RePlay Magazine Podcast - Gene Urso
RePlay Magazine Podcast - Gene Urso
Former Wisconsin operator Gene Urso, now 93, has a lot of great stories to tell, but also some valuable wisdom to impart to people in the coin-op amusement industry today, especially the next generation. Chief among them is to get involved, learn from experienced people, contribute, and not be intimidated by successful people. Urso, like our host Randy Chilton, served a term as president of the AMOA (Amusement & Music Operators Association) and only wishes he’d joined his state association, AMOA and the VNEA (Valley National 8-Ball League) sooner. Such membership helped him meet and learn from others in the business. That benefited his business, but more importantly, built enduring friendships. In his chat with Randy, Gene shares insights on AMOA’s bold NANI initiative (an early game networking plan), how much his wife Nancy contributed to the success of Madison Coin Machine, how if he’d do it all again, he wouldn’t talk business around the family dinner table, and more. He’s just as sharp as ever and if you wonder what keeps Gene ticking and so vibrant today, outside of his wife, Nancy, and family, it’s got to be golf. In a classic moment, Gene says, “I get up in the morning and I read the obituaries, and if I'm not there, I go golfing.” You’ll have fun and learn a lot out in this episode, so give it a listen!
Kineticist’s take
Veteran operator Gene Urso recounts 60+ years in coin-op, AMOA presidency, NANNY networking initiative, and industry mentorship lessons.
Synopsis
Gene Urso, former AMOA president (1991) and Wisconsin-based coin-op operator, reflects on his 60+ year career spanning from 1956 entry into the jukebox/arcade business through his leadership of industry associations. The conversation covers his mentorship under figures like Wally Boer, his role in the failed NANNY (National Automatic Network) initiative in the 1990s, founding of the VNEA with Chuck Milhelm, and lessons on family business management. Urso attributes his success to early association involvement, continuous education, and a supportive community of operators who functioned as a brotherhood.
Highlights
- Gene Urso was AMOA president in 1991
- Gene Urso has been married for 67 years (married in 1959)
- NANNY (National Automatic Network) is now a $5 billion business in Europe
- NBA Jam was tested in Chicago and Detroit as the machine to drive NANNY adoption
- eSports tournaments connected to arcade gaming are now three times bigger than NASCAR, same size as NHL, and half the size of NBA
- Gene started in the coin-op business in 1956 after military service (1952-1956)
- Gene and partners Wally Boer and another operator started the only apprenticeship school in the United States for jukebox operators/repairmen
- Gene was the first president of VNEA (Valley/Wisconsin Operators Association) with Elliot as executive director
- NANNY failed in the US market despite successful early tests and international expansion
- Williams manufacturers stepped up to support NANNY but the platform never saw mass street deployment
Entities
- Williams· company
- NBA Jam· game
- AMOA· organization
- VNEA· organization
- Chuck Milhelm· person
- Craig Johnson· person
- Dick Hawkins· person
- Elliot· person
- Gene Urso· person
- Jim Stansfield Sr.· person
- John Estridge· person
- Ken Fidesma· person
- Nancy Urso· person
- Nikki Urso· person
- Randy Chilton· person
- Tony Urso· person
- Wally Boer· person
- Golden Tee Golf· product
- NANNY· product