Dick Van Dyke - Concertinist!

[RELCOLLECT]

The wife and I just re-watched "Mary Poppins" last night! I had never noticed before that Dick Van Dyke plays concertina during his "one man band" scene in the opening minutes of the movie....I guess I've never noticed how many times I saw a concertina until I bought one. Strange phenomena, isn't it?

 

Greg

[bigsqueezergeezer]

FWIW and virtually nothing to do with the topic, Dick van Dyke in real life sings in a Barbershop Harmony Chorus.

 

Derek

[JimLucas]

FWIW and virtually nothing to do with the topic, Dick van Dyke in real life sings in a Barbershop Harmony Chorus.

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On the cutting edge of traditional music, as it were.

[bigsqueezergeezer]

Razor sharp, as always, Jim!

[bill_mchale]

The wife and I just re-watched "Mary Poppins" last night!  I had never noticed before that Dick Van Dyke plays concertina during his "one man band" scene in the opening minutes of the movie....I guess I've never noticed how many times I saw a concertina until I bought one.  Strange phenomena, isn't it?

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Come on, details, is it an anglo or an english .

 

I wonder if he really plays one or if it is simply a prop? His talents are certainly broad enough that I would believe he played it.

 

--

Bill

[RELCOLLECT]

I wonder if he really plays one or if it is simply a prop?

 

It was definitely a prop in that sequence. At one point he only had one hand on it, but with the manic routine he was doing, I don't see how anyone could have been really playing. I couldn't tell what sort it was, but he DID have his hands in the correct position....coming from his Vaudeville background, I wouldn't surprised if he did play.

 

Really, I was thinking more about how many times I had seen a "subliminal" concertina. I don't remember many pop-culture instances, but now that my awareness has been expanded, I'm seeing more and more.

[Mark Evans]

My memory says anglo.

 

I was in love with Julie Andrews . Sat through Mary Poppins and the Sound of Music many times as a boy. Am suprised I remembered the concertina. Been huming tunes from both movies all afternoon. Sigh.

[Helen]

Good grief.

 

I never even noticed the concertina.

[Stephen Chambers]

I was in love with Julie Andrews .  Sat through Mary Poppins and the Sound of Music many times as a boy.  Am suprised I remembered the concertina ... Sigh.

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Mark,

 

And you married a soprano & took up the concertina ...

 

It sounds like a life-changing experience !

[Mark Evans]

Tis' true Stephen. By the time I sat in that theater and feel in love for the first time, I was already playing a Scholer 20 button and (what has moved me to devulge this?) wearing lederhosen my uncle had purchased for me on a trip to Southern Germany. Yes, as an adult I sought therapy and learned to embrace my oddness. I miss those lederhosen...

Edited April 27, 2005 by Mark Evans

[Helen]

Mark, there's always ebay.

[Mark Evans]

Oh no Helen...Back then I was "cute" in a pair of lederhosen...today? There must be laws or at least community standards against such .

[Helen]

Aw I bet you'd still be cute.

 

All in favor of Mark wearing lederhosen raise your hand.

[Mark Evans]

Oh no, no, no! I would look too much like a photo of Herman Goring (sorry no umlaut on this machine) taken in lederhosen. No way Jose. They don't make them in my size (short and fat).

[Stephen Chambers]

They don't make them in my size (short and fat).

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Oh but they do !

 

(In fact that sounds like a description of many of the men I have seen wearing lederhosen in Germany.)

[Animaterra]

Me! My hand's up! I've met you, Mark, and I think you'd still be adorable in lederhosen!!

[Mark Evans]

You are a kind soul. Roly-Poly will however keep his long breeches and leave lederhosen firmly in the past.... Now a kilt is a different matter ! For the record, I am not a traditionalist...drafts don't agree wid me lassie!

[Stephen Chambers]

Now a kilt is a different matter !  For the record, I am not a traditionalist...drafts don't agree wid me lassie!

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I was not going to ask !