RePlay’s 50th by Jack Guarnieri, Jersey Jack Pinball & PinballSales.com Fifty years is a long time in a person’s life to do anything and for RePlay Publisher Eddie Adlum, this year actually marks the 61st that he’s covered our “coin-op” amusement industry. Thinking back to when he got the idea to create this publication and beginning publishing in 1975, it probably didn’t occur to him where it would lead him and our business. Through the years, there were several other publications covering our industry. All of the others, while earnest in their efforts, were running a sprint while Eddie and…
Author: RePlay Editor
The SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY SECTION is available in PRINT ONLY. To real all the related stories, see the many pictures and enjoy the congratulatory messages, get the full October 2025. Order it online (go to the “Get RePlay” tab, select “Sample Copies” and put October 2025 in the notes) or call 818-776-2880. 50 Years at RePlay Magazine Witness to a Half-Century of Coin-op Entertainment With the publication of this issue, RePlay Magazine turns 50 years of age. The anniversary marks a half century serving the jukebox and amusement machine industry with a trade journal aimed at the people who either make,…
Dates and events are subject to change. Check with each organization to confirm that the event will go on as scheduled and monitor your Instant RePlay email newsletters for updates. Submit events for inclusion by emailing [email protected]. October 14-17: Pinball Expo 2026; Renaissance Convention Center, Schaumburg,Illinois; www.pinballexpo.com October 29-31: Thailand (Bangkok) Amusement & Attraction Parks Expo 2026 (TAAPE), supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand; Impact Exhibition & Convention Centre, Bangkok, Thailand; www.taapeexpo.com November 16-20: IAAPA Expo; Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Fla.; www.iaapa.org 2027 January 20-22: AMOA State Council Meeting; Hilton San Diego Airport/Harbor Island, San Diego, California; www.amoa.com February…
Episode 5 of the RePlay Podcast features Jim Stansfield Jr. of Stansfield Vending of LaCrosse, Wisc., the man who host Randy Chilton calls “the consummate amusement operator.” Jim began working for his father back in the days of nickel bingo machines and over time, built a very sizable business. Upon his retirement, Stansfield Vending was initially sold to his daughters Janet and Julie; today, it’s an employee-owned business (ESOP) run by Janet. (CLICK HERE to watch the episode on YouTube or click the player below.) Through three generations the business has not only survived but thrived. The family mantra was:…
Celebrating 50 Years in Coin-Op by Jack Guarnieri, Jersey Jack Pinball & PinballSales.com Next month, RePlay Magazine will celebrate a milestone: 50 years of producing exceptional content for the industry. This month, I am marking a 50-year milestone of my own in this industry us old-timers know as “the coin-operated machine business,” and I thought I’d share the highlights. My journey began as a pinball mechanic, repairing electromechanical pinball machines in college game rooms throughout the New York metropolitan area. I was fortunate to become an operator, securing some locations and buying games, and after moving to New Jersey, I…
The issue you’re about to read completes RePlay’s 50th year in the business of making a monthly news magazine for people who either build, sell or (in most cases) put coin-op amusement and music machines before the playing public. We’ll be celebrating this rare and happy event with a salute to RePlay in our next issue where we fully intend to produce something our readers will get a real bang out of. Stories on the history of the magazine and the people who’ve helped produce it over the years will be augmented by tons of photos, mostly nostalgic, that we’ve…
A Case Study in Chosing Cashless Logan Arcade Owner Leaves Coins Behind for his Elston Electric FEC By Jim Bennington, No Cash Value LLC No Cash Value LLC (NCVLLC.com) is Jim Bennington’s boutique consultancy focused on the “middle space” of amusement operations, LBE/FEC location design & development. To reach Jim Bennington, email [email protected]. If you’ve read Malcom Gladwell’s book, The Tipping Point, or recently Revenge of the Tipping Point, he presents a theory that describes how ideas, trends, and social behaviors can suddenly spread like wildfire, reaching a critical mass and becoming a widespread phenomena. It is the moment when a…
High Caliber Karting and Nowhere Entertainment Thrills, Laughs, and a Little Bit of Mayhem by Barry Zelickson Fun Across America continues its exploration of unique golf experiences with two modern takes on classic games. We stopped by Puttshack in Edina, Minnesota, where mini-golf meets high-tech innovation, and then headed to Five Iron Golf in Detroit, Michigan, where state-of-the-art golf simulators and a full social experience redefine what an indoor sports venue can be. Both offer a glimpse into how tech and hospitality are combining to create new kinds of fun. • • • High Caliber Karting – Lansing, MI www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjfcJD2S0_k…
Don’t Fear the Fall How Signature Events Can Define Your Profit Center By Clint Novak, Business Development Manager, A&A Global Industries Every FEC operator knows the rhythm of the calendar: brace for the summer surge, plan for spring break. But what about the dreaded “slow season?” That dip after Labor Day often means quieter hallways and declining revenue. The real question is, how do you create your own peak season? During my eight years as general manager of Fun Land of Fredericksburg, a role I held until 2023, we faced this exact challenge. Our mini-golf course, a star attraction in…
Tips for Improving Business by Adam Pratt, Arcade Galactic & ArcadeHeroes.com While this issue is focused on the benefits of operating a card system, I, unfortunately, have to pass on the subject once again. That’s because I’m still “stuck in the past” working with tokens, although I’m sure Hoffman Mint appreciates the continued business! I expect that I’ll switch to cards someday, but that day isn’t here just yet. But if that leaves you wondering what I’m doing to improve business in my mall arcade, I’ll share a few things in hopes they provide useful insights to operators who might…