Marketplace
Issue: 1975 February 28 - Page 31
MARKETPLACE
PAGE 39
UARY 28, 1975
.........
"Editor Chica.go American, Chica.go, Ill. - What would you sa.y was the biggest and most
prosperous convention held in Chica.go? It's not autos, steel or bankers. The only indus-
try that has never asked for government relief.
"Frank Bering, manager of the Sherman Hotel, says it's the only convention that paid
their room rent since '29. It's the slot ma.chine convention. Ma.nufa.cturers and opera.tors
of those games where you put in a. nickel, pull the lever and play marbles with yourself.
It's replaced golf, bridge, Kelly pool a.nd the New York Stock Exchange for exercise a.nd
gambling.
"Your next ambassadors and senators are coming right from this business for they got
the po litical campaign dough.
"They are showing 'em here that have lunchwagon attachments where you can play twenty-
four hours a da.y. Ve will win the next war in a walk if they let us shoot marbles at "em.
Yours, Will,"
(The above was the column of the late great humorist, Will Rogers, Feb,21, 1935. He hap-
pened to check into the Sherman Hotel in Chicago while the '35 convention was under way.
His column appeared in hundreds of newspapers all over the nation. You've got to admit,
you've come a long way, baby, since that column was written.)
Daniel N. Winter, pres. of MCI,Ltd., Milvaukee,Yis., sends sad letter (1/9/75) advis-
ing "MCI is going out of business." ••• Jack Davidson, Bro oklyn,N.Y., has turned his
stamp vender into horoscope machine to vend tickets a.t 25¢ and 50¢ •••• Thanks to Ron
Rego of Rob't Jones Int'l, Dedha.m,Mass., for keeping us informed of this firm's doings.
Herb Perkins of Chicago mails us video game story that appeared in "Los Angeles
Times' (1/3/75). Much appreciated, Herb, Many such newspaper items appearing all over
the country. Some fr om sharp promoters hustling new blood a.nd with sa.d results. (FTC now
checking the "Biz Opportunity" ads of such firms.) ••• Wha' hoppen to Marv Roth of ole
Vilkes-Barre,Pa.? Ain't hoid a woid from Marvin. ••• (Aside to Hymie Zorinsky: Yhen are
you moving into your new bulding in Omaha?) Candy vendors are now looking at "1-Bar 2-Bits"
and right in the eye. In fact, that's expected to be retail price - very soon.
Have been asked to compose a "Pictorial History" edition for "Marketplace" featuring
counter games of the early '30s. With the fact that counter games have practically dis-
appeared, it could prove of good value to the ingenious to look over some of the 40 year
old counter games. After all, everyone today all over the nation, is deluged with sales
tax pennies. Just a few months ago the U.S.Treasury was begging one and all to turn in
pennie s due to the crucial shortage that developed when price of copper zoomed. In addi-
tion t o pennies so many coins sliding over counters at cash registers, 4-vay play counter
games accepting 1¢/5¢/10¢/25¢ coins, priced low, could prove exceptionally profitable.
Por t nat important reason plan to present this "Pictorial History" edition.
..
Ba l l gum vendors, whether they like it or not and as predicted here moons a.go, includ-
ing those now charging 2¢ per gum ball, may as well get stickers made up for their ma.ch-
ines to read, "2 for 5¢". (Price of gum going up again.) • • • Felix Whatley now up in
Jack3onville,Fla., with Bobby DeClemente. Which puts a very grand sales team back together
again •••• Bill (Doc) Whitcomb of Peach State , Columbia,S.C., has just challenged us for
the golf championship of the "Duffers of America". We both have a 10 handicap - 10 per
hole •••• Mike Busko of Oswego County Amusement, Fulton, N.Y., mailed us a picture of
himself and his friend, Joe Louis, standing alongside an old and very attractive "Regina
Corona" antique coin operated phono that used huge brass disks. Joe Louis is a mechanical
whiz . Picked up this antique Regina from the turn of this century at an auction and put
it b&ck in 100% working condition. He values it at $5,000. What Mike can't get over is
the "act, "It really works on a nickel!" (Ve 've shown a few old Regina.a in a "Pictorial
History" edition some years ago, We'll picture this one a.t very first opportunity.) •••
For the benefit of some in the industry obsessed by fear of fear, when he was 90 Andrew
Carnegie advised, "When I was a young man I worried about everything. None of vhich ever
came to pass."
PAGE 39
UARY 28, 1975
.........
"Editor Chica.go American, Chica.go, Ill. - What would you sa.y was the biggest and most
prosperous convention held in Chica.go? It's not autos, steel or bankers. The only indus-
try that has never asked for government relief.
"Frank Bering, manager of the Sherman Hotel, says it's the only convention that paid
their room rent since '29. It's the slot ma.chine convention. Ma.nufa.cturers and opera.tors
of those games where you put in a. nickel, pull the lever and play marbles with yourself.
It's replaced golf, bridge, Kelly pool a.nd the New York Stock Exchange for exercise a.nd
gambling.
"Your next ambassadors and senators are coming right from this business for they got
the po litical campaign dough.
"They are showing 'em here that have lunchwagon attachments where you can play twenty-
four hours a da.y. Ve will win the next war in a walk if they let us shoot marbles at "em.
Yours, Will,"
(The above was the column of the late great humorist, Will Rogers, Feb,21, 1935. He hap-
pened to check into the Sherman Hotel in Chicago while the '35 convention was under way.
His column appeared in hundreds of newspapers all over the nation. You've got to admit,
you've come a long way, baby, since that column was written.)
Daniel N. Winter, pres. of MCI,Ltd., Milvaukee,Yis., sends sad letter (1/9/75) advis-
ing "MCI is going out of business." ••• Jack Davidson, Bro oklyn,N.Y., has turned his
stamp vender into horoscope machine to vend tickets a.t 25¢ and 50¢ •••• Thanks to Ron
Rego of Rob't Jones Int'l, Dedha.m,Mass., for keeping us informed of this firm's doings.
Herb Perkins of Chicago mails us video game story that appeared in "Los Angeles
Times' (1/3/75). Much appreciated, Herb, Many such newspaper items appearing all over
the country. Some fr om sharp promoters hustling new blood a.nd with sa.d results. (FTC now
checking the "Biz Opportunity" ads of such firms.) ••• Wha' hoppen to Marv Roth of ole
Vilkes-Barre,Pa.? Ain't hoid a woid from Marvin. ••• (Aside to Hymie Zorinsky: Yhen are
you moving into your new bulding in Omaha?) Candy vendors are now looking at "1-Bar 2-Bits"
and right in the eye. In fact, that's expected to be retail price - very soon.
Have been asked to compose a "Pictorial History" edition for "Marketplace" featuring
counter games of the early '30s. With the fact that counter games have practically dis-
appeared, it could prove of good value to the ingenious to look over some of the 40 year
old counter games. After all, everyone today all over the nation, is deluged with sales
tax pennies. Just a few months ago the U.S.Treasury was begging one and all to turn in
pennie s due to the crucial shortage that developed when price of copper zoomed. In addi-
tion t o pennies so many coins sliding over counters at cash registers, 4-vay play counter
games accepting 1¢/5¢/10¢/25¢ coins, priced low, could prove exceptionally profitable.
Por t nat important reason plan to present this "Pictorial History" edition.
..
Ba l l gum vendors, whether they like it or not and as predicted here moons a.go, includ-
ing those now charging 2¢ per gum ball, may as well get stickers made up for their ma.ch-
ines to read, "2 for 5¢". (Price of gum going up again.) • • • Felix Whatley now up in
Jack3onville,Fla., with Bobby DeClemente. Which puts a very grand sales team back together
again •••• Bill (Doc) Whitcomb of Peach State , Columbia,S.C., has just challenged us for
the golf championship of the "Duffers of America". We both have a 10 handicap - 10 per
hole •••• Mike Busko of Oswego County Amusement, Fulton, N.Y., mailed us a picture of
himself and his friend, Joe Louis, standing alongside an old and very attractive "Regina
Corona" antique coin operated phono that used huge brass disks. Joe Louis is a mechanical
whiz . Picked up this antique Regina from the turn of this century at an auction and put
it b&ck in 100% working condition. He values it at $5,000. What Mike can't get over is
the "act, "It really works on a nickel!" (Ve 've shown a few old Regina.a in a "Pictorial
History" edition some years ago, We'll picture this one a.t very first opportunity.) •••
For the benefit of some in the industry obsessed by fear of fear, when he was 90 Andrew
Carnegie advised, "When I was a young man I worried about everything. None of vhich ever
came to pass."
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).