TheatreOrgan Bombarde JOURNAL of the AMERICAN THEATREORGAN ENTHUSIASTS .... .·· ·•• ..... ...········· .. ..... ·•········~•.x. ..• •.....·•."··•·· ·-..•~· ..... ""- Los Angeles Elks Temple Concert Morton STU GREEN observes THE GUYS WHO FIXED THE ORGAN - Page FIVE New Wurlitzer Theatre Organ 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 Con trol ... 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 • guitars • stereos • band instruments. DeKalb, Illinois 60115 ~ ATOS ABCH•VESI LIBRAR Y ~ THE COVER PHOTO TheatreOrgan Volume l 0, No. l The huge console of the Robert Morton concert organ in the Los Angeles Elks Temple is a fit ­ ting subject for our February cover. In effect, it is the harbinger of the story in this issue Boffibarde about the L. A. Chapter members who put it back into first-class shape. Volume 5, No. l - Stufoto A. T . 0. E. N ational Member ship is $7 .00 per year . which includes a subscription to Theatre Organ/ Bombard e, the official publication of the American THE FUTURE: LET'S TAKE A GOOD LOOK Theatre Organ Enthusiasts. Make check or money order payable to A. T. 0 . E., and mail to P. 0. Box Theatre Pipe Organs are fun. Any way you look at them. Their traditions, 740 4, Bitter Lake Station, Seattle , Wash. 98133. histories, music, artists, and the vaults ir. which they were housed make fasci­ ALL MATERIAL FOR PUBLICATION nating reading, as well as a wonderful hobby. Hence the prime thought EXCEPT ADVERTISING behind the formation of the A. T. 0. E., as quoted from Article 3 of the pre­ SHOULD BE SENT TO ABOVE ADDRESS amble of the National Bylaws: "The purposes for which this association is ADVERTISING ADDRESS : Dewey Cagle . 3291 formed are: To preserve the tradition of the Theatre Organ; to further the Guido St., Oakland , California 94602. understanding of the instrument and its music; and to have published a peri­ • • • odical to be called 'THEATRE ORGAN BOMBARDE'." -•- A. T. 0. E. Officers Good works are being done in the many areas. There is a general desire on Dick ( Richard H.) Schrum the part of many chapters to own a good instrument and house it in a public Richard F. Kline Jr., Vice President Marilyn Schrum, National Secretary building for concert purposes and the general enjoyment of all. But in actu­ W. "Tiny" James, Treasurer ality, we are at crossroads. In just 24 hours, tomorrow becomes yesterday; the future is suddenly history. In ihat space of time a valued theatre organ A. T. 0. E. Board of Directors can be lost from the theatre world and the community. Carl Norvell, Chairman Dorothy MacClain -•- Dr. Phillip C. Olson Too many of us fail to realize that the instruments are leaving the scene Don Hall faster than they are being saved and placed where they will have a future. W. "Tiny" James There is also the sobering fact that NO organ builder is producing instru­ Richard F. Kline Jr. ments for theatres. If there were ever a period in which we could afford Allen W. Rossiter the dubious luxuries of indifference, argument, and default, every last sec­ Judd Walton ond, every drop of that period has been used up. Time is not on our side. Erwin A. Young Jr. -•- A. T. 0. E. Honorary Members National A. T. 0. E. funds are earmarked for the journal, the annual meeting, 1959- Jesse Crawford and other vital expenses connected with running a small business with vol­ 1960 -Farny Wurlitzer unteer staff. Therefore, National cannot underwrite any specific organ sal­ 1961 - Mel Doner vation projects. It has to be done on the local level, and soon, if we wish 1962 - Leonard MacClain to continue hearing these great instruments. There is no magical formula 1963 -Eddie Dunstedter 1964 - Reginald Foore to hand out that will do the job; each individual situation is unique. But 196 5 - Dan Barton strong will and perseverance can accomplish wondrous things. 1966-W. "Tiny" James -•- 196 7 -Erwin A. Young Jr. For instance, this magazine can be a real convincer. Not only does it recount our accomplishments, it also indicates the existence of an organized nation­ EDITORIAL STAFF Publications Director-Tom Kaasa wide movement. This, our official journal, or "organ," is not only a pur­ Advertising Manager-Dewey Cagle veyor of national and international activities, it is a very useful chronicle of Circulation Manager-Vi Thompson A. T. 0. E.'s progress, reaching not only our membership, but many theatre managers, civic leaders, libraries, and is on file in the Library of Congress. THEATRE ORGAN Editor-George Thompson -•- Associate Editors-Ray Brubacher , The Theatre Pipe Organ is on the threshold of once again becoming a real Lloyd Klos and useful facet of the entertainment world, or returning to the obscure curiosity category. February 5 marked our 13th anniversary of organization; THE BOMBARDE we have come so far, let's not let it slip back. We need a "unification" of Editor-W. "Stu" Green our efforts at all pitches with couplers to give A. T. 0. E. and THEATRE Associate Editor-Peg Nielson ORGAN BOMBARDE the support it requires to grow and work. The future ·~:: - ::- of the theatre organ depends on the action we take today. Theatre Organ/ Bombarde ( title registered U .S. Patent Office) is published bi -monthly by the American Theatre Organ Enthusiasts, Inc ., a non-profit organi­ zation , Richard H . Schrum , president . All rights reserved . Entire contents copyrighted 1968 by A.T . O.E., P.O. Box 7404 , Bitter Lake Station , Seattle , Washington 981 33. Printed by University Printing Co., Seattle . Dick Schrum , President POSTMASTER: Second Class postage paid at Seattle, Washington. IF UNDELIVERABLE, send form 3579 to A.T.O.E. Circulation Dept., Box 1314, Salinas, Calif. 93901. NOTE: Due to incomplete information, the A. T. 0. E. CHAPTER DIRECTORY, announced for this month, will appear in the April issue. 3 theatre organ I bombarde By Bill Peterson, number 8 in a series PARAMOUNT THEATRE - TOLEDO, OHIO The Toledo Paramount opened in 1928, another magnificent palace designed by the Chicago firm of C. W. and George L. Rapp. Although the Rapp brothers' approach to theatre design was not usually the "Atmospheric" style, this beautiful house of 3600 seats is a prime example of the plain ceiling with twinkling stars concept. The auditorium and lobby exemplify the Spanish touch to perfection. The organ selected was a Wur­ litzer "Publix # 1" of 4 manuals and 20 ranks. House was torn down in 1965. february 1968 4 PHOTOS: THE GUYS Dick Stoney and Bert Brouillon WHO FIXED While Watched by Stu Green IN WHICH WE EXPLORETHE MAKE-UP OF A TYPICAL ORGAN REHABILITATION CREW What are organ repair crews really like? When it was announced lase sum­ mer that arrangements had been made for the LA Chapter of ATOE to cake over r e p a i r and maintenance of the mammoth Robert Morton concert organ in the LA Elks Temple, we resolved co find some answers co the many questions which arise when a crew is assembled co play nursemaid co many ranks of ailing pipework, wheezy chests, sprung wind line, i n c er m i c c e n c magnets, popped pouches and the myriad things chat can go wrong with a neglected organ - or, for chat matter, even a well-maintained one. SOLO CHAMBER ranks include (I. to r.): Tuba Of chis particular group of volunteers, Mir ab i Ii s, Orch. Oboe, Stentorphone (metal some had been with the LA Wilcern flute), Philomela (stopped pipes) and a Gross Gamba are in left chamber, above and behind 4-37 Kimball crew, and had gained valu­ the powerful and unenclosed Great. able experience under the able leadership of Bob Alder, Sr., who is charged with the b r u c e's maintenance. In face, the leader of the Elks' Temple group, Dick Stoney, had worked under Alder on the Wilcern organ for several years. The only way co gee the feel of such an assignment is co join the gang and live with chem.