The Project Pinball Charity recently donated an old Gottlieb Stargate pinball machine to Camp Sunshine, an award-winning retreat on the shores of Sebago Lake in Casco, Maine. The camp, meant for children with life-threatening illnesses, hopes to use the machine as a therapeutic (and fun!) device for kids struggling with illness. Project Pinball visited Camp Sunshine to set up the machine, and Camp Sunshine families were already putting it to good use by the time they left. The camp hosted a local celebrity tournament, led by Jeff Parsons from a local radio station. “This is definitely one of the most…
Author: Casey Minter
Coast to Coast Entertainment co-founder John Maurer died at St. Clair’s Hospice in Dover, N.J. the evening of August 8 after a lengthy battle with cancer. The sad, though expected, news was all the more tragic considering that this crane maker was only 50 years of age and leaves his wife Kimberly and sons Andrew and Christopher all too early. John and his partner Gary Balaban founded the Lakewood, N.J.-based “C2C” 17 years ago as an importer of cranes they had contract-built for them in China. They’d already known the coin-op business having owned and operated arcades on the Jersey…
After 35 years in coin-op, Bob Sokol has decided to close and liquidate the assets of his Two-Bits.com and Pac-Man.com businesses. Austin, Texas-based Sokol will be selling his large inventory of video game and pinball parts and circuit boards on eBay under the seller name ArcadeSurplus (find out if there’s anything you need here). Sokol spent his many years in the industry assisting countless operators with repairs and advice (some readers will remember his Pac-Man speed up kits from way back in the day). Sokol, a longtime RePlay friend who is always quick with a joke, had this to say:…
ATM provider Payment Alliance International (PAI) was voted — for the third year in a row — as the best place to work in the Greater Louisville area. Local newspaper Louisville Business First presented this year’s awards to recipients at an awards breakfast held Aug. 3 at The Olmstead. PAI was recognized in the large employer category of 100 employees or more. “We have an outstanding team of dedicated employees, all working to serve our clients and make our business better,” said PAI President and CEO John Leehy. “They understand the indisputable connection between great passion and superior performance in…
A reservations-only, bar-within-a-bar called The Grid opened earlier this summer, inspired by the classic arcade legend Tron. Savvy guests who manage to snag a reservation can find The Grid hidden behind a re-purposed Tron cabinet on a bonus level of San Francisco’s 10,000-sq.-ft., Coin-Op Game Room bar arcade. The speakeasy, which began taking reservations in June, has a futuristic feel inside with clean white walls and bright neon lights lending more authenticity to the sci-fi atmosphere. Coin-Op Game Room has a history with the classic arcade game (and recent Disney movie/two-hour-long Daft Punk music video). Both of its main bars,…
The International Association of Trampoline Parks (IATP) is hard at work preparing for its fifth annual trade show and conference. The event is coming to the Westin Mission Hills in Palm Springs, Calif., from Sept. 19-21, and with it comes a host of professionals, companies and associates related to bouncing business. The IATP Conference kicks off early on Tuesday, Sept. 19, with committee meetings and training, all leading up to the exhibition floor opening and cocktail reception. A meet-and-greet after party finishes the night out. On Wednesday, attendees will dive into a variety of workshops running from 10:30 a.m. till 3…
The FDA (Food & Drug Administration) has proposed that the tobacco companies begin seriously thinking of making low-nicotine cigarettes…enough that they’re “non-addictive.” According to the N.Y. Times, nicotine levels would be set so low that smokers wouldn’t be able to extract enough to create or sustain addiction. “Cigarette makers today keep the nicotine at between 1 and 2 percent by weight, having found this to be the Goldilocks optimum, neither too harsh nor to mild,” wrote the Times. “Reducing this percentage by a factor of 10 would make it very difficult for cigarettes to become addictive. Reducing it even further…
Multi-state bulk vending and kiddie ride operator (Century Corporation/Kidzone) and entrepreneur Scott Braverman passed away July 28, 2017, after a brave battle with brain cancer. He was 65 and leaves his wife Betsy, son Benjamin, daughter Natalie and a large extended number of close relatives, along with many friends. Cremation rites have been accorded; the interment private. A memorial celebration will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in Scott’s name to the American Brain Tumor Association, www.abta.org or the Northwestern Brain Tumor Institute, BrainTumorInstitute.org would be appreciated. Scott’s widow Betsy advises contributions to the American…
Michigan’s operator group, the MCMOA, has scheduled its annual meeting and education seminar for Aug. 23 at the Bavarian Inn Lodge in Frankenmuth, Mich. The day kicks off with the annual meeting at 10 a.m., immediately followed by an AMOA update, a fair play presentation and a review of the redemption laws. Lunch is at noon, after which presentations on credit card processing and redemption will be held. After that, there will be three round table discussions, one dealing with leagues, tournaments and promotions, another with music and finally nudge-type redemption. The day ends with a silent auction and open…
IAAPA has announced that Nick Varney, CEO of Merlin Entertainments, will deliver the keynote address during the GM and Owners’ Breakfast at the Attractions Expo 2017. The Expo runs Nov. 13-17 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The breakfast takes place on Wednesday, Nov. 15, at 8:15 a.m. and the association says it’s the one of the biggest networking events for senior-level attractions industry executives from around the world. Varney has more than 25 years of experience in the attractions industry and has led U.K.-based Merlin Entertainments since the company was formed in 1999. Today, it’s a…