Automatic Age

May, 1931
chines.
W ith a decent break on the
weather, I am sure to show a good profit,”
he said in a recent interview.
In opposition to this optimistic outlook is
the contrary forecasts of Joseph Cohen
and other operators.
Cohen, who owns three arcades on Surf
Avenue is convinced that the Mecca of all
amusement parks has entirely too many
exhibits in quest of the elusive copper. He
looks upon the ventures of the newcomers
with apprehension.
He stated, “ I have
been running arcades in Coney Island for
many years in many locations and with
varying results. This experience leads me to
doubt the successful outcome of any ar­
cade where the owner pays a rental in
excess of $3,000.”
Cohen’s convictions are shared by Charles
Sobel also operating on Surf Avenue.
Sobel’s arcade is one of the best appearing
in Coney Island and he is reputed to be
it’s most successful operator. “ Any owner
paying more than $4,000 for a location is
biting off more than he can chew,” said
Mr. Sobel, “ $4,000 in pennies is a lot of
money.”
Bonsignori has evidently given Coney
Island something to talk about and he is
to be commended for his actions. In taking
the space in the Stauch Building at a record
rental he has applied business principles
which are used by large department stores.
Bonsignori believes that the methods used
by the large retailers in securing the very
best locations can be successfully applied
to the arcade business. He has ignored
the cost of the overhead and is confident
that the tremendous crowds at his high-
priced locations will take care of the
rental overhead.
New Amusement Centers
Slowly but surely there is opening up in
these United States an activity which offers
opportunities fo r outdoor amusements, for
concessions of many kinds, with potentiali­
ties of a tremendous character. The United
States Government, State governments and
municipalities have for several years now
been back of a movement to extend air­
craft operations and popularize the use of
the airplaine. The pubic, up to this time,
has seen in this expansion only a romantic
innovation in transportation, an opportunity
offered to transport persons, mail and some
smaller merchandise quickly.
© International Arcade Museum
13
A u t o m a t ic A ge
“ Even though I have been sur­
rounded by hundreds of coin-operated
machines, the fact that I have not
read a copy of A U T O M A T IC AGF
for the past three months makes me
feel as if I am out of the arcade busi­
ness.” This was the statement that
Joseph Bonsignori made recently to
a representative of the publication.
Mr. Bonsignori transferred his busi­
ness from St. Louis to Coney Island
during the winter and neglected to
change his mailing address— hence
his inability to read the A U T O ­
M A TIC A G E.
W hat the public, and the amusement in­
dustry, particularly, possibly has not sensed
is that aviation will never succeed without
airports, and that airports of the charac­
ter which are even now being built in a few
instances and which will eventually dot the
country in all directions must have some
source of revenue other than that afforded
by income from commercial or other flying.
Inquiry at the aeronautics division, U. S.
Department of Commerce, developed the
fact, first, that there are now a total of
1,808 airports in the United States. There
are something like 15,000 cities, towns and
villages, a vast majority of which, observ­
ers believe, will in time have their own air­
ports, big or little.
The aeronautics division, as well as sub­
stantial private organizations, have drafted
plans now generally available for airports
of the future, which will speel not only
fields for landing and taking off, but plans
for entertainment, social affairs, miniature
golf, theatrical offerings, swimming, boat­
ing, local flying concessions, dance halls and
much other in the way o f amusements such
as are now found a t parks and beaches.
Only such amusements as would tend, to
interfere with careful flying, taking off and
landing, will be taboo.
Already, as to the 1,800 approximately in
existence, the question is being asked: How
are these ports to be made profitable finan­
cially? And the answer is being made by
experts, “through the granting of conces­
sions for amusements of different kinds,
restaurants, slot machines.”
— The Billboard.
http://www.arcade-museum.com/