Automatic Age

LOOKING F O R W A R D
By FR A N K C. P E T R IN E , President and Publisher
AUTOMATIC
"SPACE FO R D A N C IN G "
There’s a hub-bub over whether locations
equipped with an automatic phonograph furnish­
ing music for patrons’ enjoyment are to be re­
quired to pay the “Cabaret Tax” of 5%. The rul­
ing would make locations subject to the 5% tax on
food and drink sales, only where “A SPACE IS
PROVIDED FOR DANCING.”
Everyone of us has, at some time or other, seen
young and old folks trip the light fantastic on the
sidewalk, in a moment of tenderness or good-
natured frivolity. Surely, the store-keeper, from
whose place of business the spirit-lifting music is
emitting, isn’t going to be asked to pay a tax?
I don’t believe it is the intention of Government
authorities to put “rubber” in the cabaret tax
section.
I
have discussed patron-dancing with average
type locations — which without stretching the
imagination can not be classified as “cabarets”.
None of these locations have what could be
called a “space for dancing.” Some of these loca­
tions have tables spread out— simply as a matter
of “filling” the room.
About patron-dancing, these location owners
said, in effect: “Once in a while some brave couple
will dance, usually as a lark; occasionally a party
of two or more couples come in, and being with
‘their own crowd,’ have the courage to get up and
dance a number or two. We haven’t provided the
space for dancing, but when a couple get the urge
to dance— they simply push tables if necessary to
clear a few square yards.”
One spot, popular with the young people, said:
“I wouldn’t need all those tables, and jammed
close as you can see, if I didn’t have the music ma­
chine. There’s a sign ‘No Dancing Permitted.’
But, could I stop the dancing when these jolly boys
and girls come in to sip a soda? Yes, I could stop
the dancing—by closing the store. But there ain’t
no free cocoanut trees in these parts, and I ’ve got
a family to feed— and if there were free cocoanut
trees, my family couldn’t go out in that kind of
weather without shoes or clothes.”
300,000
or more location owners like these,
heads of families conservatively aggregating 1,­
6
000,000 or more individuals, would speak or ex­
press the same sentiments.
C .M .I.
WAR
IS
O N
EFFORT
THE
ALERT!
FIRST;
SEES
SPEEDY RECOVERY
A “hold-together” spirit permeated the fine an­
nual meeting of the Coin Machine Industries, Inc.,
March 3, held at its headquarters in the Sherman
Hotel. In the informal discussion among members
present, the increasing utilization of facilities for
war materials production was declared as the first
duty right now. The production of coin machines
will be maintained in keeping with Government
regulations.
Without thought of effacing the gravity of war­
time conditions, it was pointed out that the Asso­
ciation will have great value as a co-ordinator of
the industry’s representation.
Dave Gottlieb offered a prediction, based on a
solid foundation of past experience, that “The coin
machine industry will be among the first to be
back in full production after the war is over. One
way to insure this speedy recovery is to keep the
CMI going. It will be the nucleus upon which the
entire industry can build its future.”
Officers elected follow:
President, David Gottlieb; Vice president, Sam
Wolberg; Treasurer, Richard Groetchen; Secre­
tary, John Chrest; Executive Secretary, James
Gilmore. Members of the board of directors, with
the officers, include: W. E. Bolen, Dick Hood,
David Rockola, Walter Tratch, L. W. Gensberg,
F. H. Parsons, and William Rabkin.
T H E B IG S H O W !
To the many operators who have written me
about “conditions” and “problems” :
Don’t worry too much about what may happen.
Let’s do what we know is right in our own busi­
ness. These are the most exciting days in the
history of the world. Sacrifices, yes. But your
business should continue good, and the future will
be better than ever.
AUTOMATIC AGE
© International Arcade Museum
AGE
March, 1942
http://www.arcade-museum.com/