News briefs . .. . news ·b riefs . ... news I
. . . . . . . . . . Joe Robbins has stepped down as president of Atari's
Coin-op Division, according to unconfirmed reports.
He will
reportedly remain in a consulting capacity for the Sunny vale,
California firm . An official announcement on the company
presidency was pending at this issue's press time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
... ..... . . "A real donnybrook that will last through the cal-
ender year"--that's how Copy right Royalty Tribunal Chairman Tom
Brennan described the distribution proceedings for the current
year for ASCAP and BMI jukebox royalties.
The two performing
rights societies are each reportedly asking for 60 percent
additional proceeds from jukebox fee collections from the current
period . .. ... . ... .. .. . .. ..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... .. ...... . . . . . . . . . . . . .
... . ...... Cinematronics, Inc. moved in June into its new produc-
tion facility in El Cajon, California . According to David Stroud,
Cinematronics' vice president , the new 78,000-spuare-foot plant
"should just about quadruple our production ability.
We're
looking forward to exciting times . " The new address is 1841
Friendship Drive, El Cajon 92020; telephone: 714 / 562-7000;
toll-free: 800/854-2666 ...... ... . ....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.. . .... . .. Bans against youngsters playing pinball and other coin-
o p equipment--which face a U.S. Sup reme Court test by this fall
( sec r epor t }n Play Meter, August 1 issue)--continue to crop up
around the country. Children under 16 would be prohibited
from playing pins or videos, which would have to be unplugged
after 10 p.m. and before 9 a . m. for all players, under a Bound
Brook, New Jersey City ordinance under consideration this
summer.
The measure would also restrict jukebox play after
midnight, and none of the electronic amusements could be used
on Sundays ..... .. . . ...... . . ..... ..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. ........ . Bally Manufacturing Corp. has announced that it has
filed an application with the Securities and Exchange Commission
and would withdraw its registration statement which previousl y
proposed offering $150 million principal amount of subordinated
debentures due 2001, that were to be offered at a substantial
discount from face value.
Robert Mullane, chairman of the board
and pre s ident of Bally, announced:
"Due to the turbulence and
unsettled conditions in the bond market, the company felt it
would be prudent to withdraw its proposed debt offering at this
time . " Bally Manufacturing had intended to use p roceeds from the
sale of the debentures to reduce certain bank indebtedness and
otherwise had no requirements for additional financing, said Mullane .
....... .. . Gallaher, the makers of Winston cigarettes in Great
Britain, were planning a new national pool competition to start
in July and run in conjunction with the British Association of
Pool Table Operators in pubs throughout the kingdom . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
68
PLAY METER, August 15,1981