What fun it is to read this list every day.  The 2/16 edition, for
instance, which leads with renowned experts in the musical box field
giving selfless guidance to one very lucky guy who happens to own a
two-disc Symphonion/Polyphon -- including an absolute hoot-out-loud
sequence of variations on German-English translations of the slogan on
the machine, ending with a shameless editor's note from Robbie in the
form of a send-up of Burma Shave highway poetry.  I was on the floor,
guys.

Actually, Robbie, I've changed my mind.  It wasn't shameless:
"...a tuba Burma-Shave" indeed.  Shameful.  And proof that absolute
editorial power does corrupt, absolutely.

Then there was more fascinating history along the "Rhapsody in Blue"
string, which was started days ago with a casual comment by a
subscriber about a nicely done feature piece he'd heard on public
radio.  Then followed lots of solid info about the piece and its
original performance -- including the fact that Bruce Clark's mother
was in that premiere audience! -- and finally a report on the most
recent major performance of the "Rhapsody" as a part of Disney's remake
of "Fantasia", just released in Imax format as "Fantasia 2000."

I can add a note to that string.  Sometime this month or next, it is
likely (but not certain) that many public radio stations nationwide
will carry a one-hour special on the making of the "Fantasia 2000"
sound track.   My company is syndicating and distributing the program
for Disney, if we can get past a few final post-production glitches.
With luck, it will go out shortly.

So watch your public radio schedule for the local air-time.  Should
be an interesting "behind-the-scenes" peek at the challenges of re-
recording the best part of the film: the music!

At any rate, my heartfelt thanks to everyone who helps make this forum
what it has become for me: daily required reading.

Rich Marschner

 [ I'd be proud to claim the "tube of" gag, but it's not new.
 [ I found it at one of the several web sites which fondly
 [ recall the Burma-Shave sequential advertising signs along
 [ the highway.  :-)    -- Robbie