Weekly Detective Story Magazine on in THEATRE ORGAN to Realize

by Lloyd E. Klos One of the nicest personalities in her own ways of handling me. plicated mystery novels whose web the world of the theatre organ is John "My first school experience was work plots fascinated me. Later, I T. Muri. The author has known Mr. unhappy. Bewildered and bashful, I sat moved on to better authors, and now I Muri for several years, having heard under a kindergarten table for some am a fan of Lord Monboddo of Scot him perform four times. Each perfor time before I was encouraged to come land and James Joyce." mance was a testimony to the man's out and mix with the other children. I It should be emphasized that Mr. capabilities as an organist, and as an was always afraid of teachers, particu Muri's reading proclivities stood him in artist in the accompaniment of silent larly one shop teacher who kept a good stead for the years ahead. One need only to read one of his columns films. 3-inch leather strap handy for disci "I was born on October 4, 1906 in plinary purposes. in THEATRE ORGAN to realize how Hammond, Indiana in a fairly large but "Outside of the usual childish fears, reading helped him gain an extensive modest home, situated 35 feet from school life was relatively peaceful. I vocabulary, coupled with excellent the Michigan Central Railroad tracks. passed my classes, but never distin grammatical construction. Constant (Thus Mr. Muri is one of the many guished myself. I found great content reading of good material will do this. "I took to the piano without urg theatre organ lovers who are also ment in reading books, particularly ing, very early. I first learned to play railroad enthusiasts). Both my parents Pinocchio, Thornton Burgess ' animal by ear without instruction, and as a were immigrants from Switzerland, my series, the Oz books, and Lear's Non result, it took a great deal of hard father coming from Bern, my mother sense books. As time passed, I pro work and tough words by my teachers from Lucerne. They first met in Chi gressed to more mature reading. As a to get me out of the bad habits I cago at a meeting of a local Swiss freshman in high school, I'd go with developed in the early years. singing society. out lunch so I could purchase the "I took my first piano lessons at "As a child, I was a willful young weekly Detective Story magazine on the Cfifford Conservatory of Music in ster, but I do not recall ever having Friday. When 15, I became a fan of Hammond, Ind., did a little study in talked back to my father; he was too Sax Rohmer and his Dr. Fu Manchu 1923-24 with Claude P. Ball, who big, and had a hot temper. I didn't books, and at 17, discovered Chicago taught theatre organ at Chicago's Kim- disobey my mother much for she had author, Harry Stephen Keeler's com- 15 JUNE, 1974 THEATRE ORGAN ball Hall. Theory and advanced piano I mares of falling. chairman of the English Department took at Sherwood Music School in "A few months later, I learned of of Gavit High School. In 1964, I Chicago, and advanced organ with an opening at the Hoosier Theatre in · joined the faculty of the northwestern Arthur Dunham at the Chicago Tem Whiting , Indiana, applied for it, and campus of Indiana University at Gary, ple in 1925-30. got the job which was good for three where I taught English on a part-time years. basis. In 1968, I resigned from both "One of my best teachers was a "In 1927, I received an off er to institutions and retired to Detroit on man who didn't realize he was teach become organist at the Indiana The an Indiana pension, after 31 years in ing me, Arthur Gu tow. From 1923-26, atre at Indiana Harbor. The theatre the Hammond school system. I would go to the Chicago Theatre, had a nice 3/10 Wurlitzer which is still For 27 years, Mr. Muri was organist week after week, to hear him give his there." The Indiana patrons evidently at the Hammond Civic Center, playing morning concert at 10:45 and his liked Muri's work, because he stayed for wrestling matches, basketball playing of the current film, then hear at the Indiana until the talkies put games, pancake breakfasts, music festi Jesse Crawford do his solo. organists out of business. The organ vals, flower exhibits, and dog shows. "Sometimes, I stayed over to hear remained unused until 1966, when, On one occasion, he provided the sole Mr. Crawford play the movie for the after a period of restoration by Chi musical background for an entire in second show, but often I would leave cago ATOS members, Mr. Muri rededi door circus for a week. The instrument the Chicago at 2 p.m. and go over to cated the instrument. It has been was a highly amplified Hammond. McVicker's Theatre where W. Reming profusely used since, including a fea "In 1962, I was invited to play a ton Welch or Albert Hay Malotte was ture presentation by Mr. Muri during concert for the Detroit Theater Organ playing. It was during this time that I the 1969 ATOS convention. Club, the second person to play a full met Al Carney, second organist at "In 1933, I became musical direc evening's program for that group. McVicker's. He was very kind to me; tor of WWAE in Hammond. However, From then on, my concert activities he recommended me for good jobs, I sensed the demise of the organist on expanded." which I never took. I insisted upon radio, so I worked to achieve my He is adequately prepared for any remaining stuck in the Calumet region, bachelor's degree, which I received at type program, having several hundred south of Chicago. the University of Chicago in 1937. I hours of motion picture material have my employers at the station to which he can use to illustrate the work "When I visited the organist at the thank for having made my radio sched required of a theatre organist years Temple Theatre in Hammond in 1924, ule fit my programs at the university. ago. He has hundreds of slides, mostly I discovered that the player was E. R . In 1940, I received my master's degree complete sets of solos. And, he has Howard, famous for his invention of from Indiana University. Wayne State many thematic cue sheets and com the Howard Organ Seat. He asked me University has recently awarded me a plete musical scores which came with immediately if I'd take his job, as he second master's. some of the bigger films. had become tired of traveling from "My bachelor's degree enabled me "I have been teaching English at Chicago to Hammond every day. Thus, to take a position teaching English at Wayne State University and Highland I had my first job handed to me at the Hammond Technical High, where I Park College for the past several years. age of 17, playing a 2/6 Wurlitzer. stayed for nine years. Then, I trans I also lectured on music for the silent Every rank sounded bad, and the ferred to Hammond High School, film ( using slides I made of old movie console, perched up in the ceiling which was the college preparatory music, both American and European), above the pipes, gave me regular night- school in town, and in 1965, I became at a Silent Film Festival at Kent State &A • IP 8A&&. On the 22nd of January, 1974, a great silence was heard across the Isthmus of Panama. The mighty Wurlitzer 3/27 had thundered its final performance. With the possible exception of Radio City, no theater organ anywhere has been enjoyed by more world travelers than has the Hotel El Panama's Wurlitzer. "Panama Viejo" (Old Panama) is the only stereo recording ever made of this fabulous instrument, and there will never be another! Recorded under natural conditions, Jon Fisher care fully chose selections, including both Latin and American favorites that best demonstrate the special qualities of this unique installation. The album liner notes detail the his tory, installation, and specifications of the organ. Truly a collector's item that can never be again. SEND $5.50 p.p. CHECK OR M.O. to: LTA RECORDINGS, 9 CHURCH ST., WALTHAM, MA. 02154 (MASS. RES. ADD 15¢ TAX) 16 THEATRE ORGAN JUNE, 1974 University, April 1971, accompanying no less than seven full-length features Arrests in Grant llnion Fire in two days' time." Mr. Muri has played for ATOS The Sunday, March 10 edition of at $100,000. In arraignment hearings Conventions in Detroit and Chicago, the Sacramento Bee carried the follow bail has been reset at $4,000 and and only an airlines'strike prevented ing two column headline: CITY $2,000. Charges have been dismissed his playing at the 1966 convention in YOUTH AID, 3 OTHERS AR against two of the nine . One of the Portland. He has toured many installa RESTED IN SCHOOL ARSON. This remaining seven has pleaded guilty to tions in the Middle West and East, has was the first of several similar stories arson, and three remain in custody, a recording to his credit, and is a to appear in the next few days. On unable to post bail. It should also be regular contributor to THEATRE OR March 14, the Bee carried the head said that all those arrested are resi GAN magazine, expressing the organ line: NINTH ARREST MAY BE LAST dents of the Grant High neighborhood.

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