Kudos to Tim Trager for his fine article hitting the nail on the head
with the reality of amusement park economics and music machines.

Remember that both the parks and the machines were or are revenue
generators; in a sense, amusement parks are themselves struggling to
survive and are an anachronism in today's world.  We all associate the
mechanical musical instruments with the amusement parks because, when
the parks originally were developed back then, the coin pianos,
orchestrions and band organs were the only way to get "live" music in
the park aside from costly human musicians.  If one wanted an authentic
vintage style park, it naturally followed suit to include automatic
musical instruments.

There are also other dynamics at work: most modern music just doesn't
sound good on these beloved music machines.  Just listen (if you can
bear to) to most Industrial, Grunge, Hip-Hop or other nihilistic
sub-cultural garbage falsely labeled as "music" today -- it's hardly
suitable for the graceful instrumentation of a PianOrchestra or large
band or fair organ.  So if the park atmosphere is not of the 1900-1930
era, the instruments are indeed out of place and ready for the museum
or private collection phase.

Additionally, it is a far more brutal and disrespectful crowd today
than we had years ago.  How long do you think that, say, a Peerless
orchestrion with exposed drums on the piano lid would last intact in
a public place today?  The instruments at Knott's were horribly
vandalized (instrument shut-off knobs and plaques removed, etc.)  So
in the name of preservation, it is best that original machines are
removed from public usage, not even considering the fact that they are
mercilessly "played to death".

A possibility is to interest amusement park developers in investing
in new construction,  MIDI-operated and thus able to play at least
performable (by traditional orchestrations) modern songs, i.e., movie
theme songs, TV main titles, Country & Christian hits, things with
traditional melody and harmony that are still being written (like my
own rags and one-steps and marches -- not trying to self-promote,
only give an example).

The Decap firm is successful with their new Karaoki dance hall organs,
plus there are many fine instruments being built today both in Europe
and in America.  (I think that Craig Brougher's "Sophie" is probably
the most spectacular modern MIDI-capable orchestrion in existence, even
though it can also play an "O" roll).  Certainly press releases sent to
amusement park magazines would be in order.  Also, regular manufacturers
of band organs would do well to advertise in those industry trades --
how can amusement park execs know a whole generation modern instruments
exists if their makers fail to send press releases, much less
advertise?

Finally, I, too, mourn the passing of the old boardwalk arcade and
amusement park.  It was during Easter week of 1967 that I first saw the
Wurlitzer style 30-A Mandolin PianOrchestra at the Playland Arcade in
Balboa, CA.  I must have spent all of my cash on it, just to hear the
wonderful music (it was limping along, but still playing) and watch the
actual instruments play.  It began a love affair for me with music
machines that continues to this day.

So I encourage putting "build-up" instruments out on location in
relatively safe locations, where the establishment signs insurance
responsibility and maybe the two of you split the "coin box" (although a
dollar bill mechanism is more realistic).

There's hope yet; I believe a whole new generation is waiting to
"discover" these instruments, if only they knew they existed!

Wishing Upon a Star,

S. K. Goodman