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Where Are They Now?

Checking In With Jerry Monday, A Coinbiz Veteran With a Heart & Story as Big as Texas

here’s a Dallas-bred, in 1960) and an arcade USS Ganard). Texas native named owner (he once had a game After discharge, T Jerry Monday who’s room at the famous Knott’s he joined the well known to many indus - Berry Farm amusement park Associated try long timers…and for lots in California). He’s either Booking Corp. Our man Jerry Monday today (right) with of different reasons. Retired owned or worked for dis - specializing in his closest friend Johnny Gatens (Amusement now, let’s just say that dur - tributorships (like Southgate booking rock ’n’ Distributors, San Antonio). They originally met in ing his 40-odd years in coin- and SunBelt in Texas, Bet- roll and country 1974 when John worked as a bookkeeper for the old Sutherland Distributing Co. in Oklahoma op he’d been around the son West, Circle Interna- music bands City. He served as best man at Jerry’s wedding amusement industry’s horn tion al and his own Century into colleges. to Sue. “I cannot think of a finer gentleman in this and back…and left a ton of Vending dealership in Cali- “We repre - industry,” said Jerry of his friend. memories in his wake. fornia) and a selection of sented a lot of Jerry’s worked on all manufacturers (like Nin ten- acts back then,” Jerry “Conway’s real name three levels of the trade in do, Leisure Sports and his recalled in a recent inter - was Harold Jenkins,” Jerry the Southwest, been all over very own Century game view, “like Sam Cooke, the continued. “He got his first the country and even the brand). Osmond Brothers, Louis name from his hometown of world helping folks design Jerry’s even been a trav - Armstrong, B.J. Thomas, Conway, Arkansas, and and outfit new game cen - eling coin-op consultant, and even Sam the Sham and started out as a rock singer ters. He also was one of the taking him to such markets Trini Lopez, if you remem - before going country,” he very first to recognize that as Mexico, Russia, China, ber them. Our roster also advised. “He loved baseball, the salvation for many after Saudi Arabia and even included a man who became and hamburgers with a slice the “video slide” of the early Vietnam. But as often hap - a very close friend, Conway on pineapple on them. ’80s came in the form of the pens, what began in Dallas Twitty. During a time when he lived redemption game. brought him all the in Oklahoma City, he Some veterans still way back there when opened a fast food remember this flamboyant he retired around 2001 place called Twitty Texan, and occasionally after selling his last Burgers. reminisce about him when distributorship there to “Conway had a they gather at association Betson…and then used military prop meetings and other social kicking back. plane that was so slow affairs. Few could entertain we once flew out to you with better stories about Showbiz Las Vegas and it the business as it was “back looked like the auto - in the day” than this guy Man mobile traffic on I-40 (who once got the Gottlieb Jerry Monday was below was moving pinball line for one of his born two days after faster than we were,” enterprises “by default” Christmas in 1934 (he Jerry continued. “One after the factory’s regular celebrated his 83rd night, Conway was up dealer got drunk and cussed birthday during last on the stage at the out a member of the year’s holidays). After Aladdin Hotel when he Gottlieb family). schooling, he served stopped singing and Jerry’s been a route oper - four years in the Navy Country recording star Conway Twitty told the audience to was a good friend of Jerry’s and the two even ator (Century Games out of (two of which were riend and even entered some business ventures ‘say hello to the man Tulsa was his “starting line” spent on the destroyer together back in the day. who wrote my big hit

March 2018 | RePlay Magazine | 131 jerry monday

Hello, Darlin’. He pointed Glazerman to build coin- down at me and the spot - operated foosball tables,” light followed. Some ladies Jerry advised. “The compa - thought I really had written ny was called Leisure Sports that song and asked for my and we named our first table autograph. Conway loved to the Lil Hustler. This earned play jokes on people.” us a cease and desist order The Twitty/Monday from Nissan Motors which friendship ultimately blos - made a pickup truck by that somed into a business deal name,” he revealed. with an Oklahoma operator “Anyway, we took an by the name of Dale exhibit booth at that year’s Cuzalino selling mobile MOA Show. It was my first homes. The business ulti - of many and was held in the mately went south, but Jerry dead of winter at Chicago’s says Twitty paid him every Conrad Hilton Hotel. After penny he’d lost on his invest - dealing with the Teamsters ment. The next Monday to get our booth going, we investment brought him to ended up without a single Tulsa and the opening of a sale until a buyer from string of nightclubs that Montgomery Ward gave us included Mr. Magoo’s, The an order for a hundred home Jerry and Sue Monday at their Century Distributing office in Playgirl and the Scotch Mist. tables on the last day of the Gardena, Calif. where they were among the first to recommend redemp - In 1960, it also brought show. Four years later, tion machines to customers after the video game business had softened him into the coin machine up. One year, they were Skee-Ball’s biggest distributors. Wards closed and so did business when he decided to Leisure Sports.” expand the pins, jukeboxes Next stop on Jerry’s and pool tables he got for coin-op circuit was at a his clubs into a service for small video cocktail table fellow club and bar owners maker in the San Francisco around town. Before long, Bay Area called Stella the enterprising Mr. Games. The factory was Monday had himself a route owned by a man named which he called Century David Price, who in future Amusement. He ran that days would work for Jerry route for nearly a decade during the time he spent before selling out and with Betson West. Jerry returning to Dallas. remembers that his first In 1962, he married a Stella video game sale was beautiful lady named Diana made to Oakland, Calif., Jean. In due time, they had a route operator (and the first baby son whom they named importer of NSM jukeboxes Jerry, Jr. Tragically, when from Germany) Henry the boy was only six years Leyser. old, Diana Jean was killed “Stella Games closed in a in a drunk driving accident, year and we were paid off in and “big” Jerry became a bad checks,” says Jerry single parent. today. “My son and I had Making & made the move out there and now, I was a single parent Selling Coin out of a job. But, I’d been Machines making some sales calls Century made some games of their own in the early 90’s, one of “Around 1969, I part - down in Los Angeles to which was featured on the June 1994 cover of RePlay . That’s Jerry and Sue with their salesman Mike Robinson touting the Paint ‘N Puzzle “paint nered up with a former guys like Dean McMurdie at by the numbers” touchscreen game. Dallas banker named Marty Circle International and Bob

132 | RePlay Magazine | March 2018 want to fill us in on what you’ve been up to post-coinbiz? email [email protected] jerry monday

Portale at his place on Pico Boulevard. Tom Portale offered me a job as a sales - man in L.A. When Bob Portale passed away, I learned that Bert Betti from Betson Enterprises in Jersey had been an owner all along. So, guess what happened then?” Jerry laughed. “I was moved back up to the Bay Area to manage what was now Betson West Distribu- ting on Howard Street. In 1982, I hired a lady named Sue Gaynor to help me manage the place. A couple of years later, we got mar - ried, and stayed married for a very busy 17 years. My best man was my good Century also made a crane-like reaction game called Round the Bend shown here at the Gardena office by friend then and now, Johnny Jerry, salesman Mike Robinson (left) and technician Paul Horning. Gatens from San Antonio.” to Seidel and Smart. “In our than some other distributors. business and renaming it his Back to SoCal first year, we were Skee- They also branched into now-traditional Century “After that, I put in a Ball’s biggest customer,” he manufacturing with a “paint Distribu ting. In 2001, he year or two working for Ron proudly noted. by the numbers” video ended up selling that place Judy and Al Stone at The redemption revolu - touchscreen game called to Betson. And then, our Nintendo, and then Sue and tion was on and their arcade Paint ’N Puzzles , a crane- busy boy finally “put down I relocated back down to expertise put them a bit like piece called Round the his tools!” Southern California where I more in front of the curve Bend and even a photo managed the Pico booth. In addition, Retirement Boule vard distribu - their Spirit Design So, what’s it like to kick torship Circle arcade consulting divi - back after all of this? International after sion was flowering (Readers are cautioned to the death of its under Sue’s direction. separate the facts from the founder Dean (They divorced around blarney.) “I have tried golf, McMur die.” this time and Sue now but after a year, I still The next move lives and works as a couldn’t get the ball proved to be Jerry designer in through the windmill into and Sue’s most Sacramento; Jerry says the 18th hole,” he grinned important when they they’re still friends.) when asked. How about founded Century In 1996, Jerry but - tennis? “Not much better Distributing in the toned up Gardena and luck. Just ask that 16-year- L.A. suburb of moved to San Antonio old instructor with the Gardena. Over the to work at SouthGate white shorts. Besides, I next decade, they Distributors on the have had two hip replace - built their product invitation of its owner ments, two stents and a roster from zero to and bosom buddy suicide clause in my insur - well over a dozen Johnny Gatens. A year ance policy that doesn’t frontline brands of later, Jerry moved allow exercise.” cranes and prize from San Antonio back Television? “I almost got games from Bay Jerry’s arcade design business has taken him to to Dallas to run addicted to General numerous exotic markets, from China to Saudi Tek, Benchmark and Arabia to Viet Nam. Here’s he’s making a wish at the SunBelt Distributors, Hospital and As the World Bob’s Space Racers more familiar Fountain of Trevi in Rome. eventually buying that Turns. A surprise interven -

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Jerry with grandson Craig Kiley and great grandchildren today. In Jerry proudly hugs granddaughter Kiley at her wedding. He’s also close retirement, he still travels a bit and is active in two investment groups to Sue’s daughter Shantelle whom he helped raise after he married her that meet on a quarterly basis. But mainly, he just enjoys life in his home mom. “We speak or text every week, mostly about politics,” he says. town of Dallas. tion from a case of Bud Lite down because I wouldn’t shared with some friends at a know what games to recom - Cowboys game at Hooters mend today. But it felt good cured that habit. I’m enjoying to get the offer, even if I life in Dallas and keeping in couldn’t take it,” he admitted. as best a shape as I can. I think back on all those tons of tiny meatballs I ate at those The Highlight Bally, Nintendo and Sega Jerry’s been involved in hospitality parties they had numerous deals, but we asked back in the glory days.” which one was the highlight. What does Jerry also “I once bought a large enter - remember from video boom tainment center in Knoxville, times besides meatballs? “I Tenn., from the bank that had remember way back in 1982 taken it over,” he began. “I when some guy named Al The guy at the desk signing autograph for Jerry Monday is the sold the entire contents to a Stone stopped by Betson’s in NFL’s all-time leading rusher Emmit Smith who played most of his Russian gent named Grenady San Francisco when I ran that career for the Dallas Cowboys, Jerry’s hometown team. Furman. Over three-day’s office to tell me he and a time, five other Russians friend named Ron Judy were importing thing had more miles on it than the guy packed up ten containers of games, soft a video game from a Japanese company who went around the world in 80 days, play parts and rides, and off they went. called Nintendo. and everyone made a profit on the deal. “At the time, I had my personal “I asked the big boss Peter Betti if Different times,” he said. account at a small Bank of America we could buy some. He saw the poten - “I’ve done a good bit of traveling branch. On the day the Russians wired tial, and ordered a small container. The since I sold my place to Betson, con - seven figures into that account, I got a rest is history. Betson ended up selling sulting but also just for fun like a call from the bank’s vice president to thousands of Donkey Kongs . I also recent cruise I took. But recently, come and see him. That’s when I remember getting a Pac-Man cocktail another guy who designs entertainment learned they had an ‘upstairs’ for impor - table shipped from Betson’s Jersey centers called to offer me a consulting tant customers where free coffee and office out to me on the Coast. I sold the job in Dubai. I’d worked on one FEC bagels were available and no waiting in machine to a Reno operator who in turn with this guy’s firm many years ago the teller line. I learned how folks with sold it to an operator in Jersey. That selling games. I ened up turning him money lived. But after I transferred the

134 | RePlay Magazine | March 2018 Marcus Webb: A Big Monday Fan

The first time I met Jerry a gift for friendship. He loves Jerry in San and I was Monday, it was instantly people. He also loves fun, Antonio and bounced clear that he had a mar - five-star restaurants, great had the good over the side. velous, country-style sense music, great movies, and an fortune –– or As I disap - of humor (think author Dan adventureR neoPwla ay nd then. maybe the mis - peared below Jenkins or standup comic When started fortune –– to Marcus Webb the surface for Jeff Fox worthy). Like a lot of running a monthly column share one of his the third time, good old boys from Texas, by Jerry many years ago, more memo - Jerry (as he Jerry has often hidden his we discovered he had that rable adventures. That was later admitted) was thinking: considerable business rare humorist’s writing talent. the weekend Princess Diana “If Marcus drowns, what will smarts behind a down- He took great pleasure in died in a car crash, and I I tell Eddie!?” home, unpretentious man - saying politically incorrect nearly drowned during what Happily, he never had to ner. things about the industry was supposed to be a calm, make that phone call, and The more people have (and when it came to indus - peaceful, river rafting trip we have been laughing gotten to know Jerry try big shots, he loved with Jerry. about that unplanned swim Monday, the more they real - pulling the lion’s tail). The highlight of the story for 20 years. ized he’s basically a teddy In 1997,R wehPelany I was still came when we hit a patch of from MReaPrcluasy Webb bear with a gentle soul and working at , I visited unseasonable white water former Editor

Russian’s money over to another bank, porting. These and others were all good fondly, especially now that I’ve mel - no more bagels.” people. lowed,” he laughs. “Any possible “I met a lot of folks and made a lot embar rassment I may have caused Good People of friends over the years. I hope some them was strictly unintentional,” he Jerry says he’s met many fine peo - of those who spent a fun-filled night laughs. ple in the course of his long and busy together with me will remember me career. Besides Johnny Gatens, there’s Linda Fernandez of the Fun Factory chain. “I did 21 IAAPA shows and every one of Linda’s famous parties,” he noted. “Sue and I were at her first At Operators Distributing, one and were there for her at another we offer top quality time when her husband Kane was laid to rest. equipment, service & parts “Of course, Bill Cravens, Kenny Anderson and Al Kress are on top of my list of industry greats. And then proudly representing: there’s Marcus Webb, a close friend of mine during the time he was RePlay’s Editor and since. He even ran a number American Changer Champion Mfg. P & E Technology of my very own ‘think’ pieces in the Andamiro Chicago Gaming Sega magazine. I’ve been lucky to know and do business with a lot more nice folks Arachnid Coastal Amusement Venco ATMs like them. Benchmark Coast to Coast Ent. TouchTunes “I also witnessed many acts of kindness over the years. Like the Betson Gold Standard/Shelti UNIS Fernandez family providing scholar - Bromley McGregor Enterprises Valley-Dynamo ship money to their Hawaiian employ - ees. Or when one of my own employ - ees at Betson died and the company paid his wife three-month’s salary. OPERATORS DISTRIBUTING, INC. “Then I remember when Maynard Ostrow, the arcade operator at Circus 2205 Gaither Court, Archdale, NC 27263 Circus in Las Vegas, shipped me hun - dreds of stuffed animals for a Dallas (336 )884-5714 I fax: 336-884-0864 charity for abused kids that I was sup -

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