UP FRONT
A new show
for a new beginning
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If you 're one of the few who hasn 't heard by now
about the merging of the A OE and the A S I, it's true -
there will only be one spring show, the A merican
Coin Machine Expo (A CME) , and no one is happier
than the Play Meter staff, except maybe those who
could not attend two shows and had to choose
between them . The merger was long overdue , and
the time certainly seems right in light of the exc ite-
ment and enthusiasm at the AMOA show in October.
This opti mism of the AMOA show left little
doubt that those who dec ided to weather the
dep ression following the video crash made the right
c hoice . As bad as it was , those who had confidence
in the industry, who had seen it all before and
w itnessed t he changes of the past years knew the
industry woul d get back to normal aga in. As
revenues plunged to new lows , their gut feelings
were that a resurgence was just around the corner.
As bad as it was , they knew it would get no worse .
A nd they were right .
They are no w w itnessing a rebirth of the coin -
o perated am usement industry . There are no inflated
ex pec tations , but there don 't need to be . O perators ,
ma nufact urers , and d istributors just want to make a
good living and be proud of their industry . That's not
unreasonable . In fac t , that sounds just about right.
With this new venture Play Meter and AA MA,
the association of manufacturers and d istributors ,
have taken a step toward aff i rm i ng the new
beginning and reviving communication and under-
standing bet ween all parts of the industry .
We understandably are sad to see the end of the
AO E, as I'm su re AAMA is sorry to bid its show
good bye . B ut ACM E, the offspring of the two shows ,
w ill inherit the best of both, and for that everyone
shou ld be deligh ted . The seminars will be as good
as they have been at the AOE , and the support of
manufacturers and dist ributors w ill be passed on
from the ASI. The best of both will make this show
better than either one could have been alone .
Many have called AAMA's and our offices dis-
appo inted that the 1986 show w ill not be in New
Orleans for Mard i Gras as the AOE was scheduled to
be . We , too , are d isappo inted . But because the
merger agreement was reac hed on ly three months
before the show, it was impossible to obta in the
exhib it space and hotel rooms needed for the
combined show . And though we can 't promise
Mardi Gras dates , the show will be in New Orleans in
1987.
Play Meter has been referred to as the operators '
magazine and the AOE th e operators ' show. And
both sent iments are true . But Play Meter is more
than that simple express ion indicates . Play Meter is
an industry publication designed to keep readers
informed . We hope th is new partnership w ith AAMA
demonstrates our sincere desire to serve all.
It is my heartfelt wish that operators support
A CME as they supported AOE in the past . Manufac-
turers and distributors have vowed support , and we
want to see operators take their deserved place at
the industry show .
We 've begun a new phase in the industry, and
ACME 1986 is the beg inn ing of what will become a
spring tradit ion supported by all in the industry.
Valerie Cognevich
Editorial Director
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ACME, the offspring of the two shows,
will inherit the best of both.
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