THE TROUBLE WITH GUMBALLS

by James Nelson ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 8, 1956

A cheerful, complaisantly innocent, and often very funny account of a young man's going west -- from New York to California where a pitchman's promise of ""an easy part-time $100 a week"" inducts him into the penny gum machine business. A little persuasion parts him from most of his capital- some $5000, for which he gets 100 machines and a route in Sonoma County--- along with the constant annoyances of jammed machines, busted globes, recalcitrant to resistant shopkeepers, fighting youngsters, and the continuous attempt to locate and relocate his machines. A year of this penny-ante game still leaves him a long ways from a profit, drives him to the desperate episode when he locks up a non-cooperative customer in a washroom, and brings him to the conclusion that he must go into Christmas cards. A bout with polio brings in his $100 a week (insurance) and his wife finally lands a ""pigeon"" to buy his route.... Just about as resilient as the product involved, and likable all the way.

Pub Date: Oct. 8, 1956

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1956

Categories: NONFICTION