organ in the air and the first photo of the horseshoe console is most en­ •ex P8PI couraging. It's a two manual, double stoprail job with lots of between­ manual combo buttons. But the best thing is the avoidance of all those confusing little rocker switches on the side jambs as practiced by so many electronic organ builders. The 620's voices and other controls are located on the double stoprail and switching is accomplished by means of stopkeys - as it should be. We sincerely hope the instrument sounds as good as it looks. ~ Another organist who played the Conducted by Stu Green New York Paramount in the days of Jesse Crawford has made himself Readers are encouraged to submit known, Jack Skelly of Rye, N.Y. interesting sidelights on the organ He was associate organist, mainly hobby (exclusive of chapter news items) material they believe will be of spelling Fred Feibel. Egon Putz general interest about local organ was also on the staff, but Sigmund activities and installations and the Krumgold had gone to Paramount's people who work at the hobby. We Hollywood Studios. Skelly also know "there's VOX POPS in them played at the Rialto, substituted at there chapters" and it only requires an 8 cent postcard to get it to VO X the Brooklyn Paramount, and played POPS Editor, Box 3564,Granada Hills, on the "Paramount on Parade" Donna Parker . She'll combine matrimony with music. (StufotoJ California 91344. If the contributor CBS Monday radio show. He says can afford a 10 cent stamp, why not that most of his pipe organ playing include a black and white photo is now done on the 4-manual Aeolian vorite photo subjects announced which need not be returned. at the Westchester County Center in her engagement. Donna Parker White Plains, N.Y. had been going to school in Phoenix, Arizona, and naturally gravitated Organ buffs tend to be sneaky toward that incubator of romance and devious when it comes to land­ and aromatic pasta with pipe organ ing converts to the hobby. Take, Here's a case where a pipe in­ flavoring, the Organ Stop pizzery. for example, CATOE's Arthur stallation brought together a couple There she met Bob MacNeur. Both Tedesco. He started working on the of musicians who found out their being organists, they had something Sykora family about four years ago music meshed for duets. When in common from the start. Under by taking them to CATOE con­ pianist Tony Galtera heard that the spell of that Mighty Wurlitzer, certs. When they responded favor­ the .4/28 Wurlitzer from the Pater­ the die was cast. Although this item ably he made the supreme bid; he son, New Jersey, Fabian Theatre went to press weeks before the an­ married daughter Carol. Now thor­ was being installed in the Casa nounced Sept. 20 wedding, we trust oughly hooked, mama and papa Italiano, it brought back memories the knot was tied without anyone Sykora thought it would be nice to of the days when he was the pianist in the back of the church yelling learn to play a little. Arthur was with the Fabian Theatre orchestra. "Stop!" when the preacher asked right there with the solution; he He dropped in to the Casa to see the usual question. Our overriding sold them his plug-in. He didn't the organ played in the theatre by wish is for the best of fortune to the need it anymore because he and Warren Yates so long ago. In the newlyweds. bride Carol had acquired an old process he met Bill Gage, current Estey pipe job and were embarked house organist at the Casa, who on a restoration and enlargement plays a plug-in until the pipe in­ project. If this sounds like a soap stallation is complete. Tony and Bill opera plot, blame mama, Lillian tried out a few organ/piano duets Eddie May, Miami Beach's fa­ Sykora, who reported as to how the and learned their music pleased vorite organist, is "back to my usual world turns. listeners, reports Bill. disagreeable self," after recuper­ ation following medical treatment ~ for an ulcer which almost caused As readers already know, we love his "cashing in." To prove it, Eddie The Allen model 620 electronic to include pictures of pretty girls offers the following comment: "We console is certainly a step in the right in this column, and we don't need have plenty of topless and bottom­ direction. For some time there have much of an excuse. But this time we less attractions in Miami, not to been rumors of an Allen theatre are on solid ground; one of our fa- mention the empty heads who run

30 THEATRE ORGAN OCTOBER - NOVEMBER, 1975 them and patronize them. You may 000 invested in this venture, indeed the console and maybe it's having an place writers and players of 'modern' putting his money where his mouth illicit affair with some pipes some­ music in the same category as far as is. He plans to add the 8,000-pipe where. I'm concerned; this includes the Harvard organ to the Castle's in­ so-called 'serious new music' with strument, making it the largest nothing but incongruous chord ac­ private organ in the world. One must Anyone in the St. Paul, Minn. companiments. The finest of food­ be there to appreciate it because area interested in a theatre organ stuffs, given enough time, turns to it staggers the imagination. He is rehabilitation project? In a recent garbage and must be recycled via doing alone exactly what the ATOS New York Times, an item mentioned Mother Earth. So it is with the tastes is doing collectively." the visit to a theatre by Norman of the average human. My pref­ Foss, in which he installed a 7,000- erences are the old musical comedy (sic) pipe organ in 1922. Visiting the tunes and lighter classics. If that Twin Cities with his wife who at­ dates me, so be it, but there seems Frank Lyboldt, Norfolk, Va. or­ tended a teachers' meeting, Foss to be quite a few listeners willing to ganist who performed at the 1972 took the opportunity to visit the old pay good money to hear same." ATOS Convention, reports that organ in a St. Paul theatre. not long ago he and two companions It has been silent for 15 years ~ visited some theatres on Long Island, because the motor is inoperative. N.Y. At the 1600-seat Cove Theatre Mr. Foss, owner of an organ com­ Jim Leaffe, the 27-year-old house in Glen Cove, he asked the manager organist of Long Island University pany in Edgewater, N.J., estimated if the house has a pipe organ. "Oh that installing an organ of similar (ex-Brooklyn Paramount), describes yes, the console is backstage. I'll the 4/26 Wurlitzer he plays in the size would cost $800,000 today. Al­ show you." So, the quartet walked to converted theatre as producing the though the make and model of the the stage, the lights were turned on, "original quadraphonic sound," instrument were not given in the and lo - the console was gone! due to the four chambers in which writeup, here is a chance for tal­ The manager was speechless, and the pipes and effects are stacked, ented, responsible enthusiasts in the when it was suggested an examina­ surrounding the prosenium arch. area to investigate and perhaps bring tion of the chambers was on order, In an interview for the New York the organ back to playing condition. they did just that. The vandalism Times not long ago, he continued: there was disheartening. Practically ~ ''But it is not used as a nostalgia every pipe was broken, bent, or Bob Boettcher reports that Okla­ machine. The main problem with pulled from its chest. Only the big oma City is proud of its "new baby," theatre organs anyplace else but diaphones along the wall weren't a 3/11 Wurlitzer installed in the LIU is they are used as nostalgia touched. The vandals probably Showplace Restaurant, located in instruments of the twenties and thought they were a part of the Aeromeridian Plaza, the first theatre thirties. It never caught on with structure. The only encouraging organ in a public place since Ken young people because it was never angle here is that perhaps "Mid­ Wright played the 4/14 Kilgen presented as a 'today' sound." night Organ Supply" latched onto formerly in the WKY-TV studios Which leaves us to wonder why so many young people attend ATOS conventions and chapter concerts. There are a lot of them who are en­ thusiastic over the big sound, nos­ talgia or not, including those who buy nostalgia recorded by others on the LIU organ.

~ Virgil Fox is fast becoming the Leonard Bernstein of the pipe or­ gan. One of a consortium of four, but the principal financier of the project to develop the Hammond Castle in Gloucester, Mass. as a school for concert organists, the 62-year-old musician is entertaining his audiences with his concerts and demonstrations there. Tours of the pipe chambers are a part of the act. Doc and Mrs. Bebko attended one of these affairs in July. A $2.00 ad­ mission was charged but "this superb musician outdid himself in one of the finest concert organ recitals I have ever heard. He has about $300, The Showplace console

OCTOBER-NOVEMBER, 1975 THEATRE ORGAN 31 stalled in the New York Paramount "firsts" was convincing the AGO it building organ studio for Jesse Craw­ should include theatre organ pro­ ford in the late '20s. To accom­ grams as part of its otherwise modate the huge instrument, Dick "straight" organ conventions a few plans to enlarge the stage of the years back. He seems to enjoy get­ 1933 movie house by removing a ting classical organ music consumers couple of rows of front seats (the to listen to TO music, especially as concerns radio shows. Two eastern radio outlets have violated their classical organ program formats to spotlight music from Billy's TO albums. Last year, WTIC, Hart­ ford did it on their normally solemn

Ken Wright . Back in the limelight again . and now lying neglected in a civic hall. The Wurli is a 1926 model re­ moved from Loew's Palace theatre in Memphis, Tenn. Bob reports that it's a "visual" installation, where visitors can ogle the pipes, Dick Loderhose . California, here he comes! traps and other parts while the or­ (Stufoto) ganist plays. The organist? Ken present stage is only 12 feet deep and Wright, naturally. He opened it there are no chamber provisions). on June 23. Dick and wife Jane plan to move to the area shortly. The Bay Theatre has one big advantage; it's only Billy Nalle. More 'firsts'. three blocks from the sea, which is Harold Jolles, teacher and ex­ important to Dick. The nearby Ma­ Organ Showcase series, Now WGMS, theatre organist, having seen a num­ rina will provide a place to dock his Washington DC, has scheduled a ber of the great organists perform in yacht, a converted WW II rescue similar pop session on the usually the twenties (Crawford, Murtagh, vessel. Current plans call for a con­ baroque-heavy Royal Instrument Malotte, Gu tow, Keates etc), has tinuation of the house's film policy program, using tunes from Billy's become quite philosophical about with organ concerts and a rental albums as well as a couple of se­ today's scene. "It's just not the same policy for concert stagers in the lections he taped on the 4/37 "Dow­ now when you go to a theatre organ offing. No completion date has been ager Empress" Wurlitzer in Wich­ concert. In the golden days, the set for the installation pending fi­ ita's Century II civic hall, now one house was packed, there was a hush nality of the purchase. of the N alle bases of operations. in expectation as lights played on With that same ex-NY Paramount the curtain, a spot hit the console, ~ lovely involved, Billy has plans for and a most glorious sound filled the George Stucker, who edits the another "first" next June when he place. There was something you North Texas ATOS Chapter's news­ will play a "concert/dance" on the just don't get today. And, the or­ letter, the Keraulophone, was some­ Wichita Wurlitzer. ganist never talked - he let his what shaken when we pointed out to musicianship do this for him." him that the name "Keraulophone" has connotations he may not have considered when it was selected. With the exception of 1974, the For example, an ancient copy of School of the Ozarks in Point Look­ New Yorker Dick Loderhose re­ Wedgwood's Dictionary of Organ out, Mo. has held a series of Sunday veals that he is in the process of pur­ Stops, describes the sound: "The concerts in July, featuring Bert chasing the 650-seat Bay Theatre Keraulophone emits a peculiar soft Buhrman at the 3/15 Wurlitzer, in Seal Beach, Calif. (near Los Ange­ and muffled tone. It is one of the using vocalists and others. This year, les). For the past three years Dick few stops legitimately 'homey' in a new approach, a benefit series for has been conducting an intensive character.'' the scholarship fund, was held on search for a west-coast home for the And we always figured it was the July 13 and 20. A $5.00 admission circa 42-rank monster now housed Tibias! was charged and with Denise Buhr­ in his Jamaica Estates, Long Island man handling tickets to forestall studio. The instrument is an enlarge­ "freebies," TV and radio media ment of the original 4/21 recording Billy N alle likes to get there first, giving much publicity, the series and broadcasting Wurlitzer in- and he's at it again. One of his was again a success, and receipts

32 THEATRE ORGAN OCTOBER - NOVEMBER, 1975 exceeded school officials' fondest gan bench with Mr. Hookway's "As Time Goes By," "Raindrops" dreams. A Laurel & Hardy short, father in Cleveland. Any information and "Colonel Bogey March," and Criminals At Large, was included in on Mr. Sisson would be much ap­ also wrote a script for the sequence. the first program, and an Arbuckle­ preciated by Mr. Hookway. Helen recently put out a book on Keaton short, Coney Island was in polka arrangements, including her the second. The Buhrmans were then own composition, "Polka Dot." off to England for a couple of weeks Looking up from his intense con­ in London and Yorkshire. centration on the playing of the LA Dodgers in Dodgers' Stadium, vis­ itor Lloyd "Panamint" Klos, Don't tell the Internal Revenue couldn't believe his eyes. There in people, please, but Dr. Walter Beau­ huge letters on the message board pre repqrts that business trips, The Rochester Theater Organ was: Society sponsored a July 12 con­ Rhode Island to Columbus, Ohio, cert as an experiment, but it is ex­ DODGERWELCOME TOLLOYD KLOS, can become pure pleasure if one is ceedingly doubtful that it will do AMERICANTHEATRE ORGAN SOCIETY, lucky enough to catch Dennis James so again during the summer off ROCHESTER,N.Y. at the Ohio Theatre. One hot day in season. George Blackmore, enroute "Old Prospector" Klos was vis­ late July the Ohio happened to be to the ATOS San Francisco Con­ iting southern California and being dark, but a call to Dennis and Heidi vention, was the organist and did a organ and baseball oriented, grav­ resulted in a flashlight tour of the most creditable job at the console itated to Chavez Ravine where he magnificent movie palace and a private concert. Heidi (now it can be as soloist, and as accompanist for could sample both. At the Conn his wife, a talented vocalist. The 651 was Dodgers' darling Helen Dell told) was not about to relax in her who had met Lloyd at the airport favorite loge seat until she had and presumably arranged for the figured out a way to rescue a baby screened greeting. Helen also played bird that had toppled from its nest the tune Klos wrote to encourage high up on a theatre fire escape. his favorite team during the game, Those who know Heidi won't doubt "Let's Go, Dodgers!" for a moment that she succeeded! "I was stupified with all that at­ She returned in triumph from what tention," admitted a delighted Klos, must have been a hair-raising climb "Too bad the Dodgers lost." just in time to hear Dennis play his incredible organ transcription of ~ "Victory At Sea." After hearing the mini-concert on the 4/20 Robert Morton, Beaupre observed, "On the organ bench Dennis James impres­ sed me as a major talent in many directions. Besides being a first class performer, he cerebrates while play­ George Blackmore (Stufoto) ing. During the simplest improv­ isation on a pop tune Dennis ex­ organ had to be tuned several times plores counter melodies on many the preceeding week due to muggy temperatures (86° in the chambers at concert time). The Auditorium Theatre Wurlitzer ciphered five times during the concert, and a com­ paritively sparse crowd of 550 manned handkerchiefs in the sweaty atmosphere. A tip of the fedora to Helen Dell. She's Lily Tomlin's organ prow ­ ess. (Stufoto/ the cipher chasers who really got a workout! The saloon organ music which listeners heard on the "Lilly Tomlin Special" on the ABC TV network on July 25, was played by offstage Helen Ralph 0. Hookway of 4960 Lake­ Dell. There had been some talk shore Drive in Littleton, Colorado, during the show's preparation that 80123, is eager to gather information piano music be used instead of or­ concerning Herbert Sisson, an or­ gan music for her final scene, but ganist who played the Mark Strand wiser heads prevailed and Helen's Theatre in New York City, and the name was listed in the credits after­ Alhambra Theatre in Cleveland. ward as organist. She played about Sisson, who studied with Alexander a half dozen numbers to sync Lily as Heidi and Dennis. From bird rescuing to an Guilmont in France, shared the or- the bar organ philosopher, including amphibious victory . (Stufoto/

OCTOBER - NOVEMBER, 1975 THEATRE ORGAN 33 levels. For the moment you can al­ tioned that he had just come back sounds from the six rank, two man­ most believe that the tune being from "a big organ convention." A ual Wurlitzer. It turned out to be played has a life and personality sequence on the Mike Douglas show Harry Jacques, a fine local organist of its own. Dennis also has an un­ is in the offing. and long time friend. All this was a canny ear for perceiving the essence prelude to the arrival of vacationing of an orchestral arrangement and Dr. C.A.J. Parmentier who had then translating it to pipes and per­ promised an impromptu concert. cussions. Off the bench Dennis With ATOS Hall-of Fame Par­ James has a keen intelligence and a mentier testing the limits of the boundless enthusiasm for other little Wurli (which held up nobly musicians - a rare quality.!" under the pyrotechnics), those pres­ In brief, Doc Beaupre appreciates ent agreed that young Doc Good­ Dennis. now could well afford to ignore the calendar and have birthdays more often. Dennis James reports a new phe­ Incidentally, if birthdays of the­ nomenon; people approaching him atre organ buffs can be way out, after concerts with the gall to ask so can the vacation activities of great him to autograph their pirated cas­ organists. The story goes that "Cass" settes of the James recordings! Some and "Toppy'' Parmentier planned people! one day at the seashore only to stop off at the University of Rhode Island to explore the 44-rank Austin-Moller. The organ proved to be in top shape, thanks to Art Fraites, and it was a rare vintage Parmentier who put the four manuals through the paces of "Finlandia," "Nell Gwynne Suite," "S'wonderful" and- "Impro­

Rex Koury . Old 'oaters' and their theme visation on Nursery Tunes." In no tunes never die . (Stufoto) time he found the elegant reeds, strings and horns which give this Organist Rex Koury was happy four chamber concert organ its to learn that his royalties for the unique "spaced out" sound. The Gunsmoke TV series theme will far too exclusive audience privileged not cease when the 20-year-old oater to witness this fabulous "summit leaves the small screen shortly. In­ meeting" (Parmentier vs. Austin­ dependent stations have indulged Moller) began plotting a "public in such a scramble for re-run rights confrontation" for '76. that the years of TV episodes are being syndicated for showing where­ ever they are wanted. That means Stann Kann (Stufoto) that Rex will be collecting royalty Youthful Chicago organist Walter Following his MC chores at the checks on the distinctive theme for Strony had a great time playing for ATOS Convention, Stan Kann made years to come. Columbus mini-con­ the Tommy Bartlett Water Show in another of his many appearances on vention attendees will hear him Okinawa over the summer months. the Johnny Carson TV show on July play the Ohio Theatre Robert Mor­ The island, whose name will per­ 21. On the same bill were two per­ ton in late November. haps strike a minor chord in the formers who were scheduled for an minds of WW II vets on both sides, Oakland Paramount appearance is being promoted as a vacation (remember that session, conven­ Being a hard working advocate of resort by the Japanese, who hate to tioneers?) Subbing for Carson was theatre pipes does have its fringe see Hawaii getting all those yen. Joey Bishop, and Stan exhibited and benefits as Dr. Alan Goodnow, a Walt reports that the place is beauti­ demonstrated such hand-operated Warren, Rhode Island dentist, can ful but he misses USA-style "Johns" gadgets as an orange-juice squeezer­ testify. Twenty-five Southeastern which are scarce where he is. He outer, a grapefruit-core remover, an New England TOS fans showed up added that the instrument he plays egg-top remover and a "drink de­ for Alan's August birthday party to accompany the swan dives is a liverer" which rolled the leopard (complete with cake and assorted Yamaha GX-1, "the same instru­ sweat container from bar to recip­ goodies) beneath the stage work ment John Seng played at the ATOS ient. Following this fun sequence, light in the Columbus Theatre, convention." Stan mentioned that he was an or­ Providence. There was just enough He says, "Although chopsticks are ganist, "the kind who plays the in­ light to see the beautiful Italian hard to eat with, I'm learning fast." struments which were developed for Opera House decor, but not enough Should we mail him a knife and movie accompaniment," and men- to recognize who was getting the lush fork? Or a portable John? •

34 THEATRE ORGAN OCTOBER - NOVEMBER, 1975