I was sent yesterday a copy of an email message from Donaven Staab
(yes, that is the correct spelling), who is head of Tech Services and
the Audio Specialist at Santa Cruz Seaside Company, operators of the
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, where the Wurlitzer 165 band organ (serial
no. 3124, shipped Dec. 28, 1918, to San Francisco) that played for
decades at Playland-at-the-Beach in San Francisco, until it closed in
1972, will soon be playing.

The sale of that organ by owner Hayes McClaran to the Santa Cruz people
was reported in the 2006.12.27 MMD.  Donaven Staab is in charge of the
organ's installation at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and hopes to have it
running by the end of March.  In the meantime the park's A. Ruth & Sohn
band organ is being sent for refurbishing to the Stinson Band Organ
Company, Bellefontaine, Ohio.

When the Ruth returns and both organs are playing, the park will be
able to brag of two magnificent organs in top musical and mechanical
condition, a boast not many amusement parks can make today.

Matthew Caulfield
Irondequoit, New York