Report from France - Rock-Ola, the Iconic Ambassador

Blogger's Note: This report and accompanying pictures were contributed by Jean Claude Trauchessec of Arts & Memories, Rock-Ola Authorized dealer in France. Fascinating! - AK

WELCOME TO THE VIERZON SHOW / APRIL 2010

Since 1992, the city of Vierzon ( center of France, 2h south of Paris) also becomes, during a spring week-end, the Center of Europe for its now very renowned & famous " Rock' N Broc Years Festival "

Historically, Vierzon was the designated city for this event. Just after WW2, Vierzon was already breathing in American rhythm, style and musical atmosphere. Between 1951- 1968, US Army bases & Air Force squadrons were numerous around Vierzon and neighbouring cities such as Chateauroux and Orléans. Since that time, the US spirit and culture were adopted by the citizens in that area of the French provinces.

For its 19th edition, April 24-25 2010, this 50's Collector show dedicated to Pinballs, Jukeboxes, Jackpots & Slot-machines, Records and US deco was deemed a great success for organizers, exhibitors and visitors alike. Coming from Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and France, more than 13.000 bikers, collectors, amateurs, baby-boomers & friends were able to admire and purchase a wide variety of games, toys, spare parts, clothes with a strong turnout for collector jukeboxes and the new line of Nostalgic Rock-Ola as the Bubblers and Harley.

Among them, Ben Franse and Norman Coster from the Netherlands, and of course, J.Cl Trauchessec (French Rock-Ola representative).

Entertainmentwise, there was Country Music with the Tennessee Rose bands, Merilly the French Loretta Lynn female singer, R N' Roll Diner- Concert, Line Dance, Jive and Boogie, and a Cruising Parade in the city of Vierzon with a parade of 350 harley-davidson, 250 Us cars, big bands and Pom-pom girls.

For the next 20th edition in 2011, Bernard Moulin ( the dynamic French organizer ) expects a full three days Hall of Fame 50's Show made in America, over 5.000 M2 for exhibitors, many thousands of visitors and of course, the whole range of the Rock-Ola Nostalgic and Music-Center jukeboxes.

See you in 2011 for the 20th edition.........of the French Las Vegas 50's Show !

Game Room City, Santa Fe Springs, California

On our website we encourage people to "Call for an Authorized Rock-Ola Dealership". As a result, I'm on the phone a lot, finding out what consumers want, answering questions and usually directing them to an Authorized Rock-Ola Dealership. Turns out we have one of our best-selling dealerships almost in our own backyard -- that is, Game Room City in Santa Fe Springs, CA.

I recently got to pay Becky, Jim and Dennis a visit at the store... also met Maverick, Super Dog.

From the introduction of the Rock-Ola Music Center back in 2006-2007, Game Room City was among the first of our dealerships to embrace the new technology, learn more about it and to sell it. As a result, GRC is among our top 5 music center dealerships, worldwide.

A couple of years ago Game Room City partnered on a really interesting project with artist Michael Godard. Possibly the best-selling artist today, Godard hand-painted his trademark "olive" characters and martinis on a black Rock-Ola bubbler cabinet, then painted a black pool table to match. This is just one example of the "out-of-the-box" business philosophy that has kept Game Room City at the top of the home game-room business in Southern California and beyond.

But success is not limited to clever marketing alone. GMC truly earns their fine reputation and customer loyalty by backing their sales up with good old fashioned customer service. In my chat with Becky it was clear that everyone at Game Room City goes the "extra mile" to take care of their customers.