Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > May 1997 > 1997.05.11 > 12Prev  Next


Picturolls
By Ron Bopp

Picturolls, made by the Filmusic Company of Los Angeles, allowed any
operator of the player piano or photoplayer (one which had an 88 note
tracker bar) to supply music according to the mood of the silent movie.
Love scenes would require a "smoochie, love" type of music while chase
scenes would require more exciting music.  The Picturolls came in many
designations with enough to fulfill any  mood that came up.  I owned and
played a Style 20 Fotoplayer made by the American Photoplayer Company for
years until recently and it was fun using a number of rolls to highlight
the silent movie.  Mary Jo (my wife) and I are Charlie Chaplin aficionados
and we enjoyed projecting a silent move such as "The Tramp" and using the
Picturolls to set the scene.  I wrote an article about the Fotoplayers
several years ago (early 1980's) and it was published in the Musical Box
Society Journal.  Hope this helps!

Ron


(Message sent Mon 12 May 1997, 14:27:39 GMT, from time zone GMT-0600.)

Key Words in Subject:  Picturolls

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page