The photoplayer (the Fotoplayer itself was one make, produced by the American Photoplayer Company) was a form of piano, electrically-driven, with augmented orchestral effects, including organ pipes, percussion and assorted sound effects (whistles, bird song, thunder etc.). The organ could be played manually, as shown in this video clip, but it also took piano rolls as with a conventional player piano, each of which would be designed for particular genres and scenes. An operator called an usherette, would have to switch from one roll to another as the action in the cartoon changed.
