Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > February 2014 > 2014.02.15 > 01Prev  Next


Mechanical Music in Scotty's Castle, Calif.
By David Fowler

This is not related to royalty but I think it might interest some.
I have not visited this place since the 1980's; Scotty's Castle
is located in, believe it or not, Death Valley, California  It was
built by a wealthy man, I think his last name was Johnson.  It is not
really a castle but a large private home in the desert.

Death Valley Scotty was a swindler that was a gold miner that convinced
Johnson to build there and finance his mining.  Johnson's wife liked
music but could not play so they had I think a harpsichord that was a
player and a grand piano that was also a player.  I also seem to recall
something that played a bell tower also.  You might Google it and find
out if the instruments are still working.  It is a National Park now so
it might not be working now but was in the 1980s.

The house was quite amazing, built using redwood from California with
the beams being hand carved.  The home was actually air conditioned by
hanging burlap in tunnels underground and blowing air through them to
gain some evaporating cooling.  They did play the instruments during the
tour.  I do not remember the brands of mechanical music instruments.

It is in an odd place but I hope to go back in the next year or two.
Death Valley is an interesting place and I have visited in July and in
November.  July is too hot and it was over 100 degrees at midnight on
one visit.  November can bring snow in the mountains around the valley.
There is a golf course also.  Just information about mechanical music.

Have a great day,
David F. Fowler

 [ The Welte Philharmonic player pipe organ at Scotty's Castle will
 [ be played in live performances by Dr. James Welch scheduled for
 [ this year on June 13th and June 14th, 2014.  More information
 [ at  http://dvnha.org/programs-events/scottys-castle-organ-concert 
 [ and  http://www.welchorganist.com/pages/MyLifeInMusic.html 
 [
 [ Julian Dyer placed a short video clip of the Welte organ playing
 [ at  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9XmIzcmUWc 
 [ Tom DeLay describes some of the instruments in his article at
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Archives/Digests/200604/2006.04.21.02.html 
 [ More at http://www.mmdigest.com/Archives/KWIC/S/scotty_s.html 
 [
 [ The history of the castle and Death Valley Scotty are related at
 [ http://www.nps.gov/deva/historyculture/scottys-castle.htm  and
 [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotty%27s_Castle  -- Robbie


(Message sent Sun 16 Feb 2014, 03:22:25 GMT, from time zone GMT-0800.)

Key Words in Subject:  Calif, Castle, Mechanical, Music, Scotty's

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page