often runs over the scheduled time. Sitting in for Milton at his posh bean ery job at the Toluca Lake (Calif.) "Kings Arms" is his regular "night off" relief organist, Harry Jenkins. Harry opens and plays the Hammond spinet, conducts sing-alongs, and acknowledges re uests until Milton shows up.
Diclc Lewis - a "digger'' accompaniment could be played on the bottom manual (it was originally an orchestral manual with solo stops) and the console was moved from the left side to the center of the pit. The "mag nificent seven" organ restorers were dig Readers are encouraged to submit inter ging a pit furiously as we went to press esting sidelights on the organ hobby (ex in a valiant attempt to get the console clusive of chapter news items), material elevator (moved from another theatre) 808 GARRETSON, PIZZA SALESMAN-He they believe will be of general interest lound installed in time to hoist Gaylord and about local organ adivities and installa the 2-7 quite ' different from the Gulbransen plug ins he has been playing. Note percussions mount- console up into the spotlight. Accord tions and the people who work at the ing to C. R. Lewis, spokesman for the hobby. We know "there's VOX POPS in ed high on the wall beyond the console. them there chapters" and it only requires group, the theatre handled all promo a Sc postcard to get it to The BOMBARDE, Speaking of relief organists ( the tion for the concert. The Carter. per Box 5013 Bendix Station, North Holly name given the guy who played the formance is the first in a series of con wood, Calif. 91605. 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. "supper show" to certs by top artists which the Fox plans give the guy who had been playing to spotlight during the year. The pos Theatre organ buffs in the Rochester, since noon a chance to recover for the sibility of concerts by George Wright N. Y., area were treated to a rare film long night shift), the recently opened and Eddie Dunstedter loomed brightly sequence on a recent Jack Douglas 1V "Monk's Musical Pizza" in Covina, as we neared our April issue deadline. travelogue. As part of a "pot luck" Calif. is currently enjoying the music * * * tour of the United States, a sequence of Bob Garretson at the 2-7 Wurlitzer. The working crew charged with the filmed in the Leon Berry residence in Bob is sitting in for regular organist task of installing the LA chapter's 3-14 Chicago concentrated on what was ap Bud Taylor, while Bud is recovering Wurlitzer in the San Gabriel civic audi propriately described as "The Beast from a siege of illness. Bob pointed out torium, enjoyed a rare treat just before in the Basement." The film showed that we goofed slightly in listing the the existing Aeolian classic organ was Berry as he demonstrated the various stops of the Wurlitzer "style 170." In turned off prior to removal. The group's effects of his Wurlitzer, some original, the theatre, it was equipped with a technical advisor dropped by to see others of his own ingenuity. The three Trumpet, Diapason, Vox, Flute and how restoration work is going on the manual console, toy counter and pipe Dulciana. It still has all of those plus Wurli, and Irving Cosgrove invited him chambers were adequately shown as an added Tibia Clausa. When we de to try out the Aeolian before they organ music played in the background. scribed it we slipped in a non-existent turned off the power. Later, foreman * * * string and omitted the Diapason. Actu Neal Kissel said that it was quite some An ATOE member who thinks young ally it needs such a string because the thing to hear George Wright going to is Dan Barton. Dan is currently recov Dulciana, while "stringy," is very soft town on about 20 ranks of straight or ering from a combination of ills. The and easily lost under more powerful gan. Although it had to go to make famed organ builder will be 85 years stops. Incidentally, the Brass Trumpet room for the Wurli, the future doesn't young on May 30th (also Memorial has replaced the original Trumpet and look dark for the 2-deck Aeolian; it Day). No one in the trade has devoted gives a bright reed sound for solos and has been purchased by the originator more loving care to the theatre organ riffs. A Clarinet is still to be added. of weird audio effects ("Mood Synthe than Dan. It has been his life. So, let's It was a Saturday night and Bob was sizer,") for films, organist Paul Beaver. all send him birthday cards timed to playing such requests as "William Tell * * * reach him on May 30th. His address is Overture" and selections from "Car There is quite a difference in space 736 Scott Avenue, Oshkosh, Wisconsin men" for a delighted, mostly juvenile requirements between a low pressure 54901. * * * audience which finds the windblown instrument and a theatre organ; al Remember Milton Charles who once box "groovy." though the Aeolian has about 25 per played the big Wurlitzer in the Philly * * * cent more pipework than the Wurlitzer, Mastbaum theatre, and also taught at The San Diego Fox theatre was it required far less space. Therefore a school for theatre organists and scheduled to hold its first public con the chambers are small and getting the broadcast from Chicago? (We still have cert on the restored 4-31 Robert Mor Wurli in may be a tight squeeze. Irving a Columbia "78" of Milton playing on ton on March 25 with a concert, sing Cosgrove has already volunteered to a practice organ in the Gunn School of along and silent feature ("The Mark of serve as "shoehorn dispenser." Our Organ, Chicago). In Hollywood he's Zorro" starring Douglas Fairbanks) Irving Cosgrove (we last saw him doz now playing a Rodgers plug-in on a with veteran console entertainer-star ing beneath the console at the Elks syndicated 1V game show called "Beat Gaylord Carter doing the initial hon Temple Morton on page 6 of the Feb. the Odds." The show is taped on Fri ors. In preparation for the event, ihe '68 issue) - the "Gunga Din" of the days ( several stanzas at a time) and Morton's manuQls were rearranged so shoe horn! april 1969 30 From Britain we learn that the ex named Gee Robinson who, stated the a 4-28 Wurli on the west coast and a Trocadero theatre organ, owned by the floater, is a former chief organist at 3-17 Wurli in the midwest. Then there's Cinema Organ Society and being in radio station WMCA, New York, and Kay McAbee's studio organ which he stalled in a town hall for safe keeping, a former staffer at the New York works on in his "spare time" (it's about had a close call when the building caught "Roxie" (sic), San Franciscans · are 80 percent complete) and he hopes to fire in the area where the chambers had indeed fortunate to have this facility assemble a church organ for himself. been built to house the Wurlitzer's in their midst. There's nothing quite As Dan Barton once described the pipework. Luckily, no organ parts had like it West of the New York Beacon heavy demands of several simultaneous been moved into the new chambers theatre. organ contracts, "I was desperate with but the damage to the building has set * * * success!" Hi, Dave! the installation project back months, The Beacon was doing fine in the * * * while the structure damage is repaired. nostalgia department, too. They made A prominent Syracuse, N.Y. archi contact with former film star Buddy tectural firm has been asked to investi * * * Rogers and a raft of Mary Pickford gate the possibility of developing a Also from England ( via Ian Suther films (she's Mrs. Rogers). Their 2- year-round museum at the nearby N. Y. land, Editor of the Cinema Organ So night stand was on Feb. 24 and 25. State Fair grounds. ciety Newsletter) comes the news that It included Buddy's commentaries on The study is directed toward the British organ fans are hopping sore the Pickford films shown, some musical future of the Empire State Theatre and about the dearth of T.O. music and reminiscences (Buddy was a top dance Musical Instruments Museum organiz BBC airwaves. Ian writes, "We are band leader at one point in his career), ation, the group formed around the going through the worst period we have Lee Erwin at the 3-19 Wurlitzer, a ex-Keith's 3-11 Wurlitzer now instal ever had for organ broadcasts on the Pickford documentary film and a re led in a building on the fair grounds. BBC. Therefore, one of our members membered Pickford - Rogers feature, Fair Director Bernard W. Potter be has decided to organize a massive na "My Best Girl" with a musical score lieves expanded museum facilities tionwide petition to the BBC for the composed and played by Lee Erwin. would bring more people to the Fair reinstatement of organ broadcasts - It was a production of the New York and help make it a true showcase of whole programmes devoted to theatre Theatre Organ Society which is like New York State. organ. He aims to collect at least saying "New York Chapter, ATOE." * * * 100,000 signatures." This was the re The Syracuse ESTMJM group enjoy sult of the BBC cutting down to two * * * Bill Wright, organist-manager at the ed a rare treat on March 8th when organ selections in each broadcast day. New Eastland theatre in West Covina, Don Baker sat his tall frame down at They still have it better than USAers Calif., must hold some kind of a re the 3-11 Wurlitzer-on-the-Fairgrounds with few exceptions, US radio station cord for "stick-at-it-iveness." Except and gave one of those performances policy is "no theatre pipe organ" - for vacations and a month in a sling he's been thrilling generations of organ although they allow plug-ins when used with a broken hip, Bill has been playing fans with since silent movie days. A in combos. Wonder what effect a pe organ in theatres without pause since Baker program is a series of moods tition with 100,000 signatures would 1921! When silent movies went down quite unlike anything else in the annals have on, say, one of the "top 40" the drain, Bill went into the manage of organ music. Don wasn't disappoint type of "rock" stations? Even two ment end of the theatre business, be ed that he didn't receive any birthday theatre organ tunes a day would be a ing care/ ul to be assigned to houses cards this year. He isn't expecting a luxury on this side of the pond. with organs. After a fruitful career birthday until Feb. 29, 1972. * * * with the Midland and Loew's circuits * * * We note that at last the music of in Missouri and Kansas, Bill came to Nov. 21, 1968, was a "red letter" Chic Herr at the Lamplighter Inn Kim California and spent the next 20 years day for New South Wales division of ball, Olmsted Falls, Ohio, has been ( 1943 to 1963) managing the Raymond the theatre Organ Society of Australia. grooved and is available by mail. We (now Crown) theatre in Pasadena and The club held its opening concert on its would like to make one small correction playing its 3-11 Wurlitzer. Now he's very own 3-10 Wurlitzer, which was in our reviewers observations: it's a playing a Conn theatre plug-in during relocated from Sydney's Prince ·Edward 3-11, not a 3-10. It was originally in intermissions at the Eastland. In fact, theatre ( the steel ball was hovering) to stalled in the Variety theatre in nearby Bill just released his first recording. a more secure berth in the nearby Cleveland and has been entertaining It is played on the Conn theatre model. Marrickville Town Hall. It was a gala Lamplighter guests since 1958. * * * occasion and a number of Australia's * * * Bay area organists Bud Iverson & fine organists played during the first A "floater" g1vmg the "coming Pliny Allen almost opened up their set of concerts. Among them were Ian events" scheduled for San Francisco's new Conn store in Oakland-right next Davies and Charles Tuckwell. But it Avenue theatre for March was loaded door to the Allen Organ Co. showroom. was a time of deep emotion and good with goodies, including Gaylord Carter What a chance they missed! They spirits for Noreen Hennessy when she doing his thing ( March 16) at the 3-14 coulda put up a sign "Allen Organ Co. stepped to that very familiar console Wurlitzer while his venerable prop, -Main Entrance." after the official opening by the mayor "The Gold Rush," cavorted about the * * * of Marrickville. It was quite fitting that screen, all for ATOE's NorCalChaps. Dave Junchen's pipe organ service in Noreen should be chosen to play the Later, the house showed some rarely Sherrard, Illinois, is a going concern, first selections on the rescued organ; seen silent films, some dating from thanks partly to many theatre organ she had played it daily for 20 years 1903. Among full - length features installations which the young organ ex ( 1944 to 1964) at the Prince Edward. shown were "The Cat and the Canary" pert has undertaken. Besides the 4-25 Now the beloved instrument was safe (mystery melodrama) and D. W. Grif Wurlitzer he's set up in Stan Todd's and Noreen opened with a triumphant fith's "Orphans of the Storm" (histor Shady Nook restaurant (near Cincin "El Relicario." ical drama) . Console chores were nati), he has agreed to install a Wur * * * divided among proprietor Vern Greg litzer church organ (opus 2100) in TOSA's opener at Marrickville had ory, Bob Vaughn and a newcomer the Caneva home at Lockport, Illinois, a purpose beyond saving theatre or-
31 theatre organ bombarde gans. The proceeds went to the Child Calif., a short distance from Los An ball might be around the corner. But ren's Medical Research Foundation geles. They've taken a 10-year lease on the house was saved by becoming a which investigates unsolved medical the dark theatre and work is well commercial movie house. In the film, problems of childhood. We haven't said underway. the camera wanders about the bizarre it for some time, but we repeat a long * * * interior of the super-gaudy house while standing observation: one meets the In Yan Nuys, Calif., organist Randy a voice on the soundtrack interviews, most wonderful people in the theatre Sauls was dourly celebrating his second among others, Glenn Shelley, the organ organ hobby! year with a broken neck. Actually, it ist who opened the theatre in the '20s. had to be "rebroken" when the first knit * * * They even restaged the "opening" of While visiting England Dick Simon- didn't take properly. It all started when the theatre and the only giveaway is ton was able to tape record an inter Randy was involved in an auto mishap the different types of glasses people view with some of the knowledgeable back in 1966. He says, "Some part of wear now. Seen are the strange "orien residents who live at Birkenhead where me - mostly my neck - has been in tal" statues, the many-hued curtain de Robert Hope-Jones constructed the some sort of sling ever since." But that sign, and the console of the 3-13 Wur organ which has since became known doesn't stop the stream of "Golden litzer which was restored by ATOEer as "H-J No. I," the initial electro Era" remembrances of Randy's vast Dennis Hedberg. pneumatic organ with some of the then repertoire. This time he recalled his * * * new Hope Jones developments in or 1930 sojourn at the Capitol Theatre in Up in Yakima~ Wash., ATOEr Bob gan voices. Dick loaned it for play Miami, Florida. The style D Wurlitzer Wilson did some travelling during his back at the LA chapter's recent "ATOE console was so beat and bruised that vacation. In Salt Lake City, he visited 14th Anniversary" celebration. the manager hired some decorators to Larry Bray 's Organ Loft. Bob reports * * * make it presentable µnder the spotlight. that the console has been repainted in There's a wonderful spirit abroad When Randy saw the results, he purple, lined with gold and "is quite among Detroit Theater Organ Clubbers. couldn't believe his eyes. The workmen a sight." Larry was most co-operative The Senate Theater , which houses their had built a fiberboard cover around the in demonstrating the various traps and 4-34 Wurlitzer , recently suffered some console and given it a wild green, blue percussions and he played a piece for water damage. The only way we knew and gold treatment. To top it off, they his guest. In Bozeman, Montana, Bob about it was because of the brief letters had added a novel trim, green neon dropped in at the Ellen Theatre where accompanying voluntary "repair" con tubing framing the entire visible side there is a 2-7 Wurlitzer. The manager tributions of $25 and $40 published in of the little console. Randy marched up was out of town, so didn't get to hear the DTOC Newsletter. The damage to the manager's office to sound off, but the instrument, but did see the console didn't silence the Wurli and during late the obvious enthusiasm of the boss during intermission. In Eugene, Oregon , February the members enjoyed concerts silenced his planned outburst. "Just Bob visited ATOE member, Ed Maas, by youthful Maureen Lyon , wonderful think on the marquee - 'RANDY a true theatre organ enthusiast as well Don Miller and handsom e Lee Erwin, SAULS AT THE NEON ORGAN'!" as a steam railroad lover. In Ed's base with Ray Bohr set for April 26 and Ann And now they use that same neon to ment , the 3-9 Wurlitzer is the center of Leaf for May 24. A livewire organiza- key plug-ins. Prophetic? No - just co attraction. The entire end of the cham tion. * * * incidence. ber is hinged and swings open, allowing George Wright was set to return to * * * easy access to the pipework and percus the 4-22 Wurlitzer in the Auditorium Pearl White reports that her Decem sions. A new addition to the organ is a Theatre for the Rochester Theatre Or ber concert in Chicago's Patio Theatre roll player , mounted in a recess in the gan Society on April 19 and in May "went smoothly - no upside-down slides wall near the console. It uses regular Ann Leaf would play for R TOS. They and nary a cipher from the 3-17 Bar piano rolls or the rolls now made by had a good session with Lee Erwin in ton." Pearl ran the gamut for her Kimball for their player organs, writes March . Something of a concert circuit enthusiastic audience with silent movies, Bob . * * * seems to be developing among man y a sing-along and a wealth of musical In Riv erside, Calif., organ fan Ron in-demand organists . memories. One other thing; Pearl wants Mitchell was moving his 6-rank theatre * * * it known that she never starred in that organ (mostly Wurlitzer) from his par Bill Field and Bill Coffman, the Los classic serial cliff hang er, "The Perils ents' home in Arlington to his own pad Angeles lads who maintained a mighty of Pauline." Must hav e been another in Ri verside, after setting up two cham Wurlitzer in an ex-woodcarving shop Pearl. * * * bers to receive more of the ranks he has for many years, have found a home for Former ATOE national "Prez," Dick accumulated , with a probable top of their slumbering giant in a ·dormant Schrum is set to play a stanza on the 12 sets. Ron is remembered as the lad El Segundo theatre. When the racial 4-22 Wurli for that lively bunch of who did so much to get the 2-8 Wicks unrest of 1965 threatened their 4-20- Rochesterians on February 15th. Be in the Orange Theatre , Orange, Calif., plus mostly Wurlitzer in the woodcarv sides his R TOS concert in the East, going after the years and vandals had ing shop, they regretfully removed it there 's a Hammond X-66 disc for Con tak en their toll . and put it in storage. Thus their con cert Recording in the mill and also * * * tinuing program of making pipe addicts plans being made for a platter played We have learned that the "H-B -G of those whose exposure to organ had on the big Seattle Paramount Wurlitzer. Enterprises" which staged the highly been through loudspeakers came to a Between times there's that "gin mill" successful John Mur i and earlier Bill temporary halt. They had conducte d X-66. Looks as though the ex-Pres is Dalton concerts at Loew's Ohio Theatre regular Sunday afternoon demo-concert moving right along. in Columbus ( 4-22 Morton) consists of sessions, aimed espec ially at members * * * A TOErs Tom Hamilton , Frank Babbitt of plug-in dealers' clubs, ever since A group of amateur filmmakers shot and Neil Grover . The shows were held they completed the woodcarver installa a movie of the interior of the Oriental under the H-B-G banner and were not tion in the early '60s . Theatre in Portland , Oregon , when Central Ohio Chapter-sponsored, as a Now they'll be able to do it again. there was some doubt as to the future number of correspondents assumed. when the organ is installed in the of the house . They named it "Before Hope that clears up the sponsorship former Star Theatre in El Segundo, the Dark ," anticipating that the stee l question . april 1969 32 Need a brand new bass drum action, his output immune to the fickle fingers surf or wind machine, shuffl,e effect - of temporary popularity, distribution or even a complete toy counter, ready problems and retail sales. to wire in? Then ATOEr Bruce · E. He contracts with the manufacturers LeBarron is your man. His shop is in of hi-fi equipment to provide records to Lakeville P. 0. (Lim e Rock RFD), Con demonstrate and help sell phonos and necticut (06039 ), and he has a goodly components. He has developed a talent supply of used organ parts to browse for picking tunes and musical arrange through in his little shop behind the ments which tend to cause a potential Rectory. Yes, Rev. Bruce is an organ buyer to reach for his checkbook when enthusiast in his spare time, his first Chuck's records are heard on the floor duty being to the Boss. But being a model. Much to our chagrin, Chuck working pastor only seems to whet his informs us that some tunes on our interest in pipes - no, not THAT kind "index expurgatorius musica" ( over - theatre pipes. His specialty is build recorded, over-exploited tunes) such ing exact replicas of theatre organ WOW, WHAT A SOUND/ Eddie Dunsfedter and as "Somewhere My Love," "Winchester effects and percussion actions. He even T08 Associate Editor Peg Nielsen react to a Cathedral," "Alley Cat," "Exodus," has a brochure which a business en particularly bright passage heard during the "Laura," and "Born Free," for example, velope, stamped (6c) and addressed, will mastering of Eddie's forthcoming "your request" tunes no organist depending on popular fetch. platter. Location is the Sunset Recording Studio sales could wisely risk now, are top in Hollywood. * * * pers for clinching sales among pros While we're on the subject of pects giving a phono a listening test. stamped ( 6c), self-addressed envelopes, Eddie Dunstedter's forthcoming re here's another goody which such an cording for an independent label will Not organ hobbyists, we assume ... object will secure. Send a standard present the "Fast Freight" Eddie, the "Mastering" is the word used to de business-size envelope to Carsten Hen organist whose radio programs gave the scribe the various processes ( e.g. equal ningsen, Ye Olde Pizza Joynt, 19510 theatre organ a nation-wide status over izing, dubbing, transferring sound to Hesperian Blvd., San Lorenzo, Calif. coast-to-coast radio links in the '20s stamper disc) performed to process a 94541. Henningsen, masterminder of and '30s. It's solo organ, with no assists recorded tape to a pressing ready to the famous "dough and Wurlitzer" es from additional instrumentalists or seal into its jacket. Bill L. Robinson has tablishment , is handing out beautiful rhythm sections. About two years ago been doing just that for Hollywood color brochures to customers covering we published an invitation to readers branches of major record companies the story of the 3-12 theatre organ, to send in requests for the numbers (e.g. Capitol) for 20 years and likes to from movie house to Joynt. He's willing they would most like to hear Eddie tackle the special problems of organ to mail one to anyone who sends him play. This recording - "Eddie Dunsted records ( he mastered the aforemen an . envelope with "I read about the ter Plays Requests" - is the result. It tioned Dunstedter disc). Bill explains brochure in the BOMBARDE" written is played on the 4-'15 Robert Morton in that the "rasp," which distorts the on the back. the Carl Greer Inn, Sacramento, Calif., sound of far too many current record * * * an instrument on which Eddie is able ings, is caused by a combination of In Cinnaminson, New Jersey, Jim to recreate the characteristic "Dunsted too-heavy modulation (volume) and Carter reveals that he has completed ter sound" of his broadcasts on Wur too many grooves to the inch. High installation of seven of a proposed 17- litzers and Kilgens. Fans selected some modulation is desirable within reason rank T.O. installation in his home. He old favorites associated with Eddie's ( the limit being the point at which the says that the organ has no "home illustrious musical past, some more re grooves overlap) to reduce surface ground." It's built from Wurlitzer parts cent ones and some show tunes. In noise and electronic "hiss" ( white from all over the U. S. A. cluded also are medleys from "Porgy noise), but too many grooves to the and Bess" and "Kismet" and such inch is the result of trying to get too * * * Each year Christmas cards continue singles as "Girl from Ipanema," "Holi much music on a side. The cutting to pour in "from the four corners" all day for Strings" and "Bali Hai." Of needle excursion caused by the ample through January. We can't possibly special interest is Eddie's first recorded bass of the organ makes fewer grooves acknowledge them all but we TO-B grand opera selection, Wagner's "Pil and carefully controlled volume maxi staffers are most grateful for the re grim's Chorus." For the old timers mums both "musts." . .. Do people membrances. Easily the most novel Eddie has included his radio theme, read jacket notes which accompany "Open Your Eyes" and for the "now card this year came from Britisher records? Some apparently do not, judg generation," a rocking "Can't Take My Michael Candy. On his card was ing from the comments of a few Con mounted a 3x4" set of 8 postage Eyes Off You." Watch for the release date in this column ... cert Recording customers who com stamp-size photos showing prog,ress plained about the "canned applause" made in his Opus 1199 2-8 Wurlitzer Record pro following most selections on Billy home installation. There 's Mike pouring ducer Chuck Nalle's "Wizard of Organ" release (see foundation, Mike laying bricks, and Davis, who re FOR THE RECORDS). Had they but Mike hoisting roofing timber. A man leased the cur consulted the jacket notes they would of many talents. And the specially de rent 21-year know those selections w.ere recorded signed building is well along. old Ken Wright during live concerts. There's no delay * * * 4-14 Kilgen Remember who played B. F. Keith's record, oper ing applause from a theatrefull of live theatre Wurlitzer in Grand Rapids, ates in an area wire organ enthusiasts when they're hearing music that turns them on. Read in the old days? One of the most prom Chuclc Davis - his or of the organ inent was Russell Thrall. We have gan records are some recording field the notes, folks! located him and a story is in the mill. thing else. which makes - Elmer Fubb
33 theatre organ bombarde