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MMD > Archives > May 2011 > 2011.05.10 > 14Prev  Next


Player Pianos in the Old West Myth
By Dale F. Rowe

[ Mike Kukral wrote in 110509 MMDigest:
> I like old movies and watch a lot and I have _never_ seen
> a player piano in an old Western movie.

Dear Mike,  Greetings from The Bronx.  I don't know if this is of
any consequence, but in the 1976 western comedy movie, "The Duchess
and the Dirtwater Fox," starring Goldie Hawn and George Segal, there
is a scene well into the movie where Segal is playing poker in
a saloon, and directly behind him is a Wurlitzer PianOrchestra
(with glass panels revealing it's innards).

The premise is that Segal's character is a card shark.  As he is
about to play a winning hand, someone decides at that very moment to
put a nickel into the PianOrchestra.  The loud blast of music from
the instrument startles Segal, causing him to jump up and to reveal
all of his hidden cards.  A mad chase ensues...

I guess comedies are always exempt from being historically correct.
I hope this helps in your endeavors.

Sincerely,
D. F. Rowe
Bronx, New York


(Message sent Tue 10 May 2011, 17:05:37 GMT, from time zone GMT-0400.)

Key Words in Subject:  Myth, Old, Pianos, Player, West

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