A vintage photo (the original Internet link to it alas has been lost) shows a costumed couple sitting down at a piano to entertain their impromptu audience with a duet (it appears to be in some kind of rehearsal space, or perhaps a classroom---note that the piano is on a dolly). (You can still see the photo in the lower part of this image, and you can click to enlarge it.)
Now click on the video below to see the same couple, some sixty years later, still cracking up an audience with their duet shenanigans:
Marlow Cowan, the husband of the pair, is 90 years old; his wife, Frances (who is a classically trained pianist), is "almost 84". As you can tell from the photo, Marlow loves having fun at the piano, telling jokes, wearing funny hats, and making faces. When he tells a reporter "I really don't understand my piano playing," Frances immediately chimes in: "Neither do I. You just kind of bang around on it." They both came from musical families, and their children and grandchildren all love music, as well. You can read more about the couple, and watch another video of them, at this link. You can read the story of the Bösendorfer piano at the Mayo Clinic, and how the video came to be made, by following the links at this site.
Got a laugh from both of us on this end, but the fanny slaps might raise your blog to PG-13 status.
ReplyDeleteMr. Haley:
ReplyDeleteIf you look closely at the first photo I believe you will see that several of the men in the audience are in wheelchairs. There is also exercise equipment clearly seen in the back right of the photo. I believe, instead of a rehearsal space or classroom, this photo was taken at one of the military hospitals for returning servicemen from WWII. A timely photo, sir.
-Larswife
Thank you for that observation, Nancy---very astute. I could not figure out what that equipment was, but I believe you are right.
ReplyDeleteMy father was a flight surgeon in the service. He retired as hospital commander before going into private practice. I remember as a young girl seeing just that sort of exercise equipment in the PT (physical therapy) rooms of the military hospital at which he served.
ReplyDelete-Larswife