Peter Neilson wrote:

> "When did they stop making scrolls for these," some people ask.
> (My answer is to glance at my wristwatch, and then say, "At five
>  P.M. on Friday, but they'll start right up again first thing
>  Monday morning.")

The hill where I have my workshop and band organs overlooks the Napa
Valley on one side, and from the house on the other side of the street
the Sacramento and Diablo Valleys can be seen.  This makes it a popular
spot for viewing fireworks on Independence Day as shows from a dozen or
so cities can be observed.  Often neighbors throw parties so that these
shows can be enjoyed.

In addition, a large gathering of folks from other areas fill the
public street in front of these houses to watch the shows.  This makes
for a ready audience.  The last three years I have been playing my
Caliola for these crowds.  There can be 50 to 75 people or more just
hanging out to watch the fireworks.

This year I added in some of the music from the estate of Tom Grace.
With the garage door open and the Caliola pulled out to the front, it
can be heard a good block away.  A few of the more bold and adventurous
will approach me or the organ to see what it is.

In answering the question as to the state of roll production, I have
answered that for pianos and the big band organs there are at least six
companies competing to manufacture new rolls, with probably another
three or more working part time.  This is not counting the folk who are
producing the music for the small 20- and 35-note crank organs.

I suspect that few roll perforator operators knock off on Friday and
take the time to restart on Monday, though.  Roll production these days
seems more of a labor of love with deadlines.  Cute answers are fun,
although I tend to want to take a more serious approach and not talk
down to a potential MMD reader or future member of the alphabet soup
known as COAA, AMICA, MBSI, etc.

I did have a request for 'Led Zeppelin' this year, which is something
I would entertain if such music was available.  It's not exactly the
most popular of music.

I will admit that my tastes lead more to the music produced by the
company with a large rodent for a mascot.  Tom Grace implied that these
rolls came from <that> park in Anaheim.  Since my organ plays MIDI
I amended some of these songs with recent arrangements from films
popular in the 1980s and 1990s -- the sort of films which star mermaids
and genies, the sort of songs that get a nod at Oscar time.

I also have some Beatles and Elton John, the ubiquitous Broadway show
tunes, and yes, even that "Phantom" which seems to be around a bit.
These I mostly play for myself (and the neighbors) occasionally on
weekends.  I am lucky in that the neighbor across the street always is
asking me to play the Caliola and the "happy music" as it reminds her
of good times she has had.

On Independence Day I mostly play marches.  This year I alternated with
a march, then a Coney Island or circus style song.  At the end of the
performance the audience clapped and cheered.

I suspect that in the 1950s and 1960s, when these rolls were to be used
in one of the most popular amusement parks, the more traditional songs
were played, with the occasional insertion of one of the more "corporate
theme songs" every now and then.

Now the plastic replica of the organ still in that amusement park plays
recordings of these rolls.  A search on YouTube for 'King Arthur's
Carousel' has in the background the same arrangements of the "corporate
songs" playing, although on a cut-down Wurlitzer 157 rather than the
intended Caliola.

It is my desire to keep this music accessible to as many as I can,
so I will put in a plug for the upcoming August meeting of the AMICA
Founding Chapter, which will be held at my parent's house and where
my workshops are on August 24 in Martinez, Calif.  I like to hold an
open meeting, so any reader of the MMD is welcome to attend as my guest
and see the views and listen to the music.

Julie Porter