31, July 2006 Jazzou Jones, Steamboatin Directror playing the calliope leaving Riverside RV Park, Bessemer, AL on the Black Warrior River on the occasion of the first cruise on that waterway
Oh the memories. I am almost 70 years old and when I was a youth and heard the calliope music I'd grab my bike and race down to the river (Ohio) to watch and listen to the Delta Queen as she passed by. Later in life when our two sons were young we'd jump in a car and follow her for a few miles listening and watching my favorite river boat. I know there are bigger and better riverboats, but the Delta Queen is the one that won my heart.
Played as well as back in the 1800's when this was the heyday of the world. Remember that you can hear that whistle music from over 6 miles away on a quiet day.
About 15 years ago when the kids were little, we lived in Canton, MO, and when the kids heard the DQ on the radio (we always had a scanner or two on, I'm a dispatcher), they would beg to go down to the lock and see her. They used to play the calliope while in the lock, and they would play music especially for our kids. (I was friends with the lockmaster, so he would get the DQ on the radio and tell them I was bringing the kids). I miss her!
delta queen is returning to the river in march 2016 starting to cruise . she isnt no longer floating hotel in chattanooga,tenn!!!!currently is in houma,La for $5 million over haul.
It's Here Comes the Showboat in the beginning in the key of E Major. Then, it's ''When the Midnight Choo Choo Leaves for Alabam'' at a key of D-Flat Major, then E Major key again with ''Grand Old Flag'', ''Dixie'' and ''God Bless America'' at the key of D Flat Major in the end.
Michael'ss Lalaloopsy Land Movie Show Corner, this is a Thomas J. Nichol calliope, they were voiced a half step higher than A440. So while you are close, move everything up a half step and you will be right. I know the Calliopist very well and can assure you the key he was playing in when I recorded this.
I am doing everything in my power to save her...for I would LOVE to go back to work on her soon....as a matter of fact, the sooner the better for all involved! Thanks for your help. too! Everyone who sees this video, please take a moment and write to your elected Representatives and SAVE THE DELTA QUEEN! We CAN do this!
I love watching the steam dance across the top... thank you for posting this... It reminds me of all the times I saw her round the bend at Gallipolis , Ohio... and start her calliope..
There is no pattern. The Delta Queen has a steel hull, double one, actually. Most of her superstructure is wood, but she is equupped with a modern fire suppression system, has military grade heat rise detectors. You are safer on board than you are in your own home, especially asleep. Does your home have a 24 hour watchman consantly checking every deck? No?? The DQ does (or did--AUGH!)! Write your congressman and senators NOW, we need the DQ back on the river--save 200 American jobs at no cost!
Oh how I miss the Delta Queen. I will never forget my first Mississippi Riverboat cruise. It was a Cajun themed cruise on the Delta Queen and had on board so many wonderful entertainers including Phyllis, Jazzou, Bob, Paul, and many other wonderful artists. There was also an authentic cajun band that was great.
Ron Brown Oh Wow..Me too A special time (I wonder if we were on the same Cruises 😋.."The Queen was so much fun.Going Though the locks were Grand....She was straining on her lines with the collipi and whistles......
Wonderful memories of a trip on a Delta Queen cruise up the Mississippi, when I was a teen.. May 198. We received certificates if we achieved playing on the Colliope... There was a Dixiland Band and all meals were included..We had our own cabin lady♡♡ I loved the South frankly all of the USA.. In those days our currency was stronger thsn the dollar.. I never regret going on a magnificent trip across America.. that only the rich can do today♡ today♡♡Love from South Africa
I us to work on the bottom of the Old Man River raising barges and tugs in the 60s and 70s I could hear the Delta Queen coming down the river while I was on the bottom playing the calliope and the crew on top couldn't see the boat,sound travels father in water
i used to listen to the delta queen calliope while in the keokuk lock 19 many times ..vic tooker used to play . i remember they playing " on wisconsin" baby face, yankee doodle dandy,shine on harvest moon! last song before exit the lock was way down yonder to new orleans .she used to blow whistle falling stars for greene line
Hi! I'm looking for information on Vic Tooker & his relations to a woman named Helen. I have a record of his, and he had signed it "To "My Helen" from Vic" I just can't seem to find out who she is.
Elizabeth Jones I knew Vic and his mother. His wife was MARY Lou if I recall. He was an officer in the Air force reserve. Eddie Baird may know of a Helen. He had no children. The marriage was not terribly long. My husband, Col Joe, died in 1996. Vic was very ill with Cancer not long after that.
The first song is "Here Comes The Showboat" the second is "When the Midnight Choo Choo Leaves for Alabam", third is "Grand Ol' Flag", fourth is "Dixie", and the fifth "God Bless America".
It’s funny to see how the queen is the only California riverboat that ever had a caliope and it only got it after coming to the Mississippi I sure hope they get it back on the water or bring it back to California so it could be with the delta king
When we used to visit my husband mom, she lived in Marietta. Sometime we would see the Delta Queen coming down the Ohio River and there were times when it would stop there and we got to go on it,they were giving guided tours on it so my Husband and i went on one of there tours and someone on the Delta Queen was playing the Calliope. We really enjoyed hearing the music.
How could anyone press the 'dislike' button on seeing this? Still, I suppose there are miserable, mean-spirited, kill-joys everywhere if you look hard enough! Thanks for the upload. Very interesting.
I grew up on this boat. Watched the MQ being built...ended up working on that for a season. It's sad to see her go. Like the 'Old Man on the Mt', a piece of American Heritage fading away. The real irony is that something of that quality could never be made today.
We are working really hard to make sure that doesn't happen. It is too bad the factions who want her gone are not paying attention to all the owners have done to make the passengers safe, for she is truly safer than any public building in America and this whole thing is just a horrid misunderstanding and political power stand off!
Nothing prepares one or compares to the THRILL of seeing the Delta Queen paddling her way along a river & hearing her calliope! I remember seeing her sister the Island Queen & hearing her calliope when I was a child ~ that was the beginning of my love for calliope! I'm SO GLAD to have found this. Thank you for posting it!
Some Seattle based outfit will be offering river cruises in a year or two but no word on the type of vessels they'll be on.Most likely not a paddlewheeler.
How fun. And surprisingly well in tune for a calliope. Why is the sound so far off the video? Especially matters here when you can see the pipes steam.
I have a knack for doing that. ;) I run a message board that deals with various vintage mechanical music and I get attacked on a regular basis by the Political Correctness Gestapo for not being PC.
I think it's more over concern for the 300 other overnight guests who would lose their life in a fire, since the ship is made out of wood. Google for The Steamer "Island Queen" and you'll start to see a pattern.
There was always someone patrolling the boat specifically for fire watch. A certain congresscritter wanted newer boats that couldn't compete with the Delta Queen for charm so he got the votes to not renew the safety certificate.
