The Organ Is Music '5 Richest Voice!
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ATOS JulAug 51-4 G 6/17/09 8:26 AM Page 1 JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN THEATRE ORGAN SOCIETY JULY | AUGUST 2009 THE ORGAN IS MUSIC '5 RICHEST VOICE! @ ~ Wu~bJJiE~ ~P'Producint/"Residente - ~ ORGAN'\: ATOS JulAug 51-4 G 6/17/09 8:26 AM Page 2 ...r~~-a·~--- .... --~ L llr-■- =====:_,~~~!!!!!!!!!!~0;;-- This will be our last ad in the ATOS journal for the foreseeable future. ------ Increasing demands ol the major portion of our business, classical instruments, to that area. Even though we will not be here to greet you in every edition, we will ==== continue to be available for your digital theatre organ needs. We would be happy to provide you with a complete organ, digital voice additions to an existing theatre pipe organ or a control system for your instrument. We may be absent in print ... for -----------------_______.._ ---..._.... __ ---~ We'd love to hear fro1n you!!,~~ Walker Digital Theatre Organs 6610 --Crown Lane • Zionsville, PA 18092 • phone 610.966.SSSS • www.walkertheatreorgan.eom ATOS JulAug 51-4 G 6/17/09 8:33 AM Page 1 THEATRE ORGAN JULY | AUGUST 2009 Volume 51 | Number 4 FEATURES An Almost Spectacular 16 Day at the Riv 9u¢,tLra _ Preserving a Great 22 Musical Heritage, Part II cltensltedd,-ea11L. A~ The Mighty Mo 30 at Every Show The Albee A. SSOCIATED alway, with grande=, with the mMt •uhlime Mighty Wurlitzer ~ and exquisite tonal effects ever created and mastered by 32 human hand, the organ is the acknowledged king of musical instru The Restorer’s Workshop ments. Always in cultured homes, where music is naturally con 36 Plug System of Repairing Wood sidered a necessary complement of happiness, there has slumbered the desire to own a pipe-organ, a desire until now often difficult Orlando’s of fulfillment because of the size, and perhaps the expense, of the peer of all instruments. 40 Focus on Youth It remained for the seventh generation of Wurlitzer craftsmen Paul Norris, to surmount the last difficulties which have stood in the way of 42 Organist individual pipe-organ ownership. In the new Wurlitzer Re producing Residence Organ is presented a pipe-organ con Theatre Organs in North j ormable to your home. 46 American Radio Stations The console requires hut little more space than a piano, and the organ chamber is so compact that its location is DEPARTMENTS usually arranged quite easily in even a modest home. 4 Vox Humana The Wurlitzer Reproducing Residence Organ is well within the means of the family of moderate income. 5 Headquarters As the world's greatest builders of organs, Wurlitzer is ~ able to produce this marvelous organ at a price hereto- 7 Director’s Corner ')!?_ fore thought impossible. 8 Letters 11 Vox Pops 12 News & Notes 15 Ex Libris On the Cover: Despite some exuberant advertising and engaging prose, the Great 18 For the Records Depression took its toll on theatre, residence, and church organbuilders alike. Luckily, James D. Crank has done extensive work to preserve the music contained 54 Professional Perspectives on player organ rolls including those produced by Wurlitzer. We learn additional details of this fascinating endeavor as Mr. Crank presents the second and final 56 Chapter News part of his article beginning on page 22. 64 Around the Circuit THEATRE ORGAN (ISSN 0040-5531) is published bimonthly by the American Theatre Organ Society, Inc., 5 Third Street, Suite 724, San Francisco, California 94103-3200. Periodicals Postage 68 Meeting Minutes Paid at San Francisco, California and at additional mailing offices. Annual subscription of $33.00 paid from members’ dues. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THEATRE ORGAN, c/o ATOS Membership Office, P.O. Box 5327, Fullerton, California 92838, [email protected]. 70 Obituaries JULY | AUGUST 2009 1 ATOS JulAug 51-4 G 6/17/09 8:33 AM Page 2 ~ dJ@~@O f?@[? ~®0@ Due to failing health and loss of eyesight I am compelled to pass on my wonderful George Wright Signature Allen Theatre Organ (GW319). This organ is richly embellished in white and gold. The console was professionally detailed in French renaissance-style, as was seen in bygone movie palaces when the consoles were lifted up from the orchestra pit to stage level. A full standard pedalboard, 21-rank equivalent, expression Sostenuto pedal, acc str/dolce cheek piston, full range percussions, plus many other exciting sounds. Seven variable channel speakers (two are HR-200 upgrades) give a real pipe-like organ sound with both Main and Solo expression pedals for a true theatre pipe organ stereo sound. Eighteen authentic toy-counter traps (train whistle, bird whistle, sleigh bells, etc.) are available using pistons mounted under the accompaniment manual. Full organ toe studs include a Persian Cymbal toe piston. A pull-out Console Controller Draw featuring 16 memories, plus a Transposer control and virtual acoustic settings. An Allen Smart Recorder is an added attribute offering many expansion capabilities. Optional: A specially designed, maroon carpeted, moving platform with an ornate gold wrought iron railing surrounds the organ bench and compliments the elaborate organ installation. The organ has been featured in several Theatre Organ Society of San Diego concerts with both U.S. and overseas top-notch, professional artists on the bench. All the many features and expansions far exceeds the asking price of $49,000 (or best offer), fob San Diego. This theatre-classical-church instrument would be comfortable in your home or music room, a school, a church or in a social hall. Please feel free to call or write for more information: Robert (Bob) Brooks, (858) 560-8952, 3158 Admiral Ave., San Diego, CA 92123. Email: [email protected] 2 THEATRE ORGAN ATOS JulAug 51-4 G 6/17/09 8:33 AM Page 3 Journal of the American Theatre Organ Society Library of Congress Catalog Number ML 1T 334 (ISSN 0040-5531) Printed in U.S.A. JULY | AUGUST 2009 Volume 51 | Number 4 THEATRE ORGAN EDITORIAL OFFICE ASSOCIATE EDITORS THEATRE ORGAN WORKSHOPS WEBSITE (www.atos.org) 1845 South Michigan Avenue #1905 AROUND THE CIRCUIT Dave Luttinen Jonas Nordwall Tom Blackwell Chicago, Illinois 60616 MUSIC Steven Ball 7221 SW 13th 9717 Dayton Avenue North Voice/Fax 312-842-7475 REVIEWS Andy Antonczyk, Portland, Oregon 97219 Seattle, Washington 98103 [email protected] Stanley D. Hightower 503-246-7262 206-784-9203 PROFESSIONAL PERSPECTIVES CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD [email protected] 206-778-2724 mobile Edward M. Stout III Craig Peterson [email protected] WURLITZER RARITIES Ron Mitchell 7800 Laguna Vega Drive ELECTRONIC ORGANS (ETONES) Elk Grove, California 95758 CORPORATE OFFICE Bucky Reddish 916-682-9699 American Theatre Organ Society, Inc. 5370 Vinings Lake View Drive [email protected] 7800 Laguna Vega Drive Mableton, Georgia 30126-2542 Elk Grove, California 95758 [email protected] ATOS MISSION STATEMENT—The Ameri- VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD can Theatre Organ Society (ATOS) is ENDOWMENT FUND Mike Hartley DESIGN & TYPESETTING the leading international organization 17 Whippoorwill Drive John DeMajo Sleeping Giant Creative pursuing a positive difference in con- Palm Coast, Florida 32164 Indianapolis, Indiana 6001 Statute Street 386-445-7562 Chesterfield, Virginia 23832 serving and promoting the theatre pipe [email protected] PRINTING & MAILING 504-858-7689 organ and its music, preserving original Johnson Press of America [email protected] instruments where possible. We provide SECRETARY Pontiac, Illinois support and guidance to all ATOS Bob Evans INNER-CITY YOUTH/SCHOOLS PROGRAM chapters and others, with promotional 798 Old Warren Road ATOS COMMITTEES & CHAIRS TBA and educational opportunities to both Swansea, Massachusetts 02777 Voice/Fax 508-674-0276 ACQUISITIONS & EXPANSIONS MENTOR PROGRAM those within the Society, and to the [email protected] Ken Double (see above at President) Donna Parker (see above at Education) public worldwide through the Internet, AMATEUR THEATRE ORGANIST NOMINATIONS—BOARD ELECTION publications, conventions, and per- TREASURER sonal contact. We are passionately Paul Van Der Molen COMPETITION Bill Carr devoted to providing professional 0 N 468 Willow Road Susan Cole 11815 North 77th Drive Wheaton, Illinois 60187 P.O. Box 653 Peoria, Arizona 85345 leadership and resources so the theatre 630-653-4986 Mount Dora, Florida 32756 623-694-1746 pipe organ will thrive in the 21st century. Fax 630-653-4987 352-383-6875 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] ORGANIST SCHOLARSHIPS DIRECTORS (current term) Mike Hartley Carlton Smith THEATRE ORGAN (title registered U.S. Don Near (2009) 17 Whippoorwill Drive 2175 North Irwin Street Patent Office) is the official publication Donna Parker (2009) Palm Coast, Florida 32164 Indianapolis, Indiana 46219-2220 of the American Theatre Organ Doug Powers (2009) 386-445-7562 317-356-1240 Society, Inc. (ATOS), a non-profit Jelani Eddington (2010) [email protected] Fax: 317-322-9379 organization. © 2009 American Theatre Allen Miller (2010) ARCHIVE/LIBRARY PIPE PIPER Organ Society, Inc. All rights reserved. David Barnett (2010) Jim Patak Jonathan Ortloff John Apple (2011) Rialto Square CPU 274369 Annual membership in the American John DeMajo (2011) Theatre Organ Society is $40.00 per Bucky Reddish (2011) 5 East Van Buren Street, Suite 210 Rochester, New York 14627 Joliet, Illinois 60432 518-572-8397 year ($55.00 outside of the U.S.A.), YOUTH REPRESENTATIVE 708-562-8538 [email protected] which includes six issues of THEATRE TO THE BOARD ORGAN. Make check or money order [email protected] PUBLIC RELATIONS Tyler Morkin payable to ATOS and mail to the ARCHIVAL LIAISON Donna Parker (see above at Education) 1240 East Broomfield Street, Apt 00-8 ATOS Membership Office, P.O. Box Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48858 Jeff Weiler (see above at Journal PUBLICATIONS REVIEW Advertising) 5327, Fullerton, California 92838, 906-367-1454 Doug Powers [email protected].