Under the guidance of new editor, Ann V. Cosstick, Paddle Talk added an Issues Column to allow a dialog on issues of concern to the platform tennis playing population. Source: Paddle Talk, No. 1
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The North years led to the emergence of a meaningful Junior Development program; the beginnings of regional management, including an international region; the formation of the players' committee; the upgrading of communications with the APTA membership; and the beginnings of solid financial based planning in APTA Board activities. In the first issue of Paddle Talk in September, New President Cecil North Jr., expressed his views on the issues facing the APTA. Source: Paddle Talk, No. 1
Read MoreThe APTA Board accepted the Equipment Committee’s recommendations to update the standards at their June meeting. Only balls and paddles certified by the Equipment Committee as meeting these specifications could be used in sanctioned or ranking tournaments. However, it was now not necessary for balls and paddles to be formally "APTA Approved"; this designation was awarded to equipment at a later date. The rapid growth of the game the high expectation for its continued expansion had encouraged a number manufactures to produce paddles and this drove innovation. This innovation forced a change in the APTA paddle specifications, specifically with respect to the number of holes allowed. Up to late 1974 the had been a requirement that the paddle should have 63 holes with a tolerance of 52-74. the developments of the Play-morTM paddle which used an aluminum honeycomb core and had just[...]
Read MoreIn recognition of the growth of interest in on-grade courts in warm-weather areas, the Board confirmed that a court need not be built on a platform to meet APTA specifications.
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Ambassador Walter Stoessel, a keen player and lover of the game, had introduced platform tennis to both Moscow and Warsaw, and had courts built in both capitals. The Warsaw Chapter of the APTA sent the association a report on an inter-embassy tournament played on April 26 and 27 between them and a team from Moscow that included Stoessel, the American Ambassador in Moscow. The Moscow Chapter claimed the title of Champions of the Eastern Hemisphere based on their triumph in the tournament, in which they won eight of the contests. Source: Paddle Talk, No. 1 Paddle World Vol. 1 No. 2 Mid-Winter 1976
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The spring edition of Paddle Talk carried this story. “If the Dutch haven't heard of platform tennis yet, then they soon will, or so at least hopes Cees Cuppens of Bellfires BV in Holland. Recently he visited the U.S.A. and met with Gloria Dillenbeck of the APTA to discuss his plans for marketing courts in Europe. The Dutch are already tennis-mad, inspired by the success of their national tennis heroes, Betty Stove and Tom Okker. And the tennis twosome just happened to be paddle freaks, too. Bellfires BV makes fireplaces, but recently decided to expand the business. They have chosen to go into the leisure industry, ironically one of the few areas that have benefited from current adverse economic conditions. The path that has led Mr. Nico de Wal, President of Bellfires, and Cees Cuppens to see the potential of platform tennis was determined by conditions specific to a tiny count[...]
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In November, Tennis Trade started a new publication, Paddle World, devoted entirely to platform tennis. All APTA members received one year's free subscription.
Read MoreThe University Club hosted the meeting on October 27th with close to 200 in attendance. In a summary of the year's developments, President Mike North stressed that transition was taking place, both in the internal organization of the APTA, and in its relationships with other organizations. Platform tennis was transitioning from game to sport to business. The responsibility of the APTA was be to ensure that the organization could handle the transition smoothly, while protecting the traditions, the essential character of the game, and the informal quality which made it attractive to players in the first place. The highlight of the proceedings was APTA Chairman of Commercial Development Bob Kingsbury's presentation of the relationship between the APTA and Coca-Cola Bottling Company of New York. From an Igloo Cooler, he pulled product after product, from Tribuno Vermouth, through Rumbl[...]
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In 1975, the Saddle & Cycle Club, under Platform Tennis Chairman Frank Klimley and the initial subscriptions of 110 members, constructed two wood courts. The initial warming facility was in the north end of the main clubhouse with views out toward the courts, thirty meters away. In 1979, the 'Saddle' had two Men's and one Women's team playing in the highly competitive North Shore Platform Tennis League. Then in 1985, not only were new aluminum courts with heaters and improved lighting installed, but the original Sportshouse 'warming hut' was constructed adjacent to the courts, both adding to increased play and member enjoyment. In 2015 club member Jim McCormick, a long-time player of the game at Saddle and Cycle, purchased an original racquet (circa 1930) and had it framed along with the description of the origins of the game at the club. Source: Racquets Committee (Heather Mont[...]
Read MoreThe Dr Pepper Junior Development Program consisted of two aspects: educational, which covered the Exhibition-Clinic program and the printing of 10,000 rules booklets, and the tournaments. Dr Pepper sponsored the two-part program for the 1975-76 season to the tune of $50,000. This funding was to be spent on mounting the Exhibition-Clinics, providing prizes at the tournaments, and advertising and promotional materials. At the tournaments, Dr Pepper would provide prizes, supply sweatshirts and travel bags, and have coolers with refreshments at each court location. A representative of the Company would present the winners of each tournament with a check for the cost of their transportation to the 1976 Nationals. Miss Teen New Jersey would present the prizes at the Nationals. Jim Gollhofer, New York Metro Manager for the Dr Pepper Company, commented that the program offered the Company[...]
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