Yesterday, I did a gig at an amazing place. The Sanfilippo mansion in Barrington, Illinois is amazing. You have to see it to believe it. To say the owners of this amazing estate are collectors, is an understatement. The room, or barn, that I performed in was filled with fairground band organs, street organs, steam locomotives, train cars, cabooses, clocks, side show banners, unicycles and an amazing carousel. Everything was in tip top shape, beautifully restored and in working order. The whole room had this opalescence gold hue. It was like performing in a mirror ball. There was so much to look at; your eyes just couldn’t quite take it all in.
They had some dancers at the event who danced to the fairground band organ’s music. I was amazing to hear the Teddy Bears Picnic out of a piece of machinery from the turn of the century. It was an awe inspiring sound. Loud and joyous, it was fully orchestrated, every pipe and drum playing their part. It was also a beautiful piece of eye candy. Adorned by 6 semi naked Greek goddesses, mothers would have shielded the eyes of their sons and daughters.
At the end of the event, I got to ride the carousel; it was such a cool experience. I was in a dress, so I chose to ride side saddle. The ride JUMPED to start and I screamed, like Sarah Jessica Parker, at the pace which we took off. I really felt like I needed to be strapped in! I’m sure that was exactly like the Victorian women must have felt.
I didn’t get to go up to the main house, but they own the world’s largest privately owned Wurlitzer organ in the world. They built a special room for it. I have to go back and see it!
Many wealthy people collect things. This family had chosen not only to collect, but lovingly restore bits of history that would otherwise not be preserved for the future. They are open for tours and I strongly recommend going, what an amazing sight for music lovers.
