MUSICAMERICANA "Part one-man band, part Phonic system of tone gen­ symphony orchestra , part eration. Exclusive sound of sound effects department , rotating two-speed Leslie the Wurlitzer ... one of the speaker system. Built-in most versatile instruments cassette for record and ever devised by man." playback. - Ben M. Hall And, the fine Wurlitzer­ "The Best Remaining Seats" Orbit Synthesizer. Un­ surpassed magnitude in Movie palaces were the musical effects. Create entertainment centers of sounds that may never have the nation to an American been heard before , produce generation. The Mighty instrumental voices and Wurlitzer made it possible , effects with unequalled giving theatres their authenticity. personalities. You get all of this and The Mighty Wurlitzer ... more with Wurlitzer part of every performer , Centura 805. The organ you -part of every performance want if you're a serious key­ . heightened suspense , board musician . enhanced drama , set the stage for a comic pratfall. The total sound. The finest theatre organ ever built. The Mighty Wurlitzer commanded , thrilled, made audiences live with players The Memory Lingers on the silent screen . Every Unsurpassed Enjoyment Solid state console pro­ mood, every situation posi­ Music . .. sound ... sheer en­ duces four pedal voices at Keep the Mighty Wurlitzer in front of you with five tioned with musical themes joyment all come alive with two pitches with or without outstanding nostalgia and mech anical effects. The Centura 805. pedal sustain. Five addi­ posters featuring famous Mighty Wurlitzer imitated Crafted to transport you tional pedal voices coupled Mighty Wurlitzer all of the instruments of the into the realm of musical from upper keyboard . Auto­ installations . Recreated orchestra and hundreds that excellence. Pure magic matic tone and versatility in finest detail. no orchestra could offer. It instantly; total enjoyment controls , exclusive linear fi I led every demand of the every time your fingers accent controls , solo instru­ The Mighty Wurlitzer photoplay. touch the inclined , over­ mental voice selection . poster set - an exclusive Now , in the proud tradi­ hanging keys. Thrill to the Multi-Matic ® Percussion offer from Wurlitzer, is ti o n of the Mighty magnitude of Centura 805's with Repeat and Attack , available for a limited Wurlitzer , a new standard musical capabilities . Percussion Presets, Toy time only. Send $4.50 to: of excellence-Wurlitzer Two full 61-note key­ Counter and Swingin' Centura 805. boards , 25-note pedalboard, Rhythm™. The organ for the home Orbit Synthesizer. Sound Strikingly authentic WuRLttZER Advertising Dept., of every serious keyboard and artistry unmatched in sound from four families of DeKalb, Illinois 60115. musician. the home. organ tone through a Multi- Offer good in U.S . only. 2 THEATRE ORGAN FEBRUARY - MARCH, 1977 -----Cover- Vhoto----- The Trenton War Memorial 3/16 Moller. This cover is presented by THEATRE ORGAN as a tribute to all who have worked and are working to preserve the­ Journal of lhP. Am erican Theatre Organ Society atre pipe organs. The Trenton project personifies the Volume19, No. 1 Feb.-March1977 aims and traditions of ATOS . W.T. McKissock, Jr. Photo ATOS National Membership is $15.00 per calendar year, which includes a subscription to THEATRE ORGAN , the official publication of the American Theatre Organ Society . Single copies $1.50. Make -----In Thi§ l§§Ue----- check or money order payable to ATOS , and mail Features to P.O. Box 1314, Salinas , California 93901. 5 San Diego's "Music Man" . ...... .... ............... Robert Whinery Editorial Address 11 Vic Hyde Discovers a Cozatt Theatre Organ ... .. ........ Lloyd E. Klos THEATRE ORGAN 15 Jean lngelow, Silent Movie Pianist ............... ... ..... Lloyd E. Klos P .O . Box 1314 Salinas . California 93901 17 In Search of "New" Pipe Organs .. ..... ........... .. Arthur M . Cox, Jr . Phone : (408) 663 -3238 20 Jack Skelly, New York Paramount Organist . .... ...... .. .. Lloyd E. Klos Advertising Address 27 Organist Reg. Foo rt Resumes 38-Year Old ATOS Advertising "Love Affair " . .. ... .. ...... .................... Stu Green 2231 North Burlin g Street Chicago , Illinois 60614 28 RTOS Sponsors Gala Weekend in Toronto . .. ... .. .. Lloyd E. Klos Office of the President 31 Joliet 's Wonder Theatre RayF . Sn1t1I 32 1977 Convention Banquet .. ... ... ..... .. .. ...... ... ... lone Tedei 2849 14th Ave . S .E. Cedar Rapids , Iowa 52403 43 What's the Score? . .. ........ ... ... .. ... ... ........ John Muri Phone : (319) 364 -3464 National Headquarters Technical ATOS 41 Questions and Answers .............................. Lance Johnson P.O . B ox 1002 Middleburg , V1rg1n1a 22117 Telephone · (703) 554 -8321 Departments National Officers 24 For the Records 44 Letters to the Editors Ray F Snitil , President 34 Vax Pops 48 Chapter Notes Erwin Young, V.P . - Treasurer Riedel West , Secretary 40 Hollywood Cavalcade 63 Classified Ads National Board of Directors 42 Nuggets from the Golden Days W . Tiny James Riedel West J ean Lautzenheiser William Rieger Ri chard C . Simont on Thomas Landrum George F Thompson Robert Van Camp Paul Abernethy , Past Presid ent As I read the issues of the THEATRE ORGAN, Curator I am so amazed and pleased by the young people Barry Simm ons Campus B ox 2213 who are demonstrating their interest in devoting Elon College , N orth Carolina 27244 their time and talents and making a career of the Past Presidents R ,chard Simonton Feb . 1955 Oct 1 958 theatre pipe organ. Their creativity, their use of Judd W alton Oct 1958 July 1961 Tiny James July 1961 - July 1964 the modern music of today and their new interpre­ Carl N orve ll July 1964 July 1966 tations have given the old theatre pipe organs a Ri chard Schrum July 1966 July 1968 Al M ason July 1968 July 1970 new place in music artistry. Stillm an Ri ce Jul y 1970 July 1972 Erwi n A Young July 1972 July 1974 Many of the chapter newsletters I receive also Paul M Abernethy July 1974 July 1976 contain accounts of the younger generations' Honorary Members 1959- JesseCrawford 1968-RichardC. Simonton activities in presenting programs for the chapters, 1960-FamyWurlitzer 1969-JuddWalton participating in console time and working on 1961-MelDoner 1970-BillLamb 1962-LeonardMacClain 1971-George and Vi Thompson restoration of pipe organs. I hope you feel as I do 1963- EddieDunstedter 1972-Stu Green that if the young people continue to show so 1964-ReginaldFoort 1973-AJand Betty Mason 1965- DanBarton 1974-LloydKlos much enthusiasm, the °King of Instruments" 1966- W. "Tiny"James 1975-.klePatten will not fade away again. Every opportunity should be given to these budding 1967- ErwinA. Young 1976-Roydand Doris Mumm musicians to prepare themselves to follow in the footsteps of those great EDITORIAL STAFF Edit or - George Th ompson veteran organists who are presently our devoted performers and artists. Associate Editors Lloyd E. Klos , Peg Niels en , Ray B rubacher With new members joining ATOS every day, new groups of interested Edit or -Emeritus W . " Stu " Green Ph otograp h er Bill Lamb enthusiasts requesting information about forming chapters, more theatre Publi sher B etty M ason Editorial A ssistant D on Lockwo od organs being restored along with continued perpetuation by the young Advert1s1ng M anager Len Clarke organists, I feel that our organization will progress far above and beyond the C1rcu lat1on M anager V1 Th om pson expectations of our founders. THEATRE ORGAN (title registered U.S. Patent Office) is published bi-monthly by the Am erican Let's continue to work together in our efforts in these directions so that Theatre Organ Society , Inc ., a non -profit organiza ­ there will be more artists playing more theatre pipe organs for more people tion , Ray F. Snitil , President . All rights reserved . Entire contents copyrighted Am erican Theatre to enjoy. Organ Society , Inc. , 1976. Office of publication is P.O. Box 2329, Livonia , Michigan 48151. Sincerely, POSTMASTER : Seco nd Class postage paid at ,.. ATOS Livonia , Michigan . IF UNDELIVERABLE , send form ni~ 3579 to ATOS Circulation Department , Box 1314, ARCHIVESI LIBRARY Salinas, California 93901. ~ RAY F. SNITI: FEBRUARY - MARCH, 1977 THEATRE ORGAN NOTYOUR TYPICALPLUG-IN! The three manual System 1220 Digital r-----------------------------------------~ Computer Allen is about as far from a typical T0-27 "plug-in" as one can get. Allen Organ Company Highly sophisticated in both sound and Macungie, PA 18062 technology, this is the organ that garnered ovations at Asilomar, and the recent ATOS D Please send free literature on the Digital Convention. Computer Organ. D $2 enclosed ($3.50 outside U.S.) If you are fortunate enough to be able to Please send Dwight Beacham demonstration enjoy the very best, this is the organ you've recording. been waiting for. D Please contact me re a System 1220 Let us arrange a demonstration. demonstration. Name ______________ _ ©1976 Address _____________ _ City ________ State __ Zip __ During World War II, Ed gives the downbeat to start by Robert Whinery has been racing through life since he the "Poet and Peasant Overture ." He's conducting was twenty and shows no signs of an orchestra comprised of carefully auditioned Convair Aircraft Co. employees who volunteered Edward G. Borgens, executive vice stopping. for troop entertainment at the Port of Embarkation . president of Organ Power Restau­ Ed was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, rants was fuming over a recent item the son of George and MaryBorgens, and he came to San Diego for daily in THEATRE ORGAN in which he immigrants from Germany. Music performances during the next six was depicted as "playing as his has been his love since age nine when months. Why, of all the organists health permits." he started piano lessons. His school­ in this country, was he selected? The When a man can come out of ac­ mates in Lincoln called him "sissy" answer is found in the twenties, when tive retirement at seventy-five to for this, so he took time out from the cinema pipe organ reached its work twelve-hour days, he can practice to "civilize" a few of them zenith.