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ffi®D~ INDUSTRY D~[[)OJJroW\J COIN PlAt.' METER /HETER PLAY Vol 33 No. No. 22 Vol qJ UPDATE Januaty, 1977 y, 1977 Januar Stern Buys Buys Chicago Chicago Dynamics, Dynamics, Stern Production to to Begin Begin Soon Soon Production The recently formed Stern ElecThe recently formed Stern Electronics, Inc. has hasannounced announcedits itsentry entry tronics, Inc. intoan an agreement agreementwith withtwo two Chicago Chicago into banks, Central Central National National and and Main, Main, banks, to purchase from those banks to purchase from those banks certain assets formerly owned by certain assets formerly owned by Chicago Dynamic Dynamic Industries, Industries, Inc., Inc., Chicago which did did business business under underthe the name name which "Chicago Coin." The purchased "Chicago Coin." The purchased assets were were acquired acquired by by the the banks banks assets pursuant to to an an earlier earlier foreclosure foreclosure pursuant sale. Stern Stern Electronics Electronics intends intends to to sale. commence production of pinball commence production of pinball machines inin the the near nearfuture. future. machines Stern Electronics will bemanaged managed Stern Electronics will be by Sam Stern and his son, Gary, by Sam Stern and his son, Gary, both of whom left management both of whom left management positions at Williams Electro.nics, positions at Williams Electronics, Inc. earlier earlierthis thisyear. year. Inc. Sam Stern began hiscareer career inin the the Sam Stern began his coin machine industry in 1931 as an coin machine industry in 1931 as an operator of of coin coin machines machines in in operator Philadelphia. In 1939 he formed Philadelphia. In 1939 he formed aa djstribution company, company, also also inin PhilaPhiladistribution delphia, and was primarily active as delphia, and was primarily active as coin machine machine distributor distributor until until aa coin 1946. In In that that year year he he Joined Joined 1946. Williams Electronic Mfg. Co. (now Williams Electronic Mfg. Co. (now Williams Electronics, Electronics, Inc.) Inc.) as as aa cocoWilliams owner, and in 1959 Stern and owner, and in 1959 Stern and members of of his his family family became became its jts members sole owners. sole owners. From 1946 1946 until until this this spring-exspring-exFrom cept for portions of 1969 and 19701970cept for portions of 1969 and Stern managed the business ofand and Stern managed the business of directed the the design design of of games games at at directed Williams Electronics. Williams was Williams Electronics. Williams was sold to to The The Seeburg Seeburg Corporation Corporation in in sold 1964. During parts of 1969 and 1970, 1964. During parts of 1969 and 1970, Stern served served as as executive executive vice vice Stern president of Bally Mfg. Corp. president of Bally Mfg. Corp. Gary · Stern joined Williams in Gary Stern joined law Williams in afterpracticing practicing law forseveral several 1973, 1973, after for years. At At Williams Williams he he was was assistant assistant years. to the president and was responsible to the president and was responsible forthe theday-to-day day-to-dayoperations operationsof ofthat that for company. After leaving Williams he company. After leaving Williams he and Stephen Stephen Kaufman Kaufman formed formed Kiss Kiss and Amusement Machines, Machines, Inc., Inc., aacomcomAmusement pany which imports and exports pany which imports and exports coin machines. machines. coin Council Okays Cou ncil Ok ays Chicago Pinball Pinball Playing Playing Chicago The Chicago City Council this the council council that that he he overcame overcame his his The Chicago City Council this the month approved an ordinance that initial resistance to the legisl~tion month approved an ordinance that initial resistance to the legislation allows the playing of pinball mawhen extensive extensive committee committee heatings he . ings allows the playing of pinball ma- when chinesininthe the city cityfor forthe thefirst firsttime timein in dispelled notions notions of of possible possible' infilinfilchines dispelled 25 years. The council voted 37 to 2 tration of the amusement -business 25 years. The council voted 37 to 2 tration of the amusement business toammend ammendaacity cityordinance, ordinance, passed passed by organized organized crime. crime. .·" to by the fifties, fifties, that that permitted permitted some some Alderman Richard Mell Mell argued argued inin the Alderman Richard coin-operated devices devices such such as as ararthat the the pinball pinball industry industry isis an an coin-operated that cade games and jukeboxes, but until economic mainstay of Chicago. cade games and jukeboxes, but until economic mainstay of Chicago. this month month prohibited prohibited flipper flipper play. play. Later he he told told Play Play Meter, Meter, itit was was this Later The council council action action imposes imposes aa in;;ongruous to ban pinball playing The incongruous to ban pinball playing licensing fee fee on on pinball pinball games, games, ,"tllltren the four largest manufacturers licensing when the four largest manufacturers establishes a screening procedure are located in Chicago, employ establishes a screening procedure are located in Chicago, employ for arcade arcade owners owners and and raises ·raises taxes taxes Chicago residents and contract out for Chicago residents and contract out alreadylegal legal coin-op coin-op devices devices on the the already to local local firms. firms . "Pinball ."Pinball isis legal legal in in on to from $50 to $75 per year. Deputy almost evey major city; we were from $50 to $75 per year. Deputy almost evey major city; we were aa Sain estimated estimated that that Mayor Kenneth Kenneth Sain little ba¢.ward in that area," he Mayor little backward in that area," he the new taxes and the legalization of added. the new taxes and the legalization of added. ~ pinball playing playing would would raise raise an an extra extra Speak-fng about the opposition to pinball Speaking about the opposition to $1 .5 million a year in revenue for the pinball Mell said, said, "I"I think think some some $1.5 million a year in revenue for the pinball, , Mell city. people a~e looking for a boogie-man city. people are looking for a boogie-man The ordinance, ordinance, one one of of the the last last every machine machine and and that's that's ridicuridicuThe inin every major proposals proposals submitted submitted by by the the lous. I don't think pinball will bring major lous. I don't think pinball will bring lateMayor MayorDaley, Daley, takes takes effect effectabout about down the the morals moralsof of our our children children as as late down ten days after its passage . The bill some of our righteous aldermen ten days after its passage. The bill some of our righteous aldermen was passed passed Jan. Jan. 13. 13. have claimed." claimed." was have Alderman Edward Edward M. M. Burke Burke told told Alderman