THEATRE ORGAN BOMBARDE, the Official Pub Lication of the American Threatre Organ Enthu 11 but in a Bike Shop?
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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