Spiro Games

Sharp-witted Amster Spiro, city editor of William Randolph Hearst's New York Journal-American, knows little about playing parlor games, including bridge, but he does know a good thing when he sees it. Over a year ago, when he read that "Monopoly" was selling by millions, his newspaper mind envied such profitable circulation. Forthwith he devised a newspaper game, "Flash News." It was too complicated to sell much more than 10,000 sets (at $2.50) and is presently being simplified. From "Flash News" Editor Spiro did learn, however, that there is money in games--if you don't play them. Soon he secured rights to solitaire "Auto bridge" (a British invention) and organized a production company with himself holding the fattest share. Now his sideline has become a thriving business with several hundred employes occupying a spacious loft building in Manhattan.

Last week Amster Spiro plunged deeper into the game business. He bought two-thirds interest in Bridge World (circ. 10,000) and Games Digest (circ. 10,000) from Bridge Expert Ely Culbertson. Mr. Culbertson, who started both magazines, remains as part owner and editor, but Hearstman Spiro announced a new policy. Henceforth Bridge World, instead of being Mr. Culbertson's private forum, will invite other experts to debate their views in its pages. Whatever Mr. Spiro's policy, he will have difficulty matching the frankness of the final Bridge World editorial while under Culbertson ownership: "Every bridge writer with the facilities to do so is even now working on some sort of book, any sort of book, about five-suit contract. There will be a quick sale for it. The public can discover its unsoundness later, when the money is already in the till. Naturally, the editors of the Bridge World are in the thick of it, getting their own book on five-suit bridge printed and on sale."

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.