A friend of mine casually mentioned Wally Cox to me recently, and added
information unknown to me previously that Cox had a sizable collection
of mechanical music, including orchestrions (orchestria?).  Familiar
with my background, my pal wanted to know if I knew Wally Cox.

I did not, though certainly I knew of him.  I first saw him on Arthur
Godfrey's Talent Scouts (surprise!), with his winning, low-key bit,
"Doofus - What a Crazy Guy!", which broke everybody up, including Mr.
Godfrey.  I bought the recording of it which came out shortly afterward.
I think the other side featured his funny yodeling bit where his voice
would change with a snap.  Don't knock it -- look where it got Richard
Crenna!

I loved "Mr. Peepers", especially his romantic interest there, Patricia
Benoit, and Marion Lorne (Idgy-boo!) later seen on a number of shows,
always stealing them, even including "The Garry Moore Show".  "Peepers"
benefited from a number of older, veteran experts:  Ernest Truex,
Arthur O'Connell, Jack Warden, Rita Show, and another newcomer of the
time named Tony Randall.  I'm not sure what happened to him; I think
he went into opera or something.  Just kidding, guys.

At the time of his popularity I was often taken for Cox, or chidingly
called "Mr. Peepers".  I think it was the glasses.  I certainly was
taller than he by a half-foot.  It made more sense when Steve Allen
made his film, "The Benny Goodman Story": the eyeglasses again, roughly
similar height and builds, and to emulate BG he changed his hairdo and
it looked like mine.  Then, not now -- not much to look at now.

But rather than Allen, I tended to be perceived by others who saw me
as Wally Cox seemed, shy, quiet, intellectual, but given to occasional
sardonic or sarcastic comments (humorous, if one understood irony and
sarcasm), which tended to gain both Robinson Peepers and Lee Munsick
some enemies, usually from folk with little sense of humor.

Now, kiddies, your mission today (should you choose to accept it) is
to discover more about Cox's interest in mechanical music.  Like what?
When - during his New York years?  Where - later, in California?  And
what happened to the collection after his passing in 1973?  This
posting will self-destruct in a few days.  Many thanks!

Appreciatively, Lee Munsick