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Have any of you seen this keyboard contraption in person and know if its just a player piano with stuff added on the front, or have the insides been altered? I had always assumed they made those crazy cartoon sounds on tracks in some recording lab, well now I know, Hit it Joe...

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=259_1387550648

Isn't he a kick! Joe is well known in the mechanical music circuit. Here is his Youtube page with LOTS of Photoplayer music.

http://www.youtube.com/user/cues80335?feature=watch

His main business is this: http://www.rinaudosreproductions.com/antique-photoplayer.html

If you ever need any Victorian Light Fixtures, reproductions, he's the guy!

They made these for the silent movies, before the "talkies" came out. Here is the explanation from his website:

http://www.rinaudosreproductions.com/antique-photoplayer.html

The predecessor to the theater organ. Not many of these instruments survive. I believe Seeburg made a number as well. A few of those still kicking around I'm told.

In the book Player Piano Treasury, it was pointed out that these are the true nickelodeon, a word that comes from "nickel odeon" for the movie theaters that cost a nickel for admission, player pianos. The song Put Another Nickel In popularized the misconception that coin-operated players were nickelodeons. Most of the automatic player piano companies made both movie players and coin-operated players.

I can't help but smile with a HUGE grin on my face, every time I see and hear Joe's PhotoPlayer. Especially the Huell Howser excerpt. This music just makes one smile.

After seeing that Howser video a few years ago, I ordered that video from Howser's website. Sadly Mr.Howser passed away in January, 2013. He had a great 30 min show for many years called "California's Gold"