Play Meter

fROM THE EDITOR ROM THE EDITOR SS A fa fascinating trip A scinating tr ip down memory dow n mem ory lane lane everal months months ago ago II did did an an inineveral terview with with Bob Bob Breither, Breither, a a terview 50-year veteran of the coin-op in50-year veteran of the coin-op inof the the Half Half dustry and and aa member member of dustry Century Club. Club . II noted noted in in the the ininCentury troduction to the interview that it troduction to the interview that it was one oneof ofthe themost mostrewarding rewardinginterinterwas views I had done because of his views I had done because of his ofwisdom wisdom and and stories stories of ofthe the years of years old days. old days. then attended attended aameeting meeting of ofthe the II then Half Century Club during the Half Century Club during the AMOA show show in in Las LasVegas Vegas and and was was AMOA ofthe the tales tales to to be be told told again in in awe awe of again from men that have devoted entire from men that have devoted entire lifetimes to to the the coin-op coin-op business. business. lifetimes The Half Century Club is comprisThe Half Century Club is comprised of ofpeople people with with 50 50 or or more more years years ed in the business and charter members in the business and charter members with 40 40 years. years. Those Those attending attending the the with meeting were were Si Si Redd, Redd, Bernie Bernie meeting Shapiro, Marty Bromley, John Shapiro, Marty Bromley, John Bilotta, Ed Ed Blankenbeckler, Blankenbeckler, Frank Frank Bilotta, Guerrini, Sal DeBruno, Bob Guerrini, Sal DeBruno, Bob Breither, Irving Irving Margold, Margold, Hank Hank Breither, Tronick, Marvin Gray, Bob Jonesi, Tronick, Marvin Gray, Bob Jonesi, ClydeLove, Love, Joel JoelKleiman, Kleiman, Bert BertBetBetClyde ti, Hank Hank Ross, Ross, Bob Bob Jones, Jones, Sol Sol ti, Lipkin, Lou Bruno, and Steve Lipkin, Lou Bruno, and Steve Kordek. Combined Combined these these men men have have Kordek. nearly 1,000 years in the business! nearly 1,000 years in the business! 12 PLAY PLAY METER/Janua METER/January 1990 12 ry 1990 Many are are retired retired now, now, but but they they tended tendedaaBallyite Ballyiteparty party with withhim him two two Many arethe the true true roots roots of of what what we we are are toto- years of years ago ago and and got got to to meet meet some some of are day. These men may have different the legends I had heard him often day. These men may have different the legends I had heard him often backgrounds-operators, distribudistribu- speak speak about. about. II couldn't couldn't have havehad had aa backgrounds-operators, tors, and manufacturers-but they better time. There is no substitute tors, and manufacturers-but they better time. There is no substitute shareaacommon commonthread. thread. They They all all exex- for forexperience, experience, and andthese theseHalf HalfCenCenshare periencedthe thebeginnings beginnings of ofcoin-op coin-op tury tury Club Clubmembers members are arethe theones ones with with perienced and have witnessed the evolution of the background. and have witnessed the evolution of the background. theindustry. industry. They Theyhave haveseen seenhistory history Lookingto tothe thefuture, future, IIhope hopethat that the Looking in the making, from simple whiffle once we have interviewed these men in the making, from simple whiffle once we have interviewed these men games to to modern, modern, technologically technologically and and have have their their stories stories down down in in our our games advanced video games. pages, we will be able to compile advanced video games. pages, we will be able to compile Eachhas has aa story story to totell, tell, and and Play Play them them into into one one booklet. booklet. II think think Each Meter is going to devote a special everyone in this industry will be proMeter is going to devote a special everyone in this industry will be procolumn each month to share with ud to recognize those that blazed the column each month to share with ud to recognize those that blazed the trails for for us us and and hear hear their their unique unique our readers readers one one of ofthese these stories. stories. At At trails our narratives. Half Century Club meeting, the the the Half Century Club meeting, the narratives. question arose arose about about what whatthese thesemen men I'm happily happily looking looking forward forward to to question I'm had to offer the industry. The the time when I can claim 50 years had to offer the industry. The the time when I can claim 50 years in the the coin-op coin-op entertainment entertainment ininanswermay maybe betheir theirsavoir savoirfaire faire and and in answer dustry. Let's wisdom about about what what this this industry industry is is dustry. Let's see, see, II only only have have 37 37 wisdom all about. I years to go! can't wait to hear stories D all about. I can't wait to hear stories years to go! aboutwhat whatititwas waslike liketo tobe bein in the the ininabout dustry 60, 50, or 40 years ago. dustry 60, 50, or 40 years ago. One of ofmy my best best friends friends in in the the ininOne dustry is Paul Calamari. He began dustry is Paul Calamari. He began his industry industry career career at at Bally Bally in in the the his '30s, and and worked worked there there until until several several '30s, years ago. I never tire of 1 istening to years ago. I never tire of listening to him reminisce reminisce about about the the early early days days him and the pioneers of the industry. atand the pioneers of the industry. IIat- Valerie Coprenich Valerie Cognevich Cognevich Valerie Editor Editor