[ Ref. Lee Rothrock in 18.09.01 MMDigest ]

Lee, Greetings from the Bronx!  In regards to your inquiry about
the Glockenspiel Clock, and not wanting to disappoint you, there is
a distinct possibility that the clock in question was only a movie
prop and the music supplied by several percussionists.  And then,
if it had existed, there's the possibility that it did not survive
the Second World War (as did many magnificent clocks and instruments).

Although, in a scene in "It Happened One Night", in the background
there is a Mills Violano Virtuoso.  And in yet another movie,
"My Girl Tisa" (1948), the two main characters stop to listen to
a Mills Violana playing.  Unfortunately what is heard is not the
Mills!

In a made-for-TV movie, "The Man In The Santa Claus Suit", Fred Astaire
plays the proprietor of a mysterious costume shop that only rents out
Santa Suits!  In one of the stories within a story, a "Classic Player
Piano" is played and sung to by Nanette Fabray, Harold Gould, and others.

And in keeping with the theme, in the musical "The Band Wagon", Fred
Astaire dances to the tune "When There's A Shine On Your Shoes",
while in the background of the Penny Arcade there is a Wurlitzer
PianOrchestra.

In the movie musical "Good News", there is a nickelodeon in the sweet
shop when Joan McCracken sings and dances to "Pass The Peace Pipe".
That very same nickelodeon is seen in another musical by the name of
"Singin' In The Rain".  Gene Kelly is recounting his career leading up
to his stardom in motion pictures.  Gene and fellow thespian Donald
O'Connor are on a vaudeville stage singing and dancing to "Fit As A
Fiddle".  It starts out with Donald playing on the nickelodeons keyboard.

In the musical bio-pic of Kalmar & Ruby (played by Fred Astaire and
Richard "Red" Skelton), Fred is at his music publishers when he goes
to the window and tosses a coin to an itinerant organ grinder who is
playing "Where Did You Get That Girl?".  Then, later in a scene in a
drinking establishment, Fred confronts "Red" while a nickelodeon plays
"My Sunny Tennessee".

In a Shirley Temple feature titled "Poor Little Rich Girl", Shirley
wanders away from her nanny and is befriended by an organ grinder
played by Henry Armetta.  She follows him home and is invited to eat
with the family.  Afterwards, Shirley dances and sings while Henry
cranks his organ for his family.

In the bio-pic "The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle" (Fred Astaire
and Ginger Rogers), Irene's uncle pumps the player piano while Irene
(Ginger), dances and sings to the "Yamma-Yamma-Man".

In the 1970s, HBO had just gone to a 24/7 format.  They would feature
short videos between their feature presentations.  There was one in
particular that interested me the most.  It was a short musical video
featuring a Wurlitzer PianOrchestra, presented by Carousel Productions.
As the video progressed, viewers were treated to the instruments inner
workings as it played.

There were two tunes featured, the first of which I can't recall, but
the second one was a lively one-step entitled "Cabaret 'Neath The Old
Egyptian Moon" (one of my favorites).  Intermittently, there was a
couple dancing to the music, (no, it wasn't Fred & Ginger!), but it
was the one-time owner of the 110-key Gavioli Organ that previously
had residence in Euclid Beach, Ohio, and New York City before that.
The terpsichoreans were none other than Dr. & Mrs. Robert Miller of
Botsford, Connecticut.

On channel 2.2 in New York City, the feature show is called "Through
The Decades".  It's motto is "Review, Remember, Relate".  Basically,
it reviews what had happened on that day throughout history.  It also
features the Dick Cavett Show, and his many interviews of notable
persons of the past.  In one series of interviews, he is in a theatre
in Santa Monica, California.  On stage, in the background, is a band
organ.  Unfortunately, there is no identifying name or features on
the instrument.

Back in the 1970s, I believe, there was a musicians strike.  On one
particular night, Johnny Carson was on stage cranking a street organ.
I guess he was filling in for Doc Severinsen and his striking "Tonight
Show" musicians.  (The instrument may have been on loan from Hathaway
& Bowers!)

Then you can't imagine how dangerous our hobby of mechanical musical
instruments can be!  Back in the 1970s, during the summer months,
TV stations try out possible programming for the upcoming broadcast
season.  There was this one pilot that was aired which had as its
premise, a hero dog that would literally "sniff" out crime.  The name
of the show was also the name of the dog, (which escapes me at the
moment).

To make a long story short,  the dog sniffs out a bomb that's been
planted in a player-piano, and is rigged to detonate when the owner
pumps the pedals and the reservoir collapses, causing a mercury switch
to activate the bomb!  (I've always wondered what roll was on the
piano a the time -- "Ta-Rah-Rah-'BOOM'-D'Ray!??")

"Just Food For Thought!",

D.F. Rowe
Bronx, New York