KING ARTHUR with original band organ

King Arthur with the original band organ music

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• carousel
• king arthur
• disneyland
• merry go round
• band organ
• wurlitzer
• fantasyland
• king arthurs carousel

[wc1378]

Greetings, Disneyland sold the organ that once was behind the facade in the center. Yes it did play at one time. It's now owned by a friend of mine. The audio on this video was recorded on the organ behind the Dumbo ride.

[tonysqqkq]

@wc1378 Thanks for the info. finally, some information that seems to track with the original info I had from earlier sources. Would it then be that he bought the organ with the original facade?  My (sometimes inaccurate) information says the attempt to remove the works without the facade would have ruined the unit so it was removed in whole and replaced with a Disney-built facade. Interestingly, a Disney source told me that the Dumbo organ was the original, I found that to be doubtful.

[koasterkav]

This is NOT the original band organ (music) with this carousel. A Wurlitzer model 157 band organ (facade or front of one is on the carousel) played from park opening in 1955 thru sometime in the 1970's. That organ was removed and sold to a collector, the current front is a copy. The Dumbo band organ is very likely a Gavioli from France that Disney had, fitted with a new front for the re-model in 1983-84. The organ actually played, then was recorded for use. This is from that Gavioli organ.

[tonysqqkq]

@koasterkav It was interesting on my September trip to hear the same music coming from the carousel and the Dumbo organ. Not exactly, but some of the same tunes, Disney music.

Could not get a decent quality sound recording of the dumbo music with my camcorder. In time I should have all the facts straight.

[tonysqqkq]

One beautifully maintained band organ may be found at the Griffith Park carousel (that inspired Walt). It is a Stinson, and is in perfect tune. Haven't figured out exactly what is playing at the Santa Monica Pier PTC carousel. Sounds like a CD player on a sadly underpowered amplifier.

[tonysqqkq]

There is a question of whether or not the band organ ever played on this carousel after it was brought from Toronto. One report (from a Disney maintenance guy) is that the original band organ now plays behind the Dumbo ride. This music was found on a well aged VHS tape which had no video recorded with it. What is playing on the King Arthur now is MP3 music sent wirelessly from "central control" as is most of everything else audio..

[anglerfly]

Where did you find this recording?

[Wurlitzer157]

@wc1378

I'm glad the organ is at least still there.

[wc1378]

Now regarding the original Wurlitzer, exactly how much is "original" is frankly, not much. It suffered severe water damage when stored at Disneyland. The original case was destroyed. Most of the wood pipes were badly damaged. Disney had sold it to an imagineer who took it apart and then he died. The current owner got it as pieces in boxes. Fortunately he knew a lot about that particular organ and had original photos of it over 50 years at the park. He's done an amazing job on it.

[wc1378]

My understanding is that the facade on the King Arthur Carrousel is the original though it's been modified. (However, it's possible that it could be new.) The current owner doesn't have the original facade but he did build a replica with plans from the Stinson Organ Company. Regarding the Gavioli behind the Dumbo ride, I have no idea how long that's been owned by Disney. I have no recollection of it prior to the Fantasyland rebuild in the 1980's and would like to know it's history.

[anglerfly]

it does not have a band organ, it had a broken one and they kept the facade, The organ it self is in canada.