Jack, Thanks for the posting on MMD.  Ellen Barry is an extraordinary
writer for the L. A. Times and is stationed in New York City.  She also
happens to be very interested in mechanical music, organ grinders, etc.

We met at our AMICA organ rally on April 9th in Coney Island, where
she interviewed a number of our enthusiasts there.  Most of the other
reporters concentrated on Alto Mancusi and his Enrico Caruso Museum in
Brooklyn, but Ellen was more interested in the fact that organ grinders
were actually banned in New York City and we are now making a public
statement that we're back, with or without monkeys!

Joe Bush, mentioned in the article in the L. A. Times, is the last
organ grinder in the area.  The other two closest ones are Tony Lupo
in Newton, Massachusetts, and Dennis Windsor in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Bob Candido, the last organ grinder in New York City, disappeared
sometime in the second half of 2005.  There is no obituary listed
for him, so it is suspected that he is in a senior citizen facility
somewhere.  His phone number was reassigned last January.  I am still
trying to investigate the situation.

An extensive article on existing organ grinders with live monkeys will
appear in the October issue of the COAA bulletin.  This will include a
directory of how to find these people.  The list isn't long since these
people are dying out and not being replaced by the younger generation.
As far as I have been able to determine, there are only two full-time
dingers left in the country.  Dingers are those who actually live off
of the proceeds collected by the monkey.

In recent years two young men have tried to become organ grinders with
monkeys.  One was murdered.  The other, just a few months ago, failed
to get a license or insurance.  His monkey bit someone and the City of
Philadelphia euthanasised his monkey and put him out of business.

The so-called animal rights people have also taken a toll on organ
grinders with monkeys.  As a result of their actions some places are
now completely off limits to animal acts of any kind.  In Denver and
its suburbs, for example, don't get caught training your cat or dog.
Interestingly, I get more requests for organ grinders with monkeys
from the Denver suburbs than any other place.  The Fish and Wildlife
Commission of the State of New Jersey have told Joe Bush that they
will never issue another monkey license in the state -- ever.

If anyone is interested in getting into this business, the stakes
and initial costs are high.  Trained monkeys run between $20,000 and
$30,000.  You have to have at least two monkeys.  Then you have to
apply to USDA, Fish and Game or (Fish and Wildlife, depending on the
state), and possibly your local city for licenses.  You will need a
minimum of $1,000,000 insurance.  And every time you go on the street
you may need a permit for that specific gig.  

In some places, such as New Jersey and New York City, you have to
inform those who have issued you licenses of a specific gig at least
two weeks in advance so they can (a) check out the facilities ahead of
time, and (b) spy on you during your performance.  They claim to have
the right to shut you down at a moment's notice.  Oh, I forgot -- you
also need an organ.  Well, those in Las Vegas fake it with CD players,
so I don't consider them real organ grinders.

Also, note that there is no such thing as a monkey sitter.  Traveling
will be severely curtailed except if you take your monkeys with you.
You cannot take monkeys on a commercial airline, so you may need your
own plane for long distances or a good friend with a private plane.
Any takers?  If interested contact me and I will help to get you
started.

Vincent Morgan, New York City