Donaven Staab, acoustics man for the Canfield family's Santa Cruz Beach
Boardwalk amusement park, reports (second-hand via John Kavanaugh, of
Las Vegas, Nevada) on the installation of a sound system to be used
with the parks three band organs: the newly acquired Wurlitzer 165, its
Ruth 38-B, and its Wurlitzer 146-A.

After the Wurlitzer 165 was put behind glass in its alcove off the
carousel, there were complaints about the effect of the glass on the
organ's sound.  To remedy that, Staab's staff will be installing
a sound system consisting of more than twenty loudspeakers inside and
outside the carousel building.  All three organs will be put behind
glass for their protection, and by the use of behind-the-glass
microphones and sound mixers, full coverage of the area at low sound
volume will be the aim, no matter which organ is playing.

April 2008 is the target date for return of the Ruth 38-B from the
Stinson Band Organ Company, Bellefontaine, Ohio, where the organ
has been rejuvenated and provided with a Stinson 2000 series façade,
decorated with historic photos of Boardwalk scenes.  The organ will
be playing MIDI files rather than book music, since book music is
not a practical medium on an operating ride.  The MIDI music library
will contain Ruth 38 arrangements, Wurlitzer 165 arrangements, and
Stinson adaptations from various European arrangements.  A MIDI system
was also installed in the 165 for use in its daily operation.

After the Ruth is installed and playing, the park will turn its
attention to doing justice to the Wurlitzer 146-A, although no
timetable for that has been established.

Matthew Caulfield
Irondequoit, New York