Nate Otto Presents…
The American Fotoplayer! Live!
Sign up for December 2025's Show, "Winter Wonders: A Wintry Not-So-Silent Movie Show," grab your seat today!
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Sign up for December 2025's Show, "Winter Wonders: A Wintry Not-So-Silent Movie Show," grab your seat today! 〰️
"How our grandparents watched movies."
What is a Fotoplayer?
A Photoplayer (that's the generic name) is a player piano built especially to make music for silent movies. The instrument uses music pre-recorded on paper rolls that automatically play the piano, just like a home player piano. Photoplayers also feature other instruments like a pipe organ, drums, and other trap effects to help bring the movie to life.
Nate’s Fotoplayer Style 15
Join Us for our Fotoplayer Events!
December 2025's Event: "Winter Wonders: A Wintry Not-So-Silent Movie Show!"
〰️
December 2025's Event: "Winter Wonders: A Wintry Not-So-Silent Movie Show!" 〰️
The films will be accompanied by Nate Otto on the 1916 American Fotoplayer!
But what is a Fotoplayer? It's a player piano with 100 organ pipes, bass drum, snare drum and cymbal, all operated by just one person!
Nate started the restoration of this historic instrument in 2021 and completed the restoration several years later.
Seating for each show is limited, so book your tickets early!
COST
Free will donation: Pay what you can, if you can. (Average donation $20)
WHEN
December 12-13 | 19-20 | 26-27
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm
Door opens 30 minutes before showtime. Run time is approximately 1 hour. Each show will start with a brief history on the Fotoplayer and a "visual appetizer" showcasing the Fotoplayer and a modern media clip.
WHERE
Rum River Restoration: 624 Johnson Street, Anoka, MN 55303
Want to be notified of future events? Join our mailing list!
Want to get involved? There are hands-on and behind-the-scenes projects that Nate could use volunteer help with. For this event to keep growing, it's going to take a village!