I was at Disneyland a few months ago and I seem to recall there being
some sort of mechanical music thing behind the Dumbo flying elephant
ride.  I can't tell you if it was a working machine, if it played tape
recordings or what.  Sorry, I just didn't pay that much attention.

Regarding Tim Trager's comments, I agree with just about everything
he said.  I don't know what the answer is.  In the corporate world,
no matter how many billions of dollars they make, there is no such
thing as "enough profit".  Just the yearly bonus of Disney's CEO could
support a small country.  Maybe even a big one!

There is also a Catch-22 at work.  Those big corporations will do
whatever it takes to bring in the people.  If more of society went
there just to see and hear mechanical machines, they would make sure
they had the biggest exhibit of them.  Since it is such a small
minority, they could not care less.  But how can society (and the kids
of tomorrow) get interested in mechanical music if they don't even get
a chance to be exposed to it?  If society isn't educated enough to know
what they are missing, how can they demand anything better?

When I went to Disneyland in the 1970's and early 80's, I used to love
the Penny Arcade on main street, for the simple fact that it WAS so
different than any other arcade.  They had all those cool hand-cranked
movie machines, mechanical games, music boxes, etc.  My heart breaks
every time I go in there now.  Heck, it's a miracle they still have
some live musicians working there and thank God the Deagan Organ Chimes
are still being used!

 [ I think that's the Deagan "shaker chimes", played by the
 [ strolling Disneyland Barbershop Quartet and nearby volunteers!  ;-)
 [ -- Robbie

Walter Knott and Walt Disney did those small personal touches because
they loved it.  There is no way a corporation will ever care as much
as an individual human being.  That holds true in all walks of life:
entertainment, music, health care, sports, the government, food ...
you name it.

Maybe if we all spoke out it would make a difference.  Next time you
are at Disneyland or Knott's find some official looking park person and
tell him how disappointed you are that the mechanical machines are not
working or are not there anymore.  You mechanical people here should
know more than anyone else, "The squeaky wheel gets the grease!"

Danielle Squyres