Hi Group,  I took instruments to both the So. Calif. organ rallies,
at Memorial Park, Sierra Madre, and at Descanso Gardens in La
Canada/Flintridge, June 30 and July 1, 2001.  I had a wonderful time!
Many of those who brought instruments are MMD readers and other MMD
folks were in attendance.

Mike Ames brought is his DeCap 72-key Dutch street organ, Dave Wasson
brought "Trudy", the truck mounted fairground organ he built and
arranged the music for.  Charles Porter brought "The Spirit of San
Diego", his truck mounted organ that he built and arranged the music
for.

Frank and Shirley Nix, who organized the rallies, brought a Tangley
Calliope, a 25-key Perlee Dutch book organ, and their Limonaire book
organ.  They also had their bubble machine that the kids love.  Lloyd
Osmundson had cart-mounted Hofbauer 37er Harmonipan crank organ and was
in full organ grinder regalia, complete with moustache.  Don Rugh had a
20-key Roy Norman organ.  The Blairs had their Pell organ and Wurlitzer
105.

There were three more organs but I didn't take notes and am having a
senior moment.  Sorry I can't remember the organs and owners names.
One was a self-built Wurlitzer 104.

Lee Roan dropped by and Robbie Rhodes delighted a gathering crowd by
hand-playing my Tangley CA-43 calliope.  I also had my 22-key Perlee
Dutch book organ.

We had a terrific crowd at Descanso Gardens with many children. It
is a delight to see the kids dancing to the music or directing it and
allowing the older kids to crank a book through the Perlee.  I also had
five people with keyboard training ask to play the calliope by hand.
Robbie was the only one that came prepared with hearing protection.

If you are ever in the area of a band organ rally, GO!  You can't
help but love it.

Jack Conway

 [ I enjoyed playing the calliopes, Jack!  I'll place
 [ photos taken at these rallies at the MMD Events site,
 [ http://mmd.foxtail.com/Events/  -- Robbie