The Ruth & Sohn organ that has been a fixture with the nearly
100-year-old Looff merry-go-round at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk,
has finally returned from Don Stinson's shop in Ohio, and according
to the Boardwalk is once again playing for the first time in over two
years, after the organ's restoration.

The Ruth organ was made in Germany back in 1894 and has provided music
for the Looff merry-go-round since the ride opened at the Boardwalk in
1911.  The organ has a brand new facade, made for Don Stinson and the
Boardwalk by the Carousel Works of Ohio, and is painted with scenes
from the Boardwalk's early days.

I'm told that Ruth book music, that has not been played in many years
on the organ, has been transferred to MIDI files and is now being used
with it's new MIDI system.  The Boardwalk's Wurlitzer 165 is also using
a MIDI system to play its music.

The park just sent out an e-mail newsletter mentioning the return of
the Ruth organ.  If any MMD'ers are near the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk,
please visit the Boardwalk and maybe record some video of the organ
playing and sending them to sites like YouTube for all of us to enjoy.

Personally, I can't wait to get up to the Bay Area to view and hear
this grand old lady come back to life, after years of playing poorly
and sounding tired.

John Kavanagh
Las Vegas, Nevada