Journal of the American Theatre Organ Society
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JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN THEATRE ORGAN SOCIETY '_ --~~~ - -- - ·- - -- ~--'- -'. Orbil ID™eeclronic 1yn~e1izer P,UJ ~ -~eo~re01pinel organ equo1... ~e newe;I woy lo mo <emu1ic rromWur ilzec Now with the Orbit III electronic synthesizer from slowly, just as the theatre organist did by opening and Wurlitzer you can create new synthesized sounds in closing the chamber louvers. stantly ... in performance. And with the built-in Orbit III synthesizer, this This new Wurlitzer instrument is also a theatre organ, instrument can play exciting combinations of synthe with a sectionalized vibrato/tremolo, toy counter, in sized, new sounds, along with traditional organ music. A dependent tibias on each keyboard and the penetrating built-in cassette player/recorder lets you play along with kinura voice that all combine to recreate the sounds of pre-recorded tapes for even more dimensions in sound. the twenty-ton Mighty Wurlitzers of silent screen days. But you've got to play the Orbit III to believe it. And it's a cathedral/classical organ, too, with its own in Stop in at your Wurlitzer dealer and see the Wurlitzer dividually voiced diapason, reed, string and flute voices. 4037 and 4373. Play the eerie, switched-on sounds New linear accent controls permit you to increase or of synthesized music. Ask for your free Orbit III decrease the volume of selected sections suddenly, or demonstration record. Or write: Dept. T0-1272 WURLilzER® The Wurlitzer Company, DeKalb, Illinois 60115. ha.~the ,vay cover- photo ••• Sidney Torch at the Console of the Christie Organ, Regal Theatre, Edmonton. The glass panels surrounding the keyboards were illuminated by several sets of differently colored lights, controlled by motorized rheostats which created Journal of the American Theatre Organ Society different color effects as the lights were dimmed and brightened - an exclusive English feature! See the interview of Sidney Torch by Judd Walton and Frank Volume 14, No. 6 • December 1972 Killinger starting on page 5 of this issue. ATOS National Membership is $8.00 per calendar year, which includes a subscription to THEATRE ORGAN, the official pub in thi§ i§§Ue ••• lication of the American Theatre Organ Society. Single copies $1.25 . Make check or FEATURES money order payable to ATOS, and mail 4 Our Manners Are Showing ............ John Muri to P.O. Box 1314, Salinas, California 93901. 5 Sidney Torch ...... Judd Walton and Frank Killinger Editorial Address: 10 Aluminum Bubble Gets Organ ........ Bert Brouillon THEATRE ORGAN 14 New Dodger Southpaw P.O. Box 1314, 15 Salute to Sierra Chapter Salinas, California 93901 21 Organ Festival Electrifies Asilomar .. Hal Steiner Advertising Address 26 The Carleton James Story . Lloyd E. Klos ATOS Advertising 31 The Benson Organ ................. Bob Burke 2231 North Burling Street Chicago, Illinois 60614 33 Frederick's Man-of-the-Hour. Rav Brubacher 40 Three Generations . George Johnson ATOS National Headquarters ATOS DEPARTMENTS P.O. Box 1002 Middleburg, Virginia 22117 18 Vox Pops 34 For the Records 42 Closing Chord Phone (703) 554-8321 23 Letters to the Editor 38 Hollywood Cavalcade 44 Chapter Notes ATOS National Officers 29 Snippets from England 38 Dinny's Colyum 56 Classified Ads Erwin Young, President 32 Nuggets from the Golden Days Duane Searle, Vice President Mary Bowles, Secretary-Treasurer Nina Young, Executive Secretary ATOS National Board of Directors Mary Bowles Allen W. Rossiter Gaylord Carter Dick Schrum Al Mason Richard Simonton Allen Miller Judd Walton Stillman Rice, Past President ATOS Past Presidents Richard Simonton Feb. 1955 - Oct. 1958 Judd Walton Oct. 1958 - July 1961 Tiny James July 1961 - July 1964 Carl Norvell July 1964 - July 1966 Richard Schrum July 1966 - July 1968 Al Mason July 1968 - July 1970 Stillman Rice July 1970 - July 1972 ATOS Honorary Members 1959-Jesse Crawford 1966-W. "Tiny" James 1960-Farny Wurlitzer 1967-Erwin A. Young,Jr . 1961-Mel Doner 1968-R ichard C. Simonton 1962-Leonard MacClain 1969-Judd Walton 1963-Eddie Dunstedter 1970-Bill Lamb 1964-Reginald Foort 1971-George and Vi Thompson 1965-Dan Barton 1972-Stu Green EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-George Thompson Associate Editors - Ray Brubacher Lloyd E. Klos Peg Nielsen Editor-Emeritus - W. "Stu" Green Publisher-Al Mason Editorial Assistant - Don Lockwood Advertising Manager-Len Clarke Circulation Manager- Vi Thompson THEATRE ORGAN (title registered U.S. Patent Office) is published bi-monthly by the American Theatre Organ Society, Inc., a non-profit organization, Erwin A. Young, Jr,, President. All rights reserved. Entire contents copyrighted 1972 by ATOS, Inc., Office of publication is P.O. Box 2329. Livonia, Michigan 48150. ~C"'1,f,~~' f, POSTMASTER : Second Class postage paid G,·eeH~sf, at Livonia, Michigan, IF UNDELIVERABLE, send form 3579 to ATOS Circulation De partment, Box 1314, Salinas, California 93901. .~EADQUARTERS ATOS DECEMBER, 1972 THEATRE ORGAN ABuR•vES/LIBRARY 3 On the happier side, Christmas par ties are occasions for us to get to gether and establish stronger friend ships. I urge people who have parties OuR MANNERSARE SltowiNG in homes with organ installations to allot only a certain amount of time for organ-playing - say, an hour - after which the instrument is shut by John Muri down while the party continues. No organ should be booming away for Social groups develop behavior pat start using "The Perfect Song"? I hours in a restricted area, forcing terns for themselves, with some of the don't suppose there would be any people to yell at each other for con rules emerging in response to unhappy more earthquakes in California than versation. The host might be happy experiences. Organ buffs, like every usual, but I get irritated when I hear in having visitors play his pride and body else, need occasionally to review about somebody's featuring one of joy, but it's rough on those who want the permanent ethical principles and my favorite war-horses. If a fellow to talk to friends they don't see very see if our practices will bear approval has developed a specialty, he should often. There is no problem in large in their light. be allowed exclusive use of it - as homes where those who wish to talk I thought of this when a program suming, of course, that he hasn't can move to a less noisy area, but chairman told me about a soloist he copied it from somebody else. there is no excuse for protracted loud had engaged - let's call the player Joe Belittling remarks are out of order, organ-playing in a small home. Perish Tibia - who hadn't bothered to make unless harm may come from con the thought that there needs to be up or send a program. When asked cealment of damaging facts. It is im continual background-music at our par what should be listed on the printed portant not to make such remarks at ties. They would be pretty dull af program, the player replied, "Joe Tibia concerts where strangers may be listen fairs if they needed it. Organists at Favorites." The chairman then asked ing. They might be much-impressed such parties should avoid using loud what should be listed for the half newcomers who can be so negatively and louder as their only registrations. after the intermission. The reply was affected as to give up going to more Some booze and a couple of organists "More Joe Tibia Favorites." That of our -concerts. Then, too, they might playing loud duets can make listening fellow couldn't have given much be relatives of the artist. At such and talking painful, if not impossible. thought to his program. On the night times, it's better to follow the old And, by the way, I don't think any of the concert he didn't appear at the saying: don't say anything if you one should smoke, eat, or drink while theatre until the moment he was to can't say anything good. It's stupid at a friend's console. enter the pit. He had everyone worried, to antagonize people needlessly. Especially at Christmas, we should and I don't suppose he will be asked to In this regard a number of us are not neglect our older retired players. return. It is certainly not admirable offensive. A few of us have too strong A number of them live alone, and it nor intelligent. a drive to dominate chapter activities; is only civil to call them at times to Some organists do not send adequate others of us have too hair-trigger a see if they are well or if they need biographical press-material to com tendency to get mad and quit at help. At our house we have occa mittees that are anxious to get wide the more suggestion of offense. I am sionally asked an old timer in for publicity. If there is no information dismayed as I witness friction between dinner, or we have gone out to visit, to print, what kind of publicity job individuals, between groups within taking along some little present or can a committee do? Every organist chapters, and even between groups in something special to eat. A card to a who contemplates going on tour should different geographic regions. Some sick or afflicted member can be very have several pages of good up-to-date times the antipathies are justified, but helpful. How important these little publicity material ready and should usually they spring from pettiness on things become after we can't do any send them out as soon as an engage one side or the other. It is reprehens thing about them any more! ment is confirmed. This will include ible for us to hold grudges against Each year I increasingly value a respectable program that is more members of other chapters simply the privilege of knowing and than just "Popular Hits" or "Fa because the latter are members of hearing retired veterans like Lew vorites", and there should be no de another group.