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PAGE 30, NOVEMBER, 1975
ROCKOLA'S 40th PHONO YEAR
CHICAGO - Many a music operator, especially the younger juke
box operators, stood in front of the Rock-Ola Manufacturing
Corp. booths at this past MOA convention and gazed in awe as
they watched the turntable in the center of the entire dis-
play spin around to show the very first automatic phono built
by David C. Rockola 40 years ago.
Thia now famed 12 selection "Multi-Selector" phono, as it
was then known, created wonder in the minds of many who were
present as they compared it to the beautiful, new phonos on
display at the Rock-Ola booths. Only old timers present were
able to recall what a sensation the "Multi-Selector" created
when Dave Rockola showed it for the first time in 1935. Re-
called how they rushed to the Rock-Ola factory in this city
to buy "this marvelous phonograph".
Back then, 40 years ago, some of the most outstanding of
coinmen distributed the "Multi-S~lector". Among these men,
for example, was George A. Miller, first president of MOA,
who distributed the Rock-Ola "Multi-Selector" in Oakland, Calif. So many others worked
their way to the top of the industry beginning with the distribution of this 12 selec-
tion Rock-Ola phono.
•
Most of all the "Multi-Selector" of 1935 opened a nev and tremendously progressive
career for David C. Rockola and the entire organization of Rock-Ola Manufacturing Corp.
His devotion to automatic music is, today, well known to all engaged in the industry.
Year after year, over those 40 years from 1935 to 1975, he has presented one outstand-
ing phono after the other for worldwide operation. This year, and the years yet to come,
will carry forth the honor and glory David C. Rockola has won for 40 years of dedication
to the automatic music industry.
AUTHOR PINBALL PLAYER
NEW YORK - Roger C. Sharp, associate ed-
itor of "Gentlemen's Quarterly", fashion
magazine for men, is writing a book about
the pinball industry. Roger is shown here
at his favorite entertainment. "I have
played pinball since I was a bit of a kid
and still find it exhilarating and satis-
fying entertainment", he advised. To this
he added, "I don't know of any better way
to relax and enjoy a few hours than to be
playing pinball. It relaxes and inspires
and, at the same time, costs very little
money." Roger has traveled about the na-
tion meeting pinball people. lie attended
the past MOA convention where he met many
old timers and manufacturers and discussed
his book with them, much to the satisfac-
tion of all who saw the format for the his-
tory he plans to vrite. He has also been
obtaining pictures of old pinballs from many people who have given him permission to use
these in his book. Full color pictures will appear thruout to enhance the colors of the
pinballs he plans to feature. The book, he reports, should be ready for publication some-
time this forthcoming year and may be on sales before the end of '76.
WHAT •ETTEll Pf.ACE THAN THE "'llllAIUt~CEH