FROM THE EDITOR
On the cover of last year's "Pinball Edition" of Play
Meter [May, 1976], we featured two couples surrounded
by pinball machines in a rather glamorous London arcade
(chandeliers and mirrored walls). One couple was embracing,
and following publication, we received several phone calls
and even a letter [see Play Meter for July of '76j ex-
pressing concern over our choice of cover material.
"Raw sex on the cover of Play Meter - a disgrace to
the industry!" was the complaint [admittedly in exaggerated
form here). And the odd thing was that some of the outcries
came from those who peddle "raw sex" in exaggerated dis-
play on the backglassess of the maclliues they themselves deal in.
This is the kind of hypocrisy that existed within the industry
just one year ago. Some of it still exists and probably always
will. Still we must all fight it-as we at Play Meter have
fought it, through Critic's Corner in particular and a
general dedication to honest journalism.
We at Play Meter were the first trade publication to
come to grips with the industry's image problem. We encouraged
operators to clean up their acts and showed them ways to
do it. We also took a firm stand against the injustices in-
volving pinball in certain areas of the country and called for
operators to fight laws that prohibited the play of the flipper
games. Since then, of course, we have seen the emergence
of an era of new respectability for this industry, and we
have witnessed the legalization of pinball in every major
market.
We feel that Play Met er has played a major role in
bringing about some of these changes undergone by the industry
in the past few years.
Tooting our horn? Not really. We're only trying to give a little
credit where some has long been due. This industry has
come a long way in just these past few years, and we're
glad to have been part of that. But we continue to think
that the industry has a long way to go to reach maximum
potential. And we're ready and willing to do whatever we
can to make that happen.
Together we can bring about the changes that are necessary
for the industry to realize this potential. It's begun to happen; it is
happening; it will continue to happen. So, hang on tight-the
sky is indeed the limit.
We think you'll find t his "Pinball Edition" an extremely
interesting one. In addition to his usual corner criticism, Roger
Sharpe writes about his feelings toward today's games
and those he sees for tomorrow. And in addition to that,
he joins other "experts" Jon Brady, John Trucano and Louis
Boasberg to select the top ten flipper games of all time.
Elsewhere in the issue, Bally's Tom Nieman answers Play Meter 's
questions in an excellent coinman interview, and Susan Brenna
interviews the design men at all the major pinball manufacturers.
And these are only a few of the things you'll find on the inside. So
enjoy. Good reading.
Sincerely
~c.4e
Ralph C. Lally II ,
Publi sher & Editor
4
Calendar
May 12-15
Music and Amusement Associ-
ation [New York], annual
convention. Stevensvill~ Coun-
t ry Club , Swan Lake , N.Y.
May 20-22
Music Operators of Minnesota,
annual convention. Holiday
Inn , Minneapolis, Minn.
June 10-12
Colorado Coin Industries, an-
nual convention. Holiday Inn,
Glenwood Springs, Colo.
June 17-18
llinois Coin Machine Opera-
tors Association, Hospitality
Inn , St. Louis, Mo.
June 17-19
Music Operators of Texas,
annual convention. St. An-
t hony's Hotel, San Antonio,
Texas.
July 22-23
Montana Coin Machine Opera-
tors Association, annual con-
vention. Outlaw Ion, Kalispell,
Montana.
August 5-7
North Carolina Coin Operators
Association, annual convention
Radisson Plaza Hotel, Char-
lotte, N. C.
September 16-18
Florida Amusement Merchan-
dising Association, annual con-
vention. Deauville Hotel, Mi-
ami Beach, Fla.
September 29-0ctober 1
Music Operators of Virginia,
annual convention. The Hyatt
House, Richmond, Va.
October 28-30
Amusem£nt Music Operators
Association, annual convention
and trade show. Conrad Hilton
Hotel, Chicago, Illinois.