The Foxwoods Oz commercial

Hello Frank,

I read and enjoy your articles published on Casino City Times. You recently wrote an article about commercials you hate and I just had to respond to one of them, since I am an employee (dealer actually) at Foxwoods in Connecticut. Your article said:

"Now the massive Foxwoods, Connecticut casino came up with a truly nauseating commercial. It was a takeoff of The Wizard of Oz and had several weird-looking people cavorting on the grounds of and in the casino. Dorothy looked as if she was seriously strung out. The others looked worse. What is the point of the commercial? That people who look like crack addicts have fun at Foxwoods?"

Since I know that you live in New York, I can only assume that you have been to Foxwoods at least once. If not, then I can perhaps explain part of the Wizard of Oz theme. Please note that I am not an official representative of Foxwoods, but since you didn't seem to enjoy the commercial or "get it" like many of the local patrons, I just wanted to let you know what the point was.

If you approach Foxwoods from I-95 and then CT Rt #2 west, it's an eight-mile journey through the woods and then all of a sudden you see Foxwoods almost like it was out of nowhere. Many people and patrons over the years have likened it to the Wizard of Oz scene where Dorothy and her group are traveling and all of a sudden they see Oz over the field of daisies. Well, that's how it started. That has been going on for many years, people saying how much this huge complex in the middle of the woods reminds them of The Wizard of Oz. I actually thought the commercial was kind of clever given the reputation.

Thanks a lot for all of your good articles. I will continue to enjoy them.

Janice

Dear Janice:

I've been to Foxwoods several times, even shot a television show there for TBS. You are right that when you see Foxwoods looming over the forest, it is an impressive sight and does conjure up images of The Wizard of Oz. My main objection to the commercial had more to do with its use of certain actors and how the whole thing was staged. If the ad agency who developed this commercial had actually followed your concept of the great Foxwoods going into the sky over the trees and perhaps referring to The Wizard of Oz that might have made it a good commercial.

Of course, this is a matter of opinion and you are perfectly free to like the commercial.

For your great letter I am giving you a free 30-day subscription to my private, members-only website. We have over 5,000 members on this private site and the conversations are interesting, educational and fun. I know many of the posters would love to hear from a dealer's perspective.

All the best in and out of the casinos!

Frank Scoblete