TheatreOrgan Bombarde

JOURNAL of the AMERICAN THEATRE ORGAN ENTHUSIASTS

HI! AT.OE. lets sing along Wurlitzer Theatre Organ

I 111:11111 fl11, II . I IMIII I ! I I

The modern Theatre Console Organ that combines the grandeur of yesterday with the electronic wizardry of today.

Command performance! Wurlitzer combines the classic Horseshoe Design of the immortal Mighty Wurlitzer with the exclusive Total Tone electronic circuitry of today. Knowledge and craftsmanship from the Mighty Wurlitzer Era have produced authentic console dimensions in this magnificent new theatre organ. It stands apart, in an instru­ ment of its size, from all imitative theatre organ • Dual system of tone generation • Authentic Mighty Wurlitzer Horseshoe Design designs. To achieve its big, rich and electrifying • Authentic voicing of theatrical Tibia and tone, Wurlitzer harmonically "photographed" Kinura originating on the Mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ voices of the Mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ to • Four families of organ tone serve as a standard. The resultant voices are au­ • Two 61-note keyboards • 25-note pedal keyboard with two 16 ' and thentic individually , and when combined they two 8' pedal voices augmented by Sustain blend into a rich ensemble of magnificent dimen­ • Multi-Matic Percussion @ with Ssh -Boom ®, Sustain , Repeat , Attack , Pizzicato, and sion. Then, to crown the accomplishment, we Bongo Percussion incorporated the famous Wurlitzer Multi-Matic • Silicon transistors for minimum maintenance Percussion ® section with exclusive Ssh-Boom ® • Reverb, Slide, Chimes, and Solo controls • Electronic Vibrato (4 settings) that requires no special playing techniques, • Exclusive 2 speed Spectra -Tone ® Sound Pizzi ca to Touch that was found only on larger pipe in Motion • Two-channel solid state amplifiers, 70 watts organs, Chimes and Slide Control ... and dozens total distributed output of other features that no other organ can offer. • 8 speakers (two rotating) • Theatre furniture styling in walnut or See ... hear .. . play this magnificent organ today. antique white and gold URLI ZER means Music to millions ® pianos • organs • electronic pianos • band instruments • DeKalb, Illinois 60115 THE COVER PHOTO TheatreOrgan Animator Dick Huemer drew KOKO from memory for TO-B readers. He hadn't sketched the little clown for nearly forty years. "The Saga of KOKO and His BombardeBouncing Ball" appears on Page 6. Volume 11, Number 5 In This Issue October, 1969 FEATURES A.T.O.E. National Membership is $7.00 per cal­ 5 Golden Favorites ...... Richard Leibert endar year, which includes a subscription to 6 Saga of Koko and His Bouncing Ball ...... Harry J. Jenkins THEATRE ORGAN BOMBARDE, the official pub­ lication of the American Threatre Organ Enthu­ 11 But In A Bike Shop? ...... Peg Nielsen siasts . Single copies: $1.25. Make check or 13 1970 ATOS Convention - New York City money order payable to A.T.O.E., and mail to 13 Magazine Binders Now Available P. 0. Box 2329, Livonia, Michigan 48150. 17 New York Saves Rivoli Wurlitzer ...... Bob Balfour OVERSEAS Membership: $8 .00. 18 Theatre Organ as a Part of American Culture ...... John Muri ALL MATERIAL FOR PUBLICATION 19 Membership Roster To Be Printed EXCEPT ADVERTISING SHOULD BE 20 Tulsa's Theatre Organs ...... Ron Willfong SENT TO A.T.O.E. PUBLICATIONS P. 0 . BOX 2329, LIVONIA, MICHIGAN 48150 20 Research Project Nears Completion 23 Connecticut Valley Begins New Era ...... Allen Miller ADVERTISING ADDRESS: Dewey Cagle, 3291 Guido Street, Oakland, California 94602. 39 Vandals Strike Again! * * * TECHNICAL A.T.O.E. National Officers 14 Releathering A Regulator ...... Allen Miller Albert T. Mason , President Allen W. Rossiter, Vice President Dorothy Whitcomb, Secretary-Treasurer CONCERT REVIEWS Betty Mason, Executive Secretary 22 Ann leaf Enthralls Large Eastern Audience ...... Lloyd Klos A.T.O.E. National Board of Directors 32 Mildred Alexander at the Wiltern ...... Stu Green Lee Erwin 38 Don Baker Piping Thrills Angelenos ...... Peg Nielsen Ben M. Hall Fred Kruse DEPARTMENTS Dorothy Whitcomb 3 President's Message 33 Hollywood Cavalcade Gaylord Carter 4 An Acre of Seats 34 Nuggets from the Golden Days W. "Tiny" James 26 Vox Pops 35 Chapter News Allen W. Rossiter 30 For the Records 39 Classified Ads Richard Simonton Richard H. Schrum, Post President A.T.O.E. Honorary Members PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE 1959 - Jesse Crawford From now until the February issue, there will be some confusion throughout 1960 - Famy Wurlitzer the magazine with references to both ATOE and ATOS. Articles already written 196 l - Mel Doner and set in type will not be changed, nor need they be. Although our name is 1962 - Leonard MacClain changed to American Theatre Organ Society , we will remain as enthusiastic as 1963 - Eddie Dunstedter 1964 - Reginald Foort ever . . . or more so. We expect, in the normal course of correspondence, to use 1965 - Dan Barton up the old letterheads in one way or another and only the most official will demand 1966-W. "Tiny" James the new name. 1967 - Erwin A. Young, Jr . You will find in this issue the addresses of three people who are interested 1968 - Richard C. Simonton in forming new chapters. In future issues, there will be more. There are new 1969 - Judd Walton independent theatre organ clubs; we will print news from them also. We must EDITORIAL STAFF concentrate on theatre pipe organ until all known pipes left have friends near Editor - George Thompson them. There is a lot of action going on, but you must write us about it as we Associate Editors - Ray Brubacher can't print a thing until an article and pictures (if any) are submitted. Lloyd Klos New logos are being designed by our members for our magazine and st~tionery. Peg Nielsen New sets of by-laws are waiting only for the official name change to become Editor-Emeritus - W. "Stu" Green Publications Director - Don Lockwood effective. Next year should show greater impetus for the theatre pipe organ than Advertising Manager - Dewey Cagle ever before with more organs playing and talent more abundant. Circulation Manager - Vi Thompson Please cooperate by sending your dues for 1970 in immediately to your THEATRE ORGAN BOMBARDE (title registered chapter treasurer or in the enclosed envelope if you do not belong to a chapter. U. S. Patent Office) is published bi-monthly by The New York Chapter is at work on the Fifteenth Anniversary Convention the American Theatre Organ Enthusiasts, Inc., next July. Plan now to spend your vacation in the BIG TOWN and let's have a non-profit organization, Albert T. Mason, President. All rights reserved. Entire contents a real celebration , copyrighted 1969 by A.T.O.E., Inc., Office of publication is P.O. Box 2329, Livonia, Michigan 48150. Printed by Detroit Master-Craft, Livonia, Michigan 48150.

POSTMASTER: Second Class postage paid at Livonia, Michigan. IF UNDELIVERABLE, send form 3579 to A.T.O.E. Circulation Department, Al Mason, President Box 1314, Salinas, California 93901.

3 theatre organ bombarde By Bill Peterson- Number 17 in a series UNITED ARTISTS THEATRE- LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY Another grand house in the atmospheric style by John Eberson. Seating 3,273, this theatre opened in the mid-twenties and became another Spanish castle for movie goers to escape from the ordinary. The writer does not know what make of organ is shown in this photo. Perhaps some reader will identify it. october 1969 4 I approach any recording session as high as that - but then, I don't with weeks of mental planning. I like reveal my age, either! to have alternate introductions, modu­ Golden I have, so far, enjoyed good rapport lations, "key relief" changes and finales with the recording producers and engi­ in mind so that when the actual ses­ neers. Recording engineers are very sion arrives I'm able to discover which special people; they do their jobs exact­ routine is best without wasting precious Favorites ly as producer and artist want them recording time in either studio or done. If the engineer is ignored, he ad­ theatre. Rhythm is also very important; by Richard Leibert justs the recording level to limits and some rather drab or corny melodies can Radio City Music Hall Organist dreams of the little chick he met while be spruced up to be at least acceptable taping the local singing society in San­ "fillers" between better selections with dusky last week. But, show some in­ an interesting rhythmic treatment. The This is the second in our con­ terest in him, listen to each playback converse is also true. While the drab tinuing BOMBARDE series which and include him in all the discussions tune can be made to sound better deals with the reactions of an and he will become a fountainhead of through an arrangement ("noodling" artist when faced with an ap­ cooperation and valuable suggestions. If perhaps), the good tune profits from proaching recording session. The you have his interest he can make the simplicity of treatment. first installment dealt with Billy dynamics soar. It is doubtful that many present-day Nalle's contribution to the current Conversely, a lackadaisical engineer can make you sound as dull as a but­ recording artists recall the ordeal in­ Reader's Digest, "Golden Favor­ volved when the "78's" were cut on ites" set. This time, it's a first per­ terknife. Needless to say, I do all pos­ wax masters (kept cool in a refrigerator son story by Dick Leibert, whose sible to avoid the "butterknife sound". until used). In those long-gone days, if current release is also in the RD Finally, the recording session ends one hit a "clam" during a selection, the set. and all concerned go their separate whole tune had to be repeated from the ways. Then, usually two or three beginning on a second wax while the months later, your record arrives. I recording engineer's assistant glumly possible. Soon enough the old adrenalin should say "preferably two or three shaved the "clammed" disc smooth for takes over and the cooler one dresses, months later" because by that time most subsequent use. This created fearful the better. of the "clams" are forgotten. pressure on the artist, in contrast to "Take number one! Take number So. you nearly bust a fingernail today's tape technique whereby the ar­ two!" and perhaps three, four, five and breaking the dust seal in your hurry to tist can correct the bad passage after six. The next one may be the perfect slap the disc on the stereo turntable. completing the "Take." Only the bars one. So we pursue it; as long as the Then you settle down to listen to the near the error must be retaped. Then producer doesn't mind, neither do I. music with the same objectivity you the producer simply snips out the length And then we tape the one we know is would with any other record - well, of tape with the boo-boos and splices "it". almost. And, unless the clams are so obvious as to make you wince, you may in the correct measures. Actually, I feel my way through the even enjoy it. Even this system demands a close early takes, rather like "forging" as the I suppose what I'm trying to say is working relationship between artist and music industry meant when popular that although my name appears in large producer - and the latter had better composers were called "tune smiths". type as the responsible artist on the have patience and a good memory. But Progressing from one take to the next record jacket, there is far more artistry back to the preparation. I "edit out" something and "edit in" than just my efforts involved in the pro­ As the hour of the taping session something new. Around take 47, the job duction of a successful recording. To looms, I arrive at the location wearing is done! all who invested their skills in "Golden the most comfortable ( and least) attire I'm kidding, of course. I never run

'A SUPER CLAM'-Dick Leibert "flat­ hands" a manual in relief over get­ ting just the "take" he was aiming for. It's the RTOS 4/22 Wurlitzer Console in Rochester, N. Y. where Dick taped half of his current re­ lease for Reader's Digest magazine.

SIGN-OR ELSE! With Dick playing the "victim", his "inquisitors" gather to force him to sign-well, not quite. The "inquisitors" are members of the RCA recording staff, listening with Dick to a playback. The scene is the improvised control room at the Auditorium theatre. Dick couldn't re­ sist writing "I confess" on the photo!

s KO•KO SONG CAR~TUNE ...6y MAX FLEISCHER Dirt!>ct«:f 4Y DAVE. FLEISCHER. AN INKWELL STUDIOS PR.ODUCTION

COPYRIGHT 1924'

Main title of an early Fleischer filmed sing-a-long. This reel presents "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, the Boys are Marching" and "Paclc Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag." Its proximity to World War I is reflected in the military aspects of the cartoons which accompany the words. It's still in use today.

,, ,'.. , r· j•: l-. 1·. ...

Tl,e~•~••I

O SETTLE any remaining contro­ For little more than a decade, the organ-accompanied "sing-along" captured versy as to whether the "Bouncing and held the fancy of the theatre-going public in the U.S.A. Most organists relied Ball"T sing-along cartoon originated in on highly-decorated, hand-colored slides to get the words to the songs of the day the silent picture days or after the ad­ onto the screen. But the more adventuresome tried their bands at playing to words vent of sound films, your reporter inter­ on movie film linked with animated cartoons and set to a strict tempo established viewed the former animator for Max by the animator. The playing had to be precise, or the act "fell flat." The most and E>avid Fleischer, the brothers who prominent, and original of the film sing-alongs were those featuring "Koko the originated the "bouncing ball" song Clown." He guided and often "stood in" for the famed "bouncing ball," which "cartunes." beat out a steady tempo, fast or slow, depending on the speed the silent film Those who attended the 1968 ATOE projectionist required to get the show out by 10:30 P.M. To explore the realm of national convention in Los Angeles saw "Koko" we called upon a former theatre organist who often crossed swords with one of the first "cartunes" produced by the little clown during the "Golden Era" (especially when a few frames of film had Max and Dave Fleischer. Their chief been lost and the rhythm broken)- Colonel Harry J. Jenkins. animator then was Mr. Richard Huemer

october 1969 6 ~ In'\ ~~,~ 1· ·,~ o ,rrr•\• "'I think-ing a-bout you...

by Harry J. Jenkins

(pronounced "humor") who now lives Fleischer was producing "Out of the club, next door to the famous Roseland in North Hollywood, California, and is Inkwell" cartoons where the clown, ballroom and across the street from associated with Walt Disney Studios. "Koko," first appeared. When Huemer Moe and Mitchell Mark's Strang Thea­ I visited Mr. Huemer on a rainy joined the Fleischers they were located tre. This studio was at 1600 Broadway, Sunday afternoon ( of course it rains in in an old brownstone building on East New York City. California! f and when seated comfort­ 45th St., New York City. From this The Fleischers had an idea about ably in his den, after having met his location they moved to quarters over a combining cartoons with songs in an gracious wife, the veteran animator store at the corner of 45th Street and attempt to improve on popular song told me the story of the song cartoons. Lexington, diagonally opposite the presentations. They hoped to replace Richard Huemer had entered the mo­ Grand Central Plaza. It was here that the static song slides used by organists tion picture cartoon field in New York they produced many "Inkwell" car­ by adding motion to the pictures ac­ as an animator for the "Mutt and Jeff" toons. As business improved they companying the "sing-along." They an­ cartoons produced by Raoul Barre in moved finally to a location upstairs over ticipated, quite correctly, good audience 1916. About this same time Max the notorious "Silver Slipper" night acceptance and participation. Max and

7 . theatre organ bombarde KOKO often appeared as a 'stand in' for the ball. Here, dressed in prison garb, he's poised for a three-legged leap back to the start of the next line. STUFOTO

Dave Fleischer were both good "idea" men, but Dave was essentially a "story'' man. He plotted the sight gags so pre­ valent in the cartoons. For example, the words would h1;: in­ troduced by having them slide onto the In 1956, Walt Disney hosted a reunion of former Fleischer Studio staffers who at that time worked screen horizontally from right or left at the Disney Studio in Burbank, California. Lunching in the studio commissary are (I. to r): Walt while a line drawing character, drawn Disney, and former Fleischer Studio employees Ben Sharpsteen (Director), Ted Sears (Story Man), white on black background, skipped Max Fleischer (center), Richard Huemer (Director), and George Stallings (Story Man). At far right is from word to word in time with the Disney staffer Richard Fleischer, Max's son and a Director. music. Tricks were employed such as having a tree mentioned in the lyric duced. The title was "Oh Mabel" for r"~~~--i "grow" out of the word, thereby dump­ a song which never went over too well ing the cartoon figure onto the next despite the boost provided by the car­ ! AROUND THE 'CIRCLE' j word. Sometimes the word itself would toon novelty. The year was 1924 and enlarge, contract, melt and flow away, "Oh Mabel" was premiered at the Circle explode or turn into an animal, vege­ I$ The Circle theatre, at Columbus j Theatre, Columbus Circle, New York Circle, New York, the "preem" table or mother-in-law. Always the City. little cartoon figure would skip, jump, house for the Fleischers' "Oh or fall from word to word at the proper The Fleischers and Dick Huemer 1Mabel" song cartoon, opened in tempo to set the pace for the song. went to the Circle Theatre to check on I 1906 as a 1400-seat combination the audience response. It was over­ vaudeville and burlesque house. After many con1erences with Dick whelming. The crowd was actually sing­ The policy was switched to movies I Huemer, by that time their chief ani­ ing - with gusto! We should state here in 1909 and circa 1912 it was mator, the first song cartoon was pro- that the premiere accompaniment was taken over by Marcus Loew. He .,. installed a 3 - manual Moller I provided by the pit orchestra, although I the house was equipped with a Moller ~ straight organ, Opus 2017, with organ. "30 registers" about 1913. Moller always listed the number of stops After a mass tonsil-ripping rendition (registers) on the console, never of "Oh Mabel," the applause was deaf­ the number of sets of pipes; so ening and it carried over into the open­ 30 stop - keys, or drawknobs, ing titles of the feature film. The man­ wouldn't make it very large. agement, alive to this new demand, shut Loew's hired about 70 organists down the projector, rewound the song 1 in those days and although we cartoon and re-ran the film. Once more ~ have no information as to the the audience happily joined in singing a 1924 Circle organist's identity, it's loud "Oh Mabel." With such solid evi­ unlikely that he was one of the dence of success, the Fleischers rushed prominent ones; the Circle was back to their studio to rush more song fairly unimportant in Loew's cartoons into production. pecking order. Loew's New York In their ensuing crop of "cartunes," organists were forever doomed to _ the Fleischers utilized such standards play mostly "straight" M ollers, in­ as, "In the Shade of the Old Apple stalled very early in the cinema Tree," "After the Ball," "Chinatown, era, before Marcus discovered My Chinatown," "Tararra-Boom-De­ Robert Mortons and Wurlitzers. Alas, the Circle is no more! An Ay" and "My Darling Nellie Gray." auto showroom occupies the site Usually, it was one song to the reel 'KOKO's' animator, ·Richard Huemer, joined the now. Disney Studios in 1930. He says his roughest and ran an average of 600 feet, much assignment was the animation he did for the shorter than the standard silent 1000- -"Circle" background 'Rite of Spring' sequence in Disney's memorable foot reel of film. At the normal silent courtesy of Ben Hall "Fantasia." He's still with the Disney Studio. projection speed of 60 feet per minute STUFOTO the average song film ran ten minutes. october 1969 8 In song presentations "Koko" would WORDS HAND LETTERED ON materialize out of the inkwell in a WIDE STRIP OF CARD WRAPPED 'BALL' IS WHITE DISC AROUND DRUM photo - and - cartoon composite, then AT END OF HAND-HELD would be shown in a comedy sequence POINTER in which he always contrived to finish with a ball in his hand. Koko would bounce the ball out of the picture to the right then the ball would appear from the left to hover over the first line of words of the song. The organist, or DRUM IS TURNED BY orchestra conductor was poised to start HAND FOR EACH LINE the first melody note as the ball struck OF LYRIC the first word and from there on the bouncing ball was the conductor. As the ball hopped to the end of a \ line of words, it would return to the left side in time to catch the first beat of the next line of words. These would appear from below as the first line dis­ appeared above. Dick Huemer explained that this was achieved by having the words of the song drawn in white letters on a black background, line by line. The :flexible card with the words were wrapped around an old washing machine drum with the camera facing the front of the HOW A 'BOUNCING BALL' SING-ALONG WAS FILMED drum, so the words could be hand­ turned up to position. A flat black card with a slit in it of sufficient width to permit the exposure of one line of words at a time was placed between the camera and the drum. The bouncing ball effect was achieved by use of a black pointer with white dot at the end. One of the animators would move the pointer over the words. Another p~rson hummed, or played the tune. Another controlled the drum to move the next line into position in front of the slit. As ~

THE BALL STILL BOUNCES - Four degrees of 'bounce' are clearly visible in this photo taken by Ben Hall during a recent concert at the Beacon Theatre in N. Y. That's Lee Erwin at the console of the restored Wurlitzer, following the beat established by the ball-tipped pointer of Max Fleischer over 40 years ago.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CONCERT RECORDING

9 theatre organ bombarde the "music" started the man with the pointer moved the ball in rhythm over of relativity, and another dealing the words, with a vertical motion until with Darwin's theory of evolution. time to skip to the next word or syllable. But he is best remembered for the Incidentally, Max and Dave Fleischer pleasure he and his brother Dave originated the "Rotoscope" method of brought to generations of those producing cartoons to obtain more who "thought young" from the smoothness in the actions of Koko. early twenties through the late Dave would put on a clown suit and go forties, a 25-year period when a through the story motions in front of a stream of "bouncing ball," "Pop­ camera to obtain a silhouette or "photo­ eye" and "Betty Boop" cartoons figure" film record from which the brought laughter and song to mo­ single line drawing would be copied. tion picture screens. These cul­ Thus, the cartoon characters could be minated in Fleischer's two feature­ drawn to walk, for example, with the length, color cartoons "Gulliver's same gait as a human. This method was Travels" and "Mr. Bug Goes to applied in the late '30s when the Town." Now retired, and in his Fleischers produced "Gulliver's Trav­ S0's, Max Fleischer and bis wife, els," a color cartoon feature in which "Essie," reside at the Motion Pic­ the fluidity of motion given pen-and-ink ture Country Home near Holly­ characters was particularly noticeable. wood. Today the Walt Disney studios use the Rotoscope technique to obtain smooth­ ness of action in the majority of ani­ mated scenes with animals or humans. Max Fleischer, pioneer in the ~11~ So we can state that bouncing ball art of the animated cartoon, is a song cartoons came before sound - man of many talents. Long before rest their nitrate bones! True, they were "Koko" made his first excursion out of the inkwell, Fleischer had ATOE/ re-issued later with sound tracks. At that time other companies copied the produced some of the very first idea but without the bouncing ball, training films ever seen by U.S. which was controlled by the Fleischers. Army recruits. Long a member of In 1924 sound was not in use in the the Society of Motion Picture theatres, unless some one of the theatres Engineers, some fifteen of Flei­ might have had an old Edison experi­ scher's patents are used by the mental talking picture dating from motion picture industry. His gen­ 1912, but Edison had not combined ius combines art, science, philos­ sound and a "sing-along." ophy, creative ability and that all­ I played for many bouncing ball song important ingredient- humor. In film in Boston theatres between 1924 later years he served as Art Editor and 1927. Sometimes they had been for Popular Science Monthly, and used in other theatres before coming to wrote a book entitled "Noah's mine, and arrived with some frames Shoes" which has been described missing - something I didn't discover as "an adventure in fantastic re­ until rehearsal - if we had one. It was alities." As a film producer he a puzzle to follow the ball as it bounced often tackled difficult and contro­ completely past two words to a third, versial subjects. Once he produced at the expense of a couple of measures a film explaining Einstein's theory of music. Somehow we still managed and the audience sang along. D

I first conceived the idea of the "Bouncing Ball" after World War I. In 1917 I 'enlisted' in the They helped the ball bounce United States Army (as a civilian) for TO-B to perform the duty of training The BOMBARDE is indebted to raw recruits. This was accom­ Don Malkames for frames from plished by showing sections of his "Out of the Inkwell" print cannons and other firearms on a which were enlarged for presen­ motion picture screen. Then, with tation here by Bill Lamb and a pointer, directing the recruits Mapes Stanley. Background in­ attention to the different parts, one formation was supplied by Ben at a time, emphasizing the im­ Hall, Richard Hoerner, Vera portance of one part in relation Coleman, and Max Fleischer. The to another of the projected draw­ BOMBARDE thanks them, one ing. Thus, was born the "Bounc­ ing Ball." and all. -Max Fleischer

october 1969 10 by Peg Nielsen Walter Sr. in Monmouth county in This story was made possible by 1904. He is still active in the store. material submitted by Al Rossiter Robert , 26, and his father, Walter and Walter Mahns Jr., with a Mahns Jr., acquired the organ through special salute to the Red Bank, a "For Sale" ad in the Red Bank "Daily N.J., "Daily Register" and its fea­ Register" from John Watson , organist ture writer, Phyllis Spiegel. at the Presbyterian Church in Rumson, N. J. When Walter Mahns Jr. , of the Built in 1927 by the Robert Morton Mahns Bros. Bicycle .Shop ( near Eaton­ Organ Co. of Van Nuys, Calif., "opus town, N. J.), saw an advertisement in 3040, model 49D" , was originally a the local paper back in Sept. , 1967 4-rank "Fotoplayer" with an automatic offering a Robert Morton theatre organ dual roll player. It was installed in 1927 for sale, he wasted no time. Walter, in the orchestra pit of Loew's 125th who recalled these organs in their hey­ Street theatre in Harlem , N. Y., at an day, used to "go to hear the organist LITTLE DO THEY KNOW that inside this innocent­ estimated cost of $8,000. Like all Mor­ accompany silent movies, not to see looking building lurks a roaring beast! The shop ton Fotoplayers it was designed with a facade gives passers-by no inkling. the films" in a nearby but long-gone low silhouette, for pit installation. theatre; and his son, Robert, a local Watson bought the instrument and organist and New York chapter ATOE "In addition to being one of the larg­ removed it from the theatre in 1932. member, soon had the organ loaded est bicycle stores on the East Coast, we He discarded the roll-playing mechan­ and rolling. Moving the organ required also believe we are the only one in the ism and enlarged the voice complement five men, two trucks and a station nation with a pipe organ. There's a from four to six ranks of pipes. He wagon. Each of the two pipe cabinets lot in common between bicycling and sold the organ to the Mahns in 1967. measures seven feet wide by five feet playing the organ - pedalling for in­ "Fortunately," says Robert , "this deep by five and a half feet high. Then, stance ," says Walter Jr. building has excellent acoustics. Des­ there were the 16-foot pipes and the The bicycle store is owned jointly by pite the concrete floor and reflecting large console itself plus the "additions. " Mr. Louis Mahns and his brother walls, plaster ceilings and lots of space, Somehow it ended up in the bicycle Walter Jr. , although it was founded by the sound doesn't 'bounce around'." shop. The organ was first intended to go into the home of Walter Jr. for his daughter's use, but because the console was too large for the space available, it was decided to install it in the bicycle store. The result? There may be only one place in the world where you can buy a bicycle or have one repaired and en­ joy a live organ recital at the same time.

THREE GENERATIONS of Mahns gather around the organ console. Playing is Robert, while his dad, Walter Jr., is distracted from a "rush job" by the music. Grandad, Walter Sr., parks on a spare pipe chest and looks on in seeming dis­ belief.

11 theatre organ bombarde A graduate of Trenton State College, releathering, the organ boasts seven He says, "As far as we know the where he majored in music, Robert playing ranks plus a 16', 30-note Vio­ console is original. The Accompaniment teaches music in the Howell Township lone pedal extension, and is soon to stops are on the left, bottom end of the school system and piano privately. He have another rank added. Each of the rail, and the Accompaniment traps are is organist at a Farmingdale church and two original wooden "swellbox" cases directly above ( yellow stop keys). On a "straight" organ roars in the cellar contain two ranks of pipes, while the the upper right end of the horseshoe is of his home. Robert burned the mid­ 16' pedal pipes, percussions, and newer the Pedal department, and the lower night oil for three weeks with the help additions are contained in the third right stop rail has the Solo stops. All of his father and uncle until the myriad chamber built along-side the two stained switches are contained in the console parts were set in place and ready for walnut swellboxes. The "wall of music" except for those controlling additions. assembling. Then came the "buzzing from the rear of the store, with sound Small buttons across the backboard are out" of scrambled cables, laying of enhanced by fine "live" acoustics, is traps. Combination buttons, added by wind conductor and setting up the unmistakably that rich, deep "Morton Mr. Watson, are not now adjustable but blower. sound." they will be in the near future." "I'd worked with church organs for All pipes in the two pit swellboxes five years," he said, "and through much are original: Tibia Clausa, Vox Hum­ reading and experimentation, the tre­ ana, Horn Diapason and Violin Celeste. mendous assembly job was finally ac­ Mr. Watson added the Wurlitzer Con­ complished - months later." cert Flute ( 61 pipes) outside. The men worked from 8: 00 pm to The String is identified as a "Violin 1 : 00 or 2: 00 am every night, and on Celeste," although it is the only string Sundays after church. They tested and on the organ. Normally a "celeste" checked thousands of wires and as­ works with another stop of the same sembled the control mechanisms for tonal family. Detuned slightly, it en­ seven sets of pipes. And they built a hances the "in-tune" relative with its third chamber for the additional 3 "shimmer." But here the "celeste" is ranks. working entirely alone. The String pipe­ Many late night work sessions during work is of a smaller scale than the the installation did not help waist lines, The console adds up to a puzzle. It's definitely usual violin and this may be the reason admits Robert, too many pastrami sand­ unlike the usual Morton style 49 keydesk. We for calling it a "celeste." It is tuned wiches and lots of coke were consumed showed this photo to a former Morton factory "in". It's original, too, because the to confound "girth control." employee and he identified it as the console switch stacks are also lettered "Violin The first of several mishaps occurred shell used with models 75 and 85, 6 and 8 Celeste." rankers. This one had been altered to house when a 6' x 7' plate glass window broke the roll-playing mechanism. Organs which have "additions" some­ while the crew was moving the console times end up with voices where they into the store. That was the most seri­ The console is unusual for a model aren't needed. The Mahns' organ has ous accident and, luckily, no one was 49 Morton; the stop keys, instead of a Kinura among its Accompaniment injured. extending around the horseshoe, are voices but no Kinura where it's more at Walter Mahns Sr., founder of the grouped in double rows at the extremes home-clowning on the Solo manual. shop, is strictly a "bicycle man" and he of the curve, and the positioning of When asked how the raspy little stop was usually very patient when his the stops on the horseshoe as relayed weaseled in among the accompaniment "boys" were working on the organ. to the manuals which control them, is stops, Robert replied, "We placed the "But sometimes," says Robert, "we sometimes more "straight" than theatri­ Kinura on the Accompaniment manual would catch him shaking his head in cal. This gives rise to the suspicion that because the only contacts we had left utter disbelief." perhaps there was a switch in consoles were there. As soon as a new relay is After almost one and one-half years somewhere along the line. Walter installed it will be available on both of tracing wires, running wind lines and Mahns Jr. doesn't think so. manuals."

Original Morton style 49D Tibia swell box. Note the bass drum mounted Open swell shutters on one of the two original pit swell boxes reveal same above the smaller pipes. At left is a collection of antique tools. long stemmed Vox Humana pipes.

october 1969 12 1970ATOS CONVENTION

52' ◄ ~Chimes INNEW YORK CITY! New York City! Where the Radio Viol 16' Violone ~ 16' Tibia, City Music Hall's famous biggest­ Diapason Vox Harp, Glock / Tuba, Flute ever-built Wurlitzer thrills an audi­ Tibia Xylo ~ Kinura \\\\\\ Ill/I Unenclosed / ence of thousands, ten times a day, seven days a week! Where No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 Chamber y Chamber the beautiful, world - renowned Chamber COMMODORE HOTEL welcomes BACK OF STORE Original ATOS Conventioneers with unbeat­ 'Pit' Swell able bargain rates (and you're CJ1 Boxes CX) cordially invited to spend an extra

ACRES OF 'BIKES I vacation week either before or HERE (Not drawn to scale) after the Convention at the same ~Console on spectacular savings). Where you Platform can see and hear multi-manual FLOOR PLAN OF 'BICYCLE SHOP' ORGAN musical magic on the biggest and best-Wurlitzer Might and Morton Wonder! - in the best remaining examples of magnificent movie palaces and in sparkling studio settings! World-famous Console The blower is original. It had a new As for future plans, the organ will Artists . . . Great Concerts . . . motor in 1932 when Mr. Watson be used for recording as well as for Silent Films . . . Social Hours . . . bought it because New York City power Sunday afternoon "Mighty Morton Shows ... Excursions ... Theatre was de and he lived in Jersey City, N.J. Sessions," with Robert Mahns presum­ Parties . . . Demonstrations . . . which had ac. This meant a new Cen­ ably doing the honors at a goodly num­ Organ Tours ... Workshops ... tury 2 hp ac blower motor. The blower ber of them, plus many guest artists. Melodic Mornings . . . Maiestic has been able to handle all of the ad­ Beyond that, it's just for fun. Midnights!!! Plan now for Mid-July ditions with no "wind fade" or regula­ □ in Manhattan at the 1970 ATOS tion deterioration, even though demands FABULOUS 15th ANNIVERSARY! on it have nearly doubled. STOPLISTFORTHE When asked about activities planned, "MIGHTYMAHNS MORTON" we learned the Mahns' had already PEDAL- 30 Notes SOLO 16' Bourdon 16' Bourdon MAGAZINE BINDERS been host to numerous visitors. Way 16' Contra Violone 16' Vox Humana back in April 1969, the Delaware Val­ 8' Bass Flute (Tenor C) 8' Trumpet 8' Horn Diapason NOW AVAILABLE ley A TOE chapter held a business 8' Violin 8' Tibia Clausa 4' Horn Diapason 8' Violin Celeste A durable, casebound cover is now meeting and jam session among the Bass Drum 8' Tuba bicycles. More than 60 members and Cymbal 8' Vox Humana available for members who want to Tympani 4' Horn Diapason friends attended. The Mahns have 4' Tibia Clausa protect their copies of our National ACCOMPANIMENT 4' Violin Celeste magazine. Each issue is held securely hosted several "open house by invita­ 8' Horn Diapason 4' Tuba tion" affairs in the past year, and plans 8' Tibia Clausa 4' Vox Humana in place and can easily be inserted in 8' Concert Flute 2 2/3' Nazard are underway for several Eastern ATOE 8' Violin Celeste 2' Piccolo the binder in only a few seconds. The 8' Vox Humana Xylophone (37 notes) cover is designed to accommodate one chapters to visit the unique installation. 8' Kinura Glockenspiel (30 notes) 4' Horn Diapason complete volume, or one full year's 4' Tibia Clausa SOUND EFFECTS issues. 4' Concert Flute Auto Horn, Train Whistle 4' Violin Celeste Chime (single), Crash 4' Vox Humana Cymbal, Door Bell The binders are of a black, leather­ Chrysoglott Harp or Telephone (49 notes) like vinyl and "Theatre Organ-Journal Chimes (20 notes) ACCESSORIES of the American Theatre Organ Society" Snare Drum Tap Snare Drum Roll 3 Tremulants is imprinted in gold on the cover. Tambourine 2 Expression Pedals Castanet l Register Crescendo "Theatre Organ" is also stamped in Torn-Tom 6 General Pistons and gold on the backbone and a pocket Bird Whistle Toe Studs Sleigh BeI ls 1 Cancel Piston and has been provided for insertion of a Toe Stud ACCOMPANIMENT small printed card bearing the year. SecondTouch NOTE: A 73-note Open Dated cards will be included with each 8' Horn Diapason Diapason (8' & 4') is to 8' Tibia Clause be added on each manual. order-enough to label all previous as well as several future volumes. These STOP ANALYSIS covers will make a handsome addition VOICE Range Pipes to any bookshelf. They are also ideal *Horn Diapason 4' 61 (bottom 12 notes *Tibia Clausa 16'-2' 97 derived for Christmas gift giving. Concert Flute 4' 61 *Violin Celeste 8'-4' 73 (bottom 12 metal pipes Advance orders for the magazine Tuba 8'-4' 73 stopped) *Vox Humana 8'-4' 73 covers should be sent to ATOS Binder, Kinura 8' 61 Contra Violone 16' 30 (Pedal only) Box 2329, Livonia, Michigan 48150. A squatly Kinura rank separates two chests of The price of each binder will be $3.50, 529 Tuba pipes. *Original rank including mailing charges. □

13 theatre organ bombarde TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT Releatheringa Regulator

GUSSET Story and Photos by Allen Miller

M.h:ASTJiIB This construction eliminates the need I,..-:--- AC.ROSS One of the biggest single tasks which (E,~TER faces anyone who is restoring an organ for canvas hinges and patches which is releathering the regulators. It is often build up the thickness of the leather easiest to look at the regulators and ra­ joints and tend to place the hinge points tionalize, " ... it looks like it will last a under additional stress. while longer . . . " But sooner or later Before you start, collect the tools you the leaks accumulate, and sometimes the regulator will actually "blow out" will need. At least one pair of good ... usually at a most inopportune time, clamps are needed to releather the such as an hour before a concert. That folds, a square for aligning the bead is the day of reckoning. and back, and measuring the rise of the head, a hammer, scissors, finishing nails, skiving knife (described further Actually, the job looks harder than it I MEASURE I t----AROUNll~ really is, but rest assured that it does on), a round glue brush, sanding block, C.ORNER take a considerable amount of time. A a squeegee . . . a flat piece of plastic 2' x 3' regulator will take a minimum or steel with a rounded edge about Making a pattern from measurements. of 12 hours work after the old leather 1 ¼" wide, a hook type scraper, which has been removed. The project is best will be handy in removing the old Now you may remove all the old done a little bit at a time, which is help­ leather and cleaning off glue, at least leather down to the bare wood using ful to the Saturday morning organ ¼ pound of ground hide glue, a glue the scraper, hot water (not on original builder, and will be very rewarding p:it or old double boiler, and a hot plywoods, please), and sandpaper. Hot when it is finished. plate with a "low" or variable heat water can be applied liberally to solid range, and a few damp rags. First, let's become acquainted with pine or poplar, or you can use steam the parts of a regulator. We will call from a steam iron to soften the old glue the top part which moves, the "head," if necessary. It is not necessary to re­ and the similar stationary piece the move any old hide glue which may re­ "back." Between are four sets of "folds" main at the edges of the folds, as the hinged at the top, bottom, and middle. new hot glue will stick to the old glue. At each corner is a "gusset." Part of Sand exposed surfaces so they can be the back usually has an air inlet box refinished later, but make sure you which contains the control valve or don't sand off any markings you made valves which regulate the air pressure for reassembling. to equal the total force of the springs CUTTING THE LEATHER and weights on the head. This is why this type of air weighing device is called You will need both Alum-tanned a regulator, and not a reservoir, as we bellows leather for the hinge joints, and so often hear. A reservoir is a large bel­ Alum-tanned gusset leather for the gus­ lows not usually provided with a wind sets. Obtain this from any of the organ controlling valve. Reservoirs were used supply houses. Some may even cut the in tracker organs to store the low-pres­ Basic Tools. gussets for you and skive (feather) the sure wind which came from the hand­ edges. pumped bellows. Begin by removing the springs, spring The binge leather will have to be cut rails, any removable panels (bungs), in two widths of strips . . . 1 ¾" for There are almost as many ways of valve box and valves. Carefully mark releathering a regulator as there are inside strips, and 13/s" for outside strips. these parts so you can reassemble them Cut the top and bottom inside hinge organ companies. Having studied these as they were. Mark the bead and back various methods, and having releathered strips about 1 ¾" less than the outside so you won't accidentally reassemble dimensions of the regulator. Cut the in­ several different makes, we have settled them 180° off. You won't have to mark side center hinge strips to the length of upon a method used by one of the the folds. Before removing the old the folds at the center. major builders today. It is a simple, leather, block the regulator fully open straightforward method similar to that so that the gussets are stretched flat. Cut the four gussets to the pattern used by Robert Morton, and has worked You may have to wet the leather to do you made previously. well on pressures up to 30". this. Measure the inside height. This is SKIVING THE LEATHER most important. The method of hinging described To do a first class job, it is necessary here places all hinge joints, which Measure, or make a pattern from to skive or feather the ends of each would normally be under peel stress, so one of the gussets so you can make new hinge strip and the edges of each gus­ that the glue joints are in sheer, and the ones. A pattern can be made from set. This is very difficult to do unless wind pressure will tend to hold the joint measurements according to the diagram you have a very sharp knife of the right together rather than peeling it apart. below. type. With the proper tool and a few

october 1969 14 minutes practice, you should be able to enough time for the glue to set up com­ do a reasonably good job. pletely . . . an hour is recommended, Although a knife made out of a piece however, you might want to leave the of hard steel about 1/32" thick and l" job overnight, and this is a good place wide is best, you can do fairly well with to stop. the type of knife pictured which can be GLUING THE FOLDS found in any hardware store. The TO THE HEAD blades are trapezoidal in shape and must be inserted in the handle so that Take each set of folds and flex them they protrude as far as possible. to be sure they are not hinge-bound. Scrape off any excess glue which may

,:o,_D be in the hinge area.

I I

I lJ

Skiving the leather. Leathering the folds. Place the leather smooth side down Sanding smooth side of hinge leather prior to Making sure that the glue is hot and gluing. Note finishing nails (arrow) holding on a soft pine cutting board. The trick the right consistency, brush it on the fold in place and nail holding fold open. is to hold the knife nearly flat or surfaces of the inside center hinge joint. parallel to the cutting board, and at a Immediately apply the inside 1 ¾" Set one pair of folds in place on the sharp angle to the direction of the cut, leather strip, rough side to the glue, head, centering them lengthwise, and and actually slice off about ¼" from and rub it with a cloth dipped in hot keeping them about 1/ 16" from the the edge of the leather. The flatter you water. If the glued surface is flat, you edge of the head. Drive a finishing nail hold the blade, the longer the feathered can use a squeegee to press out the partway through the edge of the bottom edge will be. The sharper the cutting excess glue, but do this quickly, as the fold where the nail hole will later be angle, the easier the leather will slice. hot glue sets up fast. Repeat on the covered by the edge of the gusset. This A feathered edge ¼" to ¾" is suitable. inside hinge joint on each of the other will hold the fold in position. Practice on some scraps, making long three folds. cuts until you get the hang of it. You Sand the exposed smooth portion of will have to cut both toward and away THE HEAD AND BACK the leather slightly to rough it up. It is from yourself. Now set the head on the bench up­ only necessary to scratch the surface, so to speak. Cut the head off a finishing PREPARING THE GLUE side down, and glue the inside 1 ¾" strips rough side down with half of the nail and place it between the folds to Although a good grade of cold glue, leather overhanging the edge of the hold them open while you work. Apply such as Franklin "Titebond" will hold head. These strips are 1¾" shorter than glue to both the edge of the fold and as well as hot glue on pneumatic leather the side you are gluing them to, so the leather, and work the leather up and wood joints, hot glue is far supe­ center each strip as you apply it. onto the fold, pressing out the excess rior for leathering regulators, and noth­ glue with the hot, damp cloth or squee­ ing else is recommended! gee. Repeat this for the other three Place some ground glue in the top folds. (see below) At this point, you of a double boiler and add an equal may quit again if you desire, as it is amount (roughly) of water. While the better to be sure that the joints are glue is soaking, bring the water in the completely set before continuing. boiler to a boil, and keep it just barely boiling. Stir the glue occasionally until it is all dissolved. Add water to keep the glue about the consistency of light cream. If the glue is too heavy, it will begin to set up as you spread it on, while if too light, it will soak into the heavy leather and not stick very well. Gluing hinge strips to regulator head. Note BEGIN WITH THE FOLDS folds in background. Clamp two of the folds together with the outside surfaces facing, and with Next, take the back of the regulator two thicknesses of leather, or a ¼" and apply the inside 1¾" strips to each spacer between them at the hinge point. edge as you did for the head. Allow Gluing fold to head which is upside down.

15 theatre organ bombarde GLUING THE HEAD AND FOLDS it will cover the edges of the folds prop­ strips are best applied with the regu­ TO THE BACK erly. Be sure that the finishing nails are lator collapsed as far as possible, still Check your marking on the head and removed from the edges of the folds. allowing room to work. Check each back so you can line them up in the outside 11/s" strip for length, making same relative positions they were in sure that the angled end will only cover originally. If you inadvertently twist the the gusset where it is glued to the folds. head 180 ° from its original position, Glue these strips in place, carefully the valves may not go together when working the center of the strip com­ you have finished. pletely into the hinge area. Place blocks between the head and back to simulate the opening you had when the gussets were stretched tightly before you disassembled the regulator. If you are in doubt about this dimen­ sion, a chart of blocked openings rela­ tive to common fold widths is given below: Opening Fold Width Use squeegee to work edges of gusset into center 3½" 6¼" of fold. 4½" 7¼" 5" 8¼" Apply glue to the bottom fold edges Remove the finishing nails from the and back corner only ; Fold the gusset ends of the folds. Wrap twine around in the center and press into place. Work the head both ways to hold the folds the edge of the gusset up into the cen­ down, and flip the head and back over ter as you press out the excess glue. Applying top and bottom outside hinge strips. so that the head and folds are on top. Glue the end of the gusset down over Photo has been retouched to show edges of strips. Remove the twine. the corner of the back, working the leather to avoid wrinkles as you pro­ At this point, you may clean up the gress. Again starting at the center hinge, exposed wood and give it a coat of apply glue to the top half of the folds shellac. 1 and glue the top half of the gusset. ' kepeat for the other three corners . Reassemble the valves and valve box t' •\ after reconditioning them if necessary. " \. ~ OUTSIDE HINGE STRIPS You may want to apply a thin bead of At this point , pick out the outside silicone rubber (bathtub caulk) to the l ¾" strips which are the length of the packings before assembling. This will center hinge. Make sure that these positively eliminate any leaks. str.ips will not overlap onto the gussets If you have followed the methods beyond where the gussets are glued to given here with reasonable care and the edges of the folds , and be sure that accuracy , you will have a regulator the ends of the strips have been skived. which is as good as or better than new. Crease these strips in the center length­ Do not be afraid to use your own judg­ wise and glue them into place , working ment as you proceed, as common sense them completely into the hinge point. is at the root of good organ building. □

Aligning head and back using square at each corner. Using a square as shown, line up the head and back exactly in both direc­ tions . Nail through the ends of the loose folds to hold them in position as you did before. Check with the square to be sure that the head is lined up with Applying center outside hinge strips. Photo has the back all the way around , and repos­ been retouched to show edges of strips. Finished regulator. ition if necessary. Remember to sand the smooth surface of the leather, and Now remove the blocks which have Interested in a Chapter proceed with the gluing as you did with been holding the regulator open, and in the Houston, Texas area? the head. let it collapse. It will probably creak APPLY THE GUSSETS some and may even be somewhat stiff. Drop a line to Mr. Roy A. Cunning­ With the head still blocked up, fold If so, work it up and down a few times. ham, Suite 1004, Houston Bank & a gusset in half at the center and place The leather will eventually stretch into Trust Bldg., 1801 Main at Jeffer­ it in position, checking to be sure that shape. The top and bottom outside son, Houston, Texas 77002

october 1969 16 ------~~------~ ------

A TIMES SQUARE ORGAN TRANSPLANT NEWYORK SAVES RIVOLI WURLI ! by Bob Balfour The scenes from the sidewalks of involved in the restoration of the 4 / 23 New York are just not what they used Wonder Morton in the Loews Jersey in to be! A walk up Times Square today Jersey City. Heading up the technical sadly reveals a bank and a shoe store aspects of this task were chapter mem­ where the Paramount once stood. A bers Mel Robinson and Clem Young, Rivoli console rises for the fast time before its large hole a block away represents the of New York City , both professional farewell ride down Broadway. Astor Hotel. The Times Building is organ builders. now the Allied Chemical Tower. Far­ The unique part of this operation organ really must have filled the theatre ther north, another large hole marks centers around Biffy. The company he with sound but as it was partially dis­ the site of the Capitol Theatre, and now works for in New York , The connected , there was no chance to down the block, Cobbs Corner Restau­ Charizma Organization, producers of hear it. rant resides in the Roxy lobby. So, I radio and TV commercials as well as Then, two amazing discoveries . There suppose it was inevitable that Labor industrial and entertainment shows, were piano stop tabs on the console Day, 1969, marked the closing of an­ made all of the relocation of the organ but no piano visible. A quick search other of the great Broadway Movie possible. The president of Charizma, found a fine Wurlitzer upright on a Palaces, the Rivoli. Although it has Mr. Earl Fultz, had been looking for a ledge over the switchboard backstage. been extensively remodeled over the theatre organ to install in the Charizma The greatest shock of all, however, years , the facade and some of the origi­ Building in midtown Manhattan to pro­ came upon entering the stagehouse, nal splendor of the auditorium are still vide background music for some of which had already been stripped to the visible. Thus , the only remaining monu­ their commercials and films. An excit­ walls for impending remodeling, and ment to Roxy , save Radio City Music ing plan evolved out of a quick meeting being told, "there are some pipes on the Hall ( and its future is questionable) with Mr. Fultz and the New York ledge opposite the switchboard and they was the Rivoli; all else has disappeared. chapter officers. If the chapter would must come down first as the wall they Shortly after the first of the year, a remove, restore and re-install the in­ are on will be demolished in the next group of New York chapter members strument, he would provide a large few days." The electrician hooked up contacted United Artists , who now own sound studio for it in his building and some lights to cut the gloom and re­ the Rivoli, in an effort to restore the pay all expenses involved. In apprecia­ vealed, to our horror ( and awe), a rank long silent 3/ 15 Wurlitzer but received tion of the work the chapter would of 32' diaphones, unmitered , standing a response of "not interested." Then perform, Mr. Fultz told us to consider on a ledge 3 stories above the stage early this summer , United Artists an­ this a chapter organ and would allow floor and reaching through the grid to nounced that the Rivoli too would suf­ us access to it evenings and weekends. the very top of the stagehouse. With fer the fate of so many of the existing This has truly been a dream come true. all of the fly work removed, the pipes houses of late , but with one exception. The rest of this tale, the frantic effort stood out like a squadron of redwoods. Instead of being entirely demolished or to stay one step ahead of the demolition There was no stop tab on the console piggy-backed, it would be quadraplexed. crew in removing this unique organ , is for these pipes but closer examination We had hoped to present this instru­ familiar to many. Unique - yes, very revealed the stop tab had been removed ment at the 1970 convention as it is the much so. It is a 3/ 15 Wurlitzer , a 260 - perhaps they were too much for the last remaining theatre organ in the Special, installed in 1925 - 8 years after building , as in most cases, and had to Times Square area. A phone call in the the atre opened. This organ replaced be disconnected. Mr. Fultz decided that mid-August from the demolition con­ a straight organ , probably an Estey. The although they couldn't possibly be used tractor , dashed all hopes of this. We console was on a lift at the front left of in the new studio installation , someone were informed that the theatre would the band car , and there were 4 cham­ else could use them and so they were close September 1st and the transform­ bers, each very shallow, allowing only rigged down by the demolition com­ ation into four theatres would begin im­ 4 ranks plus a few offset chests for 16' pany, disassembled and hauled by the mediately. The contractor also stated, pedal extensions in each chamber. This chapter crew to the Charizma Building "there is an organ in here and if it isn't where they are now awaiting a pur­ removed by Labor Day, it will be de­ chaser . Anyone interested? molished with the interior." The organ now safely lies in the The next few days were wrought with Charizma Building and plans are being much frantic phoning and planning and drawn up for the studio to properly on August 20th , the New York chapter house the instrument. Charizma has swung into action as never before. All made a 16 mm color sound movie of of the various organ restoration crews the removal operation and will also film were welded into one unit. Spearhead­ the restoration and re-installation, re­ ing this ope_ration was chapter member sulting in a documentary film on a pipe Biff Butler, · who had been trying un­ organ transplant. The New York chap­ successfully for the past several years to ter and ATOS will be eternally grateful convince United Artists to let him re­ to the Charizma Organization and ·Mr. store this organ. Biff had been an organ Earl Fultz for, without his generosity , maintenance man with Radio City this miracle on Broadway could not Music Hall some years ago and a key have taken place. WE SAVED A figure in restoring a style D Wurlitzer Rivoli crew members dwarfed by giant 32' MIGHTY WURLITZER , AND WE in Bound Brook, N. J. He is currently diaphones on backstage wall. DID IT TODAY. □

17 theatre organ bombarde the basic tune. Some of the attempted virtuosity came off decently, but it was The American Theatre Organ froth, to be forgotten as soon as heard. Even today, some players overlook the fact that music, like people, has to As A Part of American Culture breathe; too many players make us suf­ by John Muri focate when we try to follow the words that go with their melodies. The theatre organ flourished for a be made with kinuras and post horns. brief time, lasting only from about I am lowbrow enough to enjoy them, One can sympathize with the well­ 1920 till 1929 when the Depression particularly when they are cleverly trained organists who went into theatres marked the end of theatre organ in­ done, but I have had mixed feelings and listened to the house-organists stallations. The earliest theatre organs , about using an organ for comedy since mangle the classics. One favorite piece installed during the second decade of I read a sketch in the Chicago Daily was Ponchelli's "Dance of the Hours." this century, were church-style instru­ News forty years ago that said: "Abe, There was something about this piece ments using low wind-pressures and some of them organists are very expert that attracted organists like cheese at­ standard church stops. The installation about making the music fit the picture. tracts mice, and many of the organists of big-scale, high pressure instruments Take a scene where a fat man falls didn't have enough finger-technique to by the Balaban and Katz corporation downstairs and it's wonderful the way play the piece in rhythm. They even in Chicago in the early twenties resulted a high-grade organist can make you butchered the slow passages. Almost in an avalanche of imitators, and the think you can actually hear the actor's everybody attacked "Nola", "Valencia", term "Mighty Wurlitzer" and "Golden pants ripping. The Chicago Opera and "Dancing Tambourine" with re­ Voiced Barton" were on their way to House ought to install one of them big sults that were in turn amusing , fan­ becoming two of America's greatest organs for giving imitations of fire tastic , and horrendous. Even Jesse trademarks. Many of the companies whistles, steamboat whistles and auto­ Crawford, honor to his name, took that specialized in the building of mobile horns, horses galloping and fat great liberties with his operatic tran­ church organs , such as Kimball , Kilgen, men falling downstairs, to say nothing scriptions, liberties that made the legi­ Marr and Colton , entered the lucrative of cathedral chimes and tornado ef­ timate players tear their hair. theatre field. Even Estey and Skinner fects." To the classical organ group made a few theatre installations. this use of the instrument was desecra­ Still, what could you expect from a While the general public was deeply tion, defilement, and damnation. medium that demanded that you please impressed by the sobbing and hooting I think a case can be made out for everybody, particularly when the organ­ tibias, the quacking kinuras, and the the use of the King of Instruments as ist was manipulating the most compli­ snarling post horns (plus all the per­ a general entertainment device. The cated musical machine ever devised? cussions), the "legitimate" organ-play­ teacher of literature knows that he can­ I marvel today how we get such beau­ ing fraternity was not. The Diapason , a not expect a youngster to read Spenser tiful music out of such a remote-contra! magazine devoted largely to the affairs or Browning with pleasure; the begin­ apparatus that separates the organist of the American Guild of Organists, ner must be led to the more substantial, from his tone-sources. I have high re­ paid scarcely any attention to theatre more artful, and more lasting literature gard for all those players who can organ. Its aloofness over a long period by steps from the simple to the com­ adjust themselves to the acoustic de­ of years was mute testimony to a deep­ plex . In spite of the fact that one can mands of large theatres. Think of what set disapproval of the kind of music do anything better on a higher art-level the differences in reverberation time that was being played in theatres. So than on a lower one, one is nevertheless required of an organist. One can play far as I could ascertain, there were two whistling in the wind when he performs "Kitten on the Keys" in many an major objections. The first was aimed for people who cannot understand what average-sized theatre with ease, for at the unification principle, which a he is trying to do, even if it is the finest there is very little echo in most of number of organ-makers considered a in organ-playing. The best is always in them , but what does one do in such fraud and a perversion. They expressed order when the audience can be ex­ houses as the Chicago Piccadilly and open contempt for ten or twelve-rank pected to be knowledgeable , and , amaz­ the Detroit Fox with their long re­ organs controlled from mammoth and ingly enough, fine musical playing is verberation periods? One can play very gaudily decorated consoles , with small more often enjoyed than not, but one fast music in the Fox , but it takes a and shrill sounds coming from huge can not expect wholesale acceptance of conditioning of the hearing and muscles facades of grille-work. Many so-called artistic playing from a group as heter­ that many organists are unwilling or "legitimate" organists were particularly ogeneous as the average theatre audi­ unable to accomplish. I could agree critical of the theatre organists' use of ence. One had to remember that with the purists if I felt that the theatre the vox humana stop , even while vir­ children had paid to get in; they had was primarily an educ ational institu­ tually all of their organs included a their rights to some entertainment on tion. Strictly speaking , education does vox humana. Much organ literature was their own level. go on in theatres , whether we like it written using the stop , and it was a My complaint against threatre organ­ or not; but we have the choice to rare classical concert in which the stop ists is that they often phrased badly. educate purposefully or accidently. was not used somewhere. An unconscionably large number of the Years ago I thought the theatre at its The second objection was to the old-timers played as if the music had best was a place of recreation and music being used and to the manner no phrasing-lines. The result was a inspiration. That was function and in which it was played. Theatre organ­ steady roll of tiresome organ tone in justification enough. I still think it is, ists were certainly sentimental in their which the melody got lost. Apparently even though theatres now have taken over-use of the tibia, vox, and chimes, not knowing what to do about it, the on a new function: eroticism. In the but it was possible to get most of the hapless organist tried to make things twenties, the theatre organ was used customers into a spirit of a sentimental interesting by adding extempore em­ to transport people out of a presumably movie with them, and one could tell bellishments, most of which had no dull world for a couple of hours to that large numbers of people enjoyed relationship to each other and served forget worries and to laugh a little. I it. Funny and grotesque sounds could only to divert the listener's minds from don't think that the highest levels of

o ct o ber 19 6 9 18 Another Sound of MALAR

"TomHazleton Plays * Show Pipes''

on the Carson 3/26 Wurlitzer in Hollywood * TOM IS EXPRESSIVE-FACILE -MELODIC -EXCITING

Up, Up and Away - The Very Thought of You - Isle of Capri * Gemsfor Listening! - F eelin' Groovy - and there are 7 more jewels. OrderNOW! "Tom Hazleton Plays Show Pipes" $5.00 Postpaid-Stereo Only

Send check or money order to Malar Productions, Box 3104, Glendale, California 91201

art-work were called for in those places, with others from the evils of over­ on hearts and minds so as to elevate and I think that the criticism directed generalization. Our profession, like and inspire. There was a performance against people who made no preten­ others, is often judged in the light of long ago at the Fox in Detroit when sions to excellence in art was gratuitous. the worst of us. There were probably Sousa's Band was on the stage. The The fact that memorable performances more bad theatre organists than there final number was "Stars and Stripes were sometimes given in theatres was were good ( although that is nothing Forever," in which the big house­ a testimony to the ambitions and inte­ unusual as workers of the world go), orchestra in the pit joined in playing grity of theatre people who, after all, and their derelictions, deficiencies, and with the band. On the final refrain, as could make a handsome living without distortions made the purists ( and I a large United States flag was lowered kow-towing to the purists. I remember mean no disrespect to them in this into sight on-stage, the great Wurlitzer one week at the Chicago Theatre when term) groan with dismay. Still, what organ joined in. The sound was over­ the stage consisted of the presentation group of musicians ever had such a whelming. The audience went wild. of the complete song-cycle of Liza variety of demands made upon them Even the dullest clod could not escape Lehmann, "In a Persian Garden." With by such a varied audience? the power of this music. Our culture beautiful voices, a forty-piece orchestra, If the theatre organ were functioning needs that kind of inspiration today, lavish settings, and the organ, it was in public today, it would be making an badly. □ an unforgettable thing of beauty - all important contribution in unifying the for fifty cents. American people, reducing the feeling MEMBERSHIPROSTERTO BE PRINTED Not all theatre organists were un­ of alienation in many of our young, The first National membership roster trained exhibitionists; there were many and in holding up the lamp of beauty. to be published in five years will be talented organists. In New York there In the twenties the lamp flickered a available by the end of 1969. All mem­ were Mauro-Cottone, Firmin Swinnen, good deal, for there was then, although bers on record as of the first of Novem­ Deszo d'Antalffy; and Buffalo, Chicago, in smaller degree than now, a little ber will be included in this roster. If, and on the West Coast Albert Hay more vulgarity, immaturity, and incom­ for any reason, you wish to have your Malotte upheld a high standard. Wil­ petence than one would wish for. name withheld, you must notify Na­ helm Middelschulte and Arthur Dun­ Nevertheless, the local theatre was a tional Headquarters, P.O. Box 2329, nam, among others, taught theatre non-political community center, a place Livonia, Mich. 48150 by Nov. 1, 1969. organists in Chicago to make honest where young and old came together to Names will be listed alphabetically and authoritative transcriptions of or­ be entertained. Most of the time it was by states. This pocket size booklet will chestral music, to register effectively the pipe organ that made the music. be available to all members for $1.00 and tastefully, and to play so as to The theatre organist not only affected postpaid. Please mail your request along please not only the customers, but the single listeners; he produced audience­ with your check to ATOS ROSTER, composers. reactions. At his worst, he led com­ P.O. Box 2329, Livonia, Michigan Our fraternity has suffered along munity singing. At his best, he played 48150. □

19 theatre organ bombarde The complete list of Theatre Organs which have at one time or another been TULSA'S THEATRE ORGANS installed in Tulsa , are as follows, with by Ron Willfong their dispositions as far as we know. Tulsa has had an unusual number of mid-night broadcast on radio station Majestic Theatre: 3/ 16 Robert Morton, installed in 1926, theatre organs for a city of its size. KVOO. Mr. Hamilton moved to Cali­ sold to John Clair, Denver, Colorado, 1956. None of these instruments were what fornia in the mid-thirties and at that Ritz Theatre: would be considered large, the largest time Mr. Milton Slosser took over the 4/ 17 Robert Morton, installed in 1926, being 17 ranks . Most of them were organ duties at the Ritz, where he and sold to Mark Kenning, Dallas, Texas, 1961. Robert Mortons, with only two Wur­ the organ became well known. He (Theatre torn down for parking lot) litzers ever having been installed in the played off and on until 1953 and the Rialto Theatre: city. last time the Ritz was used was in the 4/ 12 Robert Morton, installed in 1926, latter part of 1955, when it was pre­ sold to Central Assembly of God Church, The most well known was the four Tulsa, 1957. manual Robert Morton, which was in­ sided over by Mr. Bob Mack for a Orpheum Theatre: stalled in the Ritz Theatre in down­ three month engagement. 2/9 Wurlitzer, installed in Rialto, formerly town Tulsa. This was a 1500 seat "At­ Supplementing the Ritz organ was a named Orpheum, and moved to present mospheric" theatre and was literally three manual, eleven rank Wurlitzer Orpheum Theatre in 1927, after a Morton designed with the organ to be the focal which was installed in the Coliseum. was installed in the Rialto. Sold to Gordon Wright, Dallas, Texas, 1969. point. The console was huge and was This was an arena type building , used Circle Theatre: on a lift in the exact center of the or­ for ice skating, hockey games, etc. This 2/4 Robert Morton, installed in 1926, chestra pit. The organ itself was de­ organ could very well have the reputa­ sold to and re-installed in Masonic Temple, signed by the Hamilton Brothers, Wade, tion of being played more than any in Tulsa, 1931. the organist, and Howard , who was the existance from the time of its installa­ Coliseum: technician. It represented some new tion in 1929 until it burned with the 3/ 11 Wurlitzer, installed in 1929, burned ideas in that unification and inter­ building in 1952. In 1945 it was neces­ when building was destroyed by fire in 1952. manual couplers were utilized to their sary to completely replace the manual Wade Hamilton Studios: 3/ 11 Robert Morton, installed in 1928, fullest, to obtain the largest sound pos­ ivorys and pedals, because they were sold to radio station in Kansas City, sible from a 17 rank organ. literally worn out. The sharps on the Missouri in early thirties. The organ was presided over by pedals were worn off even with the Central High School: Wade Hamilton for several years after naturals , which were themselves worn 4/ 45 Kilgen. This is a concert organ its installation, for organ interludes and out. Some of the ivorys on the manuals containing many theatre organ stops and is voiced in the Theatre Organ Style. The radio programs. It was known all over were worn through to the wood-not organ is the largest of this type in the area. the country in the early thirties by a broken off, but worn through! It is used regularly for school activities.

Each of the cooperators received an undertaken , however, he has requested Research Project IBM deck of cards, one for each of the that each owner of a Wurlitzer or part organs shown on the list as shipped to of a Wurlitzer contact him, identifying Nears Completion their area. Over the years , the informa­ where possible the original installation Readers may recall that copies of tion gathered has been coded onto site and opus number , if known, of the an IBM listing of the Wurlitzer shipping cards. They have then been returned organ or component parts. He points list have been available during the past to Judd Walton , who has undertaken out , for instance, that if someone can six years. Shortly after the list became this project as a matter of interest to the identify his Wurlitzer Tibia , installed available, the project was undertaken to entire hobby group. in another make organ , as having come update the list. Over 30 people through­ Walton reports that the information from a certain instrument, it can pretty out the United States, England, Aus­ received to date has now been key­ well be determined that that instrument tralia and Canada have assisted in this punched and the first of the revised was broken up for parts. Such is then project. lists is soon to be run. Before this is coded on the card. Hundreds of phone calls and letters The Worth/Crow Duo - Classical organist, Ted Alan Worth and theatre organist, Andrew Crow, will have been made in an effort to deter­ tour the country with two Rodgers organs - 3 manual classic and theatre style. It will be the first time mine as accurately as possible the that two organists have toured togeher. The duo will include both classical and popular music in whereabouts of each of the instruments. their concerts. At this point , Walton reports, it is not known what percentage of the 2231 Wurlitzers have been coded as removed - whereabouts unknown, still in the theatre , sold intact , broken up for parts, etc. An appeal is made on behalf of this project to contact Judd by writing to him at the California Farm Bureau Federation, 2855 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, California 94705 , with infor­ mation regarding any Wurlitzer organ or component parts of which you have knowledge. When the project is near completion, revised lists will be made available to any enthusiast at cost, as has been the original shipping list. D

october 1969 20 $OONERSTIil£ t'##PT£.Q IIM£Rlt'AN T//EIIT/1£ON/IN ENH/UG/ll$7G "6'00N£R f ~ SONI/ISIG/ITS' 111/J S'III/NDS" IIII IIM£RI/IIINT/1£/ITRE Ol'fi/11 $Qt'UTII li'EGIONlllC'ONPENTION FEBRURRP20,~I, 22,1970 i}.f

BEN HALL-Author of ''The Best Remaining Seats" will be Convention M.C. The "HARRY ARNOLD ORCHESTRA" will provide the dance music fol­ lowing the beautiful banquet on Friday night, February 20. CONVENTION ARTISTS FROM CONVENTION HEADQUARTERS St. Louis Chapter Mid-America Chapter "CAMELOT INN" Heart of America Chapter Located at the intersection of Interstate 44 and the Peoria North Texas Chapter Avenue exit . Chartered bus transportation will originate from the Camelot Inn for all events. Kaw Valley Chapter Sooner State Chapter

s;ngleRooms .. . "°.'MELOT IN~,, ...... $12.5¥ 9);:~1!~.~ F:~,· :~~,;::::: •:.: :::;~,T~;oP~~~.~"0 " Double Rooms · · · · · · · · · · $ l 7.50 cO.:I Banquet and Dance ...... $7.50 per person (Two to a Room) ~

MAl'L RESERVATIONSTO: SOONER STATE CHAPTER A.T.O.E. P. 0. BOX2764 TULSA,OKLA. 74101 Two of the artist's compositions were AnnLeaf Enthralls next - "Waltz On a Cloud" and her inimitable "Happy Island" which was LargeEastern Audience recorded several years ago. In fact, a by Lloyd Klos goodly portion of the program's tunes have been recorded by Ann through the Just as she did almost 3 5 years ago years. Nothing beats a live presenta­ when she came to Rochester to dedicate tion, however. the WHEC 3/11 Wurlitzer, Anr~ Leaf, It was a pleasure to talk with the the "Mighty Mite," captivated her artist, and when she had mentioned on Rochester Theatre Organ Society audi­ the TV show that she couldn't remem­ ence on May 20, playing the 4/ 22 ber when she played in Rochester last, Wurlitzer in the Auditorium Theatre. the reviewer was able to check, and She also appeared on Eddie Meath's prepared page photostats for her, rela­ morning talk show, discussing her great tive to her October 1934 visit. She also days in New York when she "opened did a special program for the dedica­ and closed the CBS radio network until tion of a Gulf service station, playing it got too tiring." the Auditorium organ when it was in Before an audience which filled at the late Palace Theatre. least two-thirds of the theatre, she Ann during the second half, ask­ brought up the console, playing "In ed "if there were any sensitive Ma­ Time", the number which identified her rines in the audience." She took "The ANN LEAF - She had been there before. "Nocturne" show in the golden era. Marine Hymn" and made a jazz waltz TOM LOCKWOOD PHOTO The very sprightly "Dance of the out of it. But, the highlight of the entire Comedians" opened the program, and program in the ears of this listener, Blues" in which the honky-tonk piano here was exhibited the artist's ability to was her rendition of "On the Beautiful was brought prominently into play. The intertwine a counter melody with the Blue Danube". Normally, this is a waltz usual standing ovation was rewarded left hand, something in evidence in 3 / 4 beat, but she proceeded to make by "Take Five", and the artist had throughout the evening. a very inspirational march in 6/ 8 time, finished another concert on a tour Enesco's "Romanian Rhapsody" was complete with drums, cymbals and which saw her play in Binghamton, and heralded as a long piece, "and anyone reed/ woodwind embellishment typical scheduled her in Detroit before fly­ who wants to go out and do something, of a marching band. ing home. now is the time." Ann followed the or­ "Bluesette" was followed by a Thus ended the final concert of a chestral score for this classic. Remind­ medley of old favorites - "Embrace­ most successful season by the Rochester ing the listener of the style of Eddie able You", "It's Only a Paper Moon", Theatre Organ Society. Program Chair­ Dunstedter, "Blue Violins" was a slow, "Give Me Something To Remember man, Jim Webster is hard at work lining deliberate number. You By", and a real zingy "St. Louis up talent for next season, and it is hoped that more headliners in the class This 1934 clipping reminded her. of Ann Leaf, Gaylord Carter, Billy N alle and Ashley Miller will stop to play at the Flower City. D GEORGEWRIGHT plays the Wurlitzer in the ORIENTALTHEATRE PORTLAND, ORE. SundayNov. 2-2 P.M. EXTRA--­ George will play a silent film comedy in addition to the concert.

all seats $3.00 no seats reserved

order tickets from Bill Peterson 565 N. Portland Blvd.,Apt. 101 Portland, Oregon 97217

22 theatre organ bombarde "HAPPY" VALLEY LEADS THE WAY The panel was bombarded with ques­ tions from the membership which ran the gamut from Second Touch to a dis­ cussion of leather deterioration as it Connecticut Valley affects theatre orgap. rebuilding projects. Even our guest artist, Lowell Ayars joined in the lively discussion which finally had to be cut off so we could Begins New Era adjourn to the New Haven Paramount by Allen Miller for a private concert by Lowell Ayars. Early in 1969, the Connecticut Val­ litzer, a favorite gathering place for the Mr. Ayars is well known to ATOS ley Chapter, under its incorporation as chapter. The instrument, which was a for his musical talents, and his concert The Connecticut Valley Theatre Organ prize possession of Mr. Shaskan, in­ on the chapter rebuilt 2/ 10 Wurlitzer, Society, finalized legal and accounting cludes choice Brass ranks and a Post­ augumented with the Post Horn from arrangements which culminated in a horn as well as several soft string ranks the Shaskan Wurlitzer, included some of Charitable and Educational Federal in­ not normally found on Wurlitzers of the best playing we had heard. Lowell's come tax exemption as an organization this size. The instrument with its Kim­ program was well planned, varied, and described in section 501(c)(3) of the ball console had been rebuilt and in­ inspired . . . topped only by his superb Internal Revenue Code. To us laymen, stalled professionally, is in excellent use of the instrument. This reviewer left this means that the Connecticut group condition, and will be placed in a suit­ the theatre feeling that he had really can accept donations, and more im­ able auditorium where it can be heard heard the Paramount organ played to portant, perhaps, that the donor can publicly. its fullest artistic advantage, and the write off such donations on his income Programming Gets New Lift two standing ovations given Lowell for his presentation were well earned. tax report. When Program Chairman, Mike Initial chapter studies showed that Foley took office, he promised us a new June Meeting Sees Farewell to the State incorporation as a Charitable and exciting schedule which began at Shaskan Wurlitzer and Educational organization does not our April meeting. Commencing at Thanks to the generosity of Mr. and place an organization in this tax exemp­ Clinton's in New Haven, our business tion category. Further study showed Mrs. Frederick Rieck, the new owners meeting was followed by a slide-sound of the George Shaskan Estate, the Con­ that no Theatre Organ group had pre­ presentation of the chapter's progress viously applied for such a qualification, necticut Valley Chapter was able to with the Thomaston Opera House 3/10 hear a farewell concert on· its second and that a special filing would be re­ Marr & Colton installation. Pictures of quired. Chapter organ. If this doesn't sound the restoration of the chapter organ, unusual, just imagine that you have just As a result of much hard work by and the chambers under construction Chairman Stillman Rice, and his whole moved into a fabulous estate, and right in the Opera House taken by various in the middle of your home is a room Executive board, some of whom took a members, had been assembled by Al day or two off work to help compile full of "drainpipes" and other "plumb­ Miller, who added a synchronized ing" connected to a box which looks and file the required "book", the chap­ sound track. ter was granted the exemption retro­ like three pianos set on top of each active to the beginning of 1968. Education Chairman Angelo Mas­ other. You have never heard this thing, tagni then set up a technical panel dis­ and you know nothing about it except Shaskan 3/22 Wurlitzer Donated cussion aided by four of our chapter that some group owns it and will take to Chapter technicians, Roger Davis, who handles it out. The IRS tax ruling enabled the Allen electronic sales and maintenance, Then you get a phone call, and some­ ConnValChaps to accept a most gener­ Phil .Stock, owner of the 3/19 (now 29 one wants to arrange for 100 strange ous offer from member George Shas­ rank) Lynn (Mass.) Paramount Wur­ people to come into your home and kan, who found it necessary to sell his litzer, Bert Clough, Wurlitzer theatre in­ listen to a concert on this thing, which beautiful estate, including the organ staller, and Al Miller, Asst. Vice Presi­ you are told is a theatre organ. Would studio which housed the 3 / 22 Wur- dent of Austin Organs. you agree? The Riecks did!

At the New Haven Paramount. L. to R.: Mike Foley, Ev Bassett and Phil Stock. After taking advantage of an open Dennis James style contains the best The old Opera House is filled with console session at the Weavers' 3/ 19 of traditional technique mixed with the nostalgia and reminders of touring New Marr & Colton in Bethany on Saturday theatre organ sound of today. His pro­ York companies weeping their way afternoon, June 14, chapter members as­ gram was well balanced and faultlessly through productions like "Two Or­ sembled at the installation of our 3/22 played with careful and imaginative phans" starring Pauline Markham. Wurlitzer in the Rieck studio. Members registrations. Add a natural console per­ From the sweeping 'golden horseshoe' who desired had a last chance at the sonality, and the ability to establish an balcony with exposed bulbs along its instrument before its removal~ after immediate rapport with his audience, edge, one can really appreciate the which a short business meeting was and you have a rising young artist who beauty of the frescoed ceiling, plush red held. National President, Al Mason, can't miss. and gold decor, and unmatched acous­ and Secretary, Betty had flown in for Outstanding in Dennis' program were tics of the auditorium. It is being re­ the event. Al received a copy of the IRS his selections from "West Side Story"; stored to its original glory, and a re­ portfolio filed by the chapter so that "Slaughter on 10th A venue", which was cently acquired chandelier with flicker­ the information could be made avail­ reminiscent, especially in registration, ing electric candles will replace the old able to any other chapter wishing to of George Wright's recorded version; gas-fired one that hung in the center apply for the tax classification now that and a rousing group of George M. of the auditorium. a precedent has been set. President Cohan songs played with a spirit that Mason made several comments during The organ, which was rescued from would have made a group of Hippies the Danbury Palace Theatre two years which he referred to us as "The hap­ feel patriotic. piest ATOE chapter I know." ago by the chapter, will go into cham­ Just before the organ was shut down bers on either side of the stage where prior to its removal, Dennis played a two false grilles are now located. New special concert for the Riecks, who we acoustically transparent grilles harmon­ are sure became instant theatre organ izing with the 1884 decor will extend enthusiasts. the full width of the chambers from floor to ceiling with chamber depth kept Thomaston Opera House Installation shallow to take advantage of the excel­ Progressing lent acoustics and give the organ an Many hours of hard work culminated intimate sound which will be enjoyed in the joint signing of a contract be­ throughout the auditorium. tween Connecticut Valley Chapter ATOS ( Conn. Valley Theatre Organ Society, Inc.) and the Thomaston Opera House Commission on October Chairman Stillman Rice presents I.R.S. portfolio 7, 1968. The contract provides that to Al Mason. Connval will install its 3/10 Marr & Colton organ in chambers which will And happy we were a few minutes be provided in the 84-year-old structure later when guest artist, Dennis James as part of its restoration, and maintain took his place at the instrument for its it in return for its use of the Opera farewell concert. If you have not yet House for meetings, practice sessions heard Dennis, you have missed one of and concerts and will provide an artist the young generation of theatre organ­ for an annual concert to benefit the ists who shows the most potential. Opera House. It is believed the Connecticut group When we heard George Wright say is the first ATOS Chapter to install a how good Dennis James was during theatre organ in a civic auditorium as of George's last concert in Rochester, we Interior Thomaston Opera House. Organ a chapter project. grilles will replace small fake grilles either side had to hear for ourselves. Dennis, now of stage. 18, has studied music for 11 years. His theatre organ debut was at the 1967 Detroit Convention, and he has just While chambers were planned with finished his first year at the Indiana restoration architects, a full-scale pro­ University School of Music where he is gram of organ restoration is well under working towards a Bachelor of Music way at John Angevine's studio where Degree in Classical Organ. the organ is now stored. There is plenty to be done and ample working space to do it with access to power tools and wind supply and organ current for com­ plete testing - and John's own 3/10 Robert Morton installation makes for ideal working conditions and atmos­ phere. The men have had previous ex­ perience in restoring the New Haven Paramount Wurlitzer and pitched in with maximum effoft. Plans call for the addition of an English Post Horn, a 12-note Diaphone extension in the pedal and a piano. The Dennis James during farewell concert - Shaskins Exterior Thomaston Opera House. ConnValChap organ already boasts an unusual 16' 3/22 Wurlitzer. organ - 3/10 Marr & Colton installation. Gamba extension.

october 1969 24 SCOT - ROB PRODUCTIONS presents ''Timeless Treasures''

A thrilling new recording on the Carl Greer 4/ 16 Robert Morton with the unique artistry of STU BOYER Staff Organist

SELECTIONS INCLUDE: Special Holiday Offer Medley: What Are You Waiting For Man of La Mancha Mary? To ATOE Members Dulcinea Watch What Happens Impossible Dream $1.00 Discount By Mail Only From: I Will Wait For You A Time For Us (Romeo & Juliet) Somewhere My Love SCOT-ROB PRODUCTIONS Espana Cani When I Look In Your Eyes P. 0. BOX 41504 Windmills of Your Mind One Fine Day SACRAMENTO, CALIF. 95841 LIST OF RANKS INCLUDED ON JACKET $4.50 POST PAID Unti I Dec. l 5th, 1969 REGULAR PRICE $5.50 POST PAID. STEREO ONLY.

Members of Connval responsible for Restoration of all chestwork, percus­ being recovered in a synthetic which the Thomaston contract include: Chair­ sions and relay, including refinishing, has recently found acceptance by major man Harold Weaver, who has a 3/9 adjusting and testing has been com­ organ builders as a leather substitute. Marr & Colton in his home; John pleted at the Angevine studio, and we Installation of the 3/10 Marr & Col­ Angevine, also an organ owner, who have begun to move equipment into the ton has been broken down into teams assisted in the rebuilding of the Garden Opera House for installation. · which will handle certain portions of Theatre 3/ 8 Marr & Colton; Everett The console team headed by Frank the project. This division of specific Bassett, who owns a 2/ 4 Robert Manion has expanded the stoplist of tasks, which was one of the reasons for Morton; Jack Heavens, who assisted the organ to include coupling and uni­ our successful restoration of the New the Weaver's project; Allen Miller, a fication desirable for modern theatre Haven Paramount Wurlitzer, lightens design engineer with the Austin Organ Company who is building an original organ technique, with the major switch the responsibility on our most tech­ 3/ 8 theatre organ in his home; and layout and wiring changes completed. nically proficient members, and enables Mrs. Eleanor Weaver, who serves as The console facilities are being com­ a larger cross section of the organiza­ secretary of the committee and has pletely rebuilt and expanded to accom­ tion to become involved in some phase worked extensively on the Weaver, modate the additional stops, and the of the project with a better system of Paramount and other Chapter projects. combination action and switches are coordination and supervision. D

L. to R.: Preston Miller, Kathy Angevine, Al Miller, Bea Miller and Gerry Patzold, Al Stevenson and Ev Bassett work on Thomaston Opera Madeleine Manion clean magnets on the 3/10 Marr & Colton. House Marr & Colton. some more. Pipe aficionados already Paul Fleming, one of the lads who enjoy music at the San Francisco Ave­ spearheaded the removal of the 3/ 11 nue theatre (3/ 14 Wurli), the Pizza Wurlitzer from the Keith's Theatre in Joynt in Hayward (3/ 13 Wurli), The Syracuse to the State Fairgrounds, is Cap'n's Galley Pizza in Santa Clara back in the "Salt City" after a lengthy (3/ 12 Wurli), the Lost Weekend in San sojourn in Missouri. He reports that Francisco (2/ JO Wurli) and Rudy's the organ crew was well prepared for Supper Club (2/ 6 Wurli) in Vallejo. On the New York State Fair (the last week the verge of opening as we put this of August) wherein the organ got a issue to bed were a second Cap'n's Gal­ JOO-hour workout as it has for the ley in Redwood City with the 4/ 18 past two years. The display of mechani­ Wurlitzer recently removed from the cal musical instruments at the Art and Seattle 5th Avenue theatre (over the Home Center is being expanded to protests of the Chapter there), and the triple the area, because of the great Melody Inn in Los Altos with the 4/ 20 reception it enjoyed last year. Wurlitzer removed long ago from the Oakland Paramount. And there are * * * still more to come! Lyn Larsen's planned return trip to Readers are encouraged to submit inter­ * * * Melbourne, Australia ( and another esting sidelights on the organ hobby (ex­ Chester E. Klee, former Rochester "resident organist" session at the Dendy clusive of chapter news items), material N. Y., theatre organist and Eastman theatre pl us conducting an afternoon they believe will be of general interest School of Music graduate, was hon­ TV show) had to be postponed until about local organ adivities and installa­ ored recently by the Olean (N. Y.) early 1970 in order to accommodate a tions and the people who work at the Civic Music Association, on completing demanding concert and music writing hobby. We know "there's VOX POPS in 25 years as that organization's presi­ schedule on this side of the briny. Dur­ them there chapters" and it only requires dent. Chet, who once played the organs a Sc postcard to get it to The BOMBARDE, ing the summer he completed several Box 5013 Bendix Station, North Holly­ in Rochester's Eastman, Piccadilly, compositions, some on comm1ss1on, wood, Calif. 91605. Madison, Monroe and Regent theatres, ranging from serious music to novel­ was praised by Olean's Mayor Schnei­ ties (such as the music for a commer­ derman as having done more than any cial jingle heard on Australian TV). person to "Make Olean a cultural cen­ Remember the phrase "organ in a In the fall the concert business picked ter of Western New York." woodcarving shop" often seen in these up and showed no signs of dropping columns a few years ago? That de­ * * * off before Christmas. It started on Sept. scribed the 4/ 24 mostly Wurlitzer as­ On a hot August Saturday morning, 12-13 with a 2-night showing of "Phan­ sembled in a former Los Angeles wood foreman Gene Davis gathered his crew tom of the Opera" at the Sparta Thea­ carver's workshop by organists Bill of diggers (LA chapter volunteers) in tre, Sparta, Michigan, which boasts a Coffman and Bill Field. The pair made the orchestra pit of the San Gabriel 25-rank "Wurli-Page." Early in October a hobby of introducing true pipe sounds (Calif.) civic auditorium and told them Lyn played a concert at Bill Brown's to hundreds of members of plug-in or­ what they were in for: (1) excavate a 4/ 24 ex-Chi-Paradise Wurlitzer in gan clubs they invited in small groups hole 12 x 12 feet by 9 feet deep so the Phoenix ( Oct. 5), then on to Tulsa for every Sunday afternoon for several console of the 3 I 16 Wurlitzer could a session at the 3/ 10 Morton in the years. Then came the Watts holocaust be sunk out of view beneath the Cathedral of the Christian Crusade and the organ was in a threatened area. floor of the pit, (2) dig a smaller shaft ( Oct. 17) followed by a fast trip East The Bills dismantled it and put it in about 15 feet down from the bottom of to a concert for the Niagara Frontier safe storage. They started a search for the 9-foot hole to accommodate the Chapter at the Riviera theatre (3/11 a permanent home for the instrument, a elevator screw. Davis, who 1968 con­ Wurli) in North Tonawanda (Oct. 22), place where they could continue their ventioneers will recall as the busy bus then to Detroit and a session for the "brain-cleansing" operation on a larger dispatcher in the Ambassador Hotel DTOC and its 4/ 34 Senate theater scale. They found just the right place, parking lot, admitted that a lot of dirt Wurlitzer ( Oct. 25). The series ex­ a long-dark theatre in the town of El flew on that memorable Saturday but tends into November with a pipe con­ Segundo (near LA) and for the past at day's end there was still quite a few cert in a Porterville, Calif. church year they have been busy refurbishing wheelbarrow loads still to go. Since (Nov. 2) then back across the country the faded house and installing the or­ then they've gone. to Rochester for a concert for R TOS at the Auditorium theatre 4/22 Wur­ gan, investing every spare moment * * * ( both are professional, in-demand night litzer. Outside of those Lyn had noth­ In Syracuse, New York, the directors spot entertainers with long lists of club ing much to do this autumn. of the Empire State Theatre and Mu­ credits). As we went to press they sical Instrument Museum presented * * * were updating their guest list and giv­ veteran organist Carleton A. James Sorry to note that Ben Levy will no ing the organ a final once over in an­ with a key to the 3/11 Wurlitzer the longer be doing concert reviews for ticipation of their first concert in the group maintains at the New York State the Detroit Theater Organ Club News­ new series in the "Old Town Music Fairgrounds, thus honoring the organist letter. His colorful use of words made Hall." Both Bills deserve much credit who played it through much of the even "potboilers" seem enchanting. But and a great measure of success in their silent era and into the '30s when it when he was inspired by the artistry venture which will include silent film was installed in Syracuse Keith's thea­ of a genuine console star, the results shows as well as concerts. tre. Carleton, who joined ATOE in were of ten close to poetry - the 1969 * * * 1968, has played many concerts and Ann Leaf program, for example: "Her The Bay area of California, already silent movie shows for the ESTMIM playing is as light as May wine and knee-deep in pipe installations open to since the organ has been placed in its should be heard while dancing barefoot the public is about ready to sprout permanent home. through the cool garden ... Her regis-

october 1969 26 trations range from something you were a nice night) to lend their voices cember 3 it's John Muri and a touch could pour on waffles to a Kinura­ to "When the Red, Red Robin Comes of Christmas. A real variety of artists Krumet cutting edge that could slice Bob, Bob Bobbin' Along" and "I Won­ for the little theatre with the big organ glass." der Who's Kissing Her Now." Color­ plans, thanks to owner Bob Mont­ ful days! gomery and his band of faithful help­ * * * ers. (.See TOB, June '69, page 20 for Billy Nalle, always a busy young or­ more about this installation). ganist, is even busier this year. Follow­ * * * ing successes in Florida, Detroit, and Organist Frank Olsen, who emi­ other far-flung locations, he was signed grated from Scotland to Canada not by the Canton, Ohio AGO to appear long ago returned to Glasgow for a at the Palace Theatre there on October vacation only to learn that the milder 14 for a theatre organ concert. It's the climate of the New World summer has first time an AGO chapter has con­ decreased his natural immunity to "real tributed a theatre organ concert to a cool" Scotland. Frank writes, "It's so city's Art Festival. Billy was contacted cold here that I have to wear a heavy out of the blue, and the event will be tweed suit - and I have fires going in a ~art of the annual month-long Festi­ all the stoves and fireplaces." Just be­ val of the Arts. The organ is a 3/9 fore he returned to Canada he accepted Kilgen with added Wurlitzer Posthorn. an engagement to play the final con­ Billy, by the way, is also due back in cert on a 4/ 10 Compton organ about Dunedin, Florida at the Kirk (Wurlit­ to be removed from the Glasgow zer) on March 12 next year. Odeon theatre. Friends noted how * * * "Americanized" Frank had become, "Our man in Louisiana," reporter traits probably picked up while attend­ Lew Williams earned his first standing ing the 1969 ATOE convention in Chi­ ovation at a concert he played on a cago with the Niagara Frontier con­ Rodgers organ for an audience of tingent. That should do it. ANN LEAF - Barefoot through the waffle syrup. mostly teenage summer school students * * * at the Howey Academy far from home Up Quebec way, ATOE member Our correspondent Bob Wilson, of (Florida). The youthful organist (16) Mario L'Esperance read that "Bom­ Yakima, Washington, spent a three­ played an ambitious program which barde" is to be dropped from the maga­ week summer vacation, traveling ranged from the compositions of Bach zine masthead, did a burn, and took through Oregon and California and to one by Stu Green ("from the sublime quill in hand for a few gentle lines of visited theatre organ installations along to the ridiculous," as one wag put it), protest: "I experienced a 'disappoint­ the way. At Bell, California, he at­ but with plenty of time-proven stand­ ed' feeling when I learned that 'Bom­ tended a Gaylord Carter concert in ards, Jesse Crawford and George barde' would be dropped from the Friends Church. "Since this is a church, Wright arrangements to carry the day. name of the magazine. THEATRE I shouldn't play anything sexy", said The standing ovation caught Lew by ORGAN-BOMBARDE seems very fit­ the famous Flick Fingers star. So, in­ surprise and he quickly learned to ap­ ting; THEATRE ORGAN leaves no stead of playing "Love is Blue", he preciate a byproduct of public acclaim doubt about the kind of instrument and played "Serenade in Blue" , and "Span­ which we hope isn't confined to Florida. BOMBARDE enhances the title, giving ish Serenade". A newly installed bird Said Lew, "I never kissed so many girls it a striking note - one which fires the whistle was used for "Listen to the in one night before!" imagination. It was an odd decision to Mocking Bird." The tunes were sand­ * * * amputate the name if there was no wiched around a color film which Bus­ The Hoosier theatre in Whiting, In­ legal problem to keep it as is." The ter Keaton did for the Canadian Na­ diana, undertook an ambitious fall TOB staff also has sentimental attach­ tional Railway, his last. In Tarzana, series of concerts for the 3/ 11 "echo ments to the name, Mario, because Bob spent an hour at Harvey Heck's organ" ( that's what it will be with re­ "Bombarde" is synonymous with "Stu installation, and saw 4 ranks of pipes lation to the Chicago Uptown theatre Green" who has been our record re­ and the traps and percussions destined 4/ 28 Wurlitzer when that behemoth is viewer, VOX POPer, "Disc Squealer", for Lee Haggarts' home organ. Parts installed there in the foreseeable fu­ author, editor, reporter, photographer , for another organ later installed in a ture). First it was Australian organist photo captioner, and TOB's sense of pizza parlor at Reseda, the "Pipe 'n Tony Fenelon on October 1 ( that lad humor for so many years. But "the old Pizza," were also being worked on. seems to be popping up wherever order changeth" and our board of di­ * * * there's a winded console during his 30- rectors is not immune to the demands Readers of the Buffalo Evening News day "Australian Crawl" through the of progress. Cheer up, Mario; only the were recently treated to an excellent "up over" world). Tony proved a hit name will change. article by retiring theatre reviewer, with his skills at mimicry as well as his * * * Ardis Smith. It concerned his early sound musicianship. Yet to come is In England, one of the longest play­ days in Buffalo when he covered events Dick Smith who wowed the multitudes ing engagements ever enjoyed by a at what was then the Shea's Buffalo during a previous Hoosier session, but pop organist will end on October 26 theatre, about 1929. Describing what this time he's billed as "the incompar­ when Reginald Dixon plays his final one might see on one of the grandiose able young man of the pipe organ from session at the Blackpool Tower 3/ 14 programs in those days, he stated: Maryland" and Dick is asking for re­ Wurlitzer. Dixon, who has presided at "Then, zooming forth at the console of quests ( no fair sending in such titles the Tower ballroom consoles for over the giant Wurlitzer, came Henry B. as "Beethoven's Ninth Symphony!", 39 years, decided to retire after his Murtagh, "poet of the organ" (sic), who you guys!). Dick will play the embryo 65th birthday (October 16) but agreed invited the audience ( of 3,000, if it Wurli on November 5. Then on De- to remain on for ten days following

27 theatre organ bombarde that milestone to finish the season. George J. Kilgen of the organbuilding on the Joe Kearns and Columbia Editor Ian Sutherland, writing in the family who was lavish in his compli­ Square Wurlitzers. Johnny loves to "Cinema Organ Society Journal," ments to Don Zeller for the top con­ teach and has hit upon the idea of summed it up neatly: (Dixon is) "the dition of the organ. And it was good distributing his brand of organ lessons best known organist in Britain these to hear Eddie again, said George, "Last beyond the confines of Southern Cali­ days . . . we cannot imagine Blackpool time I heard him was on a 2-manual fornia by means of individually tailored without Reg . ... For millions, during straight organ in the Kilgen St. Louis lessons via tape recording. You send the 39 years he has been at the Tower, plant. And that was some time ago." Johnny a list of 25 of your favorite his signature tune, 'Oh, I Do Like to Later, George, Eddie and Vee (Eddie's selections (this tells him a lot about be Beside the Seaside' has become syn­ bride) huddled in a booth and hashed your musicality), information about onymous with his name ... 'Mr. Black­ over old times, even promised our man your grade (beginner to pro) and a pool.' " Af fer years of almost daily in Sacramento, Major H. A. Sommer, check for $14.95. From the informa­ playing sessions, 2,000 broadcasts and a double interview for later publication. tion supplied, Johnny prepares and countless records, Dixon wants to take Again Eddie showed evidence of mails you a taped lesson (any standard life easier. So he's mulling over a pos­ "writer's cramp" from autographing tape speed or cassette) complete with sible concert tour which may take him his "E.D. Plays Requests" album, but assignment plus examples and tips on to the U.S.A. and Australia, broadcasts he wasn't complaining. how to "make it happen:: Then he from Radio Hilversum (Holland), and * * * watches his mailbox, biting his nails, the continuation of his BBC broadcast In his "Dateline Hawaii" column, awaiting your return tape breathlessly. series, "Meet Me at the Tower." That's published in the weekly Honolulu "TV And if you want to skip a lesson, just retirement? Time," Jack Wilson publicly thanked mail him a blank tape. * * * the group which rescued the 15-rank Of his Ohio River excursion steamer In Kenmore, New York, Bob Sieben Robert Morton from the doomed Prin­ days as a calliopist, Johnny has few faced a big job. For some time he had cess theatre. The plan is to set it up in fond memories. "I sweltered inside been planning a new home, one where a new home when one is secured. Jack that raincoat surrounded by clouds of there would be more room for the writes, "We should thank this group steam - even on cold winter days." family pet to romp in. So he decided to ... all too many of the nicer things of * * * build. Now he's in the process of sell­ life - theatres in particular . . . are Our quip in the June VOX POPS ing his present home and the "pet," a being converted to . . . parking lots. column (page 33), suggesting that Lee three-rank organ Bob built from It's nice to know the big Morton will Erwin send Billy Nalle $2.00 for the scratch, must be removed and stored sing once again. Kudos to Alvin Wat­ flattering comments organist Billy made until the move is complete. Then the son and his dedicated group!" Amen! about Lee's cueing of "The Eagle" at 3-ranker must be installed in the New The same Honolulu "TV Time" the Atlanta Fox, got some positive re­ Home. Sound familiar? column revealed the whereabouts of a sults: Lee sent a surprised Billy Nalle * * * legendary character of the TO world two crisp, one-dollar bills in the mail. who had slipped out of sight. Wilson To the BOMBARDE, Lee confided, The Los Angeles chapter scheduled writes, "How many have heard the "It's a pleasant experience to find out an extraordinary treat for September delightful Alice Blue at Pearl City that someone you suspect is a nice guy 9th, a rare appearance on pipes (the Tavern? She's an old time theatre or­ proves to be exactly that." Actually, Wiltern 4/ 37 Kimball) by the one and ganist who is going strong on a new there are two nice guys involved in this only Don Baker. The Chapter cleared instrument which looks like a cross be­ mutual admiration exchange, and the the date through Conn's district man­ tween a rocket launching pad and a fact that the dollars involved are of ager, "Buzz" Olson last Spring and grease rack. Hammond tells us they the Confederate variety ( received in Don was as eager as ever to return to call it the 'X66'. Alice is worth hear­ change while Lee was in Atlanta) is pipes as a change from his regular ing." True - so true. Alice Blue has no gage of Lee's penuriousness, or lack routine of playing Conn-certs. (See re­ been worth hearing since she started of it. He just knows that Billy is a view on page 38.) cueing silent movies - years before the southern gentleman who believes "the * * * "fabulous '20s" began. She went to South will rise again." Hawaii two years ago to become a The New York Chapter's "Horse­ * * * shoe" newsletter advises that Gaylord beach comber. But she couldn't stay Organist Bob Vaughn reminisces Carter was scheduled for a return away from music. about his contribution to the "golden stanza to the Tower theatre in Philly * * * era" between 1925 and 1929: "I studied on October 21, including his collection The teenager made his appearance under Roy Metcalfe, head organist at of sing-alongs, cartoons and silent in a bright yellow oilskin raincoat and the Imperial theatre in Long Beach, movies which made his earlier show at broadbrimmed "sou'wester" hat, win­ Calif., in the late '20s - a wonderful the 3/ 15 Wurlitzer such a memorable ter and summer. As he stepped to the film player. The big films came to the occasion. short keyboard on the top deck of the Imperial; Roy played them on a 2/ 12 * * * Ohio River steamer "Showboat," and Morton (if I remember correctly). I Word from Sacramento, Calif., in­ opened the "throttle," the bank of played the little houses in Long Beach; dicates that the "SRO" sign was up on bright brass whistles before him came the Brayton (2-manual Marr & Colton), both nights (August 25 and 26) that alive with ear-shattering music. And the Home (a very dinky 2-manual Eddie Dunstedter · played the 4/ 15 the wisdom of the rainwear became Smith), the Dale (2-manual church-type Morton at the Carl Greer Inn. The immediately obvious to retreating on­ Moller, with console in the rear of the event was given some advance pro­ lookers as the youthful calliopist be­ balcony!), the Ebell (2-manual Morton) motion in local newspapers and through came enveloped in billowing steam and the Carter (I recall it as a 2/ 8 organ clubs, so the- multitudes flocked from the three octaves of tubular Wurlitzer). I was at the Carter when in from as far away as "the city by the whistles. The lad grew up to be Johnny sound swallowed us. Not a very im­ bay" (over 100 miles) to hear the Duffy, long a bright spot in the TO pressive roster of organs, but I missed famed maestro. One very hip guest was world, mainly through his recordings playing very few of the big films."

october 1969 28 After 40 years, Bob is back playing for certs by Koria Pandit (twice), Gaylord silent films at the A venue theatre in Carter, Harold Ramsey and Dick CHICAGO'S San Fra 11cisco,and loving it more than Schrum. The instrument came from the BILL BENEDICT - ever. Strand theatre, in Brandon, Manitoba and Terry has put it in tip-top shape. Man Extraordinare Although it is in the church proper, A man who possesses a seemingly there is no restriction on the type of endless supply of energy, a quick sense of humor and keen sense of responsi­ music played, and no resulting com­ bility . . . a peacemaker . . . willing to plaints. Terry is currently sketching out help out in any way ... ran my errands his I 970 series and is dickering with to the printers ... typed name tags ... Johnny Duffy for a Saint Patrick's Day an educator ... these are but a few of concert near March 17. If it jells it'll the comments expressed by CA TOE be a great musical day for the Irish, members about our chairman. and for all who can crowd into the It takes a rather special type person edifice to hear Johnny on pipes. to co-ordinate a convention of the likes as just witnessed in Chicago and it takes * * foresight on the part of that co-ordinator * to spot any stumbling blocks along the British organ fans are still up in arms way and to iron them out ahead of The curious inspect the curious instrument. All of about the dearth of their favorite in­ time. Things came off smoothly and the percussions are unenclosed for a 'go for strument on the government-controlled with the same quality that CA TOE baroque' effect at "Pipes 'N 'Pizza." STUFOTO BBC radio and TV channels. A man on attempts to achieve in all its shows - the Isle of Wight collected 43,000 sig­ first class entertainment. There were Sorry to report that "Monk's Musi­ natures on a petition he presented to so many things going on all at once, cal Pizza" in Covina , Calif. (see story the BBC to stop plans to cancel Dud­ but Bill seemed to always be there and in Feb. 1969 TO B) has closed its doors, ley Savage's once-a-month pipe broad­ on top of everything. CATOE is indeed apparently from lack of patronage. At cast from Plymouth. And in Britain fortunate in having Bill as our Chair­ the same time we are overjoyed to an­ proper, James Ward Stuchlik continues man and are proud to have shared him with the national group. nounce the opening (in July) of "Pipe to collect signatures after flinging a 'n Pizza ," located in Reseda in Cali­ Those of us who have had the good petition with over 55,000 signatures fortune to work closely with Bill are fornia's San Fernando Valley. The protesting the lack of organ music at owners are Ed Waters and Bill Geimke, aware of his kindnesses and the amount the BBC. The embarrassed BBC made of time he spends involved in CATOE both without previous experience with a small concession with one new pro­ activities. He is dedicated and has either pipe organs or with food han­ gram entitled, "The Organist Enter­ brought our group a long way. CATOE dling , but who were inspired to emu­ tains." "Not enough!" cried Stuchlik, now numbers almost 300 - almost late the "patron saint" of the "pipes merrily collecting ammo for another as­ double what we were one short year and pizza" movement, Carsten Hen­ sault on the BBC programme depart­ and a half ago. ningsen, whose "Pizza Joynt" in Hay­ ment. On this side of the pond, wonder Thank you, Bill, for your inspiration ward (near Oakland), Calif. is the if there are any organlovin' citizens and thank you for a job well done - the Convention was handled beautifully! home shrine for many similar disciples. ready to take on CBS or NBC? The organ is a 2/ 10 (style 215) Wur­ litzer installed in two floor-level cham­ bers. Glenn Hardman was the opening organist , and Bob Garretson ( who played at "Monk's until it closed) is Ellsasser Mending from lniuries the current artist. Business is great re­ It has been learned from a source were serious and resulted in paralysis port the owners. Full story in the next close to the organist that Richard Ell­ of his right side. An operation during TOB. sasser is recovering from the injuries the spring months was completely suc­ sustained during an automobile accident cessful and on May 15 his doctors last December and has already resumed cleared the way for his manager to re­ his concert career. sume bookings. Among the first con­ During the afternoon of December 5, certs since the accident were a series 1968, the prominent organist ( who is of two (July 23 and 30) played on the also an A TO Er) was involved in a huge concert organ in the Great Hall head-on collision at Cambridge Springs, of the Hammond Muse um in Glou­ Pennsylvania. He had come there to cester, Mass., long one of Elhiasser's play a concert that evening. His injuries favorites. D

BOB GARRETSON ENGLAND a switch in pasta parlors. STUFOTO Keep abreast of the theatre organ hobby in England through the 'Journal of the Cinema Organ Society,' four issues (or equivalent) annually plus monthly From Canada, Terry Harvey reports newsletters. Current organ events in the British Isles, history, photos, stop­ a successful series of pop concerts he lists, commentaries, technical articles, organists' biographies, news from has sponsored in a Catholic Church in overseas, record reviews, and more. $5.00 (£1, 15s. 0d.) yearly. Send money North Surrey, British Columbia, where order to Mr. Len Hudson, 22, Oakwood Close, Chase Road, Southgate, London, he has installed a 2/ 6 Seeburg-Smith N.14. England. theatre organ with all the usual per­ cussers. The series included pop con-

29 theatre organ bombarde Schumann's "Traumerei." That he suc­ ly." Both instruments contribute to this ceeds in fair measure is a tribute to impression. The Rochester organ has Mickelson's musicianship. The overall always sounded good on records and result is good. Much of it is of the we believe this to be the first release "soothing" type we used to buy on since the Music Hall organ underwent Victor 12" blackseal 78s, straight or­ a major face lifting. It is truly Leibert gan records of relaxing music played at the best we have yet heard him on by Mark Andrews or Archer Gibson. records. There are some raucous moments dur­ Jacket notes provide a little about ing the "Wedding March" when Paul each instrument and artist, brief anec­ unmuzzles the en chamade "State dotes about each tune but not a word Trumpet" in St. John's (the rank re­ about registration or how the organist cords with all the subtlety of an air interprets the music (other than stating horn on a Mack truck) but manages that Leibert's "Bacchanale" isn't as to keep the two monsters under control rowdy as some). for "Trumpet Voluntary", Mendels­ The set (all 4) is highly recommend­ sohn's "Consolation", "Pilgrims' Chor­ ed. Next time we'll examine the re­ us" and "Caprice Viennois" which maining two recordings, those by Dick The Bombarde reviews recordings for of­ come through with good effect. Also Purvis and Billy Nalle. ficial ATOE publications. Manufadurers, heard are Godrad's "Berceuse" and the distributors or individuals sponsoring or familiar high school graduation cere­ * * :~ merchandising theatre pipe organ records mony favorite, "War March of the BRA VO! Lyn Larsen playing the Car­ are encouraged to send pressings to the Priests" by Mendelssohn, during which son residence 3/ 24, Wurlitzer. Rapture Bombarde, Box 5013, Bendix Station, the· melody line is obscured in spots. label No. 11113, $5.95 (plus 30c sales No. Hollywood, Calif. 91605. Be sure to Lots of action noise (probably the harp) include purchasing information, if applic­ tax for California) postpaid, Rapture able. and shutter squeaks are audible during Records, 2825 Ryans Street, Los An­ "Liebestraum" and "Star". Generally geles, Calif. 90026. Stereo only. the miking is above average. Due to Organist/musicologist Paul Beaver, the tremendous dynamic range of the while listening to his collection of THE ORGAN PLAYS GOLDEN FA­ instruments, considerable compression Jesse Crawford records, noted how well VORITES, a four-record set featuring is evident. Otherwise, it succeeds in be­ the phrasing of simple Neapolitan four organists playing eight organs ing what was intended-a tender re­ tunes fitted the late maestro's style of (four of them theatre organs). Released prise of old favorites in the light classic playing, and vice versa. He discussed by Reader's Digest, Pleasantville, N. Y. standard category. It's a proper intro­ the matter with organist Lyn Larsen, $7 .88 monaural, $8.88 stereo. The or­ duction to the organ artistry of Paul and the result is this collection of ganists are Paul Mickelson (playi~g the Mickelson. More will be seen about vintage Italian tunes, offered here in 4/ 141 Aeolian-Skinner organ m St. him in these columns, especially re­ almost traditionally simple treatments. John the Divine Cathedral in New garding his theatre organ prowess. Lyn was so enthusiastic to take on the York and the 6/ 451 behemoth in Wan­ Next we examine Dick Leibert at Neapolitan project he got permission amaker's store, Philadelphia), Richard the Rochester ex-Palace 4/22 Wurlitzer from Essential, his regular label, to Leibert (at the 4/ 58 Wurlitzer at Radio and the RCMH 4/ 58 Wurlitzer. Let us record this one for Rapture. City Music Hall and the 4/22 RTOS start by stating that we have never It should be made clear that these Wurlitzer in the Auditorium theatre, heard a · better recorded performance Rochester, N. Y., whose work we will songs are not played in imitation of by the man who opened the Music the Crawford style, other than phras­ review in this issue) and Billy Nalle and Hall organ and who still presides Richard Purvis whose records we'll ing (which is mostly coincidence). Nor there. Unlike Mickelson, who played does producer Beaver allow the Larsen cover next time. his tunes mostly according to the notes, The title of this set tells much of the personality to protrude very often. The the Leibert selections are laced with emphasis is on the basic melodies and story. In a gigantic effort to create the generous slices of "Leibertiana" - ar­ organ nostalgia collection of all time, rhythms, and beautiful registration. rangements which often include offbeat The Carson organ, a fully romantic in­ Reader's Digest has assembled a well­ harmonies, tempos, rhythms, phrasings recorded and well-played assortment of strument (even for a theatre organ) is and scintillating progressions of the the perfect facility for the emotion­ old chestnuts which merit this often types heard at the Music Hall. Dick sentimental rehash. Nearly all the selec­ packed presentations of Italy's folk offers such goodies as a very different music. tions are of the type which are best "Battle Hymn of the Republic", Ketel­ Opening with a spirited "Funiculi­ presented on theatre organs. The reason by's "In a Persian Market" (with a RD insisted that half of them should be much easier-listening "state trumpet" Funicula," Lyn does a beautiful job presented on huge straight organs can passage), "La Paloma", Massenet's on "Mattinata" which employs Craw­ only be guessed at and our guess is for "Meditation", "La Cumparsita", "Pomp ford-like registration, as do "Toma a the additional promotional value the & Circumstance No. 1" (all played on Surriento," "Santa Lucia" and "Maria, four churchly instruments afford. the Rochester Theatre Organ Society Mari." Of course "Donna e Mobile" Paul Mickelson, whose name is well­ instrument), "March Slav", "Humores­ and "Ciribiribin" are included as well established in the sacred music field, is que", "Song of India", "None But the as the less familiar "Serenata d'e Rose", completely at home on the theatre or­ "Dicitencello Vuie", "Vieni Sul Mar" Lonely Heart", Boccherini's "Minuet", gan. Yet he must struggle to make a and a wonderful "O Sole Mio" closer. pair of instruments designed for classi­ "Love's Old Sweet Song" and an or­ Simplicity is the keynote, both in ma­ cal organ works sound theatrical iginal "Bacchanale" (these played on terial and treatments, but with just en­ enough for the presentation of such the RCMH 4/ 58). There is a grandeur ough dramatic flair to give the tunes selections as Handel's "Largo", "Liebe­ and majesty in the "Leibert sound" a continental accent. straum", Wagner's "Evening Star" and which this reviewer finds "goose pimp- Recording is excellent, made even

october 1969 30 better through use of the Dolby noise­ ness in the horn solo while a string/vox reducing system which blanks out back­ chorus wails the harmonic structure ground noise (amplifier hiss etc). The and the pedal is quite electronic. Side surface of the review disc is flawless. 1 closes with a sprightly "Promen­ You don't have to be Italian to ap­ ade" with many changes of registration, preciate this one. with emphasis on brass and percussers. * * * So ends side 1, and the best is yet ON THE WINGS OF LOVE, Ed Pe­ to come. gram at the 2/7 Wurlitzer in the Ellen If John took a few improvisational theatre, Bozeman, Montana, Stereo liberties with the tunes on side 1, the CR-0046, available postpaid at $4.50 emphasis during side 2 is strict disci­ from Concert Recording, Box 531 Lyn­ pline because the program consists of wood, Calif. 90262. Also available on eleven selections from the Gershwin 7½ ips 4 track stereo tape at $5.95. folk-opera "Porgy and Bess," a situa­ Screwy album title, unknown organ­ tion which sent us scurrying to our ist, small organ in an out-of-the-way Leonard Bernstein, Andre Kostelanetz theatre. Could anything interesting and "cast" recordings of the work for evolve from that combination? It most a basis of comparison. Gershwin had certainly can, and does. The moment JOHN SENG a talent for writing descriptive opera after the Ellen's manager-owner-organ­ music which sets a mood and does puts John "up there" with the toppers much to underscore a story when play­ ist starts his first tune ("Amour"), he in the arranging field. Before examin­ has captured the musical attention of ed instrumentally with no words to ing the selections some explanation is explain things. But making it come off the listener, and the interest continues in order regarding both performer and to grow. Ed Pegram is not a brilliant is a tremendous task for any perform­ instrument. John's conception of a pop ing group, not to mention one organist. performer but he has that spark of pipe organ is somewhat different from musicianship which makes his playing We spent a Sunday afternoon listening, the usual theatre organ specification. first to the big orchestras play the irresistible. And the organ, while small, He rejects the sweet Tibia sound, pre­ is in excellent shape and offers a wide music, then to Johnny's recording. ferring a hard, flutey Tibia. And the Johnny came through the ordeal "smell­ tonal variety in registration (it is obvi­ dominant sound of John's organ is that ously well-unified). ing like a rose." His registration is his of fiery reeds. Add very prominent own, and his tempos differ from estab­ Pegram treats his listeners to no less tonal and toy counter percussions plus lished versions in places, but the im­ than 18 tastefully played selections some electronic frippery (e.g. Kruger­ portant thing is that at no time does (some in Medleys). All are well regis­ type pedal stop) and you have John's Johnny allow himself to stray from tered, and the phrasing is excellent. concert organ. It also has some stops what might be described as the intent The approach is subtle. The over-all for the presentation of classical organ of the composer. The moods of the sound is best described as "velvety." music. tunes as they are heard in the opera Among the many selections are: To this reviewer the organ records are preserved, and the tunes offered Serenade in Blue, I Wish You Love, more like a theatre organ than it cover nearly the whole opera-Sum­ To a Wild Rose, Ghost Riders in the sounds like one in the hall; much of mertime, A Woman is a Sometime Sky, Bloody Mary, It Has to be To­ the reedy harshness heard "in person" Thing, My Man's Gone Now, I Got night, Baby Elephant Walk, The One I seems to have been lost in recording. Plenty of Nothing (too much pedal But we still miss the authentic tibia Love, Shadow of Your Smile, Edel­ cymbal!), Bess You is My Woman, It sound. With these exceptions, it's a weiss and 5 minutes and 20 seconds of Ain't Necessarily So, There's a Boat most impressive recording, loaded with a very different and intriguing "On the Leaving Soon for New York, On My · musical gems in novel arrangements. Trail" in pastel hues. Way, and all the rest, beautifully and John starts out with a big brash "To Recording is good. The transfer to authentically performed. This is a truly Russia With Love," music to end all disc has been made at a comparatively monumental undertaking and a mile­ contrived "secret operator" "Gebrau­ low level which permits a wide dy­ stone for Johnny. Forget all our carp­ chsmusik," a sly spoof. Next is a con­ namic range with low distortion. A ing about side 1; side 2 is a gem to glomeration of sounds which in turn rarity these days. fire the imagination over and over. sound like "I Got Rhythm", "The Old A combination of good organ, talent­ There's something new to hear with ed organist and good recording make Grey Mare" and "Turkey in the each playing. this an attractive package - even Straw" until the light bulb goes on and its "Down by the Riverside" with the For some reason the jacket cover though we still don't undertand the presents a fine color photo of Jack meaning of the title. tune a bit obscured by embellishment. The final chorus with that dishpan Leynnwood's West Coast 2/ 8 home in­ '~ * * pedal cymbal marking every beat is stallation pipework and the photo of JOHNNY SENG playing his 4/23 especially wild. "My First Love Song" Johnny could have been lifted from Concert organ in Mundelein Seminary. is one of the few "sweet" treatments. the cover of a long ago BOMBARDE. CR-0057, stereo, available at $4.50 It's John at his sentimental best. "Love But no matter, the music is great. postpaid from Concert Recording, Box is Blue" gets a Bach trio pseudo-classi­ 531, Lynwood, Calif. 90262. Available cal playing, one of the most extraordin­ also on 7½ ips 4-track stereo tape at ary numbers on side 1, and "My Heart o/ .Jnferejf $5.95. Belongs to Daddy" gets a varied rhy­ A-£0 John Seng doesn't record very often thm arrangement with lots of registra­ THE ELECTRIC TOUCH OF but when he does it has been our ex­ tion changes, percussion plinks and HELEN DELL, Helen at the X77 perience that he has something to say plunks. "La Danza" is played as a Hammond, MAS2007, Stereo, available musically. This time is no exception. It silent movie "hurry" and "Mood In­ from Malar Records at $5.00 postpaid, may also be stated that this recording digo" offers lots of slow jazz inventive- box 3104, Glendale, Calif. 91201.

31 theatre organ bombarde This disc is remarkable not only for She really didn't need the alibis be­ the crisp bounce of the Dell rhythm Mildred Alexander cause the total result added up to good tunes but also for Helen's conjuring of entertainment. Her musicianship made a presentable Vox Humana voice from At The Wiltern up for that precious practice time she the 2-1 electronic's drawbars for "Jean­ had foregone. The Alexander person­ nine." Other tunes include: Come On Sunday morning, August 24th, ality, just a little subdued from the Dance with Me, The Nearness of You, Mildred Alexander went through what frustration of trying to tame the hoarse Downtown, Do You Know What it was probably the roughest musical or­ beast, came through beautifully, as al­ Means to Miss New Orleans, Opus deal of her life at the Wiltern theatre ways, and she had her audience (700) One, Green Dolphin Street, You Are in Los Angeles. On rather short notice solidly with her. Too Beautiful, plus a digital obstacle she had been asked by the LA chapter After intermission, with an hour of course called Kitten on the Keys. to present a concert on the Kimball experience behind her, Millie was able organ (her second) and had accepted. to select the stops which were more in But when practice time came, it was tune and the musical interest picked FLASH II discovered that the intense summer up. She came up out of the pit with a heat had played havoc with the tuning We have just received notice lilting "Thoroughly Modern Millie," of the instrument. So, instead of prac­ that the New York Chapter and followed by an outstanding selection of tice time, Millie stood by while the themes from Gordon Jenkin's love song the Long Island University have maintenance crew made a valiant and reached a preliminary agreement to an island, "Manhattan Tower" (an partially effective effort to get the mon­ Alexander standard), and the mood ex­ on a joint project to rehabilitate ster's 28 playing ranks ( the echo isn't the Brooklyn Paramount 4/ 28 emplified by her earlier remark - "The used) into presentable shape for the first time I played this organ I was Wurlitzer (the old Brooklyn Para­ concert. mount auditorium is now the nervous - and nothing has changed!" Long Island University Gymna­ So Millie went to work with one - was gone. She had fun this time with sium-the world's most luxurious formidable strike against her, knowing songs about May and Manhattan and that an out-of-tune organ can sabotage basketball court). Clem Young, the most skilfully-played music. Yet, east coast professional organ during her announcements she was builder, will be the technical apologetic in her own behalf and never director of the project and Lee said one word about the condition of Erwin, the famous Moon River the organ, preferring to cover with such organist, will supervise the tonal remarks as "That'll teach me to play a work. No further details are tune without practicing it" or "I sure available at this time. blew that one."

Build this magnificent Schober Theatre ·•···••·~··-""=c-c=·•.·.··,·'-••.-. .C---•· Organ for only S1550!* Mill.IE - An ailing organ and short practice ....······ · .... ._ - time couldn't stop her. STUFOTO You couldn't touch an organ like this in a store for less than $3500-and there hasn't her bolero-like "Temptation" was a been a musical instrument with this thriller. vast variety of genuineTheatre Organ She was called back for two encores, voices since the days of the sile·nt the first being comedian Eddie Can­ movies!Haunting tibias, biting strings, tor's old radio theme, "I Love to Spend blaring reeds-the wholeA to Z gamut This Hour With You" followed by of realpipe soundsthat makethe sim­ plest playinga thrilling experienceand another Gordon Jenkins fantasy, the give the professionalorganist every­ finale from his "Seven Dreams" - "The thing he needs.If you've dreamedof Girl on the Rock." Millie "came the grandeurof authenticbig-organ sound in through" like the trouper she is, despite • Includes finished walnut console . Amplifier, your own home,you won't find a more satis­ speaker system, optional accessories extra . the handicaps. Only $1150.50 if you build your own console . fying instrumentanywhere-kit or no kit. Later the same day, Millie showed up at the Elks' Temple for the jam • The[ll~Organ Corp., Dept.TO-I • Youcan learn to play it. Andyou can build it, 43 West 61st Street, New York, N.Y. 10023 session which follows LA chapter from SchoberKits, world famousfor easeof morning concerts. It's a pity that the 0 Please send me Schober Organ Catalog and assemblywithout the slightest knowledgeof free 7-inch "sample" record. electronicsor music,for designand parts qual­ entire morning audience couldn't hear the gracious southern lady playing on D Enclosed please find $1.00 for 12-inch L.P. ity from the ground up, and-above all-for record of Schober Organ music. the highestpraise from musicianseverywhere. an in-tune instrument. Here was an entirely different Mildred Alexander, at NAM ______Sendright nowfor your copyof the full-color ease and relaxed, confident in the ADDRESS ______Schobercatalog, containing specifications of knowledge that the keys she put down the five SchoberOrgan models, beginning at would result in pleasant music sounds. CITY----~TATE---ZIP __ $599.50.No charge,no obligation-but lots of It was a joy to hear her. •D L------food for a healthymusical appetite! october 1969 32 QUESTION DEPT. "Isn't it true that early day movie stars were very short and a tall girl did not stand a CATOE chance in films?" Answer: Yes and no. Mary Miles Minter, Mary Pickford, Presents Theda Bara, Gloria Swanson and Betty Bronson were rather petite - some would say very short. One fine charac­ SHOWTIMEINCHICAGO ter actress was denied many a worthy role because of her 5'7" height. She was Gertrude Astor. She towered over more "Highlights of the 1969 than a few leading men of the early silents. In spite of this elegant tallness ATOE Convention" and dignity, Astor carved out a notable career and is today ready for a film and TV call. Last time we saw her at a featuring Hollywood party, she looked charming. • / ~ Directed by ANN Little, who was in the early ARTISTSand ORGANS .... Lyle W. Nash silents and worked with Wm. S. Hart, is feeling fine and lives at 5798 Linden­ from the 1969 CLOSEUP - Of all the accomplished hurst Ave., Los Angeles, 90036, Cali­ villains, Stuart Holmes was among the fornia. Convention finest in the silent film era. His roles in • "Four Horsemen" and "Prisoner of MASSIVE, mighty, costly. That's Zenda" ('22 MGM) were near classics. the 629-page "American Movies Refer­ A deluxe full color 2 record stereo Holmes was probably the most skilled ence Book" (Prentice-Hall, $29.95). album - complete with photos and and sophisticated heavy going as he Paul Michael and associates have com­ stories of the exciting Chicago Con­ was at home with Hamlet or as a slip­ piled a volume overflowing with facts, pery society scoundrel. Researchers note 1,854 new stills, mini-biographical vention. that Holmes began his film career with sketches of 587 film players and the a "first." He starred in the very first largest Award list of all types yet movie Wm. Fox produced in 1914, printed in one place. The dedicated fan LIMITED EDITION for ATOE mem­ "Life's .Shop Window." The one reel will cherish the 1,000 films with cast effort ( 10 minutes) was shot, edited credits. It is a review of the Sound era bers only! Don't be disappointed! and ready for distribution in a week. from 1928 to 1968. A highly selective, Order now to reserve copies for • interpretive view of the films since pre-Christmas delivery. HOLMES, who knows his profession Conrad Nagel was the voice of Vita­ perfectly, has terse views about acting. phone. Book can be had from Nostalgia His eyes twinkle as he says: "Many Book Club for 50% reduction, if you're great actors were drunks - Jack Bar­ a frugal type. · $9.95 rymore and W. C. Fields. The most • plus 50c mailing exciting men in history were heavies. IT WAS farewell last June to Los Napoleon, Stalin and Hitler." Angeles' beautiful Carthay Circle cine­ • ma cathedral. The CC was a Spanish TODAY at 82 Holmes looks good, monument to California's great history is still tall, has clear blue eyes, a deep and had a magnificent collection of tan, a small moustache and thinning paintings of great moments in western history. It served as a premiere center * hair. He lives alone at 2152 Vista del STILL AVAILABLE!!! for new films for 40 years. "Gone With Mar Ave., Hollywood, Calif., 90028 in 1969 Convention Program Bro­ the Wind" bowed there in 1939 while the same hilltop home overlooking the chures-$ LOO plus 25c mailing. lights of Cinemaland that he has owned "Volga Boatman" opened the house in since 1924. Next year will mark 50 1926. Other great films to have first years of living and working in Holly­ showings at the famous white land­ wood. He spends his time painting, in mark included "Lilac Time," "What wood carving and doing sculptor crea­ Price Glory," "Seventh Heaven," "Sun­ tions. rise" and "Mother Knows Best." • MGM's "Shoes of the Fisherman" To order records *and brochures, send TV pleases him because of its tech­ closed the house before the wrecking your check or money order and return nique: "I like television because the crews took over. Site was used for an address to: creators are using lots of closeups - office building. The style 235 (3/11) which I tried to sell to the movie Wurlitzer was sold to Hollywood pho­ CATOE makers of 40 years ago. Let the audi­ tographer Harlan Helm for a reported ence see the actor." $4,000 in the mid-'50s. He lost interest c/ o Jack Smith, Treasurer • and sold it before completing installa­ 1711 E. Willow THE LAMBS (Club), 130 West tion in a vacant supermarket building. 44th St., New York, 10036, New York, • Wheaton, Illinois 60187 with a membership of 1,200, may be a COMMENTS, contributions and cor- source of locating entertainment per­ rections are welcomed to P. 0. Box Please make all checks payable to CATOE sonalities. Many get mail at the Lambs. 113, Pasadena, California, 91102. 33 theatre organ bombarde Oct. 1923 (D) MIDMER-LOSH is Oct. 1924 (D) REUTER ORGAN rebuilding and enlarging the 2-manual CO. has received an order for a 3- organ in the New York cavernous Hip­ manual organ with echo division for podrome with organist FREDERICK the Palace Theatre, El Paso, Texas. KINSLEY directing its reconstruction. Oct. 1924 (D) The SKINNER OR­ Built about 10 years ago, it is being GAN CO. is building a 4-manual or­ converted to a 3-manual, and pipes re­ gan with full set of traps for the located in the proscenium buttresses. Broadway Theatre in New York. The theatre is being rebuilt with in­ May 1925 (D) DAVID J. MARR creased seating for showing of motion and JOHN H. COLTON have returned pictures. to their factory in Warsaw, N. Y. from Dec. 1923 (D) HOOK & HAST­ the West Coast where they inspected INGS are completing a large organ several installations of their organs. with complete sets of percussions and They attended the opening of the Ali­ traps for the Rialto Theatre in Dor­ cian Court Theatre in Fullerton, Cali­ chester, Mass. The firm recently in­ fornia to hear their organ, which was stalled an organ in Gordon's Olympia installed in February. JULIUS JOHN­ Theatre in Brockton, Mass. which has SON is house organist. created much enthusiasm. GOLD DUST: Mar. 1915; AUSTIN Prospected by Lloyd E. Klos Dec. 1923 (D) The RUDOLPH ORGAN CO announced its 1914 thea­ WURLITZER CO. has obtained a loan tre installations with manuals and For this month, Jason and I have of $1,300,000 to purchase the 15-story stops: Park, Boston, 2/ 13; Beacon, found a vein of nuggets pertaining to building at 116 W. 42nd Street in New Brooklyn, 2/14; Victoria, Buffalo, organ manufacturers and their instru­ York which houses its eastern offices. 2/ 19; Palace, Buffalo, 2/ 15; Regent, ments. References were Diapason ( D) Feb. 1924 (D) The SMITH UNIT Buffalo, 2/17; Strand, Hartford, 3 / 21; and Melody ( M) Magazines. ORGAN CO. has moved from Chi­ Willis Wood, Kansas City, 3/28; June 1915 (D) A KIMBALL has cago to Geneva, Ill. Since its organi­ Strand, New York, 3/ 42; Isis, Pensa­ been installed in the new Arcadia zation several years ago, it has made cola, 2/9; Nickel, Portland, Me., 2/ 13; Theatre in Philadelphia. There are, in a reputation for quality. Organs are Regent and Strand, Syracuse, 2/ 15 ea. addition to 11 string ranks from violin built under supervision of a former ... July 1915; HUTCHINGS ORGAN to contra bass, a clarinet, oboe, saxo­ associate of Robert Hope-Jones. CO is building two large 4-manual or­ phone, bassoon, 6 flutes, piccolo, trum­ chestral organs; one for Lynn, Mass., pet, tuba, diapasons, tibias and the Feb. 1924 (D) The WURLITZER the other for New Bedford, Mass. M. famous Kimball vox humana. Percus­ CO. will erect a 3-story steel and brick P. MOLLER has built a 4-manual, 49- sions which blend, but do not disturb, addition to its No. Tonawanda plant to stop organ for the Regent Theatre in include cathedral chimes, glockenspiel, accommodate 200 more employees. An Harrisburg, Pa. . . . Sept. 1915; A new concert harp and xylophone. up-to-date medical office, a hospital, WURLITZER unit orchestra is being June 1915 (D) HILGREEN LANE and a guest room will occupy the 70,- installed in the Standard Theatre in & CO. has installed organs in the Max­ 000 feet of new floor space. A five­ Cleveland; A BENNETT organ with ine Theater in Detroit and Harry's story tower will also be built. Theater in Port Huron, Michigan. A Apr. 1924 (D) DAVID J. MARR echo, chimes and harp, is being built contract was recently signed with the & JOHN COLTON report excellent for the Orpheum Theatre in St. Joseph, Mo .... Nov. 1915; J. W. STEERE & Dixie Theatre in Galveston. business at their Warsaw, N. Y. plant Oct. 1915 (D) The Board of Awards which is working at capacity. Contracts SON have completed a 4-manual organ of the Panama-Pacific Exposition were closed recently in New York; for the Gordon Theatre in New Haven awarded the WURLITZER CO. two Philadelphia; Detroit; Allentown, Pa.; Conn .... Dec. 1919; A large 4-manuai Grand Prizes and two Gold Medals Portland, Ore.; and Pittsburgh. A 4/ 28 KIMBALL has been installed in the for its piano, player piano, harp and organ, the firm's largest, will be in­ Palace Theatre, Philadelphia ... Dec. unit orchestra, the last receiving spe­ stalled in New York's Piccadilly 1920; The KIMBALL CO received an cial attention. The factories at N. Tona­ Theatre, and will be used in broad­ order for a 3-manual organ with echo wanda, N. Y. occupy 60 acres, and ~asting daily. (It is now deteriorating, section for the famous Empire Theatre much of their output consists of thea­ its console beneath a 10-inch concrete in Leicester Square, London . . . Feb. tre unit orchestras. floor (over the pit) in the Warner's 1921; A contract for a $75,000 organ June 1918 (D) The A. B. FELGE­ Cinerama theatre in Hollywood. Ed.). for the Eastman Theatre in Rochester MAKER ORGAN CO. has dissolved Aug. 1924 (D) The GENEVA OR­ N. Y., was awarded to the AUSTIN its business, selling its factory to a GAN CO. reports contracts signed with CO ... Nov. 1921; WURLITZER is maker of coffins. the Fargo Theatre in Geneva, Ill.; Isis installing a large 4-manual organ in the new Chicago Theatre ... Aug. 1922; Dec. 1921 (M) Charles C. Kilgen, Theatre in Webster City, Iowa; and the The University of So. California has a president of G. KILGEN & SON, says Weiss Theatre in Fort Dodge, Iowa. that organ building has increased 300% new ROBERT MORTON which was since the World War, due to use of dedicated by Edwin H. Lemare, former organs in theatres, high schools and Municipal Organist of San Francisco churches. Residence organs are being ... Jan. 1923; The SKINNER OR­ PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS FOR GAN CO is building "The Ideal Thea­ used more than ever. Apr. 1923 (D) SCHAEFER OR­ THE PITTSBURGH AREA? tre Organ" for Gordon's Capitol Thea­ tre, Boston. GAN CO. of Slinger, Wisconsin, has Drop a I ine to Mr. Jay E. installed a 2-manual, 20-stop instru­ Until we see you during the holiday ment in the Rainbow Theatre in Mil­ Smith, 5356 Overland Trail, season with choice nuggets from the waukee. Completely unified, it contains Pittsburgh, Penna. 15236 Mother Lode, so long, sourdoughs! chimes and xylophone. -Lloyd & Jason october 1969 34 of the Accompaniment manual, celestes availability of the 3-manual 19-rank were grouped on the same stop tab as Kimball ( only 16 ranks of pipes re­ the normal rank, with a master "Celeste main, but all chests are intact) from Off" tab provided for each celeste rank. the Senate Theatre. Joe DuciBella gave Thus, whenever the quintadena, for a slide presentation about the Kimball example, is registered, the quintadena organ and some humorous slides used celeste is also brought on unless the by the famed Preston Sellers at the "Quintadena Celeste OFF" stop is also Senate Theatre. registered. This idea has been used by Two committees were formed at the George Wright and Johnny Seng as business meeting to: 1, find storage ••••••• ••••••• well as several others. space for the organ during the interim As you can well imagine, installing period of removal from the Senate ~ -'A'\...V this large organ in the home, high on a Theatre and its reinstallation, and 2, Ill Ill hill overlooking the Hartford area of find a permanent location for the organ the Connecticut River Valley, was no where it will be available for CA TOE •CHAPTERNEWS• mean feat. Phil, who is an architect, use also. Charles Peterson was chosen devised a scheme for locating the cham­ chairman in charge of finding the stor­ bers in a vault beneath his garage. To age space and Bill Rieger, Clair Bass do this, the concrete garage floor was and Charles Merson will serve on his CONNECTICUT VALLEY removed, the ground excavated twenty committee. Jack Smith was chosen as AUGUST MEETING HELD AT feet, the chamber constructed and the chairman of the committee in charge STOCK HOME - 3/ 31 WURLITZER concrete garage floor ( chamber ceiling) of finding a suitable location for - On Saturday, August 9, 1969, over replaced. The organ speaks into tone CATOE's 'new' organ. Joe DuciBella, 100 members of the Connecticut Valley chutes which blend and direct the sound Alden Stockebrand and Art Todesco Chapter gathered to hear the largest up into the living room. Since the addi­ will serve on Jack's committee. theatre organ in Connecticut . . . Phil tions were planned and acquired during chamber construction, the additional The Chicago Chapter has received and Rosa Stock's magnificent 3/ 31 many messages of congratulations on Wurlitzer. ranks were squeezed in. To describe the chambers as "FULL" is a masterpiece the success of the National Conven­ of understatement, yet everything is tion in July. It appears that our efforts accessible. were enthusiastically received which Besides Phil, Roger Davis, Al Colton makes all the hard work and problems and Mike Foley put in vast amounts of involved seem worthwhile. CATOE time and work on the installation over thanks all those who came to the con­ the past four years, and final balancing vention and for the numerous calls, and tonal finishing and regulation con­ cards and letters sent to the officers. tinues even to the present moment. Mike Foley, who has been honing down the instrument, demonstrated the DELAWARE VALLEY various stops . . . usual and rare . . . On June 10th over 1600 people and improvised on "Climb Every gathered at the Tower Theatre, Upper Mountain" during which he used Darby, Pennsylvania to see and hear FRANK MANION PHOTO various combinations he had demon­ Gaylord "Flickerfingers" Carter. The instrument is the 3/ 19 Wurlitzer strated, winding up with full organ. from the Lynn (Mass.) Paramount to Phil then gave a very informal con­ Gaylord put on his usual top grade which was added 12 ranks from the cert which included many of the tunes performance, including song slides, University Theatre Wurlitzer from which were popular when he played demonstration of silent movie accom­ Cambridge, Mass. The additions were professionally (the New Haven Palace) paniment, medlies of typical theatre not made to add to the size of the while working his way through Yale. organ tunes, and climaxed the event by instrument, but to make it more versa­ Everett Bassett then dug up some of presenting "The Mark of Zorro" with tile by augmenting the soft accompani­ his "oldies" which he continually saves proper organ cueing. mental stops. Such goodies as soft from obscurity. Ev tipped his hat, string celestes, quintadena celeste, flute though, and let out his secret . . . he, This was the first chapter presenta­ celeste, dulciana and dulciana celeste like so many of today's young organ­ tion of a major silent classic. It proved were welcome additions so valuable in ists, picks up his music by listening to to be highly successful; so much so a home or studio installation. Other records ... but not 33-1/ 3's ... '78's! that a return engagement by Carter is desirable ranks include the usual brass Mike Foley returned to close the planned for late October. saxaphone, brass trumpet, English post formal program with some up-tempo Two weeks after the "Zorro" event, horn, and krumet. The organ was "now" music, and showed off the or­ Larry Ferrari appeared in concert at originally installed in the mid-30's, and gan's "Brass." Mike then invited every­ the Tower and further enhanced the incorporated the latest Wurlitzer chest one for a late dip in the pool to cool off. prestige of the chapter as well as him­ and pipework improvements. · - Allen Miller self in playing a thoroughly enjoyable The stoplist, in addition, was modi­ program. Mr. Ferrari is well known in fied to make the organ more adaptable CHICAGO AREA the Delaware Valley as the most active to contemporary orchestral theatre At a special business meeting held organist in the area, making an un­ organ technique by eliminating 16' Tuesday, July 29th, at Kelvyn Park believable number of appearances on stops in the Accompaniment, adding Field House, CA TOE members listen­ both electronic and pipe organs as well tremulants, and expanding unification ed as Bill Rieger, Charles Peterson, as being f ea tu red on WFIL TV Channel on certain stops. With the exception and Joe DuciBella told of the sudden 6 every Sunday morning.

35 theatre organ bombarde HEART OF AMERICA on the Elks Building 4/ 58 Morton tian" by Luigini. Mr. Ayars described following Millie Alexander at the Wil­ this piece as "The type of thing the Kansas City organist, Bob Jones, tern. theatre organ was meant for." His au­ presented a program at the 3/ 8 Wurli One highlight of this jam session was dience was very receptive to this score, for our June meeting at the Russell a fast "Dizzy Fingers" by 13-year-old and they gave a good, long round of Stover Auditorium here. As organist Donna Parker, who proved that the applause for his excellent job of pre­ at both the 4/ 20 Robert Morton in the beast can indeed follow fast playing. senting it. Midland Theatre and 3/15 Wurlitzer Attendance at the last several club A medley of dream songs preceded in the Newman Theatre, in addition Sunday morning concerts has picked up Lowell's two vocal selections for the to many years of radio and television sharply. Our attempts to bring theatre evening. "Something to Remember You appearances, Bob is well known in this pipe organ to electronic organ-oriented By" and ".Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" area. Stover seats only about 250 but people, and to the general public, ap­ won high approval from the listeners. we had 'em standing in the aisles. pear to be successful. On Sept. 9 the (Perhaps Mr. Ayars' cultured voice is We thank John Haskins, music editor club presented the fabulous and world­ the reason why Chairman Randy Piaz­ of the Kansas City Star ( our only ma­ famous Don Baker in a formal evening za introduced him as "The Bing Crosby jor newspaper) for printing an an­ concert at the Wiltern. See review on of the Wurlitzer circuit.") nouncement of our program. page 38 in this issue. A sing-along and silent comedy fol­ We are mighty proud of Bob Jones The member playing plan for the lowed by a tribute to the late Judy and grateful to him for an excellent Elks Building 4/ 58 Morton is continu­ Garland and several songs that were program. ing under the able coordination of Bob something old, new, borrowed, and blue -J. Randall Charles and Ruth Stratton. Other clubs might closed a couple of hours of entertain­ LAND O'LAKES consider a similar plan. The charge is ment that were performed with original $3.00 per month for 2 hours _ playing styling. Our thanks to all who have helped time, with additional time at 2V2 cents Lowell Ayars is a favorite of the with the sale of Gordon Krist's record per minute. The money goes to the Niagara Frontier Chapter and of the "Just For The Fun Of It", in particular, building and organ owners. The plan many people who come to our con­ our officers and staff at the National not only enables members to practice certs, and it seems that he becomes level. Their interest and support for and play a giant theatre organ in an more popular with each passing year. a chapter project is most gratifying. auditorium, but also keeps its non­ We all know why, after this excellent Having had the opportunity of working organ-fan owners interested because of performance. with them-Betty and Al Mason, Vi the financial remuneration. Club mem­ Things have really been humming and George Thompson, Dewey Cagle, b~rs are looking forward to hearing for the Frontiersmen since returning Don Lockwood and Stu Green - we one of Australia's foremost theatre or­ from that great Chicago convention. Land O'Laker's have a deeper appreci­ ganists, Tony Fenelon, at the Wiltern Buffalo's own theatre organist, Art ation of their efforts on behalf of on October 12. A general membership Melgier, was presented in concert at ATOS. business meeting is scheduled for Oct. the Riviera's 3/ 11 Wurlitzer on July Gordon Krist wishes to express his 3. A special event is now being plan­ 23 as a benefit to raise funds for the thanks for the many kind notes and ned for November, with our Annual North Tonawanda Chapter of the good wishes received. Gordon's health Meeting and Election of Officers in American Field Service. is slowly improving. early December. Progress on the San The capacity crowd audience was We are still a long way from having Gabriel Civic Auditorium 3/ 16 Wur­ taken down memory lane with lots of completed the sale of the records. A litzer installation has been steady, with happy tunes that were well received. change of address in placing orders is completion anticipated to be shortly Mr. Melgier's first portion of the necessary because of a company trans­ after the first of the year. Many club program was "Girls I Knew in the fer. Please mail orders to: members attended The Home Organ Twenties". The organist played more Land O'Lakes Chapter, ATOS Festival at Hober gs resort in Northern than a dozen songs with girls' names in 3213 Windgate Road California in the latter part of Septem­ the titles, including "Chloe" (but Stu St. Paul, Mn. 55119 ber. They renewed acquaintances with Green was nowhere to be seen). Orders mailed to the address listed N orCal and Sierra Chapter members in our ad in the August issue of Theatre and with many other Bay Area organ Organ will, of course, be processed but fans. The newly opened "Pipe 'n Pizza" please excuse a short delay. restaurant in the .San Fernando Valley, Our thanks also go to those who with its 2/ 10 Wurlitzer, has become a have expressed their enjoyment of mecca for club members. listening to the record. We knew you - Ray Bonner, Chairman would like it! - Irene M. Blegen, Secretary NIAGARA FRONTIER A successful return by The Singing Organist, Lowell Ayars, proved that LOS ANGELES audiences don't tire with the annual ap­ Our "fall" round of activities com­ pearance of a star. There was a stand­ menced early, on August 17, when we ing room crowd at our June monthly joined the local AGO Chapter for an Chapter concert in North Tonawanda's organ crawl to hear 4 concerts by 4 Riviera Theatre. different artists on 4 different organs, Mr. Ayars' program was composed all 3- or 4-manual instruments. This of a great variety of showtunes from was the third joint organ crawl, and LA the Twenties including "Showboat," Theatre. ATOS participants outnumbered the which was beautifully done. Next was a group of selections from AGO by about 2 to 1. In the afternoon A change of pace came about when musicals which covered a variety of of August 24, a jam session was held the organist performed "Ballet Egyp- moods. Following our sing-along and october 1969 36 intermission was a historical-comical and Shirley Cole, sang a song especially held at the Virginia Theatre. The para­ silent flick starring Rex Archer. for Frank Guzzetta thanking him for graph on his performance, which was Closing the memory-filled evening his generosity, and for just being such outstanding, was accidentally left out Art Melgier played a series of tunes a nice fellow. of the newsletter. Doug handled the associated with famous people includ­ He was deeply touched by all this Grande Barton with ease as he played ing "My Man" for Fanny Brice and and said, "This is certainly the biggest hit tunes of the present and past. One "Mammy" for Jolson. surprise of my life. I don't know what of Doug's greatest crowd pleasers is The evening's repertoire was enthu­ to say, except thank you." having people call out the year of their siastically applauded by his listeners, -Shirley Cole birth and he plays the hit songs of that and Melgier took down the console year. We all look forward to his play­ after a five-tune Gershwin encore. NORTH TEXAS ing another concert in the near future. On August 3, the annual Chapter The August meeting of the North Among those attending the National picnic took place at the Thomas Studio Texas Chapter of the A TO.S was held Meeting in Chicago in July were mem­ in Lancaster, N. Y. We were very August 23, 1969 in the home of Mr. bers Woody Wise, Sherman Hjort, happy to have ATOS National Presi­ and Mrs. Dale Flannery in Garland, Frank Early, Ray Gingell, Dick Kline, dent Al Mason, who is a member of Texas. Tommy Landrum, Marvin Lautzen­ this Chapter, and his wife Betty present A short business meeting was held heiser, Richard Neidich, Bob St. John, at this event. The Board of Directors in which John Beck was re-elected Barry Washington, Erwin Young, and meeting took place at the beginning of President; Dale Flannery, Vice Presi­ Dow, Edith, and Nancy Evelyn. Also, the picnic. dent; Doxie Jackson, Secretary. John our own Eddie Weaver was featured as The 3/7 Wurlitzer-Marr & Colton Beck led a discussion of the path the one of the concert artists. A vote of organ in the Studio was given a real Chapter should follow in the corning praise is due CATOE Chairman Bill workout by many people that day, two year and in the future. Benedict and his many assistants for a of whom were John Muri and Luella After the business meeting, we were well run convention. Wickham. A jam session was in prog­ entertained by Dale Flannery at his Our thanks to Chapter member Dick ress all afternoon, following which "new" 3/15 Wicks theatre pipe organ. Kline, out-going National vice presi­ Harvey Elsaesser played for a sing­ Following Dale's beautiful selections, dent, for his many seasons of service along; and Art Melgier accompanied a we were entertained by many of the to ATOE. silent comedy. Mrs. Edna Elsaesser was members of the chapter. Ray Brubacher, our editor of the accompanied by her husband as she New members which we welcome to Potomac Valley Chapter Newsletter, beautifully sang a selection from "My the North Texas Chapter are: Mr. and has informed this office that due to Mrs. James McGill, Mr. and Mrs. E. many pressing business matters and F. Desmond and Ralph McNelly. heavy teaching schedule, he must resign Our next meeting will be held in the as editor of the Newsletter. He will re­ home of Jack and Lorraine Hendrick­ main on the national ATOE staff as son in Colleyville, Texas. associate editor, however. Our sincere -Pat Kohl thanks to Ray for his past service to NORTHERN CALIFORNIA the chapter. In June, Helen Dell treated - the PUGET SOUND chapter to a fine program at the Ave­ Approximately 75 members and nue Theatre (Wurlitzer-ex State Lake friends journeyed to Tacoma on Aug­ 3/ 13) in San Francisco. The event was ust 24th to enjoy a concert on the well attended and the organist treated the audience to a well balanced, ear Liberty Theatre Organ which is now pleasing program. installed in the gymnasium at Pacific August 16th found the chapter gath­ Lutheran University. This organ was Chairman Randy Piazza, Frank Guzzetta and ered at the Golden Gate Penthouse originally installed in the Liberty Mrs. Guzzetta at testimonial dinner. Note plaque Theatre, San Francisco, to hear the new Theatre in .Seattle. The concert was and book. 3-manual Conn organ installed by given by George Martin of Tacoma, Fair Lady". Slides from the Chicago John Nelson, sales representative for a member of the chapter. A dinner­ convention were shown, and everyone Conn, especially for this event. Six business meeting was held before the had a grand time. organists were heard at the morning concert. Reports were given and the A "surprise" testimonial dinner hon­ concert, including John Nelson, Tiny most important was concerning the in­ oring Mr. Frank Guzzetta, manager of J arnes, Stan Koyama ( age 17), Bud stallation of our organ at Haller Lake the Riviera Theatre, occurred on Iverson, Harry Weeks and Van Welch. Improvement Club. The chambers have August 11. The NF Board of Directors The instrument sounded magnificent been enlarged, a crew undercoated and felt that a ceremony of this type would and with six distinctive styles of play­ enameled the inside of the chambers, express the Chapter's appreciation for ing being presented it showed good the shutters, air lines and cables are in his kindness and generosity in helping versatility. place, chests in with connections to the us present our monthly concerts. Friday night is "Old Movie" night at air lines and blown out. The xylo, Chairman Randy Piazza presented the A venue Theatre with early talkies glock and orchestra bells are mounted Mr. Guzzetta with a gilt-engraved sig­ and silent features being programmed. on movable stands so they may be nature book and a pen-holder which is The Wurlitzer plays an important part moved out of the chambers when play­ a replica of the one owned by Darryl in these programs and public enthu­ ed and the wiring is progressing and Zanuck, President of 20th Century Fox siasm is increasing weekly. things are looking good. Crews work Pictures. each week-end and evenings when the Organ music after dinner was fur­ POTOMAC VALLEY clubhouse is available to make ready nished by Art Melgier and others on Our sincere apologies are in order for the big day when we have open an electronic organ. Those lyricists you to Doug Bailey for not reporting · his house and invite the members of the heard at the convention, Sandy Ellis concert at our May chapter meeting Club to join us for a view of the pro-

37 theatre organ bombarde ject. The Haller Lake Improvement Club has decorated the entire room DONBAKER'S PIPING THRILLS ANGELENOS and the ladies have dyed the drapes to match. We are almost ready to bring by Peg Nielsen the console in and hook it up. A cover Los Angeles - Don Baker's concerts department. We approached the theatre was designed to fit the console with on pipes are altogether too rare ( they with some apprehension because we the front folding back to give access might be non-existent but for the liber­ recalled how the heat-detuned Kimball to just the key desk. It can be taken al attitude on Don's boss, the Conn had attempted to throw a hard-riding apart and removed when a concert is Organ Co., which doesn't mind having Millie Alexander only two weeks previ­ to be given. Genny Whitting has un­ its products associated with pipe ously. But, to the great credit of Ross dertaken the job of finishing the cover sounds) . Not long ago, Shirley Cole, Farmer and his organ maintenance to match the decor of the room. The reporting in Niagara Frontier Chap­ stalwarts, the beast had been tamed; crews have been sufficiently fed by ter's "Silent Newsreel," told of Don's rarely had it sounded better. Betty Chang and Virginia Lawrence. recent appearance at the North Tona­ Don Baker has a way of mastering We all are looking forward to the day wanda Riviera theatre's 3/ 11 Wurlitzer an unfamiliar instrument which gives when we hear our organ play for the in terms which correctly avoided the the impression he has played it all his first time. use of superlatives. I doubt that we can life; from the start he was completely - Virginia Lawrence, Secretary be as well-disciplined as Miss Cole be- at home before the huge horseshoe of ST. LOUIS the 4/ 3 7. His announcements were brief and they were usually tailored to St. Louis Chapter had 9 members underline the music. Much of the pro­ at the convention. All agree that for gram consisted of Don's "standards," overall quality and variety this was the intricate and compelling arrangements best convention yet! of evergreen selections with which Don Meeting attendance has been increas­ has thrilled audiences from New York ing steadily when we have announced Paramount days to the present, and articles for the programs. The largest whatever he played turned into the kind group was about 120 at our May Mid­ nite meeting at the Fox. Stan Kann, of magic of which Don Baker is the John Ferguson, and Dale Zieger were sole dispenser. the official organists of the evening. After a rousing encore ("Buckle Stan opened the program with the con­ Down Wynsocki"), Don held court in sole DESCENDING from stage level the huge Wiltern lobby, pumping to almost hidden in the pit. This is hands, greeting old friends, making where most of the broken cable ends new ones, exchanging small talk, auto­ meet and most of the stops work. Many IN THE SPOTLIGHT - Don's highly polished and graphing records (he has a new Con­ ornate arrangements were "naturals" for t

GaylordCarter Originals ATOSINVITED TOATTEND 1971 AGO CONVENTION INHAWAII Published All ATOS members are invited to attend the 1971 American Guild of Organists Regional Convention in Honolulu, July 2-8. According to Tom A series of original organ composi­ tions by famed organist Gaylord Norman, chairman of the '71 Convention, the 4/ 16 Robert Morton in the Carter are being made available in Waikiki Theatre has been totally restored and will be part of the convention sheet music form. The first, "NOC­ activities. In addition, the 4/ 16 Robert Morton from the Princess Theatre TURNE", is a tranquilly beautiful has been removed and will be installed in the Hawaii Theatre hopefully in classical composition in the key of time for the July meeting. D-flat and not difficult. The second composition in the series is Car­ Gaylord Carter has accepted a playing engagement so there should be ter's great novelty "DUNCE DANCE" much theatre organ music along with the classical programs. - four pages of fast and spritely For those who really love theatre organ, there will be time to attend sparkle in the key of G - a cutie ! both the AGO meeting and the ATOS Convention, currently scheduled for "NOCTURNE" sells for $1.00; "DUNCE DANCE" for $1.50. At the the following week in Seattle, Washington. present time, copies may be or­ Information on the Honolulu convention may be obtained from: Tom dered only direct from the pub­ Norman, P.O. Box 8688, Honolulu, Hawaii 96815. lisher and sole distributor: JACK The more ATOS members that are interested, the more theatre organ LOREN ORGAN STUDIOS, Post Office Box 1356, Beverly Hills, music could be put on the schedule so let Tom Norman know if you are California 90213. interested as soon as possible.

october 1969 38 VandalsStrike Again! Late at night on July 26, 1969, - CLASSIFIEDADS - a window was forced at the Tower Theatre, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. FOR SALE - Complete relay and switch FOR SALE - Wurlitzer 2/7 Theatre Or­ Then the heavy lock and hasp of the stack for 4 manual 20 rank Wurlitzer. gan. Partially installed in 7 foot basement. Good condition. The following are all Partially winded but not playing. Mahog­ left chamber was broken and the entire Wurlitzer: 16' Tibia - 12 pipes and 2 any console, refinished. New black keys, rank of brass saxophones was stolen. chests. 8' Dulciana complete with offset white keys recovered. Console horseshoe The theft was no doubt accomplished chest and rack. Master xylophone. Glock­ releathered. 3-rank solo chest releathered. by knowledgeable people who knew enspiel-orchestra bells. 44" bass drum and Offsets partially releathered. No work what they were after and where to action. Genuine Howard Seat. 2 Wurlitzer done on 4-rank main chest. Has Toy manuals; 7-note offset chest. Wurlitzer Counter, Glockenspiel, Xylophone, Chrys­ find it. Electronic Piano. New model 2061 Ampex oglott, Chimes. 3 HP 3-phase Spencer There is absolutely no excuse for the Tape Recorder, ½ price. Dumont 208B blower with inlet valve and Phase-shifter existence of creeps who would stoop oscilloscope. Please hurry - am moving. to start and run single-phase. Two sets of so low as to take any part of a working Phone (213) 245-2280 DOUG ERDMAN, shutters although original installation was 2445 Sleepyhollow Drive, Glendale, Calif. all in one chamber. Most metal pipes theatre organ, an instrument that is 91206. need work. Price $2500. KENNETH W. prized by the theatre management, and SMITH, 2813 West 99th Place, Evergreen one that is carefully maintained by FOR SALE BOOKS - The RECENT Park, Illinois 60642. A TOE members. The Delaware Valley REVOLUTION IN ORGAN BUILD­ Chapter has posted a $500 reward for ING by Miller. Beautiful reprint of the FOR SALE - Theatre pipe organ maga­ the arrest and conviction of the vultures. 1913 edition. 190 pages jammed with zines and 78 rpm pipe organ recordings. photos and information about Hope-Jones Cash and carry. 25c each. ALDEN MIL­ It is hoped that an extremely high and all the great builders. Hard cover. LER, 3212 - 34th Ave. So., Minneapolis, temperature location in Hades awaits Only $5.95 postpaid. We have many other Minn. 55406. the person or persons who accomplished books on organs and automatic instru­ this ignoble deed. ments-ask for catalog. VESTAL PRESS, FOR SALE - 2 manual 5 rank Wurlitzer VESTAL 15, New York 13850. style horseshoe console. Good condition. Pipe organ owners should be ex­ Set up and play. $1500. Write: ORAN, tremely cautious in considering the pur­ WANTED - Bench and music rack for Box 741, Rockville, Md. 20850. chase of desirable and scarce sets of Wurlitzer console. ED RANEY, 6211 pipes. Insist on the seller identifying Temple Hill Drive, Los Angeles, Calif. FOR SALE- 2/10 Wurlitzer (7r Wur­ where he obtained the set and make 90028. Tel.: HO 9-9181. litzer, 3r Wicks) used continuously 1915 him prove ownership. thru 1968, now in storage. Best offer over $1000. Also have 3m Artisan Imperial, Owners of home installations having ORGAN OWNERS, BUILDERS and cost $3800. Best offer over $2000. WIL­ valuable pipe work are warned to pro­ TECHNICIANS. We sell new and used LIAM YOUNG, 25870 Westview Way, tect their property as the pipe thieves consoles, electronic kits, manuals, pedals, Hayward, Calif. speakers, reverbs and percussions. Buy have no honor whatsoever, and would direct and save. Write for catalog. NEW­ FOR SALE- 3/13 Wurlitzer almost com­ lower themselves to any level for a fast PORT ORGANS, 300 West Coast High­ way, Suite D, Newport Beach, California plete. Best offer over $10,000. Has 3 phase buck. □ 220 volt 7 ½ HP Orgoblo, four ( 4) eight 92660. foot by ten foot swell shades, all toys, percussions. For more info: call (person­ BillyNalle Plays FOR SALE BOOKS: Hope Jones Unit to-person) Dewey Cagle (415) 531-1387. Orchestra, $3.95. Wurlitzer Unit Organs, TheatreOrgan For AGO $4.50; Wurlitzer Fact Book, $2.00; Whit­ FOR SALE-Twin console 3/10 Wur­ worth: Cinema and Theatre Organs, litzer with 7 tuned percussions, large toy Billy Nalle has been engaged by the $15.00; Williams: European Organ, $20.00; counter, most chests releathered and refin­ American Guild of Organists chapter of Wurlitzer Church Organs, $2.00; Audsley ished. A real buy at $10,000. DON Canton, Ohio to play a concert at the ART of Organ Building, $15.00; Norman: FRENCH, 3610 Interlake Ave. No., Seat­ Palace Theatre in that city Tuesday Organ Today, $7.50; Sears: Reed Organ, tle, Washington 98103. $2.00. THE ORGAN LITERATURE evening, October 14th, at 8:00 p.m. FOUNDATION, 45 Norfolk Road, Brain­ FOR SALE - Set of 12 WURLITZER 32' This concert will be the chapter's pre­ tree, Mass. 02184. Diaphone Pipes. $1000 or best offer. F. H. sentation in the city-wide Canton Fes­ COOLEY, 581 Mountain Avenue, Bound tival of The Arts and is scheduled as FOR SALE - Now receiving bids on 3/ 11 Brook, N.J. 08805. Phone (201) 356-8998. the Festival's official concert of popu­ Gottfried (19 31). Includes 4 strings, Vox lar music. Arrangements were made and Tibia. 44 stops. Available now for FOR SALE - RODGERS TRIO with through Arthur Zinberg Management removal by purchaser. Can be seen and Leslie 145 speaker and Rodgers four tone played. Contact: CHRIST LUTHERAN cabinet. Excellent condition. $5800. MRS. of New York. CHURCH, 5101 - 16th Street NW, Wash­ ELIZABETH H. WELCH, P. 0. Box 386, The Palace Theatre organ and its ington, D.C. 20011. Phone (202) 829-6727. Martinsville, New Jersey 08836. console have been rebuilt by Stephen FOR SALE - EXCELLENT CONDI­ M. Brown of Orrville, Ohio. The month FOR SALE - Lowrey Theatre Organ, long festival will include performances TION; Tremolo, two-manual Wicks con­ largest and best all electronic, only one sole; 3-rank unit chest; chimes; blower; by the Canton ballet company, civic year old. Original cost $3995. Sell for two sets of swell shades with engines. opera, symphony orchestra and other only $2395. Write for photograph and full P. 0. Box 22128, Dallas, Texas 75222. specifications. Perfect condition. ELLS­ area groups representing all the major WORTH 0. JOHNSON, W. 611 First ub. - 0 Ave., Spokane, Wash. 99204. Phones: THE ENTERTAINER IN EUROPE. (509) 747-5432 and (509) 624-7978. Make big money and visit some of the most exciting cities in the world. Com­ Interested in a chapter in Cedar plete information, how-to-do-it, wage Rapids, Iowa? FOR SALE - Several electric player scales, work permit info, case histories, pianos, ideal for connecting to pipe organs. etc. plus where to write for bookings and Drop a line to Howard A. Bur­ Write for free brochure and photographs. info. $3.00 from INFORMATION SER­ ton, 3045 3rd Ave., Marion, ELLSWORTH JOHNSON, W. 611 First VICE, Dept. B, Key Colony Beach, Iowa 52302. Ave., Spokane, Wash. 99204. Phone: (509) Florida 33051. Over 2,000 sold at $5.00 747-5432. copy.

39 theatre organ bombarde 'Gee,Dad, 1.,, s a ... Rodgers?'

The world's largest electronic theatre organ is nearing completion at the Rodgers Organ Company. If you would like a stop list, write us. We will also let you in on some other big things happening at Rodgers.

1300 N.E. 25th Avenue Hillsboro, Oregon 97123