from the editor
Calendar
Now that winter has almost made its exit, it's going to be
interesting to see what this year's spring-summer arcade season
will be like.
Easter, it is said, generally marks the beginning of the arcade
season, this being so mostly due to the fact that many vacation and
resort areas open up on or after Easter in eager anticipation of the
tourist season.
Helped by vacations, school breaks and great weather, spring
and summer combine to bring people out and away from their
homes and into the full swing of the best time of the year. And
likewise, manufacturers distributors and operators alike are
geared up in eager anticipation of their best arcade season ever.
This issue of Play Meter is designed to give you an overall view of
the arcade season outlook for this year. Play Meter's Coinman of
the Month, lzzy Yodlin, recounts the trials and tribulations of
opening and operating arcades.
Staff writer Tom Oliver has returned from an assignment that
led him to the vacation hotspots of the North Carolina and South
Carolina coastline. His account of the arcade situation there is both
candid and entertaining.
California correspondent Mary Claire Blakeman reports in this
issue on an Oakland games manufacturer that in less than one year
has become a household word around the industry.
Add to that some rather interesting comments by Robert Wick,
Morris Nahum, Marshall Caras and Nolan Bushnell and it adds up
to be quite an issue.
It's a common fact that in good weather people tend to spend
more money. With spring upon us and Easter just a few short
weeks away, the forecast looks very favorable for the upcoming
arcade season.
.
The nation is supposedly out of the worst recession this country
has had since 1931 and the economic outlook for the country as well
as this industry looks good. With gasoline prices stable and
generally lower than last year, the tourist season also looks good.
All we need to do now is to pray for good weather.
Sincerely,
~~"4""'--i--
Ralph C . Lally II
Editor and Publi her
March 19-21
Mu 'ic Operator of Michigan,
annual convention. Weber'
Inn , Ann Arbor, Michigan.
April 9-11
Wi on in Mu ic Merchant s
A ociation, pring conven-
tion. cot land Re ort, Ocono-
woe, Wiscon in.
April 24-25
Kansas Amusement and Music
Association, regular meeting.
To be held in Wichita; actual
site not yet selected.
April30-May 1
Music Operators of Amerioa
Regional Seminar, lectures
and discussions on improving
your business. O'Hare Hilton,
O'Hare International Airport,
Chicago, Illinois. (Please note
change in location. )
May 7-
Ohio Mu 'ic a~d Amu emen t
As 'ociation, annual conven -
tion. ite not y t elect d.
Ma 14-16
\1u ic and A~u ement As 0 -
ciation INew Yorkl, annual
convention. teven viUe oun -
try Club. wan Lake, New
York.
May 21-23
Music Operators of Texas,
annual convention. Rice Rit-
tenhouse Hotel, Houston,
Texas.
June 11-13
Dlinois Coin Machine Opera-
tors Association, annual con-
vention. French Lick Shera-
ton, French Lick, Indiana.
July 22-25
Montana Coin Machine Opera-
tors Association, annual con-
vention. West Yellowstone,
Montana.
August 27-29
North Carolina Coin Operators
Association, annual conven-
tion. Charlotte, North Caro-
lina. Site not yet selected.
eptember 16-18
Music Operators of Virginia,
annual convention. Hyatt
House, Richmond, Virginia.
6