Rich Sitler's remarks in the 10.08.26 digest were very interesting.
He's quite right that it's a problem at parks owned by big American
chains too.  Cedar Fair, for example, has eleven different parks in nine
different states, plus several other properties.  There are an awful
lot of organs in bad shape or not playing at all at Cedar Fair parks.
I'd love to hear the Gavioli at Kings Dominion playing some time.

Six Flags has thirteen parks in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, plus
other properties.  To my knowledge, there isn't a working band organ at
a Six Flags park anywhere.  Most antique carousels at Six Flags parks
are in awful shape as well.

Parques Reunidos' parks are in the worst boat I can think of.  They
own eleven amusement parks in seven countries, plus more than fifty
zoological parks, water parks, and family entertainment centers in
Europe and the Americas.  The American parks are owned through
subsidiary Palace Entertainment, the Parques Reunidos headquarters
are in Spain, and the whole firm is owned by Candover Investments
in London.

It's not difficult to imagine the problems large company structures can
cause.  Can you imagine how many different levels of management there
must be?  Each level has to justify the bottom line and all expenses to
the next highest level.  Add the geographic distance to the equation
for Parques Reunidos, and think how many times a repair to the one
organ at Kennywood might have to be explained and justified.

The only park that I can think of, run by a big company that keeps its
organ in good shape, is Hersheypark, where the Wurlitzer 153 sounded
great a few Christmases ago.  I suppose the Hershey company is the
exception that proves the rule.  Maybe it's that they only own the one
amusement park and their roots are still very much in Pennsylvania.

Rich is also quite right that the amusement parks that do keep their
organ in good repair are fortunate to have people who are willing and
able to work on those organs.  I'm grateful that Matthew Caulfield is
at Seabreeze, Dave Wynn is at Knoebels, and so on.  I'm grateful that
Rich is at the park he is at (I'm not sure which one, but I bet I've
been there if it's in Penna.) and that every other technician at every
other park makes himself or herself available.  I look forward to
knowing enough about band organs to be able to offer my services, and
I only hope that there are still several parks that have organs to be
repaired.

Finally, his point that we should all offer our compliments or
complaints at Guest Relations wherever we go is a good one.  I never
believed that amusement parks (or any other business, for that matter)
really cared much about statements made at Guest Relations, inquiries
on the phone, and other communications from guests.  One of my close
friends began working at Six Flags in Maryland this season, though,
and she tells me that employees are supposed to keep tallies of
comments left at Guest Relations, inquiries on the phone, and so on.

Ever since she told me this, I've made a point to call every amusement
park I go to beforehand and ask if their organ is running.  I do this
even if a friend was just there and tells me that the organ is not
working, and I will do this next week for Knoebels even though I'm
quite sure their organs will be in fine fettle as usual.  I don't
really need the information, because I usually want to go to the park
anyway.

The point is that, if whoever answers the phone is keeping track of what's
being asked about, the band organs will be on their list.  On the way
out I now stop at Guest Relations and leave either my congratulations
on a well-regulated organ or my wishes that a long-silent organ would
play again.  I know it won't move mountains, but maybe if we all did
a little something like this, someone would notice.

As an aside, Rich, I think you're right about the reason for the little
musical blips on the Lake Compounce organ.  I remember noticing that
they only occurred on the first and second tunes of each roll, which is
just when the other roll is rewinding.  Thanks for the explanation!

TJ Fisher
Washington, DC, USA