Conference noted::coasters

    
I had been searching for some time to find a good source of some
recorded band organ music. I found exactly what I was looking for!

It is a CD of music playing on the Wurlitzer 165 band organ for the
Seabreeze Park PTC carousel that was in Rochester NY. Unfortunately,
the carousel and this band organ were destroyed in a fire in 1994.

The sound quality is excellent, there are bells that hit some high notes
(I don't know enough yet about the exact components of a band organ)
that sound very clear and accurately recorded.

I got this from Suncoast Audio Visual Services, 589 5th Ave SE, Largo FL
33771. They have a very extensive catalog ($2). Worth the price just for
the background info on various band organs.
Most of their selections are only offered on cassette.
The exact title of the one I got is Carousel Breezes Volume II.
When I listen to this it reminds me of walking into Canobie Lake Park.

    Hi Alan, welcome back!!

    Alan!!!
    
    Welcome Back!!:-)
    
    Lynne

    
    A current listing of operating antique carousels can be
    found in the April 1996 back issue of Carousel News and Trader.
    
    

    Alan,
    
    I noticed a lot of brand new carousels being built. This is wonderful
    news. Carousel Works, and William Dentzel III have built new
    carousels:-)
    
    Lynne

It's nice to see that carousel figure carving isn't a completely lost art...

I saw a photo of a newer carousel at Myrtle Beach, made by the
Fabricon Carousel Company. They use resin cast replicas of actual old
carvings, as well as from some new carvings. It has the look of an antique
carousel.

    Alan,
    
    I have a brochure and it shows the ad for Fabricon, I will make you a
    copy. The horse in the picture looked like a new original, they do a
    nice job.  Also Carousel Works makes new machines.
    
    The art is definatley making a comeback.
    
    Lynne:-)

    
    Fabricon was also represented at IAAPA and I picked up some literature,
    too!
    
    /jen

    Jen,
    
    Did you get any literature for Carousel Works? They carve the animals
    by hand! :-)
    
    

I just received membership information from the "Friends of the
Paragon Carousel, Inc." (PTC 85 at Nantasket Beach). Yearly membership is
$20 for which you get their newsletter (only comes out 2-3 times a year)
and a decal.

PO Box 100
Hull, MA 02045

(617) 925-0472

    
    I have heard that the August issue of Yankee magazine will feature
    an article on the remaining carousels in New England.
    

    Alan,
    
    I must pick up a copy:-)
    
    Lynne

    Does anyone know if there is a carousel located at Roger Williams Park
    in RI? 
    
    I heard that there was a PTC at one time.
    
    Lynne

    
    Yes, there is a carousel located at Roger Williams Park in Providence.
    
    /jen (who has ridden it and the paddle boats too!)
    

    Hi Jen,
    
    do you know if it is antique or fiberglass?
    
    
    Lynne

    
    Lynne,
    
    I knew it to be antique at one point in time, but I notice the census
    that Alan shared with us recently does not list it.   It has been a
    couple of years since I went for a spin on it!   I wonder if they
    swapped off the horses???
    
    /jen

    Jen,
    
    I read in an the PTC census (an old one) that there was a PTC at Roger
    Williams! 
    
    I bet it was sold and replaced with a fiberglass. I know someone who
    went for a ride on it last year and said it had different animals....
    maybe a new Chance Menagerie?
    
    Lynne:-)

    According to a book I have, there was a PTC carousel at Riverside Park
    (before they had their present Illions carousel) and it was moved
    to Roger Williams Park. It has since been moved to King's Dominion
    in Virginia (I think it said in the 1970's). So I wonder what they are
    running now at Roger Williams?

    In Fredrick Fried's book, there is a photo of it at Riverside Park.
    

    Alan,
    
    that could be it! Do you know the number of it? I will check it out
    tonite.
    
    Lynne:-)

    Alan,
    
    BTW the carousel building in Frieds book looks like the one that is
    there now, the original that the PTC was in.
    
    
    Riverside has the very first "American Beauty" horse that Illions
    carved.
    
    Lynne:-)
    
    

The following list of carousels in Rhode Island and neighboring Mass was 
recently published in the Providence Journal.  It does not say if they are 
all antique or not, but I know the list does not include ones in shopping 
malls, etc.

* Carousel Village - Roger Williams Park - Providence, RI
	
	Daily 10-7
	pay by token - Carousel: 1 tolken for $1, 6 for $5, 12 for $10
	Also: pony rides, themed mini-golf, kiddie bumper boats, trolley ride

* Easton's Beach Carousel - First Beach - Newport, RI

	Sat-Sun noon-4, May 17-18 & May 31-Mid June
	May 24-26 & Mid June - Sept 1, daily noon-8
	50 cents a ride
 
* Fall River Carousel - Battleship Cove - Fall River, MA

	Sat-Sun noon-4 through May 25
	daily 10-6 June 2-June 29
	daily 10-8 June 30-Sept 1
	75 cents per ride or 10 for $5

* Flying Horse Carousel - Watch Hill - Westerly, RI

	Bay Street
	Oldest in America!
	Used prior to 1879
	Mon-Fri 1-9
	Sat-Sun and holidays, 11-9  June 15-Sept 1
	CHILDREN ONLY!!!

* Charles I.D. Looff Carousel - Bullock's Point - East Providence, RI

	Sat-Sun Noon - 7 through May 25
	Friday 3-8, Sat-Sun noon-8 May 30 - late June
	Wed-Sun noon-8 late June-Aug 31
	Rides 50 cents, five for $2
	Special Events:  May 23 Behind the scenes tour
	May-August: Saturday evening cruise Nights featuring classic cars
	July 13 Crafts Fair
	July 23-25 Report Card Days
	Sept 19-21 Celebration Weekend: Food booths, entertainment, block party,
		   pony rides, petting zoo, face paintings, children's events.
	
* Slater Park's Looff Carousel - Slater Park - Pawtucket, RI

	Armistice Blvd
	Built in 1910
	Sat-Sun 11-5 thru June
	July 1-Sept 1, daily 11-5
	Rides 25 cents

Jen thanks for the detailed info! Last month I visited Slater Park for
the first time. What a beautiful peaceful public park, and this very old
carousel building in the middle of it. The Looff figures are very well
professionally restored, and there is a real band organ playing.
Very easy to get to off Route 95.

    Jen that list is great!! I will make a copy of it and keep it in my car
    for the next trip down to RI:-)
    
    Lynne