Silver_Fox
Bronze Member
From the Free Lance Star
http://www.thefreelancestar.com/News/FLS/2004/082004/08042004/1444006/index_html
Jukebox lesson answers columnist's question
August 4, 2004 1:07 am
Donnie Johnston (my favorite columnist) asks, "Why are quarters painted red?" ["Do red quarters make 'cents'?" July 24]
In a bygone era when jukeboxes took coins instead of just paper money, the owners of bars and "juke" joints would deposit "house" quarters in the jukeboxes to liven up a quiet or subdued atmosphere so customers would get into a "rocking" mood, continue to feed the jukebox with their own money, and buy more drinks.
These "house" quarters were usually marked with red fingernail polish (which most barmaids or waitresses had readily available) so that when counting the "take," these coins were not figured into the profit or taken as part of the percentage if someone else owned the jukebox.
Before quarters were the coin of the realm for jukeboxes, nickels were painted, but when was the last time you saw a nickel jukebox?
Hope this answers Donnie's question.
Steve Heitzler
Falmouth
http://www.thefreelancestar.com/News/FLS/2004/082004/08042004/1444006/index_html
Jukebox lesson answers columnist's question
August 4, 2004 1:07 am
Donnie Johnston (my favorite columnist) asks, "Why are quarters painted red?" ["Do red quarters make 'cents'?" July 24]
In a bygone era when jukeboxes took coins instead of just paper money, the owners of bars and "juke" joints would deposit "house" quarters in the jukeboxes to liven up a quiet or subdued atmosphere so customers would get into a "rocking" mood, continue to feed the jukebox with their own money, and buy more drinks.
These "house" quarters were usually marked with red fingernail polish (which most barmaids or waitresses had readily available) so that when counting the "take," these coins were not figured into the profit or taken as part of the percentage if someone else owned the jukebox.
Before quarters were the coin of the realm for jukeboxes, nickels were painted, but when was the last time you saw a nickel jukebox?
Hope this answers Donnie's question.
Steve Heitzler
Falmouth
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