Learn the story of the restoration of a mechanical musical instrument called a band organ, and the fulfillment of the dream of a young 16-year-old, Vincent Astor. Madam Laura dates from the late nineteenth century in Belgium. She has traveled a lot in her 130-odd years and has had many owners and several restorations. This documentary tells the story of those travels and restorations, including the latest restoration by Vincent Astor.

The music of the carousel we rode as children came from a mechanical instrument called a band organ. The sound it produced has been called the happiest music on earth. Follow the journey of one of these marvelous nineteenth century instruments from her birth in Europe to her restoration in America on The Resurrection of Madam Laura.

The Beginning of Vincent Astor’s Dream

Vincent Astor was born with a love of music, specifically organ music. Vincent’s love and fascination with organs led him to become an experienced player, so much so that by the early 1970s he had become the head organist at the Orpheum Theatre. In the mid-sixties, Vincent developed a love for another kind of organ music. In 1969 he attended the Mid-South Fair and met Paul and Laura Eakins who had brought a number of organs and arcade machines from their Sikeston museum to the fair. Shortly after this, Vincent was on a family vacation to St. Louis when they stopped at the Gay 90s Melody Museum. His father allowed him to buy one record that day. He chose The Emperor and His Harem. This was the first time he heard Madam Laura play. A few years later he got to meet her in person. It would take nearly fifty years before Vincent could be reunited with Madam Laura and restore her to the grand beauty she is today.

Madam Laura contains:

221 pipes total

Bass pipes: low bass bourdons, 8 foot bourdons, 4 foot Cellos, 8 Trombones

Melody pipes: Flutes, violins, cellos, Brass Clarinets Counter Melody pipes: Saxophones, Violas, Bourdons Accompaniment pipes: Cellos, Melodias, Piccolos, Flageolets

WKNO

Fri, 05/08 at 7:30 PM

Sat, 05/09 at 12:30 AM

Sun, 05/10 at 12:00 PM

WKNO-2

(10.2 or channel 910/1150 on Comcast)

Sat, 05/09 at 3:30 PM

Wed, 05/13 at 11:00 AM