George Epstein A Roxy Organist

by Lloyd E. Klos

Remembering the organists who played New York's great Roxy The­ atre, one immediately recalls Chaun­ cey Haines, Dr. C.A.J. Parmentier, Lew White, Emil Velazco, Dezso Von D' Antalffy and Frank White. Another organist who possessed the credentials to preside at the Roxy Kimball was George J. Epstein, who played it in its final days. Mr. Epstein was born in New York City in 1900, started piano lessons at six, and in his words, "wasted eight years on piano until the teacher told my father he was throwing away his money. 'This kid will never play,' was his remark. It took eight years to reach this conclusion? "My brother, who was seven years my senior, started organ study with John Hammond, who was teaching for Wurlitzer in a studio on 42nd Street in New York. I went with him for his lesson each Saturday morn­ ing. Six months later, Hammond hooked by now, and Wurlitzer sent including classical, popular and jazz turned to me and asked when I me out on jobs in silent movie the­ music. There was coaching for ad­ would be ready to study organ. I atres. I played most of the Broadway vanced players, and broadcasts over went to the console and played every­ presentation houses on all types of station WSOM on Mondays and thing he taught my brother. That was pipe organs. I also demonstrated for Thursdays at 9 p.m. the beginning of my marriage to Robert Morton, Kilgen and Kimball "My last theatre position was as show business." during the twenties." associate organist for S½ years at Mr. Epstein studied piano, organ In October 1927, Mr. Epstein the Roxy Theatre. One thing which and theory at the Damrosch Music served as organist at the new Fortway was most important to Roxy was Institute, then followed with a course Theatre in Brooklyn, playing a Kil­ synchronization by the organist for in theatre organ presentation under gen "Wonder Organ." Later on, he silent films. My reputation for "play­ John Hammond. was to team up with Frederick M. ing pictures," as we called it, was In 1916, George began playing Smith to operate the Kilgen Wonder good. Roxy had plenty of organ solo­ organ and piano in vaudeville and Organ School at 1560 Broadway in ists, but he needed someone who silent movie houses. Through the New York. According to an advertis­ knew the art of synchronization. twenties, he was organist at several ing card, pupils received instruction "I had done a thing with Erno of the presentation theatres in on the Kilgen Wonder Organ , "a Rapee for Vitaphone while he was Brooklyn and on Broadway: the completely equipped, advanced unit scoring a film. He remembered this, Cameo, Carleton, Capitol, Criterion, type theatre organ." Special atten­ and when Roxy was screaming for Rialto and Rivoli. "I was really tion was given to theatre repertoire, someone to play pictures, Rapee

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER, 1977 THEATRE ORGAN 25 called me. I was then playing at the very strident hand, the same hand the grand piano. Very good applause Carlton Theatre for Bill Brandt. which composed the lovely "Char­ greeted them at the finish of this Roxy took Parmentier out of the maine" and "Diane." exciting presentation." same theatre previously. Another scrapbook item is an ad When the Victory Theatre cele­ "Brandt was so proud that he which promoted the appearance of brated its first anniversary, "a spe­ allowed me to leave without notice. Alexander Schreiner, who was billed cial stage show was presented which He also came on stage and made a as the "featured organist" at Salt included three solos, played by speech, stating that he was 'proud Lake City's Capitol Theatre, and George Epstein of the Roxy Theatre, that Roxy had to come to Brooklyn "concert organist" at the Mormon after which, prizes were awarded to for Parmentier and myself.' That's Tabernacle there. Dr. C.A.J. Par­ members of the audience." how I got the job; no audition. In mentier was the Roxy chief organist Mr. Epstein also served as presi­ fact, I never auditioned for any posi­ and Epstein assistant organist, alter­ dent of the Victory-Eppy Birthday tion during my whole career. Just nating at the rotunda and auditor­ Club, and each member was saluted lucky. ium instruments. at a party in the theatre when his "There was no greater showman During his tenure at the Roxy, Mr. birthday was observed. The celebrant than Roxy. Although he ran his staff Epstein frequently made guest ap­ was notified by a fancy card, signed like a general of the marines (he was pearances at other theatres. In Feb­ by "Eppy." Going to the theatre was in the Marines in World War I), he ruary 1932, Motion Picture Herald fun in those days! was a pushover for any one of his described his appearance at the Bay­ Ads urged the public to "come in people who needed help of any kind. side West's Victory Theatre: every day to join our songfest with No one was ever turned away. We "George Epstein, with the able Eppy and give the blues the gate." were 800 employees, and Roxy was assistance of Mr. Fred Weiler, man­ The organ was a 3-manual Skinner, like a father to all of us. My 5½ year ager of the house and a former or­ and the organists, besides Epstein, stay at the Roxy was the happiest ganist, presented an unusual organ­ were Fred Weiler and Miss N.M. Jay. period of my life. To all of us, the piano duet this past week. Eppy, as When he was featured at the Roxy was home. he is popularly known in the neigh­ Flushing (N.Y.) Theatre, the reviewer "I played until 1933, when they borhood, is in the habit of offering stated: "Mr. Epstein played his first cut the cable and yanked the console community songfests. To many in show Monday and was greeted with from under me." the audience, the idea of Eppy and great applause. Mr. Epstein has a One of the items in Mr. Epstein's Mr. Weiler being accomplished pi­ knack which is brought out by his scrapbook is a menu card for a bon­ anists, comes as a distinct surprise. wonderful art of utilizing organ ef­ voyage party, honoring Roxy com­ Their concert opened with a piano fects almost unheard of, but alto­ poser-conductor, Erno Rapee. The duet of "Poet and Peasant," beauti­ gether very natural. His renditions event was held in the Mecca Temple fully played and very well received. are sweet and inspiring and his dis­ in New York on May 6, 1929 for the "Mr. Weiler further surprised tinct playing adds great luster to the benefit of the Roxy Orchestra Relief them by playing, on the organ, "In­ occasion." Fund. The card is autographed "To termezzo" from Cavalleria Rusti­ In April 1932, Mr. Epstein was Georgie" and signed by Rapee in a cana as Mr. Epstein accompanied at featured for a week at the Beacon Theatre's Wurlitzer. He was billed Prior to his retirement, George Epstein demonstrated and toured for the Thomas Organ Co. He is pictured here as "Eppy at the Organ," and played at a Thomas theatre organ. (Epstein Coll .I selections from the Victor Herbert repertoire. When the Hammond electronic came on the scene in 1935, John Hammond demonstrated the instru­ ment. (He was not related to the elec­ tronic' s inventor). Through John, George Epstein was given a "second start in show business." He became affiliated with the Broadway legiti­ mate theatre. The shows with which he was con­ nected were: 1935 - Jumbo with Paul Whiteman. 1937 - Julius Caesar with Orson Well es and the Mercury Theatre cast. George was musical director of this or­ ganization, the same group which scared many Ameri­ cans the evening of October 30, 1938 when the 23-year­ old Welles presented H.G. Welles' War of the Worlds.

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER. 1977 1938 - Shakespeare Repertoire with with the big orchestras and the big we had a long way to go. some bus Maurice Evans. Epstein ser­ organs and the big stage shows. would get lost and then we all had to ved as musical director. Everythin big. Nowadays things is wait for them to back track , one bus 1939- Knickerbocker Holiday with different. We was to so many organ went too far for over 30 miles and Walter Huston. concerts all week that I got organ wound up in another state. State of 1940 - Charley's Aunt , revival with music comin out of my ears instead Confushun I guess. But the y was all Jose Ferrer. of goin in. They should of called it nice fellers and they was

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