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| JUST OF THE B3254 at
St. Keyne Station, near Liskeard, CORNWALL,
PL14 4SH |
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| Step back in time, with
nostalgic sounds from the first half of the
twentieth century. Entertainment for all the
family, from a more relaxed era of Steam Trains,
Austin Seven Cars and the Picture-Palace with
it’s Mighty WurliTzer Organ. |
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| By the early 1900’s the
dulcet tones of the Musical Box were being
eclipsed by the novelty of sound recordings,
from the Phonograph and the newly invented
Gramophone, as home entertainment became more
affordable. If you were reasonably well off
you might be able to invest in a Player Piano
or Pianola, these instruments achieved their
greatest popularity in the 1920’s and 30’s,
with expensive models, such as the Welte-Mignon
and the Ampico being able to reproduce from
a paper music roll, the performance of the
pianist, for example Grieg and Rachmaninov,
or in the case of the Ampico, superb arrangements
of dance music from Broadway Shows and Hollywood
Films. |
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| The most exciting new
sound of the early twentieth century, was
the Mighty WurliTzer Theatre Organ, a kind
of one man orchestra, originally designed
to accompany silent films, but when talking
pictures arrived in 1927,they were then played
to provide a short musical interlude between
the films. Our Mighty WurliTzer Theatre Organ
was shipped from the U.S.A. in 1929 to the
Regent Theatre in Brighton, a wonderful 2200
seat Cinema with a roof top Ballroom, alas
now just a memory. |
| The Wurlitzer has 693
organ pipes, ranging in length from 16 feet
to just 1/2 inch, real percussions such as
xylophone, glockenspiel, tubular bells, drums,
cymbals and sound effects for silent films,
it occupies as much space as a small house
and weighs five tons,so it is just a little
bigger than a modern keyboard! Between 1930
and 1934 thirty-five 78 r.pm. recordings were
made by the Regent Theatre’s organist, Terance
Casey, you will be able hear one played during
the tour as well as live performances on this
famous organ, which has been featured on BBC
Radio 2 “The Organist Entertains” and BBC
1 “Songs of Praise” from Looe. |
| Please allow at least
an hour for your visit and whether you are
nine or ninety, you will find something of
interest and we hope you will try your hand
at turning the Berlin Street Barrel Organ. |
| History of Magnificent
Music Machines |
| Magnificent Music Machines
is in a tranquil setting by the old mill stream.
Paul Corin’s father, who founded the museum
in 1967, was the last miller of St. Keyne
and bought Lametton Mill as it is known, in
1938. It is mentioned in the text of Daphne
du Maurier’s Novel “The Kings General” published
in 1946. As well as entertaining visitors
in the summer months, Paul is restoring instruments
for clients all over the UK including Player
Pianos and WurliTzer Theatre Organs. he has
a background in entertainment as his grandfather,
Bransby Williams (1870-1961) was one of the
great stars of the music hall, famous for
his portrayal of the characters of Charles
Dickens. Also his uncle, Eric Bransby Williams
(1900-1994) appeared in many films in the
1920’s including Alfred Hitchcock’s last silent
film “Easy Virtue” in 1927. |
Playing Daily - Good Friday
until October 31st
10.30am. 5.00pm |
| Free Car Park |
| Photogaphy and video cameras
welcome |
| Dogs on leads are welcome
as we are the most Dog Friendly place to visit
in Cornwall. |
| How to Find us |
| FOLLOW the B3254 from
Looe or Liskeard town centre, and turn off
at the brown “MagnificentMusic Machines” signs. |
| By train, hourly services
toSt. Keyne Station (request stop) on a scenic
ex G.W.R. branch line from Looe or Liskeard
(main line connections). |
| Telephone: (01579)
343108 |
| Email: paulcorinmusic@yahoo.co.uk
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