Coin Machine Review (& Pacific ...)

Eater Sbu/1/e/Joard Parlors As New
Entertainment Idea
When THE REVIEW began its prolonged cam-
paign some months ago to boost shuffleboard in
every possible way, .it was with the idea that the
trade needed something new which would catch
the public fancy and also help everybody, from op-
erators to manufacturers, to bolster incomes that had
been hit by inflation.
It was easy to see that shuffleboard had merits
which had held favor with players over many years,
even before there· was any dream of coin operation.
Some said the boards would tum out to be only a
passing flurry and then time began to prove that a
national movement was under way.
So, the need of developing and exploiting ideas
to increase public interest in shuffleboard became
very evident. Much editorial space has been de-
voted each month to giving the business a boost
and opinions of leaders in the trade have been
sought. Our news correspondents in trade centers
have also cooperated by emphasizing shuffleboard
gains in their regular reports. All this helps to keep
the business on the upward trek.
A really new idea for expanding shuffleboard use
appeared late last year and it is this idea that needs
promotion to the fullest extent. The idea is that of
shuffleboard parlors. Shuffleboard itself has its limi-
tations and the parlors also have their limitations.
But just as shuffleboard surprised even many people
in the business by its steady expansion to national
size, so the parlors may make a surprising growth
into a national type of amusement place.
The parlor idea has very definite merits and it is
an idea that needs promoting for all it is worth. It
will require lots of promotion, or the idea can die
before it has been fully tested. Shuffleboard has re-
quired a lot of promotion and the boosting of parlors
may be the next big step in promoting the boards.
It is much to the credit of manufacturers and dis-
tributors that they have recognized that here is a
game which permits definite promotions to increase
the play for operators and locations. Tournaments
have been the recognized form of promotion, also
locations can be supplied with banners and signs
that say shuffleboard is available inside. The parlors
will be decided adjuncts to and a logical expansion
to the tournament idea.
Shuffleboard parlors may become the modem
counterpart of the arcade and may rival the big
spread of bowling alleys in recent years. That is, if
everybody in the shuffleboard business starts to
boost the parlor idea.
The pioneering that has been done already in
parlors proves that they have real possibilities.
Parlors already reported have up to as many as 15
boards and experience shows that some kind of side-
line, such as soft drinks, or, other refreshments, are
needed to make the places a complete success. This
is understandable and can easily be provided for.
The center and main attraction in a parlor, however,
is the shuffleboard games and such places will do
much to popularize the sport and to develop leagues
and teams.
Right while the parlor idea is getting its start, it
is well to consider that bowling alleys made their
big headway by being thoroughly modem in design
and pool halls are taking a new lease on life by
going modem. So, shuffleboard parlors must be
made attractive and modem from the start.
Current business trends which have led to an in-
creasing number of store closings may provide a
greatel'. number of favorable chances at getting a
good location for the parlors. In fact, shuffleboard
parlors may fit into current trends with a vim.
Probably December 18 of last year should be
marked on the calendar as the birthdate of shuffle-
board parlors, for that was the official opening of
a parlor for the young folks in Portland, Ore., with
the playing fee set at ten cents. Soft drinks, candy
and sandwiches were included as a sideline to the
ten boards in the place.
Parlors are now spreading more rapidly and have
just recently invaded the Midwest. There is good
reason that 1949 may be Shuffleboard Parlor Year
just as 1948 was Shuffleboard Year.
Manufacturers have led in the promotion of tourna-
ments and it will be to their advantage to lead in
the promotion of parlors. Plans and ideas are needed,
based on parlors that have already opened.up. One
of the most recent parlors to open has about 15 other
types of coin machines in the place, thus giving aid
to the entire field of coin machines. This is some-
thing the Industry has been looking for.
If it will help the cause along, THE REVIEW will
be glad to publish an honor roll or list of the shuffle-
board parlors as they are reported from different
cities. The main idea is to get the parlor movement
into full swing and in that way keep shuffleboard
in the limelight.
Shuffleboard Idea
Tavern owners in Spokane are learning
that it pays to cater to spectators of shuffie-
board play also. A concerted move is on
to capitalize on the desire of customers to
see the games while they drink-and the
result is that more dri nks are sold. When
the boards can be conveniently placed
.alongside the bar, so that customers sea ted
at the bar can wa tch the play, many tav-
ern owners say that more drinks are sold.
Tavern owners are now re-arranging their
bar layout, or even building new bars with
as many as ten stools alongside the bar
next the shuffieboard tables, so that cus-
tomers can watch the play while they drink.
JUNE, 1949
FAST WAXES
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