Classic Mode

Coin Machine Review (& Pacific ...)

Issue: 1949 June

Eater Sbu/1/e/Joard Parlors As New
Entertainment Idea
When THE REVIEW began its prolonged cam-
paign some months ago to boost shuffleboard in
every possible way, .it was with the idea that the
trade needed something new which would catch
the public fancy and also help everybody, from op-
erators to manufacturers, to bolster incomes that had
been hit by inflation.
It was easy to see that shuffleboard had merits
which had held favor with players over many years,
even before there· was any dream of coin operation.
Some said the boards would tum out to be only a
passing flurry and then time began to prove that a
national movement was under way.
So, the need of developing and exploiting ideas
to increase public interest in shuffleboard became
very evident. Much editorial space has been de-
voted each month to giving the business a boost
and opinions of leaders in the trade have been
sought. Our news correspondents in trade centers
have also cooperated by emphasizing shuffleboard
gains in their regular reports. All this helps to keep
the business on the upward trek.
A really new idea for expanding shuffleboard use
appeared late last year and it is this idea that needs
promotion to the fullest extent. The idea is that of
shuffleboard parlors. Shuffleboard itself has its limi-
tations and the parlors also have their limitations.
But just as shuffleboard surprised even many people
in the business by its steady expansion to national
size, so the parlors may make a surprising growth
into a national type of amusement place.
The parlor idea has very definite merits and it is
an idea that needs promoting for all it is worth. It
will require lots of promotion, or the idea can die
before it has been fully tested. Shuffleboard has re-
quired a lot of promotion and the boosting of parlors
may be the next big step in promoting the boards.
It is much to the credit of manufacturers and dis-
tributors that they have recognized that here is a
game which permits definite promotions to increase
the play for operators and locations. Tournaments
have been the recognized form of promotion, also
locations can be supplied with banners and signs
that say shuffleboard is available inside. The parlors
will be decided adjuncts to and a logical expansion
to the tournament idea.
Shuffleboard parlors may become the modem
counterpart of the arcade and may rival the big
spread of bowling alleys in recent years. That is, if
everybody in the shuffleboard business starts to
boost the parlor idea.
The pioneering that has been done already in
parlors proves that they have real possibilities.
Parlors already reported have up to as many as 15
boards and experience shows that some kind of side-
line, such as soft drinks, or, other refreshments, are
needed to make the places a complete success. This
is understandable and can easily be provided for.
The center and main attraction in a parlor, however,
is the shuffleboard games and such places will do
much to popularize the sport and to develop leagues
and teams.
Right while the parlor idea is getting its start, it
is well to consider that bowling alleys made their
big headway by being thoroughly modem in design
and pool halls are taking a new lease on life by
going modem. So, shuffleboard parlors must be
made attractive and modem from the start.
Current business trends which have led to an in-
creasing number of store closings may provide a
greatel'. number of favorable chances at getting a
good location for the parlors. In fact, shuffleboard
parlors may fit into current trends with a vim.
Probably December 18 of last year should be
marked on the calendar as the birthdate of shuffle-
board parlors, for that was the official opening of
a parlor for the young folks in Portland, Ore., with
the playing fee set at ten cents. Soft drinks, candy
and sandwiches were included as a sideline to the
ten boards in the place.
Parlors are now spreading more rapidly and have
just recently invaded the Midwest. There is good
reason that 1949 may be Shuffleboard Parlor Year
just as 1948 was Shuffleboard Year.
Manufacturers have led in the promotion of tourna-
ments and it will be to their advantage to lead in
the promotion of parlors. Plans and ideas are needed,
based on parlors that have already opened.up. One
of the most recent parlors to open has about 15 other
types of coin machines in the place, thus giving aid
to the entire field of coin machines. This is some-
thing the Industry has been looking for.
If it will help the cause along, THE REVIEW will
be glad to publish an honor roll or list of the shuffle-
board parlors as they are reported from different
cities. The main idea is to get the parlor movement
into full swing and in that way keep shuffleboard
in the limelight.
Shuffleboard Idea
Tavern owners in Spokane are learning
that it pays to cater to spectators of shuffie-
board play also. A concerted move is on
to capitalize on the desire of customers to
see the games while they drink-and the
result is that more dri nks are sold. When
the boards can be conveniently placed
.alongside the bar, so that customers sea ted
at the bar can wa tch the play, many tav-
ern owners say that more drinks are sold.
Tavern owners are now re-arranging their
bar layout, or even building new bars with
as many as ten stools alongside the bar
next the shuffieboard tables, so that cus-
tomers can watch the play while they drink.
JUNE, 1949
FAST WAXES
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https://elibrary.arcade-museum.com
LEGISLATION
(Continued from page 8)
the location be sole owner of gaming de-
vices.
Illinois-A bill empowering counties to
license machines; an unfair cigarette sales
bill which defines operators as "retailers."
(Not much legislation for so important a
coin machine state.)
Indiana- One of the first legislatures to
adjourn (March 9), bill included a pro-
posal to tax soft drinks, a bill to em power
cities to tax machines, a bill for a state tax
of $2 to $25 on machines, a bill taxing all
machines other than vendors, a bill to ban
ASCAP music use in phonos.
Kansas-U nfavorable bills against pos-
session of gaming devices, with such strict
definitions that would take in even amuse-
ment games; also a bill to make Internal
Revenue stamp for a gaming device as evi-
dence of possession.
Maine-A bill for sta te tax on ga mes
and music; a bill that would make ma-
chines subj ect to personal property tax;
an empowering act bill for ci ties.
Maryland-Most of the bills related to
licensing of amusement machines in cer-
tain of the coun ties, at least one of them
calling for a popular vote on the subj ect.
Some coun ties now license consoles, etc.
The old vending machine issue apparently
is not dead sin ce a bill was introduced to
repeal th e state license law on vendors.
Maryland used to get proposals to tax
vendors out of operation.
Massachusetts-In a state that usually
has bills relating to music, the nearest ap-
proach this year was a bill relating to "li-
censing of innholders, conducting certain
amusements in connection with their busi-
ness." Bills for state tax on machines were
proposed, one defining "vending machines"
so loosely as to probably mean all types of
machines.
Michigan-In a state unfavorabl e to
games due to a cou rt decision, a bill for
state licensing of amusement machines was
proposed. Another bill would empower cities
to license coi n machines; another would
put a graduated tax on operators of ven-
dors; a bill for a state tax on cigarettes also
appeared.
Minnesota- The state alarmed vending
operators with its proposal for a gross
earnings tax of 10 per ce nt on vendors, a
bill to tax soft drink vendors, bills for stiff
sanitary regul ations, etc. ; a bill to repeal
present laws co nsidered . favorable by the
trade. A general array of unfavorable bills.
Missouri-A bill for a referendum in
Nov. 1950 on whether people favor a vet-
erans' bonus-a tax of 10 per cent on retail
price of all coi n machines to be assessed,
also 5 per cent on vending machines (not
including their con tents) . A bill to em-
power counties to tax cigarettes; a bill to
tax coin machines but exempti ng vending
machines.
Montana-A bill to tax all music ma-
chines at $100 per year. A bill to hold a
popular vote on the question of licensing
gaming devices ( vote to be take n at Nov.
1950 election) . This bill became law March
4. A bill to allow gaming devices in vet-
erans' clubs. A bill to outlaw gam in g de-
vices, also one to legalize and li ce nse them.
Nebraska-A bill to delete television
from proposed $5 state tax and add words,
"wired radio system or mechanical music."
A bill empowering towns to li cense games,
shuffleboard, etc. A bill adverse to vendors
on sales of cigarettes to minors.
Nevada-Bills relating to licensin g and
control of gami ng dev ices in th e sta te, lo-
cation licensin g, etc.
New Hampshire-A bill to li cense all
types of legal machines, excep t cigarette
vendors.
New Jersey-A bill to amend cigarette
tax law so that operators of 30 or more
cigarette vendors would be classed as
" wholesale dealers." A bill to repeal th e
state tax on cigarettes.
New York- The Legislature had an ex-
tra quota of bills to empower cities and
coun ti es to tax machines, including shuffle-
board, also bills to repeal ex istin g laws on
the subj ect. The Legislature ran to seed on
the subject of empowering acts, it see ms.
New Mexico-The Legislature had im-
portant bills to empower citi es and counti es
to license gaming devi ces, also to hold pop-
ular vote on such licensing, also bill to
permit li censi ng of gaming devices in clubs.
State taxes on coin machines in general
were proposed, also gross receipts tax pro-
posal to broaden its appli cation to machine
receipts. A bill to include cigarette ven-
dors under state cigarette law with $3
license.
North Carolina- The annual action on
coin machine section of th e General Reve-
nue Statutes produced a lot of bills. One
bill proposed higher rates on music, ciga-
rette and soft drink machines. The state
attracted attention by a hill to tax drink
vendors at $25 th at sell only one brand,
graduatin g th e tax downward as more
brands are dispensed. A bill to regulate
music hours appeared.
North Dakota- One of the first em-
powering acts of th e year showed up in the
state. A bill to amend present amusement
games tax law was introduced. A bill to
tax th e first phonograph at $200 per year
a nd $5 for each additional machine.
Ohio-As usual , a state sales tax pro-
posal appeared. A state license on games
and music at $75 per machine also ap-
peared.
Oklahoma-A bill on unfair cigarette
sales defined operators as "retailers."
Oregon- The Legislature seemed to be
bent on bills to boost the tax on coin ma-
chin es. One bill proposed 10 per ce nt gross
receipts tax for skill games and 30 per cent
for gaming devices, in addi tion to all taxes
already imposed. A bill to doubl e the pres-
ent state tax on machin es was also in th e
hop per. A 2-cen t cigarette tax plan was in-
cluded in a bonus bill.
Pennsylvania - Legislature early had
bills to repeal present law which empowers
cities and counti es to tax, a law which has
worried operators considerably. One bill
call ed for a popular vote before local taxes
co uld be assessed. Bills to tax cigarette
vendors $1 per year appeared.
Rhode Island - "Poor Little Rhode
Isla nd" had a bill in March to ban sale of
gasoline through co in-operated machines.
South Carolina- The annual revenue
bill always co mes up, so there were bills
relating to details in collecting the tax , also
a proposal to hike machine taxes by 5 per
cent. A bill to tax ca ndy, cigarettes, etc.,
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COIN MACHINE REVIEW
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