Bob Gomola
Player piano
We had a player piano in the house I grew up in from the time I was 13. Mom bought it at a garage sale for $200 as I recall.
We didn’t know at the time the memories we would create from that magical piano. Friends and family would visit for every occasion- and no occasion. Seems like the piano would always be part of the day. The singing would reverberate through the basement where it was located. Like many houses in the 1970’s the basement was finished with wood paneling, and was the perfect gathering place for fun. The piano seemed to always be at the center of it all.
The family took a trip to Niagara Falls shortly after the piano arrived. Mom made a side trip to the QRS factory where many player piano rolls were made. QRS was a large factory and had quite an impressive selection of player piano rolls; we were each allowed to select one roll. I still remember the roll I selected (there is a funny story here. The roll I selected was titled “Deep Purple”. Not surprising I thought it was a medley from the rock band by the same name. The trip ended, we were back home and we all gathered at the piano to play our new rolls. It was then I realized this was not what I expected, but in-fact was a tune written by Peter De Rose in 1933 and released for the first time in 1934. Since it’s initial release it has been covered by many artists. Google “Deep Purple by Peter De Rose to here a truly beautiful song).
The magic piano was always cherished by mom. She moved it to each house in which she lived. Sometime in the last 15 years or so she had it professionally rebuilt. It plays as well as the day it was new (my guess in the. 1920’s).
Over the years I would meet with friends and family and they would reminisce over the amazing times we shared standing around and singing. Fond memories indeed.
As the years rolled by the magic piano saw less and less use. Time, our age and technology kind of passed it by. It sat in moms basement quietly, unused, waiting. It was April a year ago when my sister Sharon, mom and I went through her house the final time before it was sold. Mom, now using a walker, wanted to see her house. The basement steps were a bit steep and narrow, but with me leading mom and Sharon following we made it down.
The entire basement was cleaned out with only the piano remaining. Mom said “Let’s play a roll for old time sake”. The piano revealed its magic in the most profound way. The years and memories came flooding back at the very first sound it rang out! It was almost a Time Machine making me 13 again. I’m recalling friends, aunts, uncles, cousins, work associates, class mates, neighbors grand parents all singing and laughing.
