You Know You're Old When You Feel Nostalgia...

[teddy_radiator]

sempraseverus' superb drawings of carousel animals has me thinking of the days when the Myrtle Beach Pavilion was a magic place you went to ride rickety amusement park rides, take a turn on the Full Menagerie Herschel-Spillman carousel, and listen to the German Band Organ. When I was a little girl, I used to stare at this for hours.

Now the Pavilion is only a memory, but the Organ and the Carousel were taken to another tourist attraction in Myrtle Beach called Broadway on the Beach. If you're ever there, go and listen to this lovely old organ which by the looks of it here, has gone through major renovations. At the Pavilion, it was sadly allowed to fall into a terrible state of disrepair. Now it's all shiny and beautiful. It is the sound and vision of my childhood, and even through my jaded teenaged years, I would stop and watch the band organ play. The top is just a nice set of shots, the bottom vid shows it in all it's jingling, turning, cherubic, bleating glory:

This one is sort of long, but worth it just to see the closeups!

Comments

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

It was made by the Baden company, and it was at the Pavilion for as long as I can remember. I loved the mechanics of it, and my parents tell me even as a little girl I would sit for hours and watch it. I would remark on how it had changed over the years (the little arms and legs of the cherubs were in terrible shape. It was like watching broken egg shells at times).

I think (believe) that I must remember them from a past life, because I was so enamoured of them and my folks tell me I was since before I have living memory. They can be awfully raucous, and this one doesn't sound as good as it should, but I'm just thankful they preserved it. The Pavilion had been a landmark of Myrtle Beach for almost one hundred years, and they unceremoniously tore it down one summer in the name of progress. There is a vacant lot there now, and sadly, our memories of it mean nothing to those who weren't there to see it in its heyday.

[howlingmojo.livejournal.com]

It moves me that you can recall your loving memories with such clarity and detail. Memories can be powerful things, especially when they are suddenly triggered by sound, view, or even smell.

Your story makes me want to sit down with you and just watch and listen to that organ. Now I want my next travels to be in that..ahum..vicinity even more.

( on a different note, I got bored couple days back,so I took a random survey with over a hundred questions about where I would want to live if I ever wanted to move to the States. My number one city? Charleston, SC.... Number two was Honolulu. I'm such a tropical creature, really)

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

You would love Charleston. It has its own unique beauty, but to be perfectly honest, you would THRIVE in Savannah, Georgia. They are close together and are about the same age, but Savannah is a decadent, louche city, whereas Charleston is a little prim and elitist. Don't get me wrong, I love it, but Savannah is almost like New Orleans without the shit.

It is super friendly, it has this old world decadence that just turns me on when I'm there. The riverfront is so secretive and sensual. It's a very sexy city. Charleston is more austere in its beauty. But hey, it's all the South, and the south is about heat and hope and bright colours and hidden desires....

[howlingmojo.livejournal.com]

I see a lot of words I really really like. Decadent, louche. Hmm.

However, when I think about Austere beauty, something in my goes "boom boom baby". Something that has very little to do with cities...

Ah, heat. I could do with a lot of that actually. Give me heat. Yes.

[sandlappershell.livejournal.com]

We should have our LJ friends come see us and we could start in Savannah or Myrtle and work our way to the other end...I bet between you and I, we could find some LOVELY things to do and eat and drink and see -
I really love where I live...three hours to the beach and three hours to the mountains!! Brilliant!

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Oh, and when you come and visit, we'll go there and watch and listen to the organ. It will be fun!

[howlingmojo.livejournal.com]

I'll do it for you. Feed me your frozen mojito's and I'm game. or those Vodka tonics that keep popping up?

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Ah yes, the vodka tonics, or Vitamin Water - the health drink of choice at Con, so I'm told! I want to go to Con!!!

Of course, I've had a bottle of wine and I'm feeling no pain right now... I'm predisposed to make whatever you fancy.

[howlingmojo.livejournal.com]

I like everything except Whisky, alas. I tried many times, but to me it just tastes like liquid wood.

Don't tempt me! I'm dangerously low on funds anyway. I may have to sell some of my art.

[sabrebabe.livejournal.com]

I took a survey like that once. My number 1 answer was Eagle River, Wisconsin. Number 2 was Houghton, Michigan.

I live (and was already living in) Houghton, Michigan at the time.

Eagle River, Wisconsin? 2 hours drive to the south. :D

[howlingmojo.livejournal.com]

I deliberately omitted number three on my list: Little Rock, Arkansas. I mean, que?

That is hilarious though. The survey knoooows you. ;-)

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

That's amazing! I've only passed through Michigan a few times (my father, for some Southern reason best known to himself, insisted on calling it Mitch-i-gen, which, I sadly, now say automatically). And my first husband was from Madison, Wisconsin, which I thought was lovely, but alas, that's about all I know of the Midwest. That, and what Prairie Home Companion taught me.