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p~oM THE EDITOR Hang ten with the coin-op industry T wo ongoing columns I have been doing have given me a new look at the coin-op industry. The first, and one I have really enjoyed, is "Half Century Club Interview;'' the other is "Ten Years Ago." Both have brought back events of the past that help put the present and future in perspective. The "Half Century Club Interview" are interviews with men (there weren't many women in the industry back then) who have devoted 50 years of their lives to coin-op. I am in awe of these legends and feel honored to interview them. Each one has a unique perspective of the changing industry and what enabled it to withstand the test of time. The stories are rich in personal experiences that explain what made the industry worthwhile. But one thing emerges from the tales: The industry had problems, yet it survived. These men are here 50 years later to reminisce about the ''good old days.'' There were things that happened that certainly could have signaled the end of a great industry-things that seem worse than anything we have experienced lately. And yet nothing had the power to end it; the industry only got stronger. When I go back to our issues of 10 years ago for that feature, I never fail to find something that intrigues me. Even though I have been a part of the industry nearly 15 years, I read things that I had forgotten all about. When I read the news from 1980, 10 PLAY METER/August 1990 many times I have to look at the date again to make sure it's not from today! While we moan and groan that things ''just couldn't get worse" we are echoing voices from the past that moaned the same words . I recently talked to Lance Fedick, a Florida operator, who was working on a newsletter for his customers. He is optimistic about the industry and is working hard to be even more successful in an already successful business. We talked quite a bit about the industry and reached this conclusion: The industry has survived ups and downs for many, many years. Never has there been a time when it was free of problems. We adapt and accept our limitations and accentuate the positive just as we do in our personal lives-Lance is not quite the nimble surfer he was 20 years ago and I am not quite as spry on roller skates, but we have admitted it and have adapted quite well, thank you! We should do the same thing in business. We must remain flexible and be willing to adjust, whether we want the changes or not. Take a few moments to remember things you never thought would change: mini skirts-(mom, everyone is wearing them!); bell bottom pants-(these should be popular forever!); chrome on cars-(the more the better on turquoise or salmon-colored paint jobs!); rock 'n roll-(don 't worry , it's just a fad!); beehive hairdos- (OK, let 's not think about them!) . Those that thought the industry would never welcome solid state pinballs adapted to the change. Those that looked upon video games as a passing fad have accepted their impact. There is always something new and along with it come the doubters , the people that do not want change. There are, happy to say, more successes than failures . The undeniable value of the pool table, jukebox, and electronic dart games far outweighs the laser game fiasco of several years ago. In fact, when you think about pool tables , you can't help but realize how steady they have been. Buying a pool table involves very little risk. If there is an operator out there who has lost money with his pool tables , I'd like to meet him . Electronic darts are making many operators the kind of money they respect, and the new technological advances in music are giving operator a boost. Step into Lance's shoes (or onto his surboard) and view our industry as a big ocean. Sometimes we are paddling out to meet the next wave, or we might be drifting around waiting for that crest. But the exhilarating ride on a monstrous wave makes all the effort worthwhile. D Valerie Cognevich Editor