The Pianolist: What Happened to the Man of the Box of Wonders?

Written by: Heidi Hussein

Edited by: Laila Wael

“Four Girls and a Policeman” film

This article is offering you a time travelling trip to know about an extinct job that people used to enjoy in the 1950s.

If you’re obsessed with the aesthetic monochromes, then you will love the story of the Pianolist who had a great role to play in these film noir.

· What is it?

A wooden box like a small closet that had an oval frame in the middle with some pictures, a household hardware on its right, while on the left there’s a stick to play music. A man carrying this box on his back to entertain people. This is how the Pianolist looked like.

· The origin story

The Pianolists emerged in the 1920s, when Greeks and Italians resorted to it. It

was known in Cairo, Alexandria, Port Said and Suez. They used to roam streets with their significant and unique look wearing trench coat suits with a long costume hat.

Pianolists were Greeks and Italians only, which made it easier to extinct when many embassies have left Egypt after the Suez Crisis in 1956.

· Why Did It Vanish?

This job had to fade out as people couldn’t make the sheet music melodies tape which was the main part of making the Pianola work. These tapes had some kind of holes which creates melodies by using the household hardware to pump air. Abou - Al Hool newspaper

· Films Existence

When filmmakers looked for something to add to the drama, the Pianolist was always there.

One of these films is “Keep Calm and Listen” released in 1991.

Abdel Moneim Madbouly also portrayed a non-forgettable Pianloist named Hassaballah in “Raya and Sekina” play which started showing in 1983.

“Keep Calm and Listen” film uploaded by Rotana on YouTube

· Should it be back?

Last appearance of the Pianolist in cinemas was only in the 1990s, then the Pianolist was officially a history. How entertaining it was and how people of the time were so attached to it, are all indicators that we should consider having the Pianolists back but this time with an Egyptian touch just like the 1960s films. What do you think?