Marketplace

MARKETPLACE
NEWSLETTER
PAGE 46. DECEMBER 30, 1973
If experience is any kind of teacher this is time for operators to walk softly and
act modestly. Not the time to pull up to locations in big, flashy Cadillacs. Also best
to canvas cover machines in pickups. Public bound to become touchy as energy supplies
get shorter and hit home. Don't count collections openly. Suggest use of sealed coin-
boxes. Get your business done as quietly as possible in locations and get out quick.
Don't speed. Never know who suddenly becomes infuriated bluenose fanatic and complains
to press and officials, "Why should games, phones, cig machines use up electricity?"
Easy does it. This is the time to think twice. Use old fashioned horse sense. Remember,
the energy and gas shortage will last a lot longer than just '74. Keep your nose clean.
Wurlitzer salesmanager, Dick Williams, appointed John Nix as the new mgr for Wurlit-
zer Dist Corp branch in Brookfield,Wis., and Bob Eggart as mgr of Denver,Col o., office.
Both distinguished themselves by setting new sales records in Denver. Larry Vaughn, Wur-
litzer Dist Corp salesmanager and Larry Hager, operations mgr, assisted in introducing
the new appointees to operators in the Milwaukee and Denver areas.
Johnny Bilotta gone but all out on new "Bally Alley". John advises, "This is the
game for '74 and all the rest of the '70s." To this he adds, "Buying a 'Bally Alley'
is like buying a going moneymaking business." ••. Talk about tall and handsome young
gentlemen, that's Bob Portale,Jr. And proud papa, Bob Portale of Los Angeles, intro-
duced him to one and all in Chicago . . . . Sweet invitation from Joe Flynn to, "C'mon
and visit with me in Indianapolis when I'm in my office." ..• New York's Irv Holzman
sends us booklet featuring shuffle game on cover with title, "What I learned about the
coin machine business in 20 years." (You guessed it, pages are blank but, Irv, did you
know 1974 is Silver Anniversary of original "Shuffle Alley"?)
Felix Whatley of Rowe-Miami came up with beautiful remark regarding old timers of
the industry when he called them, "The emeritus members of this business." ••• It was
Oakland, Cal's Joe Silla who told us George A. Miller wouldn't be at the MOA show even
tho many old timers had hoped George would attend the 25th. •••
uite a few remarked
about video game offered by Magnavox during big Frank Sinatra Special NBC, Nov.18 •
(Like home pool tables this, too, sure to spice public play action.) ••• Tom Bengimina
of K.C., Mo., upset by imitators. (If you'll research past 50 years, Tommy, this indus-
try based on imitation of one hit product after the other. Like one extremely wealthy
mfr who retired years ago told us, "We don't originate. We imitate. We build 'em better
and sell 'em cheaper.")
Sale of 255,000 Seeburg shares by 3 owners, registered with SEC on Nov.9, has been in-
definitely postponed •••• Bally Mfg.Corp. reported to be considering purchase of Wulff-
Automaten of Hanover, W.Germany. Firm is well known amusements distributor in Germany ••••
Servomation Corp., reported earnings of $2.9 million on sales of $82.1 million and 54¢ a
share for fiscal 2nd quarter •••• Sales of games away up in 1st Place for '74 but some
operators neglecting other equip't on their routes. This could bring down plague of direct
to location sales.
Special Notice.: The "Pictorial History" edition which was to appear in this issue
of "Marketplace" .has, because of shortage of the sepia peper we use for these editions,
been delayed until next issue. (We've been encountering difficulties obtaining suffi-
cient white paper for each issue. We placed our order far in advance to obtain the
sepia paper we use for our "Pictorial History" editions and hope to have this paper in
time for our next issue.)
Sincerely wish you, you, you, all of you, the very merriest of Merry Christmases
and the Healthiest, Happiest, Biggest Boom Year of your career.