while a lot of the boys have had to dry out
their equipment, and also made the rounds
in boats, they are not discouraged. Tourist
trade has begun and everyone looks forward
to more summer business than any other
year.
Bank deposits and check transactions are
high and tax collections for the State are
$1,500,000 higher for the first two months
of '48 than the previous year.
It is interesting to see the large number
of new machines making their appearance
in all sorts of locations. Candy and cigar-
ette machines, as well as bottled cola and
merchandising machines of all types, are
definitely out in front in numbers. This
can be explained by expansion of new
businesses in this territory and the fact
that materials are available to construct
new buildings to house them.
Despite the talk among old operators
that there is no money in music, there sure-
ly i no let-up in sales of elaborate equip-
ment to furnish new and renovated spots.
There seems to be no trend towards any
particular type of music installation; every
manufacturer is enjoying his share of busi-
ness. Men who know the machine business
all agree that music can be the real back-
bone of their operations and while the
profits per dollar invested are not 0 great
there is a certain degree of stability behind
it all.
Twin Cities
The business pace in this area continues
high, wi th Minnesota's tourist attractions
coming in for the biggest play during the
next three months. Resort owners, for the
most part, have revamped their coin ma-
chine opera tions in line with the anti-
gambling campaign of a year ago and are
prepared for a record summer season.
In the agricultural regions, farmers have
a downca t look as of press time, for rain
has seemed to steer clear of this area dur-
ing May and part of June. The corn and
wheat crop prospects are much in doubt at
this time and this ha a direct bearing on
the summer and fall prosperity of the area.
Out-of-town operators have indicated
games in the farm areas are receiving heav-
ier play than in the past, with additional
games moving into the small towns which in
the past were ignored because of the dis-
tances involved.
The inAux of new equipment in both
music and games has created a revitalized
interest locally in the amusement games
business. Out-of-state buyers have expre ed
interest in the concrete form of new equip-
ment purcha
Following the Four-State convention, in-
terest ran high in all pha es of the busi-
ness, leveling off during the latter part of
May except for some spurts in resort buying
by operators from the Lake areas.
Flipper games continue to hold a spot-
light, with plenty of acthity in their be-
half. More locations are ino:reasing business
volume in mu ic.
Arcade equipment, as well as locations, is
in for a brief upsurge. Excelsior Park's
Arcade is expanding, with Joe Colihan,
manager and Fred Pearce, Detroit, owner,
lining up much additional equipment from
Twin Cities distributors and operators.
A new Arcade in the heart of the Negro
district, operated by Hy Adlin, was a high
spot in that field during May. Another new
one opened near Lake Minnetonka at Ex-
celsior, Minn., by John and Jim McNeice,
bro thers, operators of the RiAe Sport Ar-
cade in Minneapolis Loop.
Some far-sighted operators are engaging
in test of video set rentals, non-coin-oper-
ated at that. Prior to the KSTP-TV in-
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ators bought public location video receivers,
contracted to place them with taverns and
bar locations on rental basis.
Gene Elofson, of F. C. Hayer (RCA-Vic-
tor distributor), says it's a growing trend
among phono operators, however, coin-oper-
ated video sets have yet to make an appear-
ance. Rental fees range from $15-$35 per
month, depending upon size of set. Oper-
ators report the "service" cements relation-
ships with locations and that rental can be
paid out of location's take from music ma-
chines. Attendance has tripled in some
spots as ball game fever is at high pitch
in this area, with two minor league clubs
quite active and one is video'd daily.
On subject of dime play chutes in this
area, most operators feel that it has not
and may never catch on here. The competi-
tive factor between the Twin Cities prevents
the dime innovation. However, most oper-
ators won't go out on a limb and predict
success or failure of the increase to help
ease the pinch.
General Industry conditions here are
favorable, with the heavy tourist trade con-
tinuing to swell receipts for most types of
machines. Bolstered by one of the most
aggre sive public relations campaigns of
any phono group in the country, the music
machine business has been phenomenal
compared to pre-campaign receipts, ac-
cording to the Washington Music Guild.
Cool weather for this time of year has
kept beverage vendors from showing much.
Cup dispcnsers have been slowly increas-
ing in recent weeks and the total is now
around the 200 mark-about half of them
the multiple flavor type.
Marlin Amusement Co. has opened a sec-
ond arcade in the downtown area, making
a total of four within whistling distance of
each other. All are doing well. Another
arcade near the two bus terminals reports
that tourist trade is excellent.
Candy vending receipts hale heen sag-
ging, chiefly because of cut prices put into
effect recently by two large drug chains.
Pin ball machines, especially those featur-
ing the latest gimmicks are doing well, but
other types of games haven't caught on in
this area.
Los Angeles
The silver lining in the overcast ky is
being furnished by bulk vendors: after hit-
ting a new post-war low in May, they start-
ed the upward climb last month. Small jelly
beans have jumped to the fore in the sales
parade and are neck-and-necking Boston
baked beans for popularity in machines.
Cigarette vending con tinue on an even,
hea lthy keel. Candy gross ha been holding
up well; operators are bracing them elves
for the brunt of the hot weather season,
commencing in July.
The music picture is hazy, with one seg-
ment of the operating fratern ity reporting
slight take boosts; oth ers say there is no
change; and a minority report that sliding
grosse are till sliding.
Four of the largest scale operators in
outhern California were polled, with this
result: one reports increase of 9 per cent
during the first four mon ths of this year as
compared to 1947; another is 10 per cent
off; the third is lagging lightly behind;
and the fourth shows no variation. The
operator reporting the 9 per cent increase
ays that scales on his war-time locations,
which had high revenue and then fizzled,
have been moved to other locations while
competitors keep machines on the same lo-
cations despite drop in gross.
Popcorn vend ing shows an increase from
the April-May low, but volume of play has
failed to reach operator expectation.
COIN MACHINE REVIEW