European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 25, 1965, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Swan. Song for Street organs Organ Grinders May be a dying race Bur to Naples they still have the Charm and fascination to draw droves of children to their Side. Unpaid heralds happily announce arrival of Gianino in narrow i reel. Sunday april 25, 1765 by Sam Bauman staff writer the March of time i slowly but steadily passing by the gaily Deco rated tinkle voiced neapolitan Street Organ Organ Grinders roaming the Nar Row alleys of old Naples still draw crowds of Sci Grizzl Street urchins dancing us the old melodies Are cranked out but the music is just an Echo of the torrent of sound of a few decades ago. Both manufacturers of Paninos or Gans on wheels Fassone and a Urzulo have Long since shuttered their Small factories att Only one dealer still rent the plan Lens to the music men. Salvalore piano Debulla is the lust dealer in a once thriving business. In is a Brown haired robust gentleman of75, and he has been dealing in Paninos for As Long us he can remember. His family has always been in die business. His Stock is 10 Paninos of which five still play in the traditional Crank Sis photos by Guenter Schuettler and drum method. The others have been rebuilt with modern amplifiers and phonograph turntables operated by the Crank. He rents to a few steady customers men who have spent their live pushing the 950-Pound organs through the streets. The men rent the organs for 500 lire about 85 cents a Day. They often cover 15 Miles of streets in Spuccia Natoll old Naples or up in the lofty Romcro. They Stop and Crank up Stukely spots depending on listeners generosity for Money. Housewives and children Are their main audiences and an occasional office building provides a Shower of coins. But the showers arc few and it s the stars and stripes awfully dry in Between. Average Dally take is about 2.500 to 3,000 lire 14 to $51 u Day when the Sun is Bright and the weather warm. As the old organs Clank to silence a Cabalza s Nephew Luigi sol Mcne either repairs them or substitutes new innards in the dim and ill lit roofed passage debates uses for storage. When the 10 organs in his Fleet arc gone Roebal a will probably close up and there will be no More Paninos on the streets. Movie makers often Call on his shop when filming a neapolitan scene. In the re enl four Days of Naples which told the Story of the City s revolt against Ier Nuin troops in world War 11, a plan Ino abandoned in a desolate Nea Olitan Street was used to set the mood. Although the Gianino Industry was Al ready dying ant in the Laic 1940s, the mass production of cheap transistor radios probably was the final blow. Italian youths like their american counterparts Seldom stray very fur without radio glued against the ear in restau rants Parks soccer matches and it borne. The soft nines of the Organ the thump of the Small drum and tinkle of the Triangle Don t get very far when faced with the blare of the latest in Rock n Roll. But for a few fleeting years lovers of the traditional and the Sculli will be Able to enjoy the Gianino As the old men plod through he Rily echoes of a bygone time. Cover housewives and children make up most of the audience for Naples Organ Grinders who still must turn the Crank to make music. They rent the in thru innels fur about 81 cents a Day. Page ii