular division we have Gene
Krupa, Count Basie, Dick Jurgens, Frankie
Masters, John Kirby, Cab Calloway, Tommy
Tucker, Ben Bernie, Tommy Reynolds,
Hom er E. Capehart announced the appoint-
Lawrence Welk, Henry Russel, Horace Hen-
ment of Earl E. Reynolds of Dallas, Texas, as
derson, Al Donahue, Tiny Hill, Ray Her-
Distrid Manag er for Packard Manufacturin g
beck, Del Courtney, Jack Leonard, Ginny
Company, Fort Wa yne, Ind. , fo r the states of
Simms, Frankie Carle, Billie Holliday, and
Texas and N ew Mexico. Earl is one of the
Six Hits and a Miss."
old-t imers in t he automatic music industr y,
The decision to revive the Okeh label
having re presented Th e Rudolph W urlitzer
stems from the fact that the name is easy
Compan y fo r many years. He also has his
to say, easy to remember, carries punch and
own distributin g company at present.
has a rich background. Developed during
the World War by Otto Heineman, the
name was made famous by President Wood-
Supplementing this activity, International
~ow .~ilson, W,?o first popularized the spell-
Mutoscope rounds out a full battery of
mg O-K-E-H.
penny scales by a scintillating exhibit de-
The biggest Okeh hit was the "Laughing
voted to the Photomaton and winning a
Record," issued in 1921. More than 3,000,-
satisfactory share of the fun expenditures.
000 copies were sold and a second edition
World Fair authorities in commenting on
of the number is still selling.
the general financial returns of the fair as
Columbia bought Okeh in 1927 and built
a whole, are unstinting in their praise of the
up the immortal jazz library which is so
coin machines, maintaining that they have
made for clean merchandising, lots of fun, • valuable today. Okeh was the first firm to
issue "race" records. Mamie Smith was the
and last but not least, have paid the great-
premiere "race" artist ballyhooed by Okeh
est returns for the least utilization of
and is still considered one of the most pop-
space.
♦
ular of all in that field. Bix Beiderbecke
was an Okeh star.
♦
Heavy ·Rush For
Keeney Wall Boxes
SAN FRANCISCO - "It's difficult to
keep samples on hand," declared Lou Wol-
cher in commenting on the demand for
Keeney Wall Boxes at the San Francisc&,
Portland, Seattle, and Los Angeles 8ales
headquarters. "As fast as the units arrive
from Chicago the operators are taking them
out, placing them in spots and doubling
and tripling their former income."
The four offices have been regular bee-
hives of activity in the past few weeks with
orders piling up for immediate deliveries. ♦
• •
Gerber Sportland
Opens In West
OCEAN PARK-Definitely stealing the
crowds and holding them is the new Gerber
Sportland recently opened on the pier at
Ocean Park, Los Angeles' favorite beach
fun zone.
Thi, Gerber spot is already stocked with
several hundred coin operated mar,hines of
every type imaginable. Nearly all of the
machines operate with a penny and the play
has been heavy and consistent daily.
A formal opening is planned in the near
future when all of the machines are un-
crated and spotted. Movie stars and lights
will formally announce the new business. ♦
Sambo had joined a debating society,
and the day after his first meeting he was
being questioned by a group of his friends.
"What was de subject of de debate,
Sambo?"
Parr Joins Buckley
"De subject were 'What is de most bene-
Music
Systems
fit to mankind, de sun or de moon?' " re-
• LOS ANGELES-On July 1st Bud Parr,
plied Sambo.
former manager of General Music Company
"And which side did you take?"
and California Simplex Distributing Com-
"De moon's," said Sambo. "I argued
dat de sun shines by day when we
need de light, but de moon shines by night ~· tributor for the Buckley Wall Boxes in
Southern California.
when dat light mos' certainly am needed.
"The present trend is to Wall Boxes,"
An' dey couldn't answer dat, suh."
♦
declared Bud, "and after careful study I am
•
convinced the Buckley box leads the field.
Lady: I wouldn't cry like that, my little
I will be glad to see all my old friends at
man.
my new headquarters at 2313 West Pico
Small Boy: Cry as you please; this is
Street."
♦
my way.
♦
•
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