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MMD > Archives > August 1999 > 1999.08.27 > 04Prev  Next


Pipe Organ in "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea"
By Tom Detweiler

Hello MMDers -- Maybe someone out there has some information on this:

What is the pipe organ that is in Captain Nemo's stateroom aboard the
Nautilus, in the 1954 Walt Disney Movie, "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea?"

Attached is all the information we know about it, from the webmaster
of the 20k.com site.  If like me you were one of the millions of kids
thrilled and enchanted by that movie, you remember James Mason passion-
ately playing Bach's Toccata and Fugue upon the manuals as the Nautilus
glided serenely beneath the seas-- one of the classic movie moments of
all time, at least for me! Anyway it occurred to me that one of you
mechanical music and movie folks would probably know all about that,
and be able to help us with the mystery!

Thanks in Advance

Tom Detweiler/RCIP (Regina Corona In Progress)

 - - -

From: 20kRouter
To: Tom Detweiler
Subject: Re: Pipe Organ?
Date: Thursday, August 26, 1999 8:10PM

The pipe organ is in the ball room of the Haunted Mansion of Disney-
land, Southern California.  The ornate gilded wood carvings which
surrounded the organ have been removed though.  I'm afraid that's all
I know.  The manufacturer's name was removed from the organ for the
film (close-up shots necessitated this).  Also, the organ does not
work; hasn't worked for about 50 years!

 [ I asked about the organ when I worked at Disneyland in the 1960s,
 [ and was told that the organ pictured on film (and displayed at the
 [ park) was a prop built from the remains of an old organ console,
 [ with some pipes and scrolls added for visual excitement.  No one
 [ who I spoke with at the park knew anything about the _sound_ in the
 ] movie.  I loved the film too, Tom!   -- Robbie


(Message sent Fri 27 Aug 1999, 16:25:00 GMT, from time zone GMT-0800.)

Key Words in Subject:  20,000, Leagues, Organ, Pipe, Sea, Under

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