Coin Machine Review (& Pacific ...)

PHILADELPHIA
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HARRY BORTNICK
Holiday income on coin operated equip-
ment increased tremendously during Dec-
ember. Perhaps because the public was
in a more gay, entertainment-minded mood
than usual they played game machines more
heavily than ordinarily and amusement
operators benefitted accordingly. All types
of merchandising machines recorded a
steady turn-over, with beverage vendors
doing especially well. Music machines held
their own but did little more, probably be-
cause shoppers were busy.
Further legal support in removing much
of the old-time odium which made amuse-
ment games conceivably gambling devices
was given early in December when Pen-
nsylvania's Superior Court Judge Chester
R. Rhodes reversed a Northampton County
Quarter Sessions Court conviction of An-
drew A. Mihalow, Bethlehem restaurant
owner on a charge of maintaining a gambl-
ing device. The charge had claimed Miha-
low had set up a game at which money
might be exchanged, and permitted open
gambling in his establishment.
The original "guilty" verdict had been
given in April, appealed, and heard by the
Superior Court in October. Judge Rhodes'
verdict stated that the amusement machine
"is lacking in the essential elements neces-
sary to make it a gambling device or a
gambling machine," adding that "many
things made for proper and legitimate pur-
poses may be used for gambling, but what
may be used as a subject of a bet is
not ipso facto illegal or a gambling device."
The Commonwealth's case was based on
the fact that two police officers entered
Mihalow's restaurant and agreed to bet
money upon the score which they could
secure from the amusement machine on the
premises. No charge was made that the
proprietor was present at the time the
wager was made. The State, however, de-
clared that the machine was used for illegal
purposes and that the owner was responsi-
ble for the use to which it was put, there-
fore making him responsible for main-
taining a gambling device.
Judge Rhodes' decision freeing Mihalow
of the charge opposed the Commonwealth's
view that the proprietor was charged with
the duty of maintaining constant vigilance
over a device which was placed in his
location for amusement, and which was so
proclaimed by a proper sign clearly visible
to the players and the public.
The Chicago Show will draw a number
of local operators, among whom will be
the officers of all three local business as-
sociations. Arrangements for local delega-
tions, which will pack two full trains, are
being handled by Business Manager Frank
Hammond of the Phonograph Operators'
Association. Expectation is that about 80
persons will fill the special cars assigned
the Chicago Coin-goers, considerably more
than traveled Windy Cityward in previous
years.
The Phonograph Operators' Association
of Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey is
still maintaining active contact with all
other established music machine organiza-
tions, according to Frank Hammond. These
groups have been requested to have their
president and secretary, or two other of-
ficers, meet with the executives of similar
local groups during the Show, when the
operator representatives will confer with
executives of music and equipment manu-
facturers, following the CMI dinner for
association officials on January 15. Problem
of proper machine replacement will key-
note the discussion, and due examination
will be given the possibility of forming a
national music operators' association.
First real move to distribute the much-
publicized coin operated movie machines
came in December with granting of a state
charter for wholesaling of the devices by a
new corporation, Harrisburg Soundies, Inc.,
formed by Lois F. Swain, Sara Ann Fry
and Maurice Yoffee. The groups will lease
as well as sell the equipment.
Keystone Vending Co. marks another new
move with start of operation of wired
music, following city council approval for
use of underground lines of the telephone
companies with the single limitation re-
straining the firm from conveying gambl-
ing information and from placing the de-
vices in dance halls, theatres and at private
functions in hotels.
Vital statistics: Nathan Rake, executive
of the Rake Coin Machine Exchange has
becorne the pappy of a boy who was prompt-
ly named Richard J. Two other youthful
members of the local industry scheduled
for early parenthood are Ben Seltzer and
Herman Hoffrichter. . . . Popular Lynn
Brown was married at the Adelphia Hotel
on the same day in which Sam Lerner's
son, Martin, celebrated his bar-mitzvah
there. Jack Malit, accountant for the Phila-
delphia Coin Machine Association has taken
the matrimonial step, and Eddie Richter's
daughter soon will . . . . Condolences are
extended to Willfam Helriegel, Jr., execu-
tive of Keystone Novelty & Mfg. Co., whose
wife, Dorothy, passed away early in Decem-
ber . . . . Quick vacations before Chicago
Show-time lured Irv Newman, Jack Cross
and Al and Mrs. Rodstein to Florida, and
corpulent Frank Engel to the Bahamas.
Active Artie Pockrass of Universal
Amusement Co., local distributor for the
Buckley Music System, has announced ap-
pointment of two important sub-distributors
for the upstate area: the Paula Vending Co.
of Allentown, and the Tri-State Music Co.,
Harrisburg.
Newest amusement operator is Harry
Elkins, head of the Royal Musi..: Co., who
joined the Coin Machine Operators' As-
sociation. Another new entrant in this
field is Sam Shur. Invading the music
field are Eastman Music Co., formed by
Harold E. Irwin and Stephen W. Toth, who
have opened offices in the heart of th<1
jewelry district, and Downtown Record
Shop, in the central-city sector, operated by
George Levin.
Local musicmen have been benefittin~
from local theatrical appearances of lead-
ing recording bands, tieing-in the aggrega-
tions' h.i t tunes. Larry Clinton opened at
the Earle late in December, followed hy
Ozzie Nelson and Phil Spitalny. Ted Weems
heads the bill there starting January 17,
followed by Erskine Hawkins, January 24.
Following week is given over to produc-
tion of " Streets of Paris," then Sammy
Kaye comes in on February 7.
Change in Pasadena Novelty Co., one-
time four-partner organization, leaves Al
Roth and Harry Mendelsohn as sole owners,
while Nat Choderker and Max Brown are
operating solo.
Snubby Sloan has opened sumptuous
quarters in the classy section of town where
he calls his operations the Snubby Eastern
Amusement. And Martin Mitnick is now
operating his route from new offices ad-
jacent those of several distributors so that
he can be "first to get all the new stuff."
The friendly cooperation of all operators
in helping this reporter in placing the new
king-sized Cinclair cigarette on the market
is sincerely appreciated. Many locations,
as a result, have featured it prominently
♦
in counter displays.
Vetterick to Groetchen
In Executive Post
CHICAGO-Carroll Vetterick, formerly
with "Automatic Age" of Chicago in an
editorial capacity and, more recently, on
the staff of "Ops", has joined Groetchen
Tool Co. Until the existing office setup is
reorganized, Vetterick is acting as assistant
sales and advertising manager, according
to announcement of Richard Groetchen,
head of the firm, and Karl Klein, general
manager .
.Y etterick has been associated with the
coin machine industry in one capacity or
another for nearly a score of years. In
1928 he was Detroit manager for the Auto-
matic Sales Corp. of New York City, and
in addition to his editorial connections with
the business he has had considerable field
experience as an operator.
A number of new products of this organ-
ization will be displayed at the Chicago
Show, and of them Vetterick was most
enthusiastic, declaring at the same time
that he believed the Groetchen firm offered
him exceptional opportunities and that
their Jines were among the finest in this
particular branch of the industry.
♦
83
C OIN
MACHINE
REVIEW
Baker Releases
Big Time Novelty
CHICAGO-Brand new features, incor-
porated for the first time in a five-ball
novelty table, are said to mark Big Time,
newest equipment from Baker Novelty Co.,
Inc. Said also to be "easy to understand,
fun to play, and commanding instantaneous
appeal," the new ll;ame has eight ways of
scoring, three big special sequence awards,
and five other unique combinations.
Baker officials report that their re-play
games are enjoying favor for their money-
earning power and for their originality,
mechanical perfection and workmanship,
and that distributors and jobbers who have
received initial shipments have proved a
demand with substantial repeat orders.
Full line of Baker novelty tables, Baker's
Pacers, counter games and a new anti-
aircraft gun will be on display at the
♦
Chicago Show.
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1322 W. Congress St.
C H I CA GO, I LL .
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