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moment," writes Walt, "the Theatre Or­ prise and amazement of an audience gan Club of Fall River was formed!" which half expected co hear hymns on A full rehabilitation program is planned Sunday morning pipes. Dolton admits and we can expect periodic reports. he was a little shook, too: "I received my 'baptism of fire' in front of that audi­ After the big opening of the Roberson ence-but it was lots of fun." Afterwards Culture Center in Binghamton, NY, some club members admitted that Ham­ silent films were scheduled with Link mondry would never again be the same organ accompaniment- one program tt after hearing pop pipes. month for the remainder of the year, including such classics as "Birth of a The same Morton got a workout Nation," 11Intolerance" and 11 Way Down by none other than Don Baker while East." Organ accompanist scheduled was he was in Baton Rouge for a Conn­ Paul Loomis. Forty years ago, Paul was cert. A little group of fans listened one of the finest theatre organists in the intently and one was heard to ex­ Triple Cities area, his fame extending as claim, "Who would ever have far north as Utica and Rome. According thought that, of all people, the great SHORT SHOTS FROM to ATOE member , Chet Rataski, Mr. Don Baker would one day play at EVERYWHERE Loomis retains his touch. our Paramount!" Why not? Don played for 13 years at another Para­ Minneapolitans with long memo­ mount, and even the gap between 3 6 and 6 ranks made little difference to New Yorker Dick Loderhose, ries who recall Eddie Dunstedter's Don, who expressed admiration for owner of both Jesse Crawford's "salad days" in the twin cities may the fine tone and good condition of Paramount studio 4-21 Wurlitzer also remember another name which the Morton. and the NY Roxy 5-deck Kimball, appeared concurrently on theatre hasn't been prominent in the organ marquees - Bob ("Bobo") Ryan. hobby area of late. A recent New Eddie was Bob's idol when the lat­ Theatre Organ Enthusiasts visiting the York to Los Angeles phone call ex­ ter played at the St. Paul Orpheum New York area should make the Radio plained why; Dick reports that for and Palace. Those who remember­ City Music Hall a must in their itiner­ the past three years he has been re­ Bob will be glad to learn that he's ary,, if the words of ex-RCMH organist doing his entire Jamaica Estates in­ well and living in Calistoga, Calif., Doc Bebko are any criterion. Visiting stallation. For most of that time the were he operates a swank motel and this great stronghold of the theatre organ organ has been silent. The chambers restaurant. The latter, no surprise, recently, Eddie reported: "I sat in the now boast 42 ranks of pipes and the is equipped with a Conn theatre orchestra in mid-house and the organ console stop rails have been re­ model plug-in which Bob sometimes was absolutely at its finest. Henry Pope's worked to accommodate the addi­ plays for diners. restoration work was superbly evident; tional stop keys at the expected not only is the organ in perfect tune, but places on the horse shoe ( instead of Ifs nice to have friends, including th e the highs, harmonics and overtones were on the front board). Dick played a kind who perf arm unexpected kind­ evident where previously they were chorus of "The Lady Is a Tramp" nesses. In Lancaster, New York, Joe and either absent or muffled. And the PED­ over the phone and even within "Ma Laura Thomas were tickled when they ALS-oh, those gorgeous subcones are Bell's" narrow transcontinental fre­ received a priceless gift in the mail, a absolutely awe-inspiring! Jack Ward's quency range, it sounded great. pair of Wurlitzer nameplates to replace playing was really excellent, no doubt Now he's looking forward to a re­ those missing from their home installa­ enhanced by the ease of playing a well­ sumption of recording, as soon as tion console. The plates were a gift from maintained instrument. It made me wish some topflight artists can be signed. Dave Voydanoff who, during a visit, no­ I could be at that console again." His ticed the original plates were missing. friend, Paul Lavalle, the Music Hall con­ The new job in Fall River Massachu­ Some time before that, Bill Hatzenbuhler ductor, got a great ovation, reports Doc. setts, looked good but it was with con­ had presented the Thomases with a "He is an electrifying personality." siderable reluctance that Walt Hanlon unique 25th wedding anniversary gift , (one of the group which revitalized the an addition to the little W urli' s to y After 35 years, the former 3-manual El Paso Plaza 3-15 Wurlitzer) moved counter in the form of a raspy 11Bronx Kohl organ which was in Rochester, the his family across the land, East from El cheer" which Bill installed in time for organ was apparently installed in a Mas­ Paso, Texas. He left many. memories­ use during the anniversary party. Hm/ __ sachusetts church where it has -remained among them Jim Connor and John R. until a Mr. Sudre of Miami, Florida, pur­ Thomas, two who gave large chunks of Dolton McAlpin, the young law stu­ chased it recentl y. Mr. Sudre already has their final years on Earth co bringing dent who turned out such a creditable a 12-rank, 2-chamber Robert Morton in theatre organ back co the Texas border Concert Recording album (Thoroughly his home, and will install the Kohl, mak­ town. But there was treasure at Walt's Modern Morton," played on the Bacon ing it into a 4-manual organ in the destination. He attended a United Fund Rouge, Louisiana, Paramount 6-ranker), process. show in a Fall River theatre and lo, be­ now admits that he "turned on" mem­ tween the acts, the sound of a threatre bers of the New Orleans Hammond The organ was used by several players organ was heard and a console came up Organ Society, who motorcaded co Baton in its heyday. Among them were]. Gor­ out of the pit (played by a local school Rouge at the behest of the Paramount's don Baldwin , George Bacon, Westfield teacher, it was determined later). The manager, Tom Mitchell, to hear the S. Brown, Gladys Clark, Margaret Culp, organ (a 3 -12 Marr & Colton) was obvi­ sound of real pipes on a Sunday morn­ Rose Harloff, Chester E. Klee and Lou ously in need of help so Walt made an ing . A witness stated that Dolcon had Perricola. Theatre is still open, adapted offer to management and found "the the "joint jumpin" during his one and for Cinerama and other wide-screen pro­ powers" downright cooperative. "At that one-half hour concert, much co the sur- ductions. december 1 968 22 The Theatre Organ Society of Austra­ the Surf City Hotel some years ago. The and helpful to us all were those lia's Honorable Secretary, John Clancy, 3-14 is still a strong attraction. DTOC folks. What a wonderful takes us to task for stating that Sydney spirit they have!" The DTOCers has 18 theatre organs in theatres (De­ Leroy Lewis? After the big blast must have "taken" to Billy in re­ cember 1967 TO-B). While that state­ of national publicity he experienced turn. At least they signed him for a ment would have been correct 40 years when he masterminded the installa­ return concert at the Senate on Jan­ ago, at present, John advises, Sydney has tion of the former Atlantic City uary 18th. only two left, both Wurlitzers, a 4-21 in Warner's theatre 3-27 Wurlitzer in the State Theatre and a 3 -15 in the the Panama Hilton's "Bombarde" Our now-and-then overseas corre­ Capitol. He adds that Melbourne theatres Room, plus his playing rtint and spondent, Michael Candy, reports from have three Wurlitzers, a 4-19 in the recording ression there, we lost Germany that he managed t0 get in to Regent, a 3-15 in the Dendy and a 2-12 track of him. But not for long. One inspect and play the 4-16 Wurlitzer in in the Plaza. In addition, there's a 2-12 of the most inventive and imagi­ the Siemens mansion in Berlin. He re­ Wurlitzer in the Metro Theatre in Perth native musicians in the entertain­ ports that it is still there, intact, unused and a Christie in the Victory Theatre at ment business, Leroy has been busy and apparently unmaintained since U.S. Kogerah. So much for theatres, but it designing "pipes plus electronics" GI Marvin Merchant returned to the doesn't end there. There are Wurlitzers combinations. Lately he's been play­ USA sometime after 1964. Merchant did in the Moorabin Town Hall (4-21), the ing club dates in the Pittsurgh, Pa., a lot of work on the neglected giant Marrickville Town Hall (2-10), St. Peters area :ind those ho heard his Ham­ while he was stationed in Berlin and, College at Adelaide (3-15), a 2-10 await­ mond X66 plus pipes (Vox and says Mr. Candy, the organ needs another ing installation in the Willoughby Civic Tibia), describe it as a tonal marvel. interested GI with organ-fixing skills; Centre, not to mention John Clancy's it's loaded with ciphers. This 4-16 may residence (2-15). Many of these organs A note all the way from Middlesex, be one of the last two Wurliczers left on have been the objects of TOSA's affec­ England, from Don Knights, British re­ the European mainland, the other being tion and preservation efforts.

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