Wurlitzer Butterfly In the Movies!
While recently watching an old movie, I was totally surprised to see the music desk from a Wurlitzer Deluxe Model 1411 Butterfly Grand flash across the screen.
The Natural is a 1984 sports drama. It is a film adaptation of Bernard Malamud's 1952 baseball novel of the same name, directed by Barry Levinson and starring Robert Redford, Glenn Close, and Robert Duvall. The film, like the book, recounts the experiences of Roy Hobbs, an individual with great "natural" baseball talent, spanning decades of Roy's success and his suffering. It was the first film produced by TriStar Pictures.
While recently watching an old movie, I was totally surprised to see the music desk from a Wurlitzer Deluxe Model 1411 Butterfly Grand flash across the screen.
The Natural is a 1984 sports drama. It is a film adaptation of Bernard Malamud's 1952 baseball novel of the same name, directed by Barry Levinson and starring Robert Redford, Glenn Close, and Robert Duvall. The film, like the book, recounts the experiences of Roy Hobbs, an individual with great "natural" baseball talent, spanning decades of Roy's success and his suffering. It was the first film produced by TriStar Pictures.
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The later half of the film is set in the late thirties, and Kim Basinger's character is hosting a victory a party in her swanky new apartment, fully furnished in art deco style. The scene revolves around Roy (Robert Redford) standing around the piano singing with his team mates before collapsing practically on the piano, and being rushed out to the Hospital. I am sharing a few snapshots that show the piano. I was glad to see the level of detail the set designers put into making the film period correct. I would love to find out what happened to this specific piano and see if it could be traced back to any surviving Model 1411.
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Other Famous People with ties to the Wurlitzer Butterfly Piano
Tele Savalas
A Wurlitzer Butterfly piano was owned by Tele Savalas' first wife. She got it in 1940. Sold out of storage by her daughter in roughly 2007. Then sold through OTW Antiques.
A Wurlitzer Butterfly piano was owned by Tele Savalas' first wife. She got it in 1940. Sold out of storage by her daughter in roughly 2007. Then sold through OTW Antiques.
Libby Holman
One Piano owned by another distinguished personality was Libby Holman, famous torch singer, who chose a Wurlitzer Butterfly Grand Model 1411 for use in her participation in the Marblehead Summer Players.
One Piano owned by another distinguished personality was Libby Holman, famous torch singer, who chose a Wurlitzer Butterfly Grand Model 1411 for use in her participation in the Marblehead Summer Players.
William Conrad
Another Model 1411 Wurlitzer Butterfly piano was owned by William Conrad. The story goes that he played the piano in a funeral parlor as a youth to earn side money.
Another Model 1411 Wurlitzer Butterfly piano was owned by William Conrad. The story goes that he played the piano in a funeral parlor as a youth to earn side money.
