his Inglewood home. Being something of and composing, because Bart Wright a "loner," this was no great sacrifice. was gifted not only with an ear for music Nothing was more important than getting but with the ability to compose themes C!tlnsingC!tt,nril his organ playing . Jim was never what and settings as needed. might be termed a joiner; he sometimes He first gained public notice playing Jim Braun arrived in Los Angeles from attended TOC and ATOE concerts but opposite Paul H. Forster and Lew Baker Seattle seven years ago with one burning never became affiliated with any organ at the Syracuse Empire, althought he ambition - to own a . He club. There just wasn't time. had played in other houses (the Syra­ was well schooled in the technique of ser­ Jim teamed with Chuck Smith and the cuse Eckel and the Rome Capitol) for vicing and restoring player pianos and project was well under way , with the some years . His theatre career came to he soon built up a reputation for excel­ building completed and much of the or­ full fruition when he replaced Herbert lent work among player piano afficion­ gan installed, when Jim learned that he Henderson shortly after the opening of ados , and a remunerative trade . had Leukemia. That was about two years the Syracuse Regent's 3-13 Marr and ago. But at a point where many people Colton organ in 1927 (for several years are inclined to give up , Jim pitched in with the largest TO in Syracuse). There he renewed vigor . Now he had real reason to played not only for silent movies but hurry because he wasn't certain as to how presented top-flight "sing-alongs " (then much time he had left. He never com­ called "organlogues " ). He left the Regent plainea to friends or even let on how ill to open Harry Gilbert senior 's atmos­ he was and many learned the extent of pheric neighborhood Riviera theatre on his acting ability only by the notice in South Salina Street in 1929, a "talkie " the newspapers. house but one where Bart 's "Organ­ Jim Braun , 25, died on March 17, logues " , played on a 2-6 , flour­ leaving a mother and father in Seattle . ished for the next few years. The future of his 22-rank Wurlitzer and its special building in Inglewood , Cali­ fornia , was assured by the determination of Jim 's partner , Chuck Smith , to com­ plete the project. Chuck plans to make the organ and building available to or­ gan clubs and concert groups, with rental fees to go toward a lasting memorial to Jim Braun - a Leukemia Foundation which will bear Jim's name.

The profits went into buying organ * * * parts and a building in which to house Bart Wright was a tall , skinny guy with Bart Wright Circa 1926 the instrument. Jim was a perfectionist eyesight so bad that he had to turn out As the demand for organists lessened and he tackled his project accordingly. the console lights in order to see the pic­ in the early '30 's, Bart could be heard Every spare moment was devoted to the ture on the screen , ever so dimly. Read­ playing his song slide novelties at the organ project. Not being financially able ing from the rack was out of the question, Syracuse (later the Civic) theatre 's 3-10 to buy the kind of building he felt his in­ so he memorized thousands of composi­ , where burlesque was strument deserved, he did most of the con­ tions needed to cue silent movies. If his the usual program. They even gave him struction owrk himself on an addition to personality seemed somewhat lacklustre marquee billing along with a succession it was because he was a shy man , but of "top bananas. " During this period he one who, nevertheless , made an imposing often returned to his beloved Regent or­ VOX POP, continued figure in the glare of the spotlight as he gan for late-night broadcasts from WFBL. ( Continu ed j i·o111Pa ge JO) played a solo or took his bow. In the Little was heard of him after 1935, the it was a concert by Kay McAbee with a middle and late '20's his gaunt figure year the Regent was remodeled minus silent movie cued by Tom Ferree (the and sharp features might be seen at a the organ , which was junked. Uniphone's owner and champion). For number of Central New York theatres Bart Wright was the son of a Syracuse May it was to be a joint A TOE-AGO before the show or on break - but never police chief, and had two brothers, Leroy chapter meeting and the possibility that at the console unless it was spotlighted and (the latter was a doc­ some AGOer would play some classics because as previously mentioned, he did tor). In later years, Bart turned to edu­ on the Uniphone. Reginald Foort had all his playing sans console and rack cation, and the last five years of his life proved it a worthy instrument for con­ lights. That is a summary of the surface were invested in teaching at a home for cert music with a surprise rendition of impressions one was apt to get of Bar­ retarded children. In earlier years he had Bach 's Toccata and Fuge in D Minor tholomew P. Wright , but there is lots quite a number of organ students but during his stint at the Rivoli last Decem­ more. If one took the trouble to cultivate only two can be recalled. One , a gifted ber. "Bart" Wright, a warm and kindly hu­ singer and entertainer, Jackie Shannon, In San Francisco, Lyn Larsen was man being materialized, one who loved quit the secular life to become Rev. John having the time of his life, and loving it. music and the theatre organ. And when Shannon. The other, Stu Green, showed Lyn, now the staff organist at the Avenue he started playing a theatre organ, an up years later as one of the editors of theatre (the silent movie house with the entirely different Bart Wright came to the this magazine. big Wurlitzer), is a "natural" at cueing fore. He used the tone colors of the solo­ Bart Wright died on May l, after a silent films reports Dewey Cagle ( Dewey voiced Marr and Coltons in the Syracuse brief illness in the city he left but briefly spends his weekends there). Audiences Empire and Regent theatres with a flair in his span of 75 years. - Syracuse, New are getting larger and part-owner Ed for drama but always in excellent taste. York. He would like the way the Herald­ Stout credits Lyn's close-fitting, sensitive His weaving of "leit motifs" during silent Journal headed his obituary; scores to a large extent. film scores was a study in both arranging "B. P. Wright Dies: Theatre Organist.

37 theatre organ I bombarde