Disney & Sons

[Doug Hershberger]

Hi Tom,
   You are right, they did have a Wurlitzer shop of some kind although I
wasn't around then. There still is a very unusal Wurlitzer 7 ft grand
backstage. It looks like hell and is still being used in the Rehearsal Hall.
You can tell it was a very excellent piano when it was built. It still has a
good tone although it needs rebuilding. The case is in very bad shape, but I
told them it was worth rebuilding. I have about 20 years experience and
Disneyland is the most hostile piano enviorment I have seen. The LA city
schools are a close runner up though.
Doug Hershberger, RPT
----- Original Message -----
From: Tom Cole <tcole@cruzio.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 1999 12:30 PM
Subject: Re: Disney & Sons


> I haven't visited the park in many years but remember, back in the
> fifties, that there was a Wurlitzer grand in a shop on Main St. There
> might have been a spinet there, too, but I'm not sure. This was long
> before I became a piano technician so I was not so tuned in to what
> instruments they had. But for some reason I remember that Wurlitzer.
>
> Thanks for the Disney piano report, Rob.
>
> Tom
>
>
> Robert Goodale wrote:
> >
> > 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
>
> --
> Thomas A. Cole, RPT
> Santa Cruz, CA
> mailto:tcole@cruzio.com
>
>