I have been reading with interest the postings about Paul Eakins' Gay
90's Village recordings.  I may have missed something, but I have not
seen any mention of a five-record set of recordings made not only at
the Village but at the Gay 90's Melody Museum in St. Louis, Missouri.

The boxed set was produced by Audiofidelity Enterprises for Murray Hill
Records of New York City, their number 93065X.  The title is "Calli-
opes, Band Organs and Other Mechanical Instruments Playing All-Time
favorites From A Golden Era."

The notes on the back of the box give no details as to the type of
instrument being played.  Many listings simply state "Circus Calliopes"
for the selections on a side.  Other instruments include -- using
their descriptions of the instruments -- a Wurlitzer #157 Band Organ,
a Wurlitzer Caliola, a Belgian band organ, "Sadie Mae" band organ,
a Wurlitzer Style "O" theater player, a Wurlitzer #105 band organ,
a Mills Double Violin (whose playing brings tears to the eyes!),
a Seeburg Solo Orchestrion Model "H", a Cremona C-2, and the "Gypsy
Queen" Gasparini organ.

I do not know when I purchased these recordings, but it must have
been second-hand, as the price tag on the back says $6.00.  Generally
the recordings are well done, and most instruments are in tune with the
tempo of the music just slightly less than a fast gallop.  The emphasis
is on calliopes.  Only side nine has the Photoplayer, Double Mills,
Coinola, and the Seeburg H, playing a particularly interesting arrange-
ment of "If You Knew Susie", with orchestra bells instead of a
xylophone.

Does anyone have any more information on this work?  Where was the
"Melody Museum" located in St. Louis?

Ed Gaida
egaida@txdirect.net