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The Promise is inspired by the life of the former caretaker of the Rye Playland Grand Carousel, Larry McGowan. Located in Rye, NY, this Art Deco park is listed on the Register of National Historic Places and is a National Landmark.
As a boy, Larry visits the park with his father and rides the carousel for weeks during the summer. The band organ becomes his first music teacher and he goes on to become a master church organist, pianist and keyboardist for the legendary band Rat Race Choir. Riding the carousel is his happiest memory as a child.
His love for the horses inspires a promise to always take care of them. He keeps that promise later in his life and becomes the caretaker of the Grand Carousel, including the rare band organ that taught him the beauty of music and the 66 horses and three chariots he so lovingly restored.
“If I ever did a movie about my life, it’d be me on the carousel waving to my father.."
Larry McGowan