ATOS / VOL. V, N 0. 4 ARCHIVES/LIBRARY WINTER 1963-'64 JOURNALOF THEAMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF THEATRE ORGAN ENTHUSIASTS

Console of 4/42 Moller in (Ga.) . Story on Page 4.

Also In This Issue THE ATLANTA FOX STORY * Tl,ealreOrgan On tl,e Move ~ ~ea/,.~- 1(/~ ~ + Chapter News RECORD REVIEWS +. '!J}W)QW©©~ wnw(B®IT~Glill @©Q '~. .

RALBAR RecordsProudly Presents LEONARD MacCLAIN "The Golden Yea rs" Here for the first time is an entirely new concept in Theatre Organ recordings. Released in connection with Leonard MacClain's Golden Anniversary, this special deluxe album features the four major makes of Theatre Organsin four big theatres exactly as they were installed during the era. Manyof the organs in this album have never been recorded before. Here is your chance to hear the Deanof American Theatre Organists on four different instruments in different theatres. Each organ is heard on an entire side of a record - 2 recordsto the completealbum.

Organs heard: 4/ 31 Kimball - Stanton; Baltimore, Md. 4/ 18 Marr & Colton - Roosevelt; Buffalo, N.Y. 3/ 19 Moller - Sedgewick; Philadelphia, Pa. 4/ 21 - R.K.0. Palace; Rochester, N.Y.

ATOS Songs heard: Sweet and Lovely Call Me Irresponsible By The Bend In The River F inlandia cmVES / LIBRARY Toy Soldier Stay As Sweet As You Are I Cou Id Write A Book Little White Lies Never On Sunday ...... And many others

Each record comeswith a speciaI ly designed jacket which includes the 2 record set and detailed book supplementbiography of Leonard's 50 fabulous years in show business. Also included is a special feature of each theatre and organ heard on this album.

Mono- DLP-63001 / 2 Stereo- SDLP-63001/ 2 Monoor Stereo - $11.98 (2 records)

ANOTHER NEW MacCLAIN ALBUM LEONARD MacCLAIN Plays Baltimore's Fabulous STANTON THEATRE ORGAN .,.... Mono- OLP 6302- $4.98 Stereo- SDLP 6302-$5.98 THESE RECORDS ARE NOT AVAILABLE IN STORES Order Today! Don't Be Disappointed Each record shipped complete with deluxe jacket, postpaid. Send your name and address, check or money order for each record ordered to:

Produceda11d Released by RALBAR productions p. o. box 212, pottstown, penna.

$5.00 - DUES ARE NOW DUE FOR 1964 - $5.00

2 theatre organ WINTER 1963-,64 IF YOU WANT TO RECEIVE 'THEATRE ORGAN' Please keep us advised of your correct theatre organ address. The Post Office DOES NOT forward Second Class Mail. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION

OF THEATRE ORGAN ENTHUSIASTS

To111 B'Hend,Stu Green Join IN TH IS ISSUE Atlanta Fox Story. • ...... 4 The ATOE Editorial Staff Alice Blue. • ...... 13 Theatre Organ on the Move ...... 14 Climaxing many months of negotia­ POSTHORN, have agreed to go out of Geo. Wright at S. F. Orpheum ... . . ·. . . 18 tions between all parties concerned , we the publishing business in order that Ann Leaf at S. F. Paramount ...... 20 are happ y to announce the addition of ATOE members can share the talents of Chapter Activities ...... 21 Tom B 'Hend and Stu Green to the A TOE Seu Green through the new newsletter. Record Reviews ...... 27 editorial staff. The tentative publishing schedule Wm. Wood Organ Company ...... 28 Tom B'Hend was formerly the editor will work in the following manner: of ATOE's Los Angeles Chapter pub­ THEATRE ORGAN BOMBARD£ A.T.O.E. Membership - $5.00 per lication THE CONSOLE, which will year includes subscription to suspend publication, thus leaving B'Hend January 10 February 25 THEATRE ORGAN. Make your free to devote his time to working on April 10 May 25 check or Money Order Payable to THEATRE ORGAN. Tom has many July 10 August 25 A.T .O.E. and mail to P. 0. 13ox October 10 November 25 ideas for improving our publication,. and 248, Alameda, California, his background with the Hearst organi­ With chis current issue , Volume V, zation certainly makes him a welcome Number 4, of THEATRE ORGAN, your A.T .O.E. HONORARY MEMBERS member on our staff. editor for the last three years, George Stu Green, well known as the editor 1959 Jesse Crawford Thompson, seeps down as head of the 1960 Farny Wurlitzer of the popular tPOSTHORN,' will bring ATOE editorial staff. But at the insist­ 1961 Mel Doner a wealth of organ lore and writing ability ence of President Tiny James, he will 1962 Leonard MacClaln to ATOE in his position as editor of our continue as assistant editor in an 1963 Eddie D unstedter new newsletter ttTHE BOMBARD£." As advisory capacity. EDITOR •••••.• George F. Thompson their contribution toward a unification of Your support of the new editorial Associate Edi.tar ••••••..• Bud Abel publishing efforts, The Theatre Organ staff is sincerely requested. Production Manager ... Phi I Lockwood Club of Los Angeles , publishers of the ...... ·--·-·...... ·--·- STAFF FOR A. T.O.E. , for Radio Station WLAC, and PRESIDENT ...... W. 'Tiny'.James TulsaAcquires WurliTzer from there went into storage. Vice President ..... Erwin A. Young It will be restored by Devine, Bill Secretary • • • • • • • .. Mrs. Ida James John Devine , general manager of Roberts and Phil Judkins, and will be Advertising Manager .... Dewey Cagle KVOO- TV in Tulsa . Oklahoma, has installed in the church complete with all recently purchased a former theatre organ percussions. The twelve ranks include THEATRE ORGAN is a quarterly (later a radio organ) for installation in Clarinet, Vox Humana, Tibia, Tuba, publication devoted to the interests of the Kirk of the Hills United Presbyterian VDO, VDO Celeste, Orchestral Oboe, theatre organ enthusiasts, and to pub­ lishing of official notes and pro­ church in Tulsa. Concert Flute, Geigen Diapason, Open ceedings of the American Association The instrument was purchased from Diapason , Solo Violin and Trumpet. of Theatre Organ Enthusiasts. Al I com­ Bob Johnson in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Percussions include , Glock, munications and material should be and the pipe work is Wurli Tzer from Chrysoglott, Harp, Chimes, and sent to THEATRE ORGAN, P. 0. Box Loew's Vendome Theatre in Nashville , complete Toy Counter. All pipe work is 248, Alameda, California. Inquiries and Tennessee. It was rebuilt in 1938 by on two six rank chests and seven offsets. all materials intended far A.T.0.E. should be directed to the above ad­ dress and wi II be correctly routed to the proper office.

THEATRE ORGAN (title registered U.S. P~tent Office) is p.,bl ished by the American Association of Theatre Organ Enthusiasts, President W. 1Tiny' James, 2834 Santa Clara Ave. Alameda, California. All rights reserved. En­ tire contents copyright 1963 by A.T.O.E., lndbrporated.

POSTMASTER: If undeliverable, send Form 3S79 to THEATRE ORGAN, P.O. Sox 248, Alameda, California. RETURN REQUEST~O. Second Class Permit paid at Alameda, Cal­ ifornia. $5.00 DUES ARE NOW DUE FOR 1964 - $5.00 - -- ATOS Winter 1963- 164 3 AllCIIIVE8/LIBBABY The Atlanta Fox Story

By Arli W. Southerland

ATLANTA, - two words which mean many things to many people: City of Progress; City of Commerce; City of Modern Structures; City of Beautiful Homes; City of Culture; City of Ci vie Pride. Atlanta is all these things - at least in part, perhaps, by virtue of a short visit extended the city almost 100 years ago by a Northern gentleman named Sherman . Mr. Sherman, we were to learn, had a penchant for set~ing fires, and while some will admit he overstayed his welcome, he did not leave before touch­ ing torch to every piece of combustible material for miles around. Atlantans have always been a warm, friendly, gentle people, and although shocked and stunned by such flagrant breach of etiquette, . they nonetheless took courage in their civic pride and immediately began to rebuild their heritage with determination and single purpose of mind: "Only the best for the new At­ Moller 4/42, Atlanta Fox. Lift at top. lanta!" Today, four generations later, this same determination prevails. its minarets and domes so completely completed on November 29, 1929 by the It is only natural, then, that Atlanta, domina ting the scene that to view it is firm of Marye, Alger, Venour at a then­ Georgia is the home of the South's to be instantly whisked away, as if by staggering cost of $4. 5 million. It is finest theatre, the 5,000-seat FABULOUS magic carpet, to the Near East. This said that Mrs. Fox was so interested in FOX. At the corner of world-famous building, one of the last designed under this theatre that she personally super­ and Ponce de Leon the personal supervision of the late film vised the selection of its many genuine Ave. N. E., stands this imposing cream magnate William Fox, was underwritten Moorish appointments . brick structure of Moorish architecture, by Atlanta's Yaraab Temple, and was There are many unusual features and interesting facts about the FOX. It has its own completely equipped emergency hospital on a lower level which is re­ ported to have been the birth-place of at least one child . There are seven floors of dressing rooms backstage, each com­ plete with toilet facilities and ranging in size from small single rooms for the "stars" to large dormitory rooms capable of accommodating as many as 50 from the chorus. On the seventh floor is also found a fully air-conditioned, sound-proof rehearsal room, a broadcast studio, and a little theatre. Three special power lines coming into the main power room, located three floors below street level, provide enough power to adequately light an entire city of 60,000 . The mas­ sive dimmer control board is fully auto­ matic and its numerous staging effects can create any illusion ever attempted by the great Ziegfeld . The stage floor, an enormous 128' x 36', is divided into three sections, each on an elevator lift. Any one or all sections can be lowered 40 feet into the stage basement or raised four feet above footlight level. Its giant Cinema Scope screen of 269,568 square inches requires a 35 horsepower motor to pull it into the fly loft . The 1846-seat cantilevered balcony is considered something unique in construction . A Noble Arnold, Manager, Fox Theatre, Atlanta sound system of 45 speakers on the $5.00 DUES ARE NOW DUE FOR 1964 $5.00

4 theatre organ stage, ranging in size from tiny tweeters task with such zeal and enthusiasm that "Tiny" James and Regional Vice Presi­ to five-foot-square woofers, is augmented they overlooked one small detail - the dent Erwin Young visited Atlanta, and by 36 additional speakers located console, like "Topsy," just grew so big upon learning of the present state of this throughout the auditorium. The chat ic was impossible co remove it once fine instrument, made arrangements pit, composed of two sections, each on through any existing exit in the factory, to interview Noble Arnold, city manager an elevator life, can seat a symphony of necessitating their tearing down a wall of the theatre chain, for the purpose of 150 pieces . The gold on the decorative in order to hasten it down co Atlanta. determining what his plans were for the molding is 14 karat leaf and that in the This console, however, finally came organ and to offer the assistance of the grand foyer alone is estimated to have to rest on its own elevator lift _just to Southeastern Chapter. Mr. Arnold, it was cost $35,000. the left of the orchestra pie . Its four learned, had for many years shown an The auditorium, comprising an area manuals and 376 stop tabs were wired to enthusiastic interest in the theatre of 65,000 square feet, simulates a Moor­ the 3 Tibias, 16 Strings, 4 Diapasons, 4 organ. Mrs. Arnold, his wife, a very ish courtyard. Rising from each side of Flutes, 12 Reeds, and 3 Vox Humanas prominent musician and theatre organist, the courtyard is a huge stone wall with through two relay stacks, one in Chamber had studied with the late Jesse Crawford various sized windows which are barred "A" and the other in Chamber "D." The and on numerous occasions had sub­ against "intruders." Surmounting each operation of the Moller relay is somewhat stituted for the "Poet of the Organ." In wall is a complex of guard posts and different from that of a WurliTzer and his various managerial positions through­ battlement windows . The organ chambers deserves a short explanation. Simply out the Carolinas and Georgia, even are concealed in the walls as balconies stated, each Moller relay has a corres­ after the advent of the "talkies," Mr. with heavy gold leaf screens in typical ponding pneumatic for each manual and Arnold had a long history of acquiring, Moorish style . The walls are connected pedal note on the console. When a cir­ replacing and rebuilding organs for his in the front by a banistered bridge which cuit is closed at the console, the theatres and securing the best talent in is lighted by lanterns, the bridge forming corresponding relay pneumatic is de­ the South to play them. One of his first the proscenium arch. Everywhere realism flated, thereby actuating a contact bar. official acts, after being transferred to is carried to ics ultimate. A concrete and As the various stops are drawn at the Atlanta in 1951, was to have the FOX steel "draped canopy" extending over console, a large switch pneumatic in­ Moller restored and to sign Eddie Ford, the balcony appears to be made of tent flates in the relay causing a series of a fine musician and excellent showman, cloth which has already won its first contact strips to shift position and for a long engagement. By 1954, however, bout with mildew. Overhead, the atmos­ allowing them to come in contact with the organ was again in drastic need of pheric ceiling is an electrical phenom­ the actuated contact bar. repair and it is not at all difficult to enon, the secret of its function having The organ, just like the FOX, en­ understand how management can become never been divulged by the FOX manage­ joyed good times and suffered through somewhat disillusioned by varying ment. Stars appear to twinkle in the other periods which might be described ailments diagnosed by various repairmen, midnight blue sky while soft white as "lean years." However, it was last as well as the exorbitant estimated cost clouds drift slowly past. The effect is heard publicly in 1954 at which time it of repairs. Mr. Arnold seemed impressed so startling that an orchestra conductor, was becoming increasingly taxing upon with the aims and purposes of ATOE, appearing at the FOX for che first time , the organist's resources to find a se­ however, and equally impressed to learn looked up briefly from his score and lection, a key, and a registration in that its membership was made up of thought he was performing in an outdoor which he could get through the entire responsible citizens whose only interest theatre. The automatic sunrise system is number without a series of awkward was a sincere and devoted love of the­ almost unbelievable. A timing device is silent periods. Too, the organ's response atre organs and a great desire to again employed to determine the interval be­ was beginning to leave a bit to be hear them played. At Messrs. James' and tween sunrise and sunset. At first, only desired. It was almost possible for the Young's suggestion, Mr. Arnold agreed a slight golden-pink glow is observed organist to perform at the console, then to allow an inspection of the instrument over the court wall. The glow increases retire to the audience to enjoy the fruits by a committee of the Southeastern in brilliance until the golden sun appears of his labor. Chapter and to entertain a proposal from co be travelling diagonally across the In December, 1962, ATOE President the Chapter with regard to restoring the auditorium, finally setting behind the * Please turn to page 8 overhead bridge in a manner befitting the most gorgeous natural sunset. From the foregoing, it is not at all difficult co understand why "Fabulous" applies so well to the Atlanta FOX . The architecture is fabulous. The appoint­ ments are fabulous . Its facilities are fabulous. But by far the most fabulous item of interest is its Moller Deluxe 42-rank , all under expression and located in five chambers, one above the other, two chambers on the left of the stage and three chambers on the right . From the opening of the FOX on Christmas Day, 1929, this instrument was correctly billed as the world's largest until around 1933 when the Wurli Tzer Co. and New York's managed co depose it with an organ of a few more ranks. However, to this day no one has built a console quite as large. Although we have been unable to verify this, a usually reliable source suggests that from the time the console appeared on the drawing boards of its Maryland builder until its completion in the console division, all who had a hand in it went about their Side view of Fox Theatre, Atlanta, Georgia. $5.00 DUES ARE NOW DUE FOR 1963' $5.00 Winter 1963- 164 5 All photos on this page are of Fox Atlanta's Chamber "A." Top left photo, Kinurar Chimney Flute, Orchestral Oboe, Clarinet, Solo Viol ins, 3 ranks; Steamboat Whistle (lower right); Top right photo, Bass , Cymbals, Tambourines, Sleigh Bells, Triangles, Castanets; photo at left, portion of Traps; photo immediately above, Relay.

$5.00 - DUES ARE NOW DUE FOR 1964 - $5.00

6 theatre organ Chamber "B ". Marimba, Solo Post Horn, Post Horn, Chamber "B". 16' Diaphone, 8' Diaphone, 8' French Diapason, Tibia Clausa, French Trumpet. Trumpet.

Chamber "C". Harp, Xylophone, Saxophone, Tibia Chamber "D". Orchestral Viol ins, 3; Gem shorn, Gems­ Plena, Stentor Phone, Harmonic Tuba, Concert Flute, horn Celeste, Mezzo Vox Humana. Violin Cello. $5.00 - DUES ARE NOW DUE FOR 1964 - $5.00 Winter 1963- 164 7 instrument in exchange for occasional critical stage of heat. They were lub­ by one the various other repairs were use thereof. ricated immediately. The generator, made. As November, 1963 approached, Early in 1963, under the direction of while rated at eleven volts, produced tuning and regulating was finished, and Southeastern Chapter's Chairman Carl only ten volts at the console at idle the work crew began to reap their re­ Norvell and Vice Chairman Bob Van and dropped to six vol ts when full organ ward. Now there was time to just sit and Camp, a committee of four was appointed was played. D. C . terminals throughout listen. The organ was a joy to play, its to make a thorough inspection of the were checked and found to be loose and response instantaneous, its 3,556 pipes organ and to submit a complete report, dirty. All rubber tubing in the console speaking with renewed clarity, no longer along with estimated cost of materials, had ossified and required replacement. choked with soot and dust. Listen to to Mr. Arnold for his consideration . As Ivories were missing from the manuals, those scintillating strings, those sobbing the inspection progressed, it was found key contacts were dirty, indicator lights tibias, those fiery reeds, that spine­ that the organ, as a whole, was in were burned out, combination action tingling post horn, and, finally, the hair­ relatively good condition, by far the needed adjusting, and the hinged junction curling 16' solo post horn. major area of trouble being confined to boards at the rear of the console were Mr. Arnold's staff painters then began the cable connecting the console with a just hanging and could more properly be applying coat after coat of gilt to the junction board in the pit. In so many described as an electrician's nightmare . console, touching up broken pieces of words, after years of being coiled, un­ These findings were submitted to Mr. ornamentation, recovering swell pedals. coiled, dragged across concrete, satu­ Arnold in report form and after due The Howard seat was not overlooked. It rated with grease, jerked, popped, pulled, consideration, the Chapter was author­ was given a new suit of red velvet edged and stretched, the cable had "had it . " ized to proceed with the work. in gold beading. Excitement pervades Of a total of 63 dead manual circuits at Joe G. Patten of College Park, Ga . , the FOX. Rumor has it that the organ the console, only two were found to be an electrical engineer for Westinghouse will soon be heard at intermission. Word dead from the relays, involving only Electric Corp., was selected to head the gets around Atlanta. People start re­ minor trouble. There were a few slightly work crew, and it was his idea, calling calling the last time they heard it played. damaged pipes, several broken reeds, a upon p revious service in the Navy, to At last, an announcement is made in the number of percussions needing re-string­ have a clean sweepdown fore and aft amusement section of the paper, "SPE­ ing and / or new mallets, one or two prior to undertaking any repair work. It is CIAL ATTRACTION - The Great Organ ~iphers, _miscellaneous minor wind le~k~~ absolutely amazing how many bottles, Plays Again - Presenting Bob VanCamp rnoperauve tremelos. Chamber C flash bulbs, cigarette butts, boxes, and at the console tonight at 3:30 p.m., contained a reservoir which required assorted other debris can accumulate in 7:30 p.m., and 9:30 p.m." releathering. It had been previously organ chambers over a number of years. On Thanksgiving Day, 1963, at "repaired," obviously by a craftsman, When this phase was finished, however, 3: 30 p.m., the giant Moller Deluxe with oilcloth and friction tape, and a it was equally amazing to find how console again ascended from its resting "new" curtain valve had been improvised spacious the chambers actually were . place forty feet below for its first with the help of a few materials hereto­ Then began all the hard work. The public appearance in almost ten years. fore generally unknown to the organ generator was removed and completely Bob, appropriately dressed in black tie industry: a piece of oilcloth, a broken rebuilt. Some 36,000 feet of stranded and red iridescent jacket, joyously yardstick, too-large carpet tacks, a cable, to withstand the coiling and un­ proclaimed "Georgia On My Mind," piece of coat hanger, and a shoe lace. coiling, was connected from the console followed by "Days of Wine and Roses," Necessity is undoubtedly the mother of to a new junction board in the pit. A «Alley Cat," and "Valencia." The invention - but, REALLY! cable tray was built which would contain audience voiced its approval in no The blower room revealed dry bearings the coiled cable, keeping it from being uncertain terms. It would be evident even which were already approaching the ground away on the concrete floor. One to the most casual observer, based upon remarks overheard after the show, that Atlantans have a genuine love for and appreciation of this instrument. Bob VanCamp is certainly no novice when it comes to playing the theatre organ. Back in his college days at Duke University, Bob held forth for years, even after graduation, at the 3/ 10 WurliTzer in the Quadrangle Theatre. He first made Atlanta his home some 17 years ago when he became affiliated with WSB Radio - «The Voice of the South," in the capacity of Announcer­ Music Director. In those 17 years Bob has unquestionably become the person­ ification of WSB's "Voice of the South." His distinctive voice is also known to millions as the announcer of the annual Atlanta Symphony concerts, the Atlanta Pops concerts, and various other cul­ tural activities throughout the metro­ politan area. A diligent search has been made for just the right adjective to describe and identify this instrument. It is concluded, however, that anything which is truly unique need not be described; it need merely be experienced. For the sake of identification, though, some who have helped in its restoration refer simply, Chamber "E". Open Diapason, Flute Harmonic, Stopped Diapason, Small casually, but with great affection, to Trumpet, Oboe, Salicional, Dulciana. «Big Mo." $5.00 DUES ARE NOW D tJE FOR 1 9 6 4 $5.00

8 theatre organ PHOTOS OF ATLANTA FOX THEATRE ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Stage of Atlanta Fox, showing original curtain. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ View of balcony. ____ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . ~ ••m~;,• ~ Views from Stage of Atlanta Fox. Bottom photo, right~ foreground, shows Chambers "A" and "B". $5.00 - DUES ARE NOW DUE FOR 1964 - $5.00

1 9 Winter 1963- 64 FOX THEATREORGAN - Atlanta, Georgia, Moller Opus 5566, 1929 PEDAL

1 BOMBARD 1 E Etherea I Bourdon 16 D Orchestral Violins 8 Ill Rks 1 1 E Bass Flute 8 A* 1st Snare (Tap) A Solo Violins 8 Ill Rks 1 1 B Acoustic Bass 32 A 2nd Snare Drum (Tap) C Concert Flute 8 1 1 B Bass Viole 16 A 1st Snare Drum (Roi I) A Chimney Flute 8 1 1 C String Bass 16 A 2nd Snare Drum (Roi I) B Tibia Clausa 8 1 1 C Bourdon 16 A Muffled Drum (Ro11) D Solo Tibia Clausa 8 1 1 B Tibia Clausa 16 A Chinese Blocks (Tap) C Stentorphone 8 1 1 C Tibia Plena 16 A Chinese Blocks (Roll) 8 Diaphonic Diapason 8 1 1 B Diaphone 16 A Tom Tom A Minor Vox Humana 8 1 1 C Tuba 16 A Castanets D Mezzo Vox Humana 8 1 1 B -Solo Post Horn 16 A Tambourines A Clarinet 8 1 1 B Gombos 8 II Rks A Shuffle A Kinura 8 1 1 C Violincellos 8 II Rks B Chimes A Orchestral Oboe 8 1 1 1 A Solo Violes 8 111Rks C Xylophone 4 C Saxophone 8 1 1 C Flute 8 B (Single) C English Horn 8 1 D 1 B Tibia Clausa 8 B Orchestral Bells(Repeat) French Horn 8 1 1 D Solo Tibia Clausa 8 D Chrysog Iott (Sing le) C Tuba 8 1 1 C Tibia Plena 8 B Marimbaphone 8 Viola 4 1 1 C Stentorphone 8 B Marimba C Violincello 4 1 1 B Diaphonic Diapason 8 A Solo Violins 4 111Rks 1 1 A Clarinet 8 BOMBARDETHEREAL C Concert Flute 4 1 1 C English Horn 8 1 B Tibia Clausa 4 1 E Dulciana 8 1 C Tuba 8 1 D Mezzo Vox Humana 4 1 E Salicional 8 1 B Gombos 4 II Rks 1 D French Horn 4 1 E Vox Celeste 8 1 A Solo Violins 4 Ill Rks 1 C Violincello 2-2/3 1 E Stopped Diapason 8 1 BO Tibia Clausa 4 II Rks 1 B Viola 2 1 E Open Diapason 8 1 C English Horn 4 1 C Violincello 2 1 E Vox Humana 8 1 C Tuba 4 1 C Concert Flute 2 E Oboe 8 B Viola 1-3/5' E Small Trumpet 8 1 PEDAL Second louch 1 B Chimes E Flute Harmonique 4 C Xylophone 4 1 B Diaphone 16 1 C Oc tove Xr lophone 2 1 B Solo Post Horn 16 1 BOOBARD B Orchestra Bel Is (Repeat) C Tuba 8 1 B Strings 16' 11Rks D Chrysoglott B Chimes BC Flute Ensemble 16 1 II Rks C Harp 8 1 A Snare Drum (RoiI) B Diaphone 161 C Harp 4 1 A 1st Bass Drum ACD Woodwind Ensemble 16 1 VI Rks B Marimba (Repeat) A 2nd Bass Drum BCD Brass Ensemble 161 V Rks B Morimbaphone (Single) A Kettle Drum ABCDE String Ensemble 8 1 XIII Rks A 1st Cymbal 1 A 2nd Cymbal BCD Tibia Ensemble 8 Ill Rks ACCOMPANIMENT Second Touch BCE Diapason Ensemble 8 1 Ill Rks A Pers-ian Cymbals ADE Vox Humana Chorus VI I Rks B Gamba 8 1 A Chinese ACDE Woodwind Ensemble 8 1 VII Rks B Gamba Celeste 8 1 BCDE Brass Ensemble 8 1 VI Rks D Orchestral Violins 8' IJI Rks ABCD Violin Ensemble 4 1 XI Rks A Solo Violins 8' Ill Rks GREAT BCD Tibia Ensemble 4 1 111Rks D Solo Tibia Clausa 8' 1 B Chimes ACD Woodwind Ensemble 4 VI Rks C Tibia Plena 8' 1 1 C Xylophone 4 BD Tibia Ensemble 2 1 II Rks B Diaphonic Diapason 8 C BCD Fifes Ensemble 11 Ill Rks A Clarinet 8' Octave Xylorhone 2' C Saxophone 8 1 B Glockenspie (Single) 1 B ACCOMPANIMENT C English Horn 8 Orchestral BE!lls (Repeat) D Chrysoglott D French Horn 8' 1 A 1st Snare Drum (Top) 1 C Harp 8 C Tuba 8 1 A 2nd Snare Drum (Tap) B Chimes C Harp 4 A 1st Snare Drum (Roll) B Glockenspiel (Single) B Marimbaphone (Single) A 2nd Snare Drum (Roi I) A Snare Drum (RoiI) B Marimba (Repeat) A Muffled Drum (Roll) A Chinese Blocks A Chinese Blocks (Tap) A Triangle SOLO A Chinese Blocks (Roi I) A Song Birds AC String Bass 16' IV Rks A Tom Tom 1 Solo to Accomp 8 C Bourdon 16 1 A Castan·ets 1 Solo to Accomp 4 1 A Tambourine B Tibia Clausa 16 AD Vex Humana 16 1 IJ Rks A Shuffle 1 1 GREAT ETHEREAL A Bass Clarinet f6 C String Bass 16 1 1 A 1 Bass Kinura 16 C Bourdon 16 E Dulciana 8 1 1 C Bass Saxophone 16 D Gemshorn 8 1 E Salicional 8 C 1 1 1 Tuba 16 D Gemshorn Celeste 8 E Vex Celeste 8 1 1 D Gemshorn 8 B Gamba 8 1 E Stopped Diapason 8 D 1 1 1 Gemshorn Celeste 8 B Gamba Celeste 8 E Open Diapason 8 1 1 B 1 Gamba 8 B Viola 8 E Vex Humana 8 1 1 B Gamba Celeste 8 C Violincellos 8 II Rks 1 E Oboe 8 C 1 1 Violincellos 8 II Rks E Smal I Trumpet 8 D Orchestral Violins 8 1 Ill Rks * Letter indicates chamber in which 1 E Flute Harmonique 4 A Solo Violins 8 1 Ill Rks stop is located. $5.00 - DUES ARE NOW DUE FOR 1964 - $5.00

10 theatre organ C Concert Flute 8 1 A Chimney Flute 8 1 SOUND EFFECTS A Chimney Flute 8 1 1 B Tibia Clouse 8 Song Birds I B Tibia Clause 8 1 1 D Solo Tibia Clouse . 8 Song Birds II D Solo Tibia Clause 8 1 C Tibia Pleno 8 1 1 Siren I C Tibia Plena 8 C Stentorphone 8 1 1 Siren II C Stentorphone 8 8 Diophonic Diapason 8 1 1 Ford Horn B Diaphonic Diapason 8 1 A Minor Vox Humana 8 Door Bell A Minor Vox Humana 8 1 D Mezzo Vox Humana 8 1 1 Auto Horn D Ntezzo Vox Humana 8 1 A Clarinet 8 Steamboat Whistle A Clarinet 8 1 A Kinura 8 1 1 Slop Sticks A Kinura 8 1 A Orchestral Oboe 8 Triangle A Orchestral Oboe 8 1 1 C Saxophone 8 Sleigh Bells (Rev.) C Saxophone 8' 1 C English Horn 8 Chimes Peal (Rev.) C English Horn 8 1 1 D French Horn 8 Ding Dong I D French Horn 8 1 B French Trumpet 8 1 1 Ding Dong JI B French Trumpet 8 1 C Tuba Hormonique 8 Aeroplane Effects C Tuba Harmonique 8 1 1 B Post Horn 8 Wind Effects (Rev.) B Post Horn 8 1 B Solo Post Horn 8 1 1 Storm B Solo Post Hom 8 B Gombos 4' II Rks Cymbals (Small) B Gamba 4 1 D Orchestral Violins 4 1 Ill Rks 1 Grand Cymbals B Gamba Celeste 4 A Solo Violins 4 1 IJI Rks 1 Loco Bell C Violincellos 4 II Rks C Concert Flute 4 1 1 Loco Whistle D Orchestral Violins 4 Ill Rks A Chimney Flute 4 1 1 Fire A Solo Violins 4 · Ill Rks B Tibia Clouse 4' Persian Cymbals* C Concert Flute 4 1 1 D Solo Tibia Clause 4 Chinese Gongs* A Chimney Flute 4 1 1 t Stentorphone 4 Grand Crash* B Tibia Clause 4 1 4 1 A Minor Vox Humana Thunder Crash* D Solo Tibia Clause 4 1 D Ntezzo Vox Humana 4 1 C Tibia Plena 4 1 A Clarinet 4 1 1 * - Double Touch Keys A Minor Vox Humana 4 1 A Kinura 4 1st Touch - Roll D Ntezzo Vox Humana 4 1 1 D French Horn 4 2nd Touch - Crash A Clarinet 4 1 B French Trumpet 4 1 A Kinura 4 1 B Solo Post Horn 4 1 D French Horn 4 1 C Violincellos 2-2/3 1 II Rks 1 A Solo Violins 2-2/3 111Rks C Nozord 2-2/3' SOUND EFFECTS Toe Studs D Solo Tibia Clause 2-2/3 1 B Tibia Clouse 2-2/3 1 A Solo Violins 2 1 Ill Rks A Solo Violins 2' Ill Rks Left 1 1 C Concert Flute 2 C Concert Flute 2 Ding Dong I 1 1 D Solo Tibia Clause 2 B Tibia Clouse 2 • 1 1 Ding Don~ II D Solo Tibia Clousa 1-3/0 C Tierce 1-3/5 Cymbals (Smal I) 1 A Solo Violins 1 Ill Rks Grand Cymbals 1 D Solo Tibia Clause 1 GREAT Second Touch Chime Peal (Rev.) B Chimes Chi me Dampers (Rev.) C Xylophone B Gamba 16' 4' 1 Harp Dampers (Rev.) C Octave Xylophone 2 1 B Gamba Celeste 16 1 Wind Effects (Rev.) D Glockenspiel (Single) B Diophone 16 1 Triangles D Orchestral Bel Is (Repeat) C Tuba 16 1 D Chrysoglott B Solo Post Horii 16 1 Right C Harp 8 1 B Gamba 8 1 C Harp 4 1 B Gamba Celeste 8 Sfz. (Rev.) 1 B Morimbophone (Single) D Solo Tibia Clouse 8 Thunder Roll, 2nd Touch 1 B Marimba (Repeat) C Tibia Plena 8 Sleigh Bells (Rev.) B Diophonic Diapason 8 1 Chinese Gong (Roll) 1 GREAT B Post Horns 8 II Rks Chinese Gong (Top) B Glockenspiel (Single) Persian Cymbal Roll B Gamba 16 1 Snore Drum, 1st Touch 1 A Snare Drum (RoiI) B Gamba Celeste l 6 1 Grand Crash 2nd Touch 1 Solo to Great 8 B Boss Viola 16 Solo to Great 4 1 Storm C String Boss 16 1 1 C Bourdon l 6 TRJCK COUPLERS B Tibia Clouse 16 1 1 B Diaphone 16 1 Great to Solo 4-4/7 1 Color Code of Stop Tabs: 1 Great to Solo 5-1/3 A Vox Humana 16 White - Flutes, Tibias, Diapasons D Ntezzo Vox Humana 16 1 Great to Solo 6-2/5' 1 Red - Reeds A Clarinet 16 Yellow - Strings 1 COUPLERS C Saxophone l 6 Green - Traps and Percussions C Tuba 16 1 1 Block - Couplers D Gemshorn 8 1 Pedo I Oc tove Bombard to Great 8 1 1 White w/Red Letters - Sound Effects D Gemshorn Celeste 8 1 Bombard to Pedal 8 Solo to Great 8 1 B Gamba 8 1 Solo to Pedal 8 Accomp to Great 8' 1 Tremulonts: Chambers A, B, C, D each B Gamba Celeste 8 1 Great to Pedal 8 Solo to Great 16' 1 1 have two; Chamber E, 1. D Viola 8 1 Accomp to Pedal 8 Great 4 1 1 Six Swel I Pedals, one for each chamber C Violincellos 8 1 II Rks Bombard 4 Solo to Accomp 8 1 1 plus Moster 1 Bombard 2 Accomp 4 D Orchestral Violins 8 Ill Rks Crescendo Pedal. 1 Solo 4 1 A Solo Violins 8 Ill Rks Combination Pistonsz 42 C Concert Flute 8 1 Solo 16'

$5.00 - DUES ARE NOW DUE FOR 1964 - $5.00 Winter 1963- '64 11 ATLANTA FOX THEATRE ORGAN-Analysis By Chambers:

No. of No. of Rank Pitch Pipes Wind Description Rank Pitch ~ Wind Description CHAMBER 11A 11 CHAMBER 11D11

1 11 1 11 Chimney Flute 8 - 2' 85 15 Solo Tibia Clausa 16 - 2' 97 15 1 1 11 11 Solo Violins Ill 8 - 2 255 15 {one rank sharp Gemshorn a•- 4' 73 15 1 11 {one rank natural Gemshorn Celeste 8 - 4' 73 15 1 1 (one rank flat Orchestral Violins 8 - 2 255 15" (one rk sharp Clarinet 16' - 4' 73 15 11 T.C. Limit Ill Rks (one rk natural 1 1 Orchestra I Oboe 8 - 4 73 15 II (one rk flat 1 1 11 1 1 Kinura 8 - 4 73 15 French Hom 8 - 4 85 15" 11 1 1 Minor Vox Humana 16' - 4' 73 15 T.C. Limit Mezzo Vox Humana 8 - 4 73 15" 1st Snare Drum Chrysog Iott 37 bars 2nd Snare Drum 1st Bass Drum Standard CHAMBER "E" 2nd Bass Drum Standard Open Diapason 8 1 73 611 Muffled Drums Damper on Snare Dulciana 8 1 73 6" Chinese Blocks {Two) Stopped Diapason 8 1 73 6" Tom Tom (Two) Flute Harmonic 73 Castanets (Two Pair) 4' 6" Salicional 8 1 73 Tambourine {Two) 6" Vox Celeste 8 1 61 6" Shuffle Small Trumpet 8 1 73 1st Cymbal 6" Oboe 8 1 73 6" 2nd Cymbal 61 6" Persian Cymbals {Two) Vox Humana 8' 1 44 6" Chinese Gong (Two) Bourdon 16 11 Song Birds 41 25 15 BLOWER: 30 Horsepower Kinetic rated at 4500 CFM at 15". Song Birds I 70 amp. generator direct coupled. Song Birds II Siren I Siren II Ford Horn Door Bel I Auto Horn Steamboat Whistle Slap Sticks (Two) Triangle (Two) Sleigh Bel Is (Two) Wind Effect Ding Dong I Ding Dong II Locomotive Bell Locomotive Whistle

CHAMBER 11B11 Diaphonic Diapason 16' - 8 1 109 15 11 Bottom 12 wood Tibia Clausa 16' - 2' 121 15 11 Viola 16' - 1-3/5' 109 15 11 1 1 11 Gamba 8 - 4 85 15 1 1 11 Gamba Celeste 8 - 4 85 15 Solo Post Horn 16' - 4 1 109 15 11 1 11 Post Hom 8 - 4' 85 15 1 1 11 French Trumpet 8 - 4 85 15 i'Aarimba 91 49 bars Glockenspiel 8' 37 bars Chimes 25 tubes Large scale w/dampers

CHAMBER 11C 11 Stentorphone 8' 85 1511 Tibia Plena 16' - 4 1 109 15 11 Bourdon 16' - 2' 121 15 11 1 11 Violin Cello 16 - 2' 109 15 1 11 Harmonic Tuba 8 - 4' 109 15 1 11 Saxophone 8 - 4' 73 15 1 11 English Horn 8 - 4' 73 15 1 11 Violin Cello Celeste 8 - 4' 85 15 Harp 61 bars With Dampers Xylophone 49 bars

Interior Photos of Fox Atlanta. $5.00 - DUES ARE NOW DUE FOR 1964 - $5.00 12 theatre organ 30 Yearsand 30Lbs. Ago!

EDITOR'S NOTE: In our last issue, under the heading of BLUE NOTES we ran part of a newspaper column written by a former theatre organist, Alice Blue, currently an editor of a small newspaper in Guerneville, California. We have just received what we feel is a most inter­ esting letter from Alice Blue, together with a couple of pictures. We would like to sha1-e parts of this letter with our readers.

* * *

"Everybody -- almost -- concerned with the rebirth of pipes is so much younger than I -- I feel like the rein­ carnation of something-or-other . . . Do you want ·to use these ancient history pies in your magazine? I WANT THEM BACK - please - they represent a lovely part of my life - so long ago. Alice Blue at Hawaii Theatre, Honolulu, 1931-1934. "The large pie is the Hawaii Theatre 4/15 Robert Morton - now reinstalled at stage level was a few inches above stage was about to dump me into the basement, the Waikiki Theatre - John DeMello nor that a hydraulic lift made little jerks but I kept smiling and acknowledging the sometimes plays it. The small pie is the all the way. At stage level, I had the lovely applause. Trickle, trickle - so Palace Theatre Robert Morton in Hilo - awful feeling that the lift would come far, so good; then I saw what was the lovely console was destroyed by the out by the roots - it dido 't stop where I causing the mountain stream sound tidal wave some years ago, but the pipes expected it to. I've never yet forgotten effect -- a small Japanese boy standing didn't get in the water. the feeling of relief when I realized that at the edge of my spotlight, gazing up at "I played all three of these fine the elevator had «landed' without pulling me in rapture, wh.tle irrigating the potted . organs in the years from 1931-1935. I out at the roots and dumping me into that palms in the pit! ... know that I LOVED the Morton at the yawning cavern, the pit. "I treasure these pies - the only ones Princess Theatre the most of the three. "The house was jammed. I was all I have of those happy years - there were They moved the Hawaii Theatre organ to done up in a glittering, backless white many other pies, but I didn't realize that the new Waikiki. I think they moved the formal. I remembered, according to in­ someday I would want them. «Thirty wrong organ. All I know for sure is that structions, to push the down button a few years and thirty pounds ago.' Somehow, I loved the Princess Morton more than bars before the end of my solo. The I think that before much longer; I will any I have ever played. But it was SO elevator gave a lurch and started down. have a chance to once again play the long ago! Johnnie (now plain John) As I stood to take bows (the applause Honolulu Robert Mortons - right now, I DeMello was just a lad, and he often sat was most gratifying) on the way down, I don't see how - but miracles DO happen in the front row watching me. Now he is heard WATER. I thought the whole works - sometimes." a recording artist! I understand that through his persunal efforts the two Honolulu Mortons have been saved. God Pub Ii shed quarterly in London Bless him. by The Theatre Organ Club 1 'I never played silents there. Sound had been in for several years when I (President: Rob ins on Cleaver) arrived. I did IO-minute spots before the brings you illustrated features on famous feature pie. My first job was with the organs and organists, ,news items, record Hawaii Robert Morton. The hydraulic lift reviews, and reports of meetings hadn't been used for years. My first en joyed by theatre organ enthusiasts in matinee remains vividly -- a nightmare -- THEATREGreat Britain. 1 hadn't had a chance to use the elevator before my initial performance before an audience that had been primed for my first appearance with a big lobby display, Annual Subscription $1, Post Free publicity in both Honolulu papers, etc. All I knew was that «You push this ORGANSubscription Agent for U.S.A. button to go UP and this button to go R.GROVE DOWN and be sure and push the button 2210 Indiana Ave., Connersvi lie, Ind. before you want the elevator to do its Overseas Distribution from: stuff or you '11 be stuck down in the 121 Clyfford Road, basement where people can't see your REVIEWRuisi ip Gardens, Middlesex opening measures or you '11 be stuck at stage level after you've milked all the applause possible.' Nobody told me that QUARTERLY $5.00 DUES ARE NOW DUE FOR 1964 - $5.00 Winter 1963- '64 13 THEATRE ORGAN

On The Move

By L. R. Clarke

You want a theatre organ of your very own? If you can find one, go ahead and buy it, there is nothing to it; they are being moved every day into basements, attics or storage, only to be moved once more when a place is found to set them up. It is doubtful chat the theatre organ, as we know it, will ever again have any lasting popularity with the masses, or be Console of organ finally in place at BBC Theatre, slight­ heard in many theatres. It is a rarity even ly scratched, but ready to go. though many ambitious members here and there are doing a tremendous job of re­ - Copyright photo, BBC, Broadcasting House,, London W. 1. storing theatre organs . ler at the console . There, between the sole of a 3/ 13 WurliTzer in Johannes­ Back in the late '30's, except for the opening and closing theme, it was nor burg, So. Africa . In view of the then very largest theatres, the organs were unusual to find Jesse Crawford busy U.S. picture, which was very glum for silent, and many theatre organists were setting the pistons for his program which the theatre organists, this seems sur­ happy to find work playing the Hammond followed . Tues e constant piston changes prising . However, in England also the electric organ . Then, a bit of theatre resulted in a rule that the registration of theatre organ was still in great demand . organ music could be heard in Chicago "certain" pistons could not be altered. The British Broadcasting Co . then as via radio. Len Salvo, WGN; Milton Char­ Even these few radio jobs were soon now featured many top theatre organists les, WBBM; Eddie Hansen, WCFL; Irma to be a thing of the past for the organist . regularly . Glen and Larry Larson, WMAZ; to men­ It was about this time that Dean Herrick As staff organist at BBC, the name tion only a few. Also heard on the WMAZ left the States and one of the first Ham­ Reginald Foore soon became a household - 3/ 13 Wurli Tzer was the nightly theme mond engagements in Chicago "to get word, as he was featured regularly at song of Amos and Andy with Dean Foss- away from it all" only to be at the con- either its concert organ or its theatre organ . While his name became well known and his audience great, the financial return could have been better . Realizing there were more than a hundred excellent vaudeville theatres available all over Great Britain, none with an organ of any kind, he conceived the idea of bringing organ entertainment to this area . By doing so , he was able to capitalize on his popularity . A company was formed to furnish complete travelling vaudeville shows built around a theatre organ . Naturally, this would require construction of a "portable" organ . Inasmuch as Mr. Foort had great respect for the Moller organs he had known on his visits to the states (even though WurliTzer and Comptons were being heard most everywhere in England), he approached the Moller people to build a completely portable organ with a 5-manual console . Reginald Foort and his close American friend, Reginald T . Watson, designed the organ, Caravan of trucks required to move the theatre organ during its and Watson ("the world's greatest organ travels. • Please turn to next page $5.00 DU.ES ARE NOW DUE FOR 1964 $5.00

14 theatre organ fanatic") literally slept in the Moller plant to help work out the many details . Mr. Foort was featured at the Para­ mount in New York in 1935 and this famous Wurli Tzer left an indelible im­ pression . This had a definite influence on the specifications of the travelling Moller. To improve on the Paramount organ, he specified four ti bias, one more than the Paramount. The results were very gratifying . The organ, built to the designer's most exacting specifications, had 27 ranks, fully unified, 259 stop keys and over 100 pistons and controls . The tonal percussions were Deagan and non-tonal Leedy . When completed, the portable instru­ ment weighed 28 tons and required 65 crates to ship it to England . The crated organ did not leave on the Queen Mary as planned, but arrived in London just one week before the first engagement . Once there, five 30 foot road trucks the size of the London double deck buses and a staff of 12 were needed to handle it . Staff consisted of: Three organ builders, five truck drivers, two electri­ cians, and two stage riggers, not in­ cluding the administrative personnel. The drivers soon became experts at assisting in the assembly and dis­ assembly of the organ . The Drury Lane Theatre was rented for the initial assembly and testing of the instrument, under the supervision of Mr. Watson . At the very beginning, the newly assembled crew was given the problem of setting up the organ on a round-the-clock schedule . Day and night, Watson personally kept Reginald Foort at console after installation at BBC. the crew on the job . Five days later the organ was being played . Time out for a - Copyright photo, BBC, Broadcasting House, London W. I. recording session and a Pathe Pictorial dis-assemble and load the organ after At the start of his performance at the and then the organ was immediately dis­ the close of an engagement. To do a Empire Theatre, Glasgow, Mr. Foort assembled on a Friday, loaded on the proper job of installation, 24 hours were suddenly realized that . he and the con­ five trucks, moved and installed on a required to get the organ into a new sole were sliding - down the slight rake Sunday in the Palace Theatre at Man­ theatre, set it up, test everything and of the stage towards the orchestra pit . chester, 186 miles away, for the next tune it completely. Too startled to jump, he kept playing. day's performance. Very few pistons The required amount of time was not The stage hands were preoccupied back­ were set up for the first performance, but always available, and the crew proved it stage, and for the moment did not realize it is doubtful that anyone other than could rise to the occasion and complete the predicament he was in . By chance, Reginald Foort knew this . the installation in less time. At the one finally noticed, and he alerted the Moving the organ in and out was by close of an engagement at the Palace rest of the crew and they stopped the no means a simple matter, even though Theatre, Hammersmith, the trucks were console just short of the orchestra the portable features were ingeniously all delayed, and one by one they finally pit. A lesson had been learned, and designed by the Moller people . The departed, the last leaving at 9:00 a .m. from that moment on the console was organ was pulled down, travelled and re­ Sunday . For a jump of 250 miles they secured in place per each performance . erected some 167 times and always i n a were required to go many miles out of As part of his performance, Mr. Foort terrific rush , over the weekend . Most of the way due to floods and low bridges . would finish a selection and then turn the work was at night, and the trucks That following Monday at 6:00 p .m. the to the audience and say, "I hope you moved through the dark like a circus show went on as scheduled, but the organ don't think that all of that sound is caravan . It would seem a difficult task was not completely hooked up until coming from here . This is only the con­ to keep such a delicate instrument in 5:45 . There was no time for tuning but sole where I sit to play . Let me show good working order, rut there were no the impossible had been accomplished. you where it all comes from." With that, disappointments, only praise for the However, they did not al ways manage the curtain, which separated the console organ . to overcome the many obstacles . In from the chambers, would be raised It can't be denied that there were March, 1940, two of the trucks ended up halfway, exposing plate glass sections some mishaps . If anyone missed hearing in 16 foot snow drifts in the Yorkshire below the shutters . With lights which the trumpet fanfare on the 2nd visit to moors, the others in Bolton Goods Yards were mounted over the many sections of the Hippodrome Theatre in Birmingham, instead of Preston . It is doubtful that the pipes, he was able to indicate the various it could have been easily explained . actual presence of the entire organ was sets or groups of pipes being played. While unloading this section, a rope known by show time, Monday . It wasn ' t The shutters at th-e front of each chamber broke, and the entire unit rolled down an until Thursday that all of the units were were attached to the backdrop, and at incline, crashed against a wall and back together and in good order and the the very end of the finale this entire snapped off 28 trumpet pipes . show went on, just a "bit later" than portion suddenly went up, completely out Usually 4½ hours were required to planned. *Please turn to page 18 $5.00 DUES ARE NOW DUE FOR 1964 $5.00 Winter 1963- '64 15 5-manual console nears completion in Moller factory. - Photo courtesy M. P . Moll er, Inc.

One section of organ being moved into one of the many theatres. The electric motor in foreground was one of several required due to various electrical currents encountered.

Completed console ready to be crated and start travel­ ing. - Photo courtesy M.P. Moller , Inc.

Installing organ on stage . The entire front portion This 16 ft. section was not used unfi I the organ was which included the shutters was fastened to the back­ permanently installed at BBC. drop.

$5.00 - DUES ARE NOW DUE FOR 1964 - $5.00 16 theatre organ SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE MOLLER AFTER INSTALLATION AT BBC COUPLERS Solo to orchestral 8 PEDAL Great to orchestral 8 ft. ft. ft. Canceller Acoustic bass 32 Vox humane I 8 Flautlna 2 Diaphone 16 Vox humane II 8 Tierce 1-3/5 TREMULANTS Bourdon 16 Vox humane I 4 Mixture 4 ranks Control ling all ranks Gamba 16 Vox humane II 4 Tuba mirabilis 16 Stentor principal 8 Snare drum Trumpet 16 4 Balanced Pedals Diapason 8 Chinese block Tuba horn 16 Tibia I 8 Castanets Sax~hone 16 Main Tibia II 8 Tambourine Vox umana J 16 Solo Tibia Ill 8 Sand block Tuba mirabllis 8 Percussion Gamba 8 Tom-tom Solo trumpet 8 Crescendo 'Cello 8 Super octave coupler Chorus trumpet 8 Flute 8 Tuba horn 8 SOLO Orchestral oboe 8 Acoustic reed 32 Tibia I 16 Tuba mlrabi lis 16 Clarinet 8 Second Touch 8 Tibia Ill 16 Sousaphone 16 Saxophone Vi o I D orchestre 16 Krumet 8 Tuba mirabilis 8 Tibia I 8 Tibia J 8 Vox humane I 8 Trumpet 8 Tibia II 8 Tibia Ill 8 Tuba mlrabilis 4 Tuba horn 8 Tibia I 4 Tibia Ill 8 Bass drum (F) Solo Trumpet 4 Solo Trumpet 8 4 Viol D orchestre 8 Bass drum (P) Chorus trumpet Viol D orchestre Tuba horn 8 Tuba horn 4 Bass drum ro 11 celestes 8 Clarinet 8 Saxophone 4 Cymbal roll Tibia Ill Quint 5-1/3 Saxophone 8 Xylophone Tibia 4 Couplers Krumet 8 Sub octave coupler J Musette 8 Tibia II 4 Aecom. to pedal Sulcer octave coupler 4 Triangle So o to great coupler Tibia IIJ Great to pedal Tibia I Cymbal crash Orchestral to great coupler 2-2/3 Orchestral to pedal Tibia Ill 2 Canceller Solo to pedal Couplers Tibia I 2 Canceller Tibia Ill 2 Orch. to accomp. 8 Trumpet 16 8 ACCOMPANIMENT Solo to accomp. Sax~hone 16 Great to accomp. 4 Vox umana I 16 Gamba 16 Canceller ORCHESTRAL Bourdon 16 Tuba mirabilis 8 Stentor principal 8 Ell ish post horn 8 GREAT Diapason 16 So o trumpet 8 o en diapason 8 16 Tl6 ia I 8 Dlaphone 16 Tibia II Tuba horn 8 Tibia IJ 8 Open diapason ]6 Gamba 16 Orchestral oboe 8 8 Tibia I 16 Stentor principal 8 Clarinet 8 Tibia Ill 8 Gamba 8 Tibia IJ )6 Tibia I Saxophone 8 Gamba celestes 8 Tibia Ill 16 Tibia II 8 Krumet 8 Viol D orchestre 8 Gamba 16 Tibia Ill 8 Musette 8 Viol Dorch. celestes 8 Stentor principal 8 Doppel Flute 8 Vox humane I 8 Orchestral strings o en diapason 8 Gamba 8 Vox humane IJ 8 8 II ranks 8 Ti6 ici I 8 Gamba ce lestes So lo trumpet 4 8 Tibia II 8 Octave principal 4 Saxohhone 4 Muted strings 11ranks 4 Concert flute 8 Tibia Ill 8 Tibia I Vox umana I 4 4 Octave principal 4 Gamba 8 Tibia II Vox humane 11 4 Gamba celestes 8 Tibia Ill 4 Orchestra I be l ls o en diapason 4 4 Ti6 ia I 4 Viol D orchestre 8 Doppel flute Sbu octave coupler 4 Viol D Orchestre Gamba 4 Super octave coupler Tibia II 4 Tibia Ill 4 celestes 8 Gamba celestes Canceller Gamba 4 Orchestral strings 8 Tibia II 2-2/3 Concert flute 8 Tibia JI 2 Gamba ce lestes 4 16 BOMBARDE Violin 4 Quint 5-1/3 Tuba mirabills Orchestral to Violin celestes 4 Octave principal 4 English post horn 16 bombarde 16 Orchestral strings 4 O~n diapason 4 Chorus trumpet 16 Orchestral to Muted strings 4 Ti ia I 4 Tuba horn 8 bombarde 8 Concert flute 4 Tibia IJ 4 Orchestral oboe 8 8 Solo to bombarde 8 Twelfth 2-2/3 Tibia Ill 4 Clarinet Orchestral to Viole 2 Gamba 4 Saxophone 8 8 bombarde 5-1/3 Flautina 2 Gamba ce lestes Krumet Viol D orchestre 4 Musette 8 Orchestra I to Chrysaglott 4 Chrysag Iott damper Viol D orchestre Vox humane I 8 bombarde 4 Tuba mirabilis 8 celestes 4 Tuba mlrabilis Orchestral to 4 bombarde 3-1/5 Solo Trumpet 8 Orchestral strings 4 English post horn Concert flute 4 Chorus trumpet 4 Orchestra I to Chorus Trumpet 8 2-2/3 Tuba horn 8 Tibia Ill twelfth 2-2/3 Ch(osaglott bombarde Clarinet 8 Flute twelfth 2 ~ ophone Ch,V!i09lott Saxophone 8 Tibia Ill plccolo 2 lockenspiel Carillon Krumet 8 Violetta 2 Chimes Chimes •concluded on next page $5.00 - DUES ARE NOW DUE FOR 1964 - $5.00 Winter 1963-'64 17 gency studio outside London . MOLLERSPECIFICATIONS (Concluded) Having encountered many hardships Traps with the tra veiling organ because of wartime conditions, Reginald Foort, who PISTONS Sleigh bel Is had learned of the destruction of the Manual Toe Police whistle BBC studios and the organ, in May 1941 Bird whistle offert'!d his portable organ to BBC for the Acc. (2nd touch Pedal 5 Steamboat whistle duration. Eagerly they accepted it, and peda0 20 Solo to percussion Surf the organ was installed in temporary Great (2nd touch Cymbal roll Firebell general) 20 Bird whistle studios outside of London, where it Siren remained for several years. Fallowing Orchestral 20 Sfzorzando Chinese Block tap Solo 20 General canceller the war Mr. Foort decided to sell the Chinese block repeat organ outright to BBC. After a complete Cymbal Crash cleaning, etc. t BBC re- erected the organ in Jubilee Hall, Ease Road, London, THEATRE ORGAN ON THE MOVE where it remains today .. At this time the (Concluded) 16 foot extension of the Gamba rank was of sight, and the thunderous sound of the the roof space, but the show continued . finally installed and put to use. These organ literally brought the house down . It was the organ crew who saved the large pipes had remained unused and in World War II came, and as it pro- theatre . storage because it was determined at the gressed, moving of the giant organ During the war many theatre organists very beginning that they were too deli­ became more and more difficult . Later, played an important part in keeping up cate to be subjected to constant handling. it was necessary to switch some pipes morale during the air-raids, and BBC After app:oximately 167 trips, the organ and leave the large string section behind made full use of their theatre organ (a is still in daily use .... a fitting finale .. in order to ship the organ by rail. During Compton) until one night in September The foresight required to conceive a week's engagement at the Empire in 1940, when it was destroyed by a bomb such a large undertaking is certainly Liverpool, bombs were dropped nightly, dropped on St . George's Hall . This fact commendabler and while this may not usually during the second performance, was kept a secret for security reasons, have been the first travelling pipe organ, and on the Saturday night of that engage- and BBC immediately started using a it was without a doubt far and away the ment three incendiaries were burning in Hammond which was ready in an emer- largest ever built. 444♦4444♦444♦♦4♦44♦4♦♦44444♦4444444444444444 A MightySound Revived! Geo. Wright at , San Francisco By Al White On December 13, 1963, the marquee of was persuaded to allow an opening to be Fallowing the usual running down of the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco made in the stage for the console to once dead notes, crossed wires, etc., the proudly announced, "It's A Mad, Mad, again rise and be visible. The first time pipework was then completely gone over Mad, Mad World," intimating chat the the organ had been used since the by Villeman, and the regulating and unexpected was taking place inside. By Cinerama debut was in February, 1963, tuning completed just in time for the all accepted standards, it was. The big when Tiny James and Everett Nourse first concert. Of course, during the re­ 4/21 Robert Morton pipe organ had played for the opening week of "How habilitation, the usual things that were virtually been completely overhauled, and The West Was Won." not included in the original listing for three days George Wright would per­ Late this year Radio Station KPEN­ showed up: regulators blew up, tremulants form for capacity audiences. FM, which had sponsored the previous gave up, and to top it all it was found The Orpheum Theatre in San Fran­ George Wright concerts at the late S.F. that previous 'mechanics' had grabbed cisco is the Cinerama showcase, and Fox, was investigating the possibilities the key relay drawers and bent contact when the wide screen process was of sponsoring another Wright concert at wires together or })ad broken them off introduced, the remodeling had made the one of the theatres in San Francisco that entirely. This was one of the longest organ almost unusable for public shows still possessed a usable pipe organ. The jobs encountered in the entire rehabili­ by extending the stage out over the Orpheum, with its 4 manual Robert tation. The only problem that still orchestra pit, thus covering the console Morton, was selected following a meeting exists is the matter of regulated heat in and the foundation organ. Through the with George Wright, Jim Gabhart and the four chambers, as this creates a efforts of two local ATOE members, Ron Gary Gielow of KPEN-FM, and Sam terrific tuning problem. But plans are Downer and Ernie Langley, the chief Pearlman, district manager for Cinerama. now afoot to correct this situation. Cinerama projectionist, the management George indicated what he felt needed The series of three concerts featuring to be done to make the organ ready for a George Wright were scheduled for Friday concert performance, and under the super­ and Saturday nights, with a matinee on vision of Dick Villeman (ATOE-AGO), Sunday afternoon. Prime evening time the rehabilitation started. Helping were was available due to the theatre being Charles Hershman (who had originally closed to normal operations during the installed the organ), Ron Downer, Bob trans1t1on between Cinerama pictures. Membership cordially invited - USA - Rhodes and Tiny James. The console Promptly at 8: 30 p.m., the house lights $3.00 per year, includes a regular news required the most attention, as it had dimmed, George Wright sat down at the magazine containing news items, record been liberally sprayed by water a few organ and the new combination of George reviews, articles on electronic organs years back during a fire on the Cinerama Wright at the Magnificent Orpheum Thea­ and specifications of theatre organs in stage . The four manuals had to be com­ tre Robert Morton commenced. The con­ all States of Australia. pletely reworked and the many pallets in cert, as all George Wright concerts are, Address all communications to THE the console recovered, together with a proved to be full of surprises and a HONORABLE SECRETARY, T.O.S.A., complete overhauling of the combination playing ability that is beyond approach. 10 Caloola Road, Wentworthville, N.S.W. setterboards. The organ sounded tremendous. The $5.00 DUES ARE NOW DUE FOR 1964 $5.00

18 theatre organ Tibia and Strings are particularly out­ Following the George Wright concerts, t>oasts the largest listening audience of standing. The Echo chamber boasts one the organ, featuring Tiny James at the any FM radio station, and to Mr. Sam of che nicest Vox Humanas to be found, console, was used for the opening week Pearlman of the Cinerama-Orpheum together with a small scale Tibia and of the latest Cinerama offering, "Mad, Theatre for making this all possible. It String. Villeman had moved the Bird Mad, etc. World." In late February of is also only proper to give a big vote of Whistle out of the Echo chamber and this year, Gaylord Carter is scheduled thanks to George Wright for his part in mounted it on the outside of the shutter for a return to the Bay Area, also at the making this almost unknown theatre pipe frame, thus creating an Antiphonal Bird Orpheum. He will present an evening of organ an important part of the San Fran­ Whistle which George promptly named theatre organ music and will acco·mpany cisco organ scene. Phoebe. There are two chambers located the full length silent film "Safety Last," Thus, a mighty sound has been right and left of the stage which are high scarring Harold Lloyd. Carter is not only revived. Its past is known. The future is enough to entirely clear che giant Cin­ an excellent organist, but his ability as what the people of San Francisco and the erama screen and curtain. The fourth an entertainer who can provide a wide surrounding area make it. chamber is located under che original scope of entertainment is untouchable. It is this person's hope that this stage where it had opened into the old His appearance in the Bay Area and the organ will not only be a strong voice of orchestra pit. Since Cinerama makes a presentation of the Harold Lloyd comedy nostalgia but also a media for providing practice of covering everything in front virtually guarantee capacity attendance. new sounds in the future. of the screen, this chamber does not get Obviously the Orpheum organ is going Following are the specifications of out too well, and was therefore amplified to be used extensively. Much of the the San Francisco Orpheum Robert through the original house theatre sound credit goes to KPEN-FM, which now Morton pipe organ: system. This amplification, handled properly, is quite effective. UNDERSTAGE CHAMBER COMPASS LEFT CHAMBER COMPASS The second concert Saturday evening was considered by many to be the best of Bou rd on-FI ute 16 - 1-3/5 Oboe Horn 16 - 4 the three. The remodeling of the theatre Diaphonic Diapason 16 - 4 Gamba 16 - 2 for Cinerama has rendered the entrance Trumpet 8 - 4 Gamba Celeste 8 - 4 from a below stage level impossible, and Tibia {Sma 11 sea le Wurli Tzer 8 - 4 Dopp le Flute 8-4 thus the organist cannot seat himself at replacing Flute Celeste) Quintadena 8 - 4 the console from the usual hidden en­ Clarinet 8 English Horn trance for a majestic rise on the hydrau­ 8 - 4 Violin 8 - 4 lic lift. George Wright solved the Marimba Harp Viol in Celeste problem very neatly by walking out to 8 - 4 the lowered console and very artfully Chrysoglott ECHO CHAMBER {Located in ceiling at All Non-tonal Percussions jumping into the pit. A few seconds lacer rear of auditorium) he arose, bringing the organ to full height and producing che thrill that can RIGHT CHAMBER Stopped Diapason 16 - 4 only be had when a massive theatre con­ Viol Etheria 8 - 4 Tuba Mira bi lis 16 - 4 sole rises high into the air. The music Vox Humana 8 - 4 encompassed a full gamut of music which Tibia Clausa 8 - 2 Chimes g - 4 George is very capable of performing. A Open Dia pas on Bird Whistle {Antiphonal ? ?) highlight for many was Mr. Wright's Kinura 8 - 4 "Crawfordsville" music, which was a Vox Humana 8 - 4 George Wright at the S.F. Orpheum meticulous interpretation of the music Glockenspiel Robert Morton as seen from the upper and style of the late Jesse Crawford. The Xylophone balcony. evening was completed with a medley of Christmas selections. The components that make the artistry of George Wright function appear to be fantastic imagination, flawless technique and the desire to entertain people with his brand of music. The components functioned superbly and the concert was certainly memorable. On Sunday after­ noon, the hydraulic lift was misbehaving, and therefore had to be left at its top position. But after addressing a few caustic remarks to the lift, George began the concert in his usual fine style. It should be noted that there were many comparisons made between the Orpheum Theatre and che now dis­ appeared Fox. It is very obvious that there are a number of differences, the most important one being that through the process of Cinerama, the Orpheum The­ atre is a profitable operation and will probably be on the local scene for some time to come, and it would probably be wise to make the most of this. It is sincerely hoped that this concert will once again be the means of having George Wright as well as other artists appear regularly in the San Francisco bay area playing theatre organ in its natural setting, the moving picture the­ atre. (See More Photos on Next Page) $5.00 DUES ARE NOW DUE FOR 1964 - $5.00 Winter 1963- 164 19 11 IDill ill r10G!U 17 l}!u! flgi lli aw !u1 fla 0 ®a IB0 wLU ®rnrrnl7 ilill ~illill !Flfillill@fl~@©IPG!lfillffil©ffiillil ®©ill@0lfU

Ann Leaf, best known for her organ programs on the national Network of the Columbia Broadcasting System , is enjoying a new c are e r in show bu s in ess . Her recent successes at midnight organ concerts at the Wiltern Theatre and the Los Angeles Theatre in Los Angeles, and the Fox Theatre in Detroit , prompted Earl Long, manager of the San Francisco Paramount, to stage one for Miss Leaf on Saturday, January 25, at 11 p.m. The Mighty Mite holds her audiences spell bound with her easy swing from an organ Samba to a rhythmic Mozart classic, and all San Francisco organ lovers looked forward to this first visit of Ann Leaf in public concert. This was the second public theatre pipe organ concert for San Francisco following George Wright at the Orpheum in December (see review on page 18 ). The next will be the Gaylord Carter concert at the Orpheum in late February, followed by another concert in early April at the Orpheum's Robert Morton featuring local Bay Area artists in a variety program. Ann Leaf at console of Simonton Grande WurliTzer, Toluca Lake, Calif. Another organ activity scheduled for the San Francisco Bay Area is to be Paramount , where a large 3 manual being installed on the lift that formerly announced shortly by the Oakland Rodgers Electronic theatre organ is held a 4 / 20 WurliTzer. This is a custom installation with all of the speakers going into the original organ chambers. The comparison promises to be inter­ esting. SINCERE THANKS To the many friends who sent Holiday greeting cards, we want to thank you sincerely, and hope that your Holidays were joyous and that the New Year will bring you and yours health , happiness and prosperity . George Thompson, Editor Ida James, National Secretary Tiny James , President 0000CG0000000000G0000000000~0 8 RECORD ALBUMS FOR SALE 8 8 Featuring 8 JOHN BRENT LEDWON 08 08 0 0 0 ORGA,NIST AT PLAY 2 8 Recorded on 3/ 13 Wuf'liTzer. 0 8 THEATRE ORGAN OVERTURES AT 8 0 THE PLAZA 8 8 WurliTzer 3/ 15 at , 0 0 El Paso, Texas. 0 0 0 0 HEY, LOOK ME OVER 0O 0 Hammond and 0 0 0 0 Mono $4.00 - Stereo $5.00 Postpaid 8 8 Add $1.00 postage for overseas. 0 8 List of song titles on request. 8 George Wright (left) and Dick Villeman, organ technician (right), 8 ALPHA RECORDS, 5965 West ~l~d., 8 looking at picture of the SF Fox console painted by young man 0 Los Angeles, California 90043 8 holding picture. Inset - Console of SF Orpheum Robert Morton. 800 0 0 00 0 0 00 0000000 00 0c 0 00 00 0 0 $5.00 - DUES ARE NOW DUE FOR 1964 - $5.00 20 theatre orga -n usual. It should be added here that both of these performers studied under Leon­ CHAPTER ACTIVITIES ard MacClain, another testimonial to organization was notified immediately and Leonard's ability to not only perform but CHICAGOAREA CHAPTER to teach as well. their approval requested. Chairman - William F. Barry, 620 So you may now call us ConnValChap! After this performance, we went to the Convention Hall Ballroom to hear the Pleasant Avenue, Glen Ellyn, Illinois. Any THEATRE ORGAN readers in 4/55 Kimball. This organ was designed Secretary - Walter I. Rathmann, 1007 them thar hills are cordially invited -­ and voiced by the late Senator Emerson yea, even urged -- to contact any chapter South First Avenue, Maywood, Illinois. Richards, as well as the main auditorium officer at once and make yourself known. CONNECTICUTVALLEY CHAPTER And if you jes' happen to have a 4m/36r organ. WurliTzer of your own, we won't bar you While members were playing the ball­ Chairman - Everett Bassett, 312 on that account. room organ, groups of 20 at a time were Homestead Ave., Waterbury, Conn. 06701. Very seriously, we are anxious to taken for a tour of one of the eight chambers of the main organ. William Secretary - Judy Derby, 109 Layton recruit members and locate organs north of the Connecticut state line, and we'd Rosser, organ chief, explained various St., West Hartford, Conn. 06110. workings of the chamber and one can be most happy to hear from anyone in that appreciate the tremendous task of tuning Picture a mirror lake nestled among area. Eleanor D. Weaver and maintaining this gigantic instrument. sloping, tree-dotted hills. Picture an The following members had the op­ attractive studio, just a patio from the portunity to play the lallroom organ: Ed lake's edge, a wall of windows overlook­ Weimer, Dick Loderhose, Wendell Rotter, ing the lake. Visualize a gold and white DELAWAREVALLEY CHAPTER Garret Paul, Al Hermanns,, Esther Hig­ three manual Wurli Tzer console in one Chairman - John Armstrong, Jr., Mech­ gins, Olga Headley, Barbie Fesmire, Sal corner of the big room, a two manual gold anicsville, Pa. Trippey, Donald Leroy, Lowell Ayars, and white console opposite, and three Leo Bolbecker, Frank Cummins, Mark chambers bulging with pipes and percus­ Secretary - Laura T. Fesmire, 2411 Huntingdon Pike, Huntingdon Valley, Pa. Dresden, Robby Carson, George MacNeal, sions. Make it a warm, blue, autumn Kathy Woern, Clifford Welsh, and Jerry afternoon and this is ConnChap's On Sept. 22, Delaware Valley Chapter Glaze. Oct. 12 meeting at George L . .:Shaskan 's After the meeting, many members went studio in Stamford. To the ardent members made their annual trip to the Surf City hotel, Surf City, N. J., to play and to Luigi's Restaurant, where reservations ATOE-er, this is paradise; no wonder our had been made for the club. meeting was so well attended! hear the 3/15 WurliTzer installed there. In the evening, Rosa Rio played an Surf City hotel's regular organist, R. A. Pfunke informal and delightful concert for us. Frank Albanese, has performed there When we failed to coax her back to the since 1961 and has quite a background console, Chairman Ev Bassett ran a ·rare, on the "King of Instruments." tle first one-man show -- well, with some assist­ played at the Strand Theatre in Union ance from the distaff side. He projected City, N .J ., at the age pf 13. He was heard silent movies (he got them running and over Stations WOR, WHN, and WAA T, EASTERNMASSACHUSETTS wife Eleanor took over), and raced to the broadcasting from the State Theatre, CHAPTER console to accompany the show. Jersey City , N.J., for 14 years. Also to A fitting follow-up, this, to the hilar­ his credit is the first jazz organ concert Chairman - Jim Rankin, 73 Grand ious summer outing at the Orange home -­ at Carnegie Hall. And he was official Street, Reading, . and pool -- and organ -- of Jack and Ann organist at the famous Stage Door Can­ Secretary - Elbert J. Drazy, 6 Am­ Heavens. While the kiddies (of all ages) teen of W.W. II in N.Y.C. herst Road, Andover, Massachusetts. gurgled in the pool, us organ alligators The meeting at Surf City was a bigger gathered round to admire Jack's spanking success than the one last year, indicat­ The October meeting was held at the new pride and joy: an Allen Custom The­ ing that the ,nembers look forward to this home of Mr. and Mrs. Pat Fucci in Wal­ atre Organ installed just the previous annual meeting. tham, and included the election of 1964 day. We all took a whack at the console, On October 27 the chapter journeyed officers and preliminary plans for the and Chairman Ev Bassett could scarcely to Rahway, N.J ., to hear an excellent Spring Concert. Following the business tear away even for the pot-luck supper or 2/7 WurliTzer at the Rahway Theatre. meeting, those in attendance had an op­ the incredible sleight-of-hand session by The organ was restored by Michael portunity to play Pat's Conn organ and to Magician Al Wall, or even the vintage Hughes and Wendell Rotter, who did a observe the progress being made on the 1909 bathing togs modeled by our hosts. marvelo~s job. The theatre management 4/20 Robert .Monon installation. Evening performances included a con­ op~ned the theatre to the general public At the request of the membership, the sole-and-keyboard duet by Ev Bassett at for the last half of the meeting, drawing November meeting was held at the Meth­ the Allen and Mike Foley at the apartment an audience of about 350 people in uen Memorial Music Hall. This fabulous grand piano, followed by a swinging addition to AATOE membership. Welcker concert organ, a 4 manual, 80- combo composed of Host Jack Heavens Performing at this meeting were the 100 rank instrument, is one of America's at the Alle ·n, son Johnny at the drums, following: Alan Day, Al Hermanns, Bar­ finest. It was built in Germany between and neighbor Gene Hubbard tooting a hot bie Fesmire, Wendell Rotter, Bob Carson, 1857 and 1863, and arrived in on sax. That warm evening inspired real cool Leo Bolbecker, George Miller, Gerry March 22, 1863, after running the British jazz! Glaze, Arnold Leeds, Garret Paul, Donald blockade. The organ was originally in­ Leroy, and Dick Loderhose. CONNCHAP GOES BIG stalled in the old Boston Music Hall. In November 17 was the day many of us 1897, Edward Searles of Methuen pur­ In fact, ConnChap is being discarded were waiting for, to hear and see .:he chased the instrument and had a special in favor of embracing the entire Connect­ famed Atlantic City Convention Hall hall designed and built just for the organ. icut Valley area. At the October 12 organ. The December meeting was held at meeting in Stamford, the members voted to The program was opened by Barbie the home of Chuck Whitehead. Chuck's change our nam~ to the Connecticut Fesmire who, it is understood, is the organ is WurliTzer Opus 193 from th~ Valley Chapt .er, and to add Western Mas­ second woman ever to play this gigantic Codman Square Theatre in Dorchester, sachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont instrument, an honor in itself. Mass. to our geographical area which formerly Following Barbie was Lowell Ayars, David Hartshorn included only Connecticut. The national who gave an excellent performance as $5.00 DUES ARE NOW DUE FOR 1964 $5.00 Winter 1963-'64 21 LAND O'LAKES CHAPTER NIAGARA FRONTIER CHAPTER difficulty in getting his right foot down on the pedalboard as well as the left, or Chairman - Ed Borowiec, 224 S. 5th Chairman - Grant Whitcomb, 19 Church cancelling tremulants when the music Street, Delano, Minn. Street . East Aurora, New York. required it; however, when the tremulants Secretary - Burt Frank, 820 Hoyt Av. Secretary - Laura Thomas, 3534 Bow­ would contribute to the desired effect, W., St. Paul, Minn. en Road, Lancaster, New York. they were used, thanks be. A 'well-deserved tribute was given to Now that the Annual Meeting is a What a wonderful experience it is, to Danny and Oline Schultz and their as­ pleasant memory, we have been able to have the priv -ilege of hearing a truly sociates for the splendid condition of step up the frequency of our chapter great theatre organist play a concert on the organ; Reggie remarked that it was meetings. Our new officers were elected a fully restored WurliTzer in its natural wonderful to find such a magnificent and installed at the July 27 meeting, setting, a beautifully maintained movie Wurli Tzer in mint condition. One dead which was hosted by Harold and Don palace! Such was our good fortune Sun­ note on the Brass Trumpet was the only Peterson. We spent a rrw:>St enjoyable day, October 13th, when we heard the flaw in evidence throughout the entire afternoon with their 3/ 8 Barton, which world-renowned Reginald Foort present concert, which is remarkable considering nearly had to be blasted from the Uptown an unusually enjoyable program of the extensive use of solo voices. Reggie Theatre in St. Paul. This is a very un­ classical, concert and popular music on mentioned the excellence of the tuning, usual organ in which the top (Barton) the magnificent 4-21 WurliTzer in the which was very evident in the trems off manual is divided into a treble half and RKO Palace Theatre in Rochester, N.Y. passages. a bass half. Either portion may be coup­ Pre-concert excitement had reached a All too soon the concert ended; how­ led to the pedals, providing combinations peak when the big red curtains parted ever, when some encores were suggested , which are out of this world. Barton only slightly around the microphone, and Ni­ the applause brought Reggie back. The made 12 of these organs, so Harold and agara Frontier President John Spalding climax of the encore numbers was Don have a real rarity. We all had a and Concert Chairman Dick Britton intro­ reached with his stirring rendition of chance to play it, but Bill Eden, home duced Reginald Foort at the centre "Finlandia," then a few lines of "Keep on leave from the U.S.A.F. in Germany, stage. The beautiful ivory and gold Smiling" brought the concert to a close. really showed us how to handle this wild console rose majestically from the left A large crowd quickly gathered around beast. Come home to stay soon, Bill! side of the pit, and Reggie climbed the console, eager to meet Reggie and Program Chairman Clyde Olson hints aboard to open with his familiar sig­ get his autograph. He graciously com­ that he has some very exciting things nature, "Keep Smillng." plied to the many requests. Annette planned for our meetings, but that's about It rapidly became evident that Reggie Maclean was in the audience, and Reggie all he'll say. He made an excellent start had the audience right in his hand; his was quite delighted to meet her, as her by having the gang out to his "ranch 11 informality and his humorous comments late husband, Quentin Maclean, was his for a picnic on Sunday, August 25th. We in a refined British accent brought many colleague in England. were treated to some very pleasant and a spontaneous chuckle. (He informed us H. Clealan Blakely pipe-like sounds from the Allen theatre right at the start that he was to be called and church organs at the Schmitt .Music Reggie). His playing seemed faultless, EDITOR'S NOTE: A fine story of the Company auditorium the evening of and deceivingly effortless. It is quite Niagara Frontier week-end meeting in September 19. The electronic organs are possible to render the works of the great Toronto was received too late for this closing the tonal gap between them and masters in a manner understandable and issue. Watch for it in the new ATOE the pipes rapidly. They're even driving enjoyable to everyone, as Reggie very Newsletter, under the able editorship of the generators with the :,ound of wind convincingly demonstrated. He had no Stu 'Posthorn' Green. ("Whind, 11 Allen calls it) .. What next? Ron Brownell ruined his reputation for never finishing a piece by finishing no less than three, and beautifully , too. A special treat was the playing of Paul Quarino, a young organist from Milwaukee who is studying music in Minneapolis. He is definitely a "Jack of all musical trades," and a master of all of them. You h aven't really heard the "St. Louis Blues" unless you've heard Paul do it on the large church organ, right after a very intricate improvisation of a heavy classical selection. Take it from us, you '11 hear more from this fellow! John Zetterstrom

LOS ANGELES CHAPTER Chairman - Jack Shemick, 4311 Stew­ art Avenue, Los Angeles, California. Secretary - Miss Constance Brenner, 1914 South Vermont Avenue, Suite 12, Los Angeles, California.

NEW YORK CHAPTER Chairman - James Dougherty, 314 East 196 Street, Bronx, New York. Harry B. Picken, Niagara Frontier Chapter director and former theatre Secretary - Mary Dougherty. organist, at console of 4/28 WurliTzer, August 4 concert.

$5.00 DUES ARE NOW DUE FOR 1964 - $5.00 22 theatre organ ORGAN RECORDINGS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

BUDDY COLE - Modern Pipe Organ Just released and we have it. Buddy Cole at his own studio organ. Many thrilled to this combination at the 1962 A TOE convention. This a I.bum includes many color photos of the console and pipe work. The fidelity we find superb.

DON BAKER - Sound Showcase Baker's latest theatre pipe organ recording showcases many of the unique effects available only on such an organ. Photos of the Lorin Whitney organ, one in full color, adorn the album jacket.

JESSE CRAWFORD - Poet of the Pipe Organ Expertlr performing the music of Irving Ber in, this is a masterpiece of an album by the recognized master of the art of theatre organ playing. This is Arthur Melgier, member of Niagara Frontier Chapter, and a former theatre Crawford's first recording since the organist, at Shea's Buffalo Theatre Wurli Tzer during August 4 concert. advent of long-playing, high fidelity techniques. MONO ONLY.

FAREWELL TO THE FOX, Vols. I & II Still our best selling albums, these well produced recordings have Everett Nourse and Tiny James bidding goodbye to one of the great organ and theatre combinations. Order now while the beautiful and informative double fold album covers remain available.

Some of the recordings we have liandled are no longer available and those fortunate enough to have obtained them now own collector items . The Tiny James Fox Oakland recording is an example. Other recordings, although available, are Reginald Foort and Annette Maclean at Allen Mills at console of 4/21 WurliTzer difficult to get from their suppliers and console of R KO Palace Theatre 4/ 21 RKO Palace Theatre, during his concert require a great deal of time and energy WurliTzer, October 13 Niagara Frontier performance on August 18. on our part resulting in a slight delay to ATOE concert, Rochester, N. Y. you. We feel confident that" it is worth­ - Photo by Clifford O' Kane . ~()~()~()~()~()~()~ while waiting a week or so longer in numbers which set tongues wagging were order to obtain albums of merit. Since you NORTHERN CALIFORNIA his amazing repraductions of several of do bear with us, we thank you for the opportunity of serving you . CHAPTER the early Jesse Crawford records. The voicing of this organ, plus Jim's uncanny Chairman - Fred Clapp , 5610 Castle choice of registration, made one feel that Mono Stereo Drive, Oakland, California. the "Poet of the Organ" could not be Secretary - Gordon Walker , 4678 Bel­ too far away after all. Buddy Cole 4.00 5.00 Don Baker 4.00 5.00 fast A venue, Oakland , California. Following this auspicious beginning, the 200 members and guests reveled in Jesse Crawford 4.00 Mono Only Farewel I Fox No. I 5.00 5.00 The first meeting in several months the "Big Sound" for some two hours Farewell Fox No. 2 5.00 5.00 for the normally very active Northern with groups being offered by Aura Ed­ California Chapter was held at San Fran­ wards (looking very cute in red dress and cisco's spacious Paramount Theatre on pert modern hair-do), and Chapter Chair­ Nam.,______December 7. The big 4/ 33 WurliTzer was man Fred Clapp , and polished off in found to be in fine fettle after under­ great style by old pros Dave Quinlan and Add res,.______going extensive overhaul by a crew under Larry Yannucci. professional organ-man Ed Stout. Paramount mem bee-manager-en th usias t City ______Zip ____ _ People began entering the darkened Earl Long was obviously pleased at the auditorium a few minutes after 8 a.m. on big turnout and the music, promising even For prompt delivery, rush this order along this rather dark and sprinkly Saturday, more of the past hospitality and cooper­ with your check or money order. Sorry, no and the program began about 9 a.m., ation for which we are all very grateful. COD orders, Please add 75¢ per disc for following considerable picture taking of A meeting was promised for January, usual for.eign deliveries. Send to : the partially-raised console. Following a to kick off anotber big year for the Nor few announcements, the music was Cal Chapter, now the largest organ club F - W ENTERPRISES in Northern California , itself a hotbed of P. 0. Box 1673 started by Jim Roseveare of San Jose. Oak.land, California, 94604 While Jim played a variety of music, the *Please turn to next page $5.00 - DUES ARE NOW DUE FOR 1964 - $5.00 Winter 1963- 164 23 Boyce premiere his big 4/ 34 WurliTzer, o(which 21 ranks were playing. Jim began his program with a medley of songs from "Porgy and Bess," and after taking us through many delightful tunes, finished with a fantasy on "West Side Story." The organ, still to be en­ closed, sounded very good, even though there are places in the vast arena which tend to harm the sound of this fabulous instrument. But in general, those who recorded the concert probably got very good tapes. The console was later turned over to other members ffl"IO wished to try their hand. Our thanks to the management and to Jim Boyce for their cooperation. There were approximately 150 in attendance. On November 17, at 8:30 p.m., the Potomac Valley Chapter and J F The­ atres presented Leonard MacClain in a special Theatre Organ Party with silent movies, song slides and all of the Leon­ ard MacClain special arrangements The San Francisco Paramount 4/33 WurliTzer. played on the Giant Kimball Pipe Organ in Baltimore's Stanton Theatre. With over organ acu vity of all types. Eight big While several favorite haunts disappeared 1000 in attendance, this was an evening affairs were held in 1963, with heavy or became unavailable during 1963, there that will long be remembered. attendance at every one. Membership has are a number of new installations which On December 1, a last-minute meeting been rising steadily without any member­ will become available for meetings in the was held for all to hear, for the final ship drive, merely because of the stead­ coming year, so there should be plenty time, the 2/ 7 WurliTzer in the State ily increasing interest in our music, and of variety ahead for chapter members. Theatre, Baltimore. News of the closing underscored by an increasing number of Fred Clapp of the theatre was made public on Novem­ organ concerts by other organizations. ber 25th, leaving ~ittle time to notify all POTOMAC VALLEY CHAPTER members. We saw many new faces at the Pl EDMONT CHAPTER console, among them, Charlie McClellan, Chairman - Paul M. Abernathy, M.D. Chairman - Ray Brubacher, 1706 May­ Frank Myers, and a new member, Roger 1610 Vaughn Road, Burlington, N.C. hew Dri ve, Silver Spring, Maryland. Goodell. Secretary - Edwin G. Baldwin, 2711 Secretary - Woody Wise, 3701 Eaton Our member John Steele has purchased Bedford Street, Burlington, N .C. Place, Alexandria, Virginia. the 3/ 32 Moller in Loew's Palace The­ atre, Washington, D.C. John will remove OHIO VALLEY CHAPTER On Friday evening October 25th, a and store the instrument until he finds a Chapter meeting was held at the "Amer­ suitable home for it. Congratulations, Chairman - Glenn E. Merriam, 548 ica on Wheels" rink, Alexandria, Va. John. It's going to someone who will Terrace Ave., Cincinnati 20, Ohio. Members from as far away as Richmond really appreciate it! Secretary - Mrs. Glenn E. Merriam. and Baltimore were present to hear Jim Ray Brubacher

New officers of Ohio Valley Chapter. L. to r., Glerin E. With Mayor Frank R. Somers of Dayton, Ohio, looking on Merriam, chairman; Mrs. Merriam, secretary-treasurer; Ev; approvingly, Robert E. Kline, president of Dayton Board of erard Pratt Jr., vice chairman. - Photo by Jack Foster. Education and Director of Education and Training for Na­ tional Cash Register, plays Ken Hunt's Wurl iTzer at Ohio Valley Chapter meeting. $5.00 DUES ARE NOW DUE FOR 1964 $5.00

24 theatre organ At 11 p.m., the meeting broke for re­ ball located on the top floor of a large PUGET SOUND CHAPTER freshments until the late show was over barn in North Bothell, Washington. The at the Paramount. A little after 1 a.m., meeting opened with a fine concert by Chairman - Andy Crow, 605 South 120 Dick Schrum brought the 4/20 WurliTzer Roger Johnson, with a short business Street, Tacoma, Washington. out of the pit and gave a short concert, meeting following. Then all adjourned to Secretary - Dick Schrum, 12258 followed by the members again. By this a wonderful dinner arranged by the wives 12 St. NW, Seattle, Washington 98177. time, some of the organists around town of Don French, Woody Pesho, Bill Car­ had shown up, such as Don French and son, Harold Shawver, Jim Collier and The third meeting of 1963 was held Woody Pesho, and this added a spark to Dick Schrum. over Labor Day Week-end, with a visit a rather happy-tired group. The meeting Following a jam session that lasted to two theatres, starting out the night of ended about 3:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.,m., the crowd split up to take August 31 at 8 p.m. with Andy Crow At 2: 30 p.m. on Sunday, the meeting in the Morrison's 3 manual Marr & Colton, presiding at the Music Hall Morton. After got under way again, this time at the Jim and Roger Johnson's Wurli Tzer-Morton­ a brief enjoyable concert, the organ was Collier residence, where the organ is a Wicks combo. turned over to the membership. three manual (2 operating) 11 rank Kim- Dick Schrum

Dick Schrum brings up the Seattle Paramount Bob Jones at the Collier Kimball. WurliTzer.

WoodyFresho at Collier's Kimball. Jim Tarling, Roger Johnson, Don French, Roy­ den Morrison, socializing at the Coll'ier barn.

~()~()~()~()~()~()~()~()~()~()~()4illa-()~()~()4illa-()4illa-()4illa-()4illa-()4illa-()4illa-()4illa-()4illa- THE SOUTHEASTERN CHAPTER ST. LOUIS AREA CHAPTER VALLEY OF THE SUN CHAPTER Chairman - Carl Norvell, Rt. 3, Box Chairman - Edgar 'Ned' Lustig, Chairman - Al Comtois, 3508 West 249, Griffin, Georgia. 12226 Mentz Hill Rd,St. Louis, Mo. 63128. McClellan Blvd., Phoenix, Arizona. Secretary - Bob Hill, Shurlington Secretary - Wendell Whitcraft, 445 Secretary - Edna E. Hunnicutt, 3026 Plaza, Macon, Georgia. Baker Avenue, St. Louis 19, Missouri. East Garfield Street, Phoenix, Arizona.

$5.00 DUES ARE NOW DUE FOR 1964 - $5.00

Winter 1963- '64 25 OREGONCHAPTER Crawford, Dunstedter, and others, in a 1922 to stay 3 months, but has been here very clever presentation. ever since. Carruthers installed the Wur­ Chairman - Ted Marks, 706 N. E. Following the concert, Harry E. liTzer organs in the Paramount, Oriental, 165th Ave., Portland, Oregon. Carruthers was introduced to speak of and Broadway theatres in Portland. Secretary - Bill Peterson, 2708 N. his recollections and to show old photos. His talk proved very interesting, and Portland Blvd., Apt. 2, Portland, Ore. Carruthers recalled, as a small boy in the membership enjoyed it. A motion was England, his earliest knowledge of Hope­ passed to make Mr. Carruthers an honor­ The first meeting of the Oregon Chap­ Jones, who used to shake his hand by ary member of the chapter. ter was held October 20th, at the home of extending his little finger. After coming The meeting concluded with a "jam Mr. and Mrs. Doug Phillips. A group of to the United States, Mr. Carruthers and session," and the serving of coffee and 41 were entertained by Bob Rickett at his father both worked for, and were dessert. The Chapter would like to thank the 2/ 7 Wick organ in the Phillips home. stockholders in, the Hope- Jones Organ the Phillipses for the warm hospitality The organ was just finished in time for Company. He al so worked for WurliTzer, they extended in hosting this meeting in this meeting, having been enlarged from Kimball, Skinner, and Robert Morton. their home. 4 ranks. It sounded very beautiful, as While a t Wurli Tzer, he developed the Bob recreated some of the memories of brass crumpet. He came to Portland in

Harry E. Carruthers, guest speaker at Officers of the new Oregon Chapter, I. to Oregon Chapter meeting October 20, one Bob Rickett seated at the Wick 2/7 in the r., Dennis Hedberg, vice chairman; Bill of the original stockholders and workmen Doug Phillips home, where he was the Peterson, secretary; and Ted Marks, in the Hope.Jones Organ Company ... featured artist at October meeting of chairman. al so the developer of the Brass trumpet Oregon Chapter. while at Wurl iTzer in N. Tonawanda.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WESTERNRESERVE CHAPTER Chairman - Duane D . . Arey, 10718 CompleteWurliTzer List Available Johnnycake Ridge Road, Concord Town­ ship, Painesville, Ohio. The WurliTzer list recently published Opus Number. Secretary - Clayton D. George, 20101 This No. 3 list shows the organs by serially in THEATRE ORGAN has been Beachview Dr., Cleveland 17, Ohio. the subject of many inquiries since it style groupings, and by Opus Numbers. first began to appear in print. It has Thus, all of the Style D's are listed by been pointed out that the list would be Opus Number, with variations shown. A LAST MINUTE CLASSIFIED much more valuable and interesting from Style DX, for instance, means a divided FOR SALE an enthusiast's standpoint if it were organ. An SP is a special; PL means a Upper 49 notes WurliTzer Tibia, $50.00, available by state and city. With this player attachment. Bottom 12 notes WurliTzer Violin, $25.00 thought in mind, former ATOE President A copy of these listings with a clip WiII iam 0. Morrison, 5152 Sound Ave., Judd Walton has had the entire listing binder is now available by writing to: Everett, Washington. punched on IBM cards and can now Judd Walton produce an IBM run or listing in any of California Farm Bureau Federation Ki Igen 3m/8r in playing condition. Com­ the following sequences: 2855 Telegraph Avenue plete traps, percussions, and toy counter. 1) The list by Opus Number (as it Berkeley, California, 94705. In home of Dallas, Texas suburb. $5400 appeared in THEATRE ORGAN). FOB. Detai Is ~n request from Bi II Thomp­ 2) A listing by state and city by Opus The cost is Ten Dollars ($10.00), which son, 1408 Beacon St., Brookline 46, Number. includes mailing charges. These lists Mass. This No. 2 listing shows a grouping are priced at cost, including mailing, by state, and then by cities with that without profit, as a service to ATOE members who are interested. It will be WurliTzer 16' Wood Diaphones, 12 notes, state alphabetically. And then if more with chests. Late Model. Phillip Stock, than one organ was shipped to a city, necessary for you to assemble the 1232 Farmongton Ave., West Hartford, the instruments are listed by Opus Num­ sheets. At least two weeks should be Conn. ber for chat city. Thus, Phoenix, allowed for the run to be made after ordering , plus mailing time. For further Arizona are found on this list WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING BACK informat ion, contact :Judd Walton at the under, Arizona, Phoenix, Opus No's. ISSUES LE FT IN STOCK: 408, Style B, Rialto Theatre; No. 2088, above address. Church 3M, 1st Baptist; No. 2155, RJ 8, 1959 - Volume I, No. 2 • •..• $1.00 ea. Mr. & Mrs. Gibbs. 1962 - Volume IV, No. 3 & 4 .. $1.00 ea. 3) A listing by Style Number and TRY A CLASSIFIED! 1963 - Volume V, No. 1, 2, 3 . $1.25 ea, $ 5 • 0 0 - D U E S A R E N 0-W D U E F O R l 9 6 4 - $ 5 • 0 0 26 theatre organ LEONARD MacCLAIN PLAYS FOR THEATRE ORGAN LOVERS - RALBAR SOLP-6301 (Stereo), OLP-6301 (Mono). Recorded on the Lorin Whitney Wur­ liTzer-Morton, this album captures the incomparable MacClain style at its best. The excellent choice of combinations makes each number a new listening delight, especially the beautiful Vox combinations used in .. Street Of Dreams." Lorin Whitney certainly deserves a pat on the back for such a well regulated BOB READ AT THE BEEF EATERS THEATRE ORGAN OVERTURES AT instrument. Selections include "Moon THEATRE PIPE ORGAN - HI-Fl PIPES THE PLAZA - John Brent Led won - River," "Street Of Dreams,'' "Don't - BR1001 (Mono only). AL PHA-S T-7702 (Stereo), M-7702 (Mono). Take Your Love From Me," "Goodnight, This is the first recording of a very This record is just what the title indi­ Sweetheart" (a gem), "Don't Blame Me," talented organist, Mr. Bob Read. Bob, cates, with three overtures being played "Ain't Misbehavin'," and others. who for years has been among the top for each side. The organ is the 3/15 In our opinion, this is a worthy ad­ jazz organists in the country, presents WurliTzer in the Plaza Theatre, El Paso, dition to any organ lover's music rack at his artistry at the console of his Marr & Texas, that has been cared for as an $4.98 Mono, $5.98 Stereo. The record is Colton-WurliTzer Theatre Pipe Organ. only child by Jim Connor and Walt Hanlon not available in stores, but will be ship­ This effort culminates six years of hard of the El Paso Theatre Organ Club. The ped postpaid from RALBAR PRODUC­ work rebuilding the organ, which is organ is certainly a credit to the two El TIONS, P.O. Box 212, Pottstown, Pa. presently installed in the famous Beef Paso renegades, as it sounds exception­ Eaters Restaurant in Phoenix, Arizona, ally well. The playing of young John where Bob plays nightly. The 3 manual Brent Ledwon is the best that we have "OLDIES" For Pipe Organ - Lee Erwin console ~hown on the record jacket con­ heard him do, and this reviewer knows plays the Mighty WurliTzer - SOMERSET­ trols 18 ranks of pipes plus a host of there is a lot of talent in this young SF-12600 (Stereo). percussions. Selections played are fellow. The numbers recorded are .. Or­ "Everything's Coming Up Roses," pheus In The Underworld," "Gloomy Here is an excellent record we picked "Makin' Whoopee," "Col. Bogey March" Sunday," "Poet And Peasant," "Viva up in a drugstore music rack for 88¢! (complete with all percussions), "My Mexico," "Morning, Noon And Night In The cover photo is the much used New Funny Valentine," "No, Not Much," and Vienna," and ., The Beautiful Gala th ea." York Paramount console, while the organ others. We don't know the price, or a It is our understanding that these num­ played by Lee Erwin is the studio Wur­ mailing address, rut would suggest that bers were suggested to young Ledwon by li Tzer at Radio City Music Hall. The you write Bob Read, Beef Eaters Res­ the Theatre Organ Society of Australia, selections include 31 all-time favorites taurant, Phoenix, Arizona, for this fine but we would have preferred hearing him including "Hot Time In The Old Town record. do something a little lighter, with Franz Tonight," "Wait Till The Sun Shines, von Suppe overtures not being quite our Nellie," "My Gal Sal," "Cuddle Up A cup of tea. It is, however, a good record, Little Closer," and so forth. This is a well played and well recorded. Available good pressing, with a minimum of surface by mail only from ALPHA RECORDS, noise, well played on a real WurliTzer THE BELLS OF CHRISTMAS CHIME 5965 West Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif,ornia with most of the colorful reeds in evi­ AGAIN (Volume 2) Eddie Dunstedter - 90043. Mono $4.00 and Stereo $5.00 post­ dence. We would say if you can pick this CAPITOL ST-1968. paid in the USA. up in your local drugstore even at $2.98 This album is a follow up to THE it is a good buy. BELLS OF CHRISTMAS recorded by Dunstedter last year. Both albums are "JOHN DE MELLO AT THE WAIKIKI recorded on the Lorin Whitney Wur­ THEATRE ORGAN" - Lani LS-1000. "THEATRE ORGAN TECHNIQUE" at li Tzer-Morton, and include the artistry of When thinking of Hawaii, most people the Hammond and Pipe by Rosa Rio - Bob Mitchell assisting with such melodic conjure up mental images of poi, pine­ RIO RECORDS-RR2004 (Mono). percussion instruments as celeste, apples, cocoanuts, hula girls and other vibraharp, chimes, and the remarkable Here is a record with two bands tropical dishes. Somehow, theatre pipe devoted to Hammond and one band to pipe Maas-Rowe Symphonic Carillon. The organs just don't seem to cross one's organ itself has its own Chimes, as well organ, for those who like to compare mind. But they got 'em! As a matter of between pipes and electronics. Rosa Rio as Glockenspiel, Xylophone, and Marim­ fact, there 3re two Morton organs installed . has an excellent style and good arrange­ ba - all adding to a holiday celebration in theatres in Honolulu. This album ments, although registration does not that is joyful to the ear as it is to the features John De Mello at the 4 manual vary too much either on the Hammond or spirit. Robert Morton theatre organ installed in Other sounds were added for the the pipe portion. The make or location cf the beautiful Waikiki Theatre in Hono­ charming novelty "In The Clock Store," the pipe organ is not mentioned, but it is lulu. which while not specifically associated probably a home or studio installation. The organ chambers are located to the The organ and tonal percussions sound with Christmas, was included by Dun­ right and left of the stage directly behind very well, and we get impression~ in stedter because it has invariably been two beautiful concrete palm trees. Lest listening to this disc that Rosa Rio has requested at many of the Christmas con­ your vacation dreams be shattered, the played a lot more pipe organ than she certs he has given during his long reign other palm trees in Hawaii are con­ as one of the greatest theatre organists. has electronic, as her style is so much structed in the usual method. This more relaxed on the pipe numbers. This is Christmas music in the style of Please rum to page 31 Selections include "People Will Say "Mr. Pipe Organ" Eddie Dunstedter. We're In Love," "Satin Doll," ''Sleepy Numbers played are "White Christmas," Time Gal," "The Swinging Shepherd "Silver Bells," "Sweet Little Jesus NOTE: To be reviewed in our next issue Blues," "Fascination," "Surrey With Boy," "Winter Wonderland" (We liked Two al bums by Ann Leaf, ''The The Fringe On Top," "St. Louis Blues" this arrangement), "I'll Be Home For Mighty Mite," recorded during her recent and others. We think you will enjoy this Christmas," "In The Clock Store," and concert at the Los Angeles Theatre. LP at $3.50 postpaid. RIO RECORDS, others. This is a super addition to any THAT THEY ARE EXCELLENT is all 130 Mill Street, Shelton, Connecticut. organ lover's library. we have space to say just now. $5.00 DUES ARE NOW DUE FOR 1964 - $5.00 Winter 1963- 164 27 TheWilliam Wood Pipe Organ Company

By Bill Peterson

Available history indicates chat the William Wood Pipe Organ Company was born in Portland, Oregon, in the year 1922. The officers who served the com­ pany throughout its existence were

William Wood 7 president; George A. Morrison, vice president; and Edward E. Juster, secretary . Several locations were used by the firm during its history . In 1925 the company was located on the west side of Portland at 101 13th Street. The company moved to much larger quarters in 1926, taking over the second floor of a manufacturing plant at 1475 East 27th Street North, corner of Morgan . Although street numbering in Portland has since been changed, the factory, with its large "CHAMPION MANUFAC­ TURING COMPANY" sign on the roof, stood proudly in the middle of what is now Northeast Lombard Street (at N.E. 27th Avenue) on the south side of the Union Pacific Railroad tracks . The railroad siding ''CHAMP,'' which ser­ viced the factory and its steam plant and Console of 3/6 Wood Band Organ of 1929 vintage as it appeared in 1963, dry kilns, is still there for chose of us after 34 years of service! who like to reminisce.

3/6 Wood Band Organ console as first installed in '29 in Band Shell, Rollerdrome Skating Rink, Culver City, Calif. Scenic painting in band shell, and console art i stry, by Ray Smith of the Wood Pipe Organ Company.

$5.00 - DUES ARE NOW DUE FOR 1964 - $5.00 28 theatre organ "Billy" Wood, as his friends and co­ was the Special 2/ 8 installed for Chris stalled a Special 3/ 6 organ in the Roller­ workers knew him, was a man of rare Jeffries at the Imperial Roller Rink, drome Skating Rink in Culver City, attributes. His genius for electrical Portland . The largest was surely the 4/ 13 California . This organ stood unenclosed mechanics, his profound knowledge of in seal led for Bob Bollinger in the Roller (see photos) in the West balcony of the music and musical instruments, and his Rink at The Oaks Amusement Park on Rink (opposite the entrance) and, thanks devotion to perfection in the building of the beautiful Willamette River near to "Billy's" special voicing, thrilled pipe organs endeared him to all who knew Portland . This organ was originally many thousands of skaters throughout the him . His musical education apparently installed as a 2/ 5 Special but was en­ many years of its use . This organ is now began very early in his life, for it is larged set by set, right at the. skating the property of Daniel F . Haworth of known that he and his brother Darwin, rink, to its eventual 4 / 13 size . Burbank, California. Mr. Haworth worked both of tender age, played a duet on pipe "Billy" Wood and his brother Darwin, for the W.i.Uiam Wood Pipe Organ Com­ organ and piano before Her Majesty, The "The Professor," were both accom­ pany from June 1927 through October Queen of England! Thus, "Billy" took plished musicians, and both were em­ 1929. The photos and much of the infor­ an early seep in a career which led him to ployed as organists at various Portland mation used in this story are th-rough the build ·many fine pipe organs and carve a theatres . However, "Billy" devoted the courtesy of Mr. Haworth. After the arrival niche in the musical history of the major portion of his talents to the build­ of "talkies", the William Wood Pipe Pacific Northwest. ing of pipe organs while "The Professor" Organ Company slowly went out of During the early days of the Silent became very popular with movie fans of business and "Billy" moved to Los Screen; the Jen sen and Von Herberg the period with his impressive accom­ Angeles, California. He installed one of theatre chain installed many fine organs paniments to the silent screen. Darwin his last pipe organs in the Shrine Roller in their theatres, and for a time William made many friends while teaching the Rink, adjoining the "Al Malaikah" Wood was their service man for these organ, broadcasting on radio, and playing Shrine TeO}Ple in Los Angeles, and later organs in the Portland area. Most of at the Blue Mouse, State, Oregon, and became manager of this rink. these organs were WurliTzers, and in­ Gellers Theatres . Both the Wood brothers passed away cluded the 4/32 Hope- Jones WurliTzer In 1929 the company built and in- in Los Angeles, William in 1938 and (Opus 164) in the Portland Liberty Theatre. During this time "Billy" maintained a Marr & Colton theatre organ A·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-· PARTIAL LIST OF PIPE ORGANS BUILT BY THE WOOD PIPE ORGAN COMPANY in suburban Forest Grove, Oregon . Since OF PORTLAND, OREGON the pipe organs, which he later built, contained similar chestwork of excellent Radio Station KEX • • • • • • Portland Oregon character there is no doubt that "Billy" 2/? Church • • • • • • • • • • • • Twin Falls, Idaho was influenced by Marr & Colton in his 2/? laurelhurst Christian Church • • • • Portland 2/8 own designs . State Theatre (now Cinema 21) • • • Portland 2/8 divided Most of the wooden pipes used in a (the first console in Oregon, on an elevator) ''William Wood'' organ were made in Walnut Portland II their own factory, a great many of them 2/? Sel lwood Theatre • • • • • • • • • • Portland II by the founder himself. Wood designed 2/8 Oregon Theatre • • • • • • • • • • • Portland 2/8 II his own "scales" for the wooden pipe (This organ went to KXL Radio, in Multnomah Hotel, Portland) work and his "Tibia Clausa" of special Theatre • • • • • • Dalles, Oregon 2/8 11 (Piano and scale is some thing to hear! In the 16 Orch oboe) foot register, his wooden "Violone" and Liberty Theatre • .. • • • • • • Camas, Washington 2/8 II "Double Open Diapason" ask no quarter. Hippodrome Theatre (now Fox) Portland, Oregon 2/7 11 (Plano & To his specifications of wind pressure, accordion) scale, and voicing, all metal pipe work Gellers Theatre (now Aladdin) Portland 3/9 11 (Piano and was purchased from Anton Gottfried and Krumet) Son, Erie, Pennsylvania . Musical per­ Temple Theatre • • • • • • • • • • • Lewiston, Idaho 2/5 cussions, of appropriate scale, were (later moved to Lotus Isle Amusement Park - Portland) purchased from J . C . Deagan, Inc . , Jefferson Theatre • • • • • • • • • • Portland 2/6 II Chicago, Illinois, and the electric mag­ Imperial Roi ler Rink. • • • • • • • • Portland 2/5 (later 2/8 plus Clar., nets from Reisner Manufacturing Com­ (later combined with a 3/10 WurliTzer from Hollywood Eng. horn, Kin., pany, Hagerstown, Maryland . Theatre in Portland.) Sleigh bells) The company's most popular organ Oaks Roi ler Rink • • • • • • • • • • Portland 2/5 model, both musically and price-wise, (later enla~ed twice by Wood, right at the rink, ending seems to have been the 2/ 8 with a horse­ up as a 4/13. Later,organ was replaced with the 4/18 shoe console . In the Main Chamber: Flute WurliTzer from the Broadway Theatre - Portland.) 16', Open Diapason, Viol d 'Orchestra, Roi lerdrome • • • • • • • • • • • • • Culver City, Calif. 3/16 (16 1 tuba) Viole Celeste, and either a Clarinet, (now owned by Dan Haworth - Burbank, Ca Iif.) Krumet, Oboe, or French Horn . A metal Theatre • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Vacaville, Calif. 2/? bar Harp, if ordered , was al so placed in (now in church in Vacaville) the Main Chamber . In the Solo Chamber : Tuba (16' if ordered), Tibia Clausa , Vox THE STOCK WOOD THEATRE ORGAN WAS Zf8, AND ARRANGED AS FOLLOWS: Humana , Percussions and Traps . The­ atre acoustics (with people) determined MAIN, OR LEFT SIDE CHAMBER SOLO, OR RIGHT SIDE CHAMBER the final wind pressures used . The con­ 1 1 Flute 16', to 1-3/5' Tuba Profunda 8 , 4 soles were equipped with t.wo swell 1 1 1 Open Diapason 8 , 4 Tibra ClauSQ 8'., 4 pedals and usually a crescendo pedal. Viol d 'Orchestra 8', 4', 2 1 Vox Humana 81, 4 1 Three tremulants were standard: Solo, Viole Celeste 81, 4 1 Usual traps, drums, bells, etc. Main , and Vox Humana . Clarinet 81, 4' Piano (if lnsta lied} Perhaps one of the company's better (Clarinet in this chamber sometimes exchanged sounding organs wa s the 3/ 9 (with for French Horn or Orchestral Oboe.) piano) installed in Gellers (now the (Krumet at Gellers Theatre, in this chamber.) Aladdin ) Theatre near the intersection of Powell Blvd . and Milwaukee Avenue, The Wood Company usually made their own wooden pipes. All metal pipes were purchased Portland . The "brassiest," no doubt, from Anton Gottfried and Son - Erie, Pa.

$5.00 DUES ARE NOW DUE FOR 1964 $5.00 Winter 1963- '64 29 Darwin in 1946 . Ed Juster, secretary of the resid e nts of Vacaville are quite proud the company, passed away in the late of their organ today - it's the only PIPE 1940's in Portland . Ray Smith, who organ in the city! CLASSIFIED ADS worked for the firm from its inception, Two f(ne examples of Wood church passed on in Hollywood in 1960 . He was organs were installed in Bethlehem Classified ads are accepted at the rate a fine artist, painter and repairman, and Lutheran Church, near East 39th and of ten cents per word per issue. A ten some of his leatherwork is still going Sandy Boulevard, Portland, and Saint perc:t!nt discount a II owed if remittance strong. An example of Ray's fine artistry Mark's Episcopal Church, at Northwest accompanies your order. can be seen in his paintings on the con­ 21st an d Marshall. The 4/ 13 "band" Head your ads: .. WANTED", .. SWAP" sole and background scenes in the organ that was installed in the Oaks "FOR SALE", etc. Send your ad to: accompanying photo of the 3/ 6 Roller­ Roller R ink has been replaced with the Theatre Organ, Adv. Mgr, P. 0. 6ox 248 drome installation . The writer has had 4/ 18 WurliTzer (Opus 1380 - of Oliver A lamed a, Ca I ifornia the pleasure of talking with two other Wallace, "Bobby" Burns, and Dow SPECIAL OFFER to ATOE MEMBERS: past employees of the company: Glenn LeRoy fame) from the Broadway Theatre No charge for your first ten words. Mendenhall of Vancouver, Washington, in Portland . WANTED and Arthur Morey of Portland, Oregon, Unfortunately, there is no known who have some fine memories of their complete listing of all the organs built Duo-Art Semi Automatic Aeolian Skinner associations with "Billy" and his pipe by the company . The list included with Organ Rolls. Please state selection, organs . this article is only partially complete, title, condition and price in your reply. Although some 33 years have passed for no "Opus" numbers were ever kept Robert W. Mueller, 4826 Parker Avenue, since the William Wood Pipe Organ Com­ at the factory . Also, pictures of William Chicago, Illinois 60639. pany installed its last organ, several Wood and his brother Darwin are known remain in regular use today. The organ to exist but are unobtainable at this Banjos, Mandolins, Guitars, other fretted in the Portland Imperial Roller Rink time . Perhaps some reader will have a instruments; wi II trade for theatre organ was combined with the WurliTzer (Opus useful picture and send it along for a parts or pay cash. Robert Johnson, Rt. 1, 1327, Special Model H) from the Holly­ "Post Script" story in the future . Having Box 265A, Rossville, Georgia . wood Theatre, Portland, and is still in enjoyed many wonderful hours of listen­ daily use. A "William Wood" theatre ing to some of the fine ''William Wood 11 Wurl iTzer 2 manual Theatre Organ, good organ (1926) originally installed in a organs mentioned in this article, the or repairable condition. Charles Coston, theatre in Vacaville, California, is now writer wi ll greatly appreciate any addi­ 7202 Buffalo Ave., Niagara Falls, N. Y. in regular use in a church in that city . tional information in regard to The Wil­ Everett Nourse, former house organist at liam Wood Pipe Organ Company of FOR SALE the San Francisco Fox Theatre, was Portland , Oregon . Contact Bill Peterson, 4/30 Morton Console; 3/50 Austin Con­ instrumental in obtaining the Wood organ 2708 North Portland Boulevard, Portland sole; many other organ parts. Ronald for the Vacaville church . Incidentally, 17, Oregon . McDonald, 4480 West 4100 South, Salt Lake City, Utah. 4/19 Kilgen theatre organ complete, the famous Pica dilly Theatre organ with Baldwin grand piano, full percussions and effects. Has been expertly removed - no cables cut - ready to ship. Also WurliTzer pipes, chests, parts. Send $1.00 for full information, specifications, photographs; also have free lists of Nickelodeons, Player Organs, Player , Edison Phonographs, many other musical antiques for sale or trade. Robert Johnson, Rt. 1, Box 265A, Rossvi lie, Georgia. 2 manual 5 rank WurliTzer, vintage 1928. 2/6 Wm. Wood Theatre Organ built in Trumpet, Tibia, Salicional, Flute, Vox, 1926 for Vacaville, Calif., later moved to Chimes, Xylophone, Glock and complete 4/13 Wood, originally in Oaks Roller Vacavi I le church by Everett Nourse & original percussions, etc. All authentic­ Rink, Portland (showing Bill Blunk). Associates. - Daniel F- Haworth Photo. ally restored, brown leather, in excellent condition. Equipped with beautifully restored Cherry console. All working perfectly in home installation. $1950. Attention! Bob Foody, 138 Mountaindale Road, Musicians, Entertainers and Yonkers, New York. Area Code 914, Program Directors SP. 9-6343. Kimball 2/7 Theatre Organ complete with FUN!MONEY! SONG! traps and percussion. Needs Blower. All Are Yours at Parties, Banquets, Clubs, packed, crated, ready for moving. Com­ Cocktail Lounges, Etc. plete with original blueprint. $750 or best Everyone loves to sing along! offer, F.O.B. Kansas City, Mo. Marvin E. Merchant, 314 South Lawndale, Kansas "SLIDE-A-SONG IT City, Missouri. 35mm Sing Along Slides NEW RECORD, a "non-doctored" first GIVES YOU 12" LP of 4/21 WurliTzer in Rochester, Fun-filled audience participation with inexpensive, beautifully illustrated, live New York PALACE Theatre. Popular color, lyric song slides and "rib-tickling" humorous slides. For beautiful sample and light classics played by the inimit­ slide, send 50¢ to: able TOM GRIERSON. Truly a collec­ Slide-A-Song Company, P.O. Box 5172, Phoenix 10, Arizona tor's item! Detail color jacket with pictures and notes. STEREO ONLY. $5.00 DUES ARE NOW DUE FOR 1964 $5.00 $4.95 Prepaid from only P.O. Box 53, ATOS Fishers, New York. 30 theatre organ ARCHIVES/ LIBRARY Seattle Bids Farewell To Music Hall - Hobert Morton

The 4/16 Robert Morton in Seattle's Music Hall Theatre. Organist Dick Schrumat the console of the Music Hall Robert Morton. The last public performance of the Music Hall Robert Morton Pipe Organ was given on November 15, 1963, with RECORD REVIEWS the popular Seattle organist Dick Schrum (Concluded) at the console. This fine pipe organ of theatre is directl y across the street from four manuals and 16 ranks has been sold the Royal Hawa i ian Hotel and Waikiki to the Greer Motel and Restaurant in Beach, and is a most magnificent setting Sacramento , California, and will be for the Hawaiian music presented on this removed shortly after the first of the album. year. Included is mus i c of Hawaiian origin. The fabulous Robert Morton Organ This is not Hawaiian music composed in was installed in the Music Hall Theatre, New York '.s Tin Pan Alley , (' 'Little then the Fox, in 1929 by Balcom & Grass Shack," "Sweet Leilani ," etc.) Vaughn of Seattle, in time for the pre- but is the native music of the islands. miere opening on April 19, 1929. The John De Mello , who has been playing organist was Jamie Erickson, who at that Seattle's Music Hall Theatre on Olive theatre organ in Honolulu since the late time was well known in the laEge movie looking toward 7th Ave. '20's, has a style which conveys the palaces throughout the West and Mid­ Dick Schrum is well known throughout relaxing tropical atmosphere of the fi ve West. the Northwest for his work on electronic islands in the Pacific. Selections in­ Although there are many larger theatre as well as on pipe organs. He is cur­ clude "The Hawaiian Wedding Song , " organs, this 16 rank Morton is probably rently playing at the Plaid Piper Tartan "Hilo After Sundown" (Mr. De Mello's more versatile than many through its Room in Seattle. He also is secretary of radio theme) , and other selections which extensive coupling and unification, and the Puget Sound Chapter of A TOE. I found very listenable but couldn't it had no trouble filling the 2200 seat The final concert started promptly at pronounce correctly on a bet ("Pulupe," theatre. The stop list includes: Tuba, 8 p.m. with the playing of "California, "Eleu, Miki Miki," "Ka Anoi , " etc.). Trumpet, English Horn, Diapason, Tibia, Here I Come," as the console started to This album is available at this time in Concert Flute, Gamba, Violin I, Violin rise out of the pit. From then on, almost Stereo only, and may be obtained from II (2 ranks), Dulciana, Vox Humana, 1800 persons were treated to some 2½ the Lani Recording Company, Merchan­ Oboe Horn, Clarinet, Kinura, and Krum­ hours of theatre pipe organ music dise Mart Bldg., Suite 223, Honolulu, met, plus all the usual tonal and non­ showing off every possibility of this fine Hawaii. tonal percussions . Robert Morton. \}\}r;~©r;mrPui~®rruimr; 1nmm rtr;1nrr ©®m©r;mui filTI1 TI1 [I !; rt ®~ fil~ {fil!; rt!; ~ 1r[I !; fil1r ill!; llll

RECORDINGS of THIS MEMORABLE EVENT ARE AVAILABLE! VOLUMES I AND II HIGH F IDELIT Y T WELV E INCH L.P . RE CORD ALB UMS $3 .98 EAC H (Tax and Shippin g Includ ed) PL EASE ENT ER MY ORDER FOR VOL UME I □ - VOL UME II □ MAIL CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO: FOR WHICH I HAVE ENCLOSED $3.98 FOR E ACH RECORD .

LOCATIONRECORDING SERVICE Name ______2201 W. BURBANK BOULEVARD Address ______~------BURBANK, CALIFORNIA CitY------~--- Zone __ State ____ _ PHONE: 849-1321

$5.00 - DUES ARE NOW DUE FOR 1964 $5.00 Winter 1963- '64 31 ■ Three 61-note organ keyboards ■ 32-note pedal board $4,950.00 ■ self-contained 50-watt stereo speaker system (f.o.b. Hillsboro, Oregon) ■ theater-organ voices ■ horseshoe console For the name and address of the ■ 5 cumulating pre-set pistons (31 combinations) Rodgers Representative nearest you, ■ solid state circuitry (all transistor) write to:

RODGERS ORGAN COMPANY ■ HILLSBORO, OREGON

WHEELER PRINTING ~"