JUNE, 1946
OFFICE OF PUBLICATION : 11 15 Venice Blvd •• Los Angeles 15. Ccilif. Paul W. Blackford. e ditor
a nd Publisher; Clarence G. Beardslee. Assistant to the Publisher. Fitzroy 8269. CHICAGO
OFFICE (1) : C. J . Anderson. 35 East Wacker Drive. CENtral 1112; -NEW YORK OFFICI (17):
Ralph R. Mulligan . 441 Lellington Avenue. Murray Hili 2·55B9. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $2. 00
for 3 years-minimum term accepted; SOc per copy .
COIN MACHINE REVENUE SLUMPS AS
STRI.ES, SHORTAGES BESET NATION
More Than 500
Dim-Ouls Reduce Earnings As
Join CM. Program .
·Localions Obsene Early Closing
CHICAGO-From Maine to California,
from Washington to Florida, from Canada,
Mexico and Hawaii, operators and distribu-
tors are flocking to the CMI banner. The
ever-growing list includes more than 500
associate members plus representation by
nearly every manufacturer.
In presenting a united front, the chief
-purpose of the Association is to protect the
industry and its members, to foster good
will, and to win public respect and ap-
proval.
Secretary James · A. Gilmore welcomes
suggestions from non-members as well as
members. Curley Robinson's letter, pub-
lished in last month's REVIEW, advocating a
fair and proper interpretation of Excise Tax
on coin-controlled equipment, was timely
and to the point, Gilmore told THE REVIEW,
and will be acted on in the near future.
The cost of an associate membership for
a period of 12 months is $25_ Checks should
be mailed to Coin Machine Industries, Inc.,
134 North LaSalle Street, Chicago 2_
On The Cover
Proudly w e present the first of a
series of Earl Carroll productions pre-
pared expressly for THE REVIEW cov-
ers_ Leading off the serles is pretty
Peggy Pryor who rightly may be classi-
fied as one of "The' Most Beautiful Girls
In The World." a tag Carroll has made
famous over the years. Photography is
by one of Hollywood's leading portrait
photographers. John E. Reed.
Call
DR. 3209
For Automatic: Eqaipmellt,
Parts alld Supplies
PAUL A. LAYMON
'.
CHICAGO-Operators and manufactur-
ers of the second largest city in the coun-
try, already mired deep in shortages and
labor strife, were dealt a paralyzing blow
when the coal strike all but short-circuited
electrical consumption to sink collections
and new-game output to an unprecedented
post-war low_
The war-time "brownout" order was
deemed mild compared to the drastic meas-
ure placed into effect by the Illinois Com-
merce Commission in an effort to conserve
dwindling coal stocks. In declaring a state
of emergency, the Commission limited both
industry and the consumer to a 24-hour
week: manufacturers and industrial users
from Monday through Friday, and commer-
cial users, such as stores, offices, bars, tav-
erns, night clubs, theatres, etc. from two to
six p.m. Monday through Saturday.
The ~ew order exempted only hospitals,
food stores, restaurants, and other vital
service functions_
Manufacturers of coin-controlled equip-
ment, slowly recovering their productive
capacity after the crippling steel strike,
were hit hard by the new restriction. The
short week cut their output one-third to
one-half.
Tavern owners at Rockford. tipped off in
advance of the dimout, purchased lamps
and lanterns. After six p.m., howe'ver, pa-
trons in most bars were restricted to luke-
warm beer as refrigeration during evening
hours was prohibited. Some enterprising
owners came up with old-fashioned ice
tubs, but no one could figure how to oper·
ate a pin game or phonograph after six
p.m. without electricity.
Normally, Commonwealth Edison and its
three . affiliates, who serve an area of ap-
proximately 11,000 square miles in north-
ern Illinois, have a 122-day reserve. How-
ever, when the coal strike started, they were
caught short with only 21 days' supply.
Hence the rigid restrictions.
Shortage of beer in the middle West,
coupled with the current electrical crisis,
has seriously reduced operator earnings.
While specific figures are not available, the
loss nms into many .h undred thousand dol-
lars . .
As Kelner Sees It-
The effects of the coal st~ike hit Chicago
COIN
first and hardest of all the big cities: Be- MACHINI
fore the strike had hardly got under way, •• VlEW
the public utility and power supply com-
panies suddenly discovered they hardly had
21 days'-reserVe supply' of coal on hand ...
and the public buildings, hospitals, and
other very essential users of light and
FOR
power MUST have theic supply regardless
JUNE
of the duration of the strike. Therefore,
the Illinois Commerce Commission asked
the public to conserve as much as possible.
The first edict banned the use of display
lights and signs, and show case lights. As
the strike dragged on into its second and
third week, the rulings became more ser-
ious and light and power were banned for
everybody except the most essential users,
and limited to 4 ho u r~ daily six days a
week. The four hours of service were
from two to six in the afternoon. That
meant that only 24 hours a week were avail-
able for the use of light and power for all
industry and commerce; retailers, whole-
salers and consumers. Factories that were
worki ng th ree sh ifts a day were cut down
to one day's work. That used up their 24
hour quota. They could elect of course to
.
T URN PAGE
11·
1' . '
WANTED TO BUY
ALL TYPES 01=
SLOT MACHINES
REGARDLESS OF AGI OR
CONDITION
PARTS ALSO NEEDED. BRING
OR SHIP THEM IN.
G. B. SAM
541 E. 32nd St .... t. Los Angel .. 11. Cal.
AD_.7688
THE REVIEW HAS NEVER MISSED AN ISSUE IN THE PAST TWELVE YEARS!!
NO OTHER COIN MACHINE MONTHLY CAN MAKE THAT STATEMENT!!
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