Disney & Sons

[Doug Hershberger]

Guess what Rob,list.
   The piano tuner for disneyland is also on this list. It is I. You are
right, they are mostly Yamahas and the grand you were speaking of is a new
C2 that is signed by the Sherman Bros. They have written many songs for
Disney over the years including Zippity do dah.
   I can only work there when the park is closed so sometime I have  3or 4
pianos done by 7:30 am Yikes!
   They also have pianos backstage in their state of the art
Rehearsal/recording studios. They even have a Neupert Harpsichord in a
private club.
   I could write a book about working for the main piano player at Coke
Corner. He has been there 30 years and can feel the difference in dip of  a
.003 punching.
Doug Hershberger, RPT
----- Original Message -----
From: Robert Goodale <rrg@nevada.edu>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, June 28, 1999 5:03 PM
Subject: Disney & Sons


> Hi all,
>
> I just got back from S. California for the weekend.  I spent
> all day Sunday at Disneyland acting foolish.  Along the way
> I took note of all the pianos I could find.  Here are my
> observations- a little trivia for you!
>
> 1. Yamaha U1 at Coke Corner, (at end of Main Street).  Used
> for Ragtime entertainment for patrons.
> 2. Yamaha U1 in New Orleans Square for various jazz
> entertainment.
> 3. Yamaha Grand- (probably a C-3 or G-3) at Carnation Plaza
> Gardens.  Used for various entertainment at the Plaza Stage.
>
> 4.  Small grand of unknown origin in the Haunted Mansion.
> It is rigged to play itself- (piped in audio sound).
> 5.  Small square grand in the Pirates of the Caribbean.  It
> is rigged to play itself but the sound is a recording.
>
> Non-piano observations:
> 1. Mid sized Welte orchestrian in the Penny Arcade.
> Unfortunately the sound was a recording.
> 2. Wurlitzer Band Organ, (possibly model 165?) behind the
> Dumbo ride.  At one time this largely modified organ, (for
> Disney theme), used to play.  Sadly it is now only a
> recording.
> 3. A completely fake band organ on the King Arthur Carousel.
>
>
>
> There are of course many other small instruments used
> throughout the park, both in practical use and as props.  I
> used to work there many years ago and I can recall two other
> pianos.  One was a very ornate birdcage that was used for
> display in a frontier cabin at Big Thunder Ranch.  The other
> was a Seaburg "L" coin piano in what used to be called the
> "Mile Long Bar Arcade".  This was in "Bear Country" which
> was renamed "Critter Country" after the log ride was opened.
>
> Well anyway there's my Disney piano report.
>
> Zippidydooda!!
>
> Rob Goodale, RPT
>