YJEIJE YJEID)JMIJEYN §TORY by Lloyd E. Klos Ted Meyn, a theatre organist whose work took him to several areas of the United States, was born in 1901 in Kansas City, Kansas. From his debut in show business in 1907 until his retirement in the sixties, his life was one adventure after another, but all so interesting that Ted agreed to work with the writer in preparing his biog­ raphy for publication in "THEATRE ORGAN." Ted Meyn's introduction to en­ tertainment began at the tender age of six, on the stage of one of his father's six nickelodians. It was not at a piano or organ, but as a participant in an amateur night, and in the most daring fashion. Tom Daley, a tight-wire acrobat and escape artist, attempted to dem­ onstrate his skill with a machete in splitting a potato atop a volunteer's head. Having seen the performer prac­ tice this feat on a block of wood, Ted leaped to the stage. The potato was placed on his head, the audience sat Ted Meyn at the console of his one-man-trio instrument with which he made appearances throughout the east in the late fifties and early sixties. Third manual controls the Wurlitzer in deathly silence, until one swish of electric piano. - (Meyn collection) the blade split the potato. Ted bowed to the audience which went wild over butcher, selling peanuts, popcorn, stead of "Hearts and Flowers " while his bravery. Daley got first prize, a Cracker Jack, and chewing gum, up little Eva was dying, he would have $5 gold piece, but Ted merely got a and down the aisles. become a target for over-ripe fruit , pulled ear from his reprimanding In the meantime, he was given for showing such heartless disrespect mother. lessons on the piano. Since his three for a dying female. In 1909, Ted helped his father by brothers were cranking the Edison It mattered not whether the pianist "bicycling" the re_els of film from one projectors, and a sister was selling were an accomplished musician, an ear showplace to another. When one reel tickets, it was felt that he could join player , or faker, as long as he could was finished at the Phototorium, he the family at work by playing for the express the emotions and tempos prop­ would deliver it on his bicycle to the silent films . erly. When a drummer was added , Liberty, 7 blocks away. Then he'd In 1911, to gain experience, Ted the pianist's status did not change. race back for the second, while inter­ would relieve the regular pianist during But, when a violin , cello (which could mission at the Phototorium was tak­ the supper hour; the time of day when really draw the tears) , flute , cornet ing place. The patrons either would the audience was smallest - mostly etc. were added, only an accomplished have to pay another 5¢ or leave, a drunks sleeping it off. However, this pianist could qualify. bouncer being employed to evict re­ experience soon taught him that music Ted Meyn, at 12, was far from luctant ones. Thus, Ted's father had could set any mood called for on the being an accomplished musician - one the advantage of double-booking at screen, and he, the musician, became who could sight-read rapidly . Even the cost of one film. as much a medium for the success of though he could by improvising, make "Bicycling" was eventually elim­ the movie as the players themselves. a silent picture live and breathe with inated by the film distributors. When All were at his mercy. However, if he emotion , he was out of business for this occured, Ted became a candy had played "Turkey In the Straw" in- several years. THEATRE ORGAN APRIL, 1972 7 Then Wurlitzer , the world's greatest maker of carousel organs and saloon bandboxes, began making devices called Duplex Orchestras, consisting of an upright piano with a large box on each side. One box contained flute pipes , the other , drums, bells and sound effects. The pipes were played from the keyboard; the drums and sound effects by striking the feet on a series of piano pedals. There was also a roll player. Now, Ted was a one-man orchestra, and he did such creditable work that Wurlitzer offered him a job as dem­ onstrator of their several models. So, he advanced to this position , perform­ ing after school and on Saturdays in the Wurlitzer showrooms on McGee Street near Twelfth in Kansas City , Mo. Small theatre owners, for whom the instrument was intended, came from miles around to hear its possibilities . Many were sold, and Ted Meyn became a "boy wonder" in this field. When his schedule permitted , he played the Ted Meyn at Loew's Jersey 4 / 23 Robert Morton, one of the five "Wonder Mortons" opened in the 1929-1930 period in the New York Metropolitan area. Ted played all of them. opening program in theatres which (Meyn collection) had installed the instruments. A doctor in St. Joseph, Mo. pur­ horse hooves, train bell etc. A 6' x 12' Feeling that the young musician chased an instrument for a small theatre x 1O' chamber housed the pipes, and could handle a Wurlitzer 285, Famy he operated. Knowing Ted's father, he the ranks were Flute , String , Vox had two openings. One was in the got permission to keep Ted as a player Humana and Trumpet. Royal Theatre in Sydney, Australia ·, for a week . The doctor , also a col­ Ted had the instrument mastered two preformances a day , Sunday off, lector of antiques , provided room and within a day , and it was imperative at $ 75 a week. The second job was in board, and to Ted's surprise , was that he learn quickly because the Paramount's Missouri Theatre in St. privileged to sleep in a room , com­ motion picture owners of Kansas de­ Louis , where Stuart Barrie was leaving pletely furnished with Jesse James ' scended on the city for a convention , for the nearby Capitol Theatre. memorabilia - his bed, his wash basin, especially to hear the new instrument. Not wanting to go to Australia, Ted his comb and brush , yes , even the pot A dozen were sold , which rewarded went to St. Louis. The Wurlitzer store under the bed. What young man Ted with grand openings of these manager arranged for a tryout , and wouldn't leap to take advantage of devices. while passing thru town, C. Sharpe Jesse James' pot in those days? The As he was eager to progress as a Minor, one of the leading showman memory of that famous outlaw was musician , he accepted an offer to play organists of all time, stopped at the still fresh in the region. the 2/6 Moller at the Orpheum Theatre store and gave Ted some advice in At that time , Wurlitzer had in­ in Leavenworth , Kansas. In a few handling the Missouri 's 285 . "Be sure stalled only two Hope-Jones organs weeks , Fred Broder , Wurlitzer store to take notice of how Stuart Barrie in the Kansas City area. One was in manager , engaged Ted , at double wages , employs second touch. He plays the the Isis Theatre in Kansas City, Mo., to play the converted band-box at the melody on second touch, the accom­ and played by Carl Stallings , the Mayflower Theatre in Florence, Kansas, paniment on first touch, both on the greatest ever , in Ted's opinion . The and then a similar instrument in the first manual with the left hand, thus other was in a theatre in Manhattan , Kansas Theatre in Wichita, this theatre leaving his right hand free to play Kansas , played by Gene Moore. being converted from a shoe store . any of the other three manuals with Whether or not the territory was In less than a year, having quit his variations and such. The guy is the ready for Wurlitzer to install a Hope­ job in Wichita, Ted was back in Kansas best in the business with that trick." Jones unit orchestra in its Kansas City City, determined never to play a band­ Stuart Barrie introduced Ted to the showrooms, was debatable. What they box again. Since there were no theatre 285 the night before Ted's audition. did install was a converted saloon organs installed since he had left town , This occured after the last show, and band-box. It consisted of an upright he was advised to write Famy Wur­ Ted, upon taking his place on the piano with full keyboard , a second litzer in North Tonawanda , N.Y., who organ bench , "almost died from fright!" keyboard to play the pipes , a full was known for placing organists. He There were six swell pedals, dozens compass of organ pedals, a swell pedal. wrote Ted that he had been highly of toe studs, combination pistons, and and a knee-operated arm to effect recommended , and that "there is no rows of stop tabs which "seemed to piano sustain. There were buttons to question that Wurlitzer owes you run from coast to coast." The third control a train whistle , bird whistle , something." and fourth manuals seemed too far 8 APRIL, 1972 THEATRE ORGAN to reach. What were they there for? until 2 A.M., sharing the "Night paid off. Song pluggers, traveling out When the big moment for his au­ Hawks" program with the Kuhn­ of Chicago, talked about Paul Ash, the dition arrived, the Missouri was packed, Sanders orchestra, emanating from Master of Ceremonies at the McVickers the management stood by critically, the Muehlebach Hotel grill room.