WINTER 1964-65 VOL. VI, No.4 JJ®@illmIDITi®WTI1[I1; ID~I;illil©IDm ID~~®©ilIDTI1IT®m ®tr1rmr;ID 1rmr; ®ill@IDm r;m1rm®~ilID~1r -~

(Upper) 5/17 Compton-Odeon, Leicester Square, London, England (Lower) 4./16 Morton - Carl Greer Inn, Sacramento, California

-Also In Thi-s Issue- SANDY MacPHERSONPROFILE - THE LEGENDARY CAPITOL MOLLER EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSK - ORGANS IN NORTH CAROLINA JOE GIBBS SPRING, ORGANIST - ,CHAPTER NEWS - OTHER FEATURES NEWCONN THEATRE ORGAN ••.

• Exclusive "Conn Chorus Control" for celeste and grand ensemble• Two separate built-in speaker systems, including a two-speed Leslie • Total distributed power: 60 watts • Two 61-note independent keyboards• 25-note pedalboard • Sustain on each manual; separate sustain for pedal board• 26 speaking voices, including chimes• 47 vari-colored, illuminated voice and coupler tabs. See and play the new Conn Theatre model at your nearest Conn dealer's. Or, write for full details to Conn Organ Corporation, Elkhart, Indiana. CONN ORGAN

2 $6.00 - DUES ARE DUE FOR 165 - $6.00 theatre organ ~~... ATOS­ a»;VBS I LIBRARY WINTER, 1964_:65 VOL. 1ZI N0.4

akin to the lowest pedal note of a 32' Dear Mr. James: Bombarde have caused my swell shutters Just received the latest issue of to open up and pour forth this blast. T.heatre Organ. Excellent as usual. It's I was a theatre organist in the theatre nice to be on the receiving end of such late 20's and played some decent sized a top-quality publication. Mortons & Wurli 's I was not great, but Here in Miami there is a group of feel I could cue a: picture as well as 120, volunteers who operate a full-size other mediocre organists of the time. organ steam-powered railroad train. It's rather Who of us didn't use our beautiful interesting that of these 120 three are tibias a la Crawford when playing sad A. T .O.E. National Membership ATOEers--Jim LaVake, E. 'J. Quinby and tender love scenes? We older $6.00 per year - includes subscrip­ and I~ There must be some corelation ATOE'ers are actually living in the tion to THEATRE ORGAN and THE between old-time railroading and past and that's the way we want it. BOMBARDE, the official publications theatre organs. ~ost of us enjoy closing our eyes and of The American Association of T. 0. might be interested in the fol­ m our deepest consciousness can hear Theatre Organ Enthusiasts. Make lowing "sad but true" story. It happened the T.O. changing our moods as scenes your check or Money Order payable to me I ast Augu.st: shift from love to anger to the chase. to A.T.O.E. and mail to P.O. Box When planning my western vacation ~on !3ren~ (it is reported) avidly 285, Griffin, Georgia. this past June, I explored the idea avoids ltstenrng to Crawford recordings A.T.O.E. HONORARY MEMBERS of flying back to Miami by way of because he feels it would influence his A~lanta, rather than taking a non-stop style. This makes him more or less of 1959 ...... Jesse Crawford flight. Sole purpose for this was to a bystander as a theatre organ enthusi­ 1960 ...... Farny Wurlitzer h~ar Big Mo in the Atlanta Fox. ~st,. he apparently being interested only 1961 ...... Mel Doner Srnce I had never heard a pipe organ 10 his own concertizing. It would follow 1962 ...... Leonard Mac Clain played before a theatre audience, I that he should not listen to ANY re· 1963 ...... Eddie Dunstedter wrote the Fox management to see if corded artist nor should he attend any Bob van Camp still played at the 1964 ...... Reginald Foort co •ncert. All artists have their own at the Fox on weekends. The Fox STAFF FOR A.T.O.E. distinctive styles. replied, and I made plane reserva­ For my money, Theatre Organ is ex­ PRESIDENT ...... Carl Norvell tions. A stopover of 4 hours or more actly what iC-s name implies and I'm increases the total fare, so I got Vice President ...... Erwin A. Young trying to recapture some of my old Treasurer ...... Richard F. Kline, Jr. space on a flight leaving Atlanta stylings - stealing a little here and National Secretary ...... Betty Norvell 3 hours and 59 minutes after arrival there from a number of the greats of the there. past and present, including Crawford. EDITORIAL STAFF Arrived in Atlanta on a dreary, Another gripe. Theatre Organ belongs Publications rainy Sunday and, never having been in the theatre and most ATOE'ers are Coordinator ...... W. 'Tiny' James to Atlanta before, took a cab to the dedicated toward trying to keep it there Fox. I had already seen the movie where large auditorium acoustics make THEATRE ORGAN in Miami, so after exploring the bal­ for the most beautiful sound this side Editor ...... George Thompson cony for awhile, I decided to ask the of heaven. The average home is co~­ Associate Editor .... ,-Ray Brubacher doorman when Bob van Camp would pletely unsuited for a decent size in­ THE BOMBARDE be heard. Imagine how I felt when stallation with the chambers only 15 he replied, n oh, he ' s on vacation· Editor ...... W. 'Stu' Green , , to 20 feet away from the listener. Al­ no o y s playing the organ today~" Associate Editor ...... Peg Nielsen b d most invariably these installations be­ it was back to the airport and So come just boxes of deafening whistles Advertising Manager ...... Dewey Cagle on to Miami. It cost me about $10 to combined with the sound of escaping see a half-hour of a movie I had al­ air, thumping of regulators and tremu - THEATRE ORGAN and THE BOM­ ready seen, and I lost $200 in trav­ loes, coupled with blower and motor BARDE ore quarterly publications elers cheques somewhere between noises. devoted to the interests of theatre Atlanta and Miami. But I did see the Granted that the home installed pipe organ enthusiasts, and to publishing stars and clouds in the Fox so it organ. is as.sembled with loving care, of official notes and proceedings of wasn't a total loss. ' great 1ngenu1ty and expense are a source Theatre Organ Enthusiasts. All I hope for better luck next time. May­ of pride to their owners, but they be­ communications and material should be I can coordiante next year's vacation come the product of the tinker's art and be sent to THEATRE ORGAN, P.O. with the ATOE convention which sound more like steam calliopes rather Box 248, Alameda, Ca I iforn ia. ln­ g ather will be in Chicago. than theatre organs. qu iries and all materials intended for Now a slight brief for the plug in A.T.O.E. should be directed to the Cordially, electronic gadget with the undulating above address and will be correctly '~Buck " Price sound emanating from loud speakers - routed to the proper office. so despised by your correspondent re• ferred to earlier. THEATRE ORGAN and THE BOM- 1 happen to own one - that is the BARDE (title registered U.S. Patent Dear Sir: Bank of America and I. Some day i; will Office) ore published by the American Well, the May Issue of Bombarde be all mine. In my home during the past Association of Theatre Organ En- finally did it. The sly and slightly two years, I've had three different thusiasts, Carl Norvell, President. snide references to various artists who makes and eight models before I finally All rights reserved, Entire contents occasionally played a passage reminis- settled on the what I feel is the elec- copyright 1965 by A. T .O.E ., Inc. cent of the Crawford era and one re- tronic gadget with the closest approach porter ' s reference to ' plug in ,opera- to the theatre sound. Let's face a fact POSTMASTER: If undeliverable, send tors ' and ' undulating sound enamating to begin with, an electronic rone genera- Form 3579 to THEATRE ORGAN fro.m loud speakers ' has made my blood tor cannot duplicate the overtones and P.O. Box 248, Alameda, California'. boil. The rumblings deep within me Continued on page 30 RETURN REQUESTED. Second Class -;::-;-;;-;-:=--:;--::::-:~----::-:-:::--:--:---::--"""'.'""---..:....._:___ ~~_:Permit paid at A I a med a, Ca I i forn i a. Winter 164- '65 __C;;;..;.H...;..;;l...;;;C~A;...=G:....;0:::;...._____::J~U~L:...!.Y~3~-4::!..-....:::5~~c!..!H~I C~A~G~O 3 THE ROBERT MORTON Story by Major H. A. Sommer

Those travelling almost any direction in California will pass within 100 yards of the largest theatre organ of its kind in a hotel dining room. We are referring to the organ in Sacramento's newest motel, the Carl Greer Inn. Completed in early September and representing a two mi Ilion dollar investment, the Inn has 100 centrally air conditioned guest rooms, a mammoth dining room and cock­ tail lounge, banquet room, a coffee shop, beauty shop, swimming pool and in the lobby, an FM stereo broadcasting sta­ tion. Because this motel is located at the crossroads of California traffic, it is expected that theatre organ enthusiasts from all over the country will include the Carl Greer Inn on their itinerary. Two major transcontinental highways pass through Sacramento, US Highway 40 and US Highway 50, and the Carl Greer Inn is located right on Highway 40 and only a short distance from Highway 50. In addition, the major highway route from Southern California into Oregon and Washington, US Highway 99, Clyde Derby at the Robert Morton, Carl Greer Inn passes right in front of the Carl Greer Inn. Easy exit and access to the freeway is provided by taking Fulton Avenue turnoff which is northeast of Sacramento itself. Now that you know where it is and what there is that will interest you, let's take a look inside. Entering the dining room one gets the feeling of spacious luxury with its seating capacity of 220. Setting pff the exquisite detail­ ing and splendor of the regal purple dining room, lounge and bar are beautiful striking raspberry colored pendant light­ ing fixtures. While standing ankle deep in the plush carpeting one cannot help but observe the "piece d 'resistance" of the Inn, the Robert Morton theatre organ! The "King of the Instruments" in its newly refinished walnut console, reposes in throne-like glory encircled by a 21 seat organ bar. In rapport with the atmosphere, the swell shades are located in rich walnut panelling to the . rear of the organ. Clyde Derby is the resident organist, assisted by Aletha Bowman who plays for luncheon and dinner, with Tom Thompson pro:viding relief. In honor of the opening, on September 8, the motel manager sponsored a cocktail party for head organist, Clyde Derby. Over one hundred guests attended. As the guests proceeded through the lounge to the banquet room, the organ was heard, with Aletha at the console. She was dressed in a smart turquoise cocktail dress with a bun on top of her head. She must have brought nostalgia to the old timers who remember her from the California (Sacramento) Theatre days. Clyde, look­ ing dapper in his pink silver threaded Pipe Chambers 4/16 Robert Morton, Carl Greer Inn 4 $6.00 DUES ARE DUE FOR 165 $6. 00 theatre organ IN THE CARLGREER INN Photos by Dave Schutt and Ray Sawyer

coat with purple velvet lapels, bouton­ niere ancl bow tie (yes, he had pants on) came on later and presented a one-hour recital. Clyde's program was also brc,ad­ cast over KHIQ, Sacramento's stereo FM station. Both organists were in excellent form and the audience was most appreciative. Larry Yannucci, prominent Bay Area organist, was also persuaded to play and was tremendous in several renditions. Larry said it was mighty sweet sounding and the best he,d heard outside of a theatre. The Robert Morton organ was original­ ly installed in the Music Hall Theatre, Seattle by Balcom and Vaughan of that city. It was moved from Seattle and re­ installed at the Inn by Dan Adamson, Don Myers and Wayne Puckett of the B & V firm. Clyde Derby, Dave Schutt, Ray Anderson, and other ATOE'ers made final adjustments; Bill Reid and Clyde completed the final tuning. The console was completely refinished in the natural walnut, some re-leathering accomplished, and several dead notes chased down. Additional work on the combination action is in progress. The chambers are constructed of reinforced concrete, 40 foot square, 16 feet high, divided in the middle and located underground below the console. Sound is conducted through ducts to the shades which are located about 20 feet from the rear of the console facing the organist. Although deafening within the chambers, the heavy carpeting and fum­ _ishings of the lounge arid dining room absorb the sound and maintain a normal balance. The volume has been acclaimed as perfect, just right to satisfy the organ enthusiast who prefers loudness, yet subdued sufficiently so that less en­ thusiastic customers are not annoyed. All sound reproduction and relays are contained in the divic:led chamber. The blower is in a separate room some 40 feet from the chambers at floor level. As can be noted in the specifications, this instrument is typical of most Mor­ tons, yet is unique in some aspects. It is abundantly supplied with percussions such as two snare drums, two wood drums (Chinese Blocks), two tom-toms, three cymbals, Chinese Gong, etc. To all this has been added a siren operating on 110 volts that is almost loud enough to stop traffic on Highway 40! The entire organ is voiced on 15 inches pressure, except the Vox Humana, yet the over-all sound is very pleasing to the ear. The layout of the manuals differs frm· what we tend to consider standard in that the top manual is called Orchestral, with the next manual being the Solo, then Great and Accompaniment. Al so one finds the Great stops starting at the extreme left on the lower bolster Pipe Chambers 4/16 Robert Morton, Carl Greer Inn Continued on page 6 Winter 164- 165 CHICAGO JULY 3-4-5 CHICAGO 5 Continued from page 5 with the Pedal stops just aoove. The Orchestral stops are located at the extreme right on the top bolster with the Solo stops just beneath, while the Accompaniment stops start just to the Dan Adamson left of the center of the horseshoe (Seattle) at the below the middle oolster. console during installation. SPECIFICATIONS ROBERT MORTON 4/16 OPUS 2375- 1927. CARL GREER INN,SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA. Ex-Music Hall Theatre, Seattle, Washington.

PEDAL ACCOMP. Cont'd. GR EAT Cont'd. SOLO BALANCED PEDALS 8 Orchestral Oboe (Syn) 32 Diaphonic Resultant Marimba Harp 4 Tuba 16 Tuba Profunda Left, Right 16 Tuba Profunda Harp 4 Octave 16 Tibia Clause Crescendo 16 Diaphone Chrysoglott 4 Tibia Clause 16 Solo . String Orchestral Bells 16 Bourdon 4 Flute 16 Clarinet Snare Drum Ro 16 Bass String (Gamba) II 4 Gamba 8 Tuba BLOWER 8 Tuba Snare Drum Tap 4 Vox Humana 8 Trumpet Snare Drum Tap Mu Hied 8 English Horn 2 2/3 Twelfth 8 English Horn 15 HP Orgoblo 8 Tambourine 8 Open Diapason 2 Piccolo Open Diapason 8 Castanet 8 Tibia Clausa 2 Fifteenth (Viol) Tibia Clause 8 Gamba Tom Tom 8 Solo String PISTONS 1 3/5 Tierce 8 Violin Tom Tom Muffled 8 Violin Harp 8 Celeste Viol Wood Drum 8 Celeste Viol 8-8-8-8 Ch ry sog Iott 8 Oboe Horn Wood Drum Muffled 8 Saxophone (syn) G lockens pie I 8 Clarinet Sleigh Bells Muffled 8 Kinura Orchestral Bells 4 Octave Chinese Gong a Vox Humana KICK SWITCHES Xylophone Bass Drum, Kettle Drum Cymbal 8 Oboe Horn Chimes Drum, Cymbals, Accomp to Accomp 16 8 Clarinet Sforzando 1st Touch, Great to Great 16 Crash Cymbal, Accomp to Accomp 4 8 Krumet Stops/ couplers Great to Great 8 Triangle Great to Accomp 8 8 Orchestral Oboe (syn) Solo to Great 16 2nd T. Pedal to Peda I 8 Solo to Accomp 8 4 Tuba Solo to Great 8 Triangle 1st Touch, Ac comp to Peda I 8 4 Tibia Clause Solo to Great 4 Kett le Drum/ cym ba I Great to Ped a I 8 4 Oboe Horn 2nd T. Solo to Peda I 8 ACCOMPANIMENT 2ND 4 Violin Thunder TOUCH 4 Celeste Viol Horse Hoofs PEDAL 2ND TOUCH 8 Tuba 2 Piccolo (Tibia) GREAT 2ND TOUCH 8 English Horn Harp Chimes 8 Diaphonic Diapason Chrysoglott 16 Tuba Bass Drum 8 Tibia C lausa Solo to Solo 16 16 Diaphone Kettle Drum Chimes Solo to So lo 4 16 Tibia Clause Cymbal Triangle 16 Gamba Crash Cymba I Bird 8 Orchestra I Chinese Gong, roll, Tri. Orchestra I

TOE STUDS ACCOMPANIMENT GREAT ORCHESTRAL Crash Cymba I 16 Contra Viol 16 Tuba Profunda 8 T-uba Chinese Gong 16 Celeste Viol 16 English Horn 8 Trumpet Auto Horn 8 Tuba 16 Diaphone 8 English Horn ~iren 8 English Horn 16 Tibia Clausa 8 Open Diapason Train Whistle 8 Open Diapason 16 Concert Flute 8 Tibia Clause Boat Wh i st Ie 8 Tibia Clause 16 Gamba 8 Gamba Fire Gong 8 Concert Flute 16 Violin 8 Violin Pedal Combons 8 Gamba 8 Tuba 8 Celeste Viol Tibia 8 Viol d 'Orchestre 8 Trumpet 8 Dulciana Vox Humana 8 Celeste .Viol 8 English Horn 8 Kinura 8 Dulciana 8 Open Diapason 8 Oboe Horn 8 Kinura 8 Tibia Clausa 8 Krumet EXPRESSION 8 Vox Humana 8 Concert Flute 4 Tibia Clausa 8 Oboe Horn 8 Gamba 4 Gamba Master express ion 8 Clarinet 8 Violin 4 Violin ON-OFF 8 Krumet 8 Celeste Viol 2 Piccolo (Tibia) 8 Orchestral Oboe (Syn) 8 Dulciana 2 Fifteenth (Viol) 4 Octave 8 Saxophone (syn) Harp UNISONS 4 Flute 8 Ki nura Chry sog Iott 4 Viol 8 Vox Humana Glockenspiel SOLO, GREAT, ACC. 4 Celeste Viol 8 Oboe Horn Orchestral Bells Genera I ON-OFF 2 2/3 Twelfth 8 Clari net Xylophone 2 Piccolo 8 Krumet Chimes

6 $6.00 - DUES ARE DUE FOR '65 - $6.00 theatre organ SANDYMacPHEHSON ... Orqanist- Friendof Millions

By Lloyd E. Klos

"Hello, Everyone! This is Sandy at the BBC Theater Organ.,, How often have those words been bearre d into hundreds of thousands of homes throughout the British Common­ wealth of Nations! Although considered as one of the top theater organists of England, this man is not an Englishman by birth. He is Canadian-born Roderick Hallowell Macpherson, a musician of "Hello everyone, this is Sandy ••. " great talent who has had one of the A characteristic photograph of Sandy Macpherson at the console of the B.B.C. most remarkable careers in theater or­ Compton, taken at about the time of his appointment as resident organist in 1938. gan annals. The rise of Sandy Macpher­ son to fame should be of considerable whose ability at the keyboard was pianist and the theater's musical direc­ interest to all theater organ enthusiasts. equaled by her ability with the gin tor developed, and Sandy was appointed He was born on March 3, 1897, in bottle. When the theater manager heard regular pianist. He gained valuable ex­ Paris, Ontario, a little Canadian town. Sandy's piano style, he hired him as a perience in this position. improvising His father was manager of the local replacement for the lady each time she by the hour-agitatos, hurrys. mysteri­ branch of the Canadian Bank of Com­ was "under the weather." It meant 35¢ osos etc., and remained at the Temple merce, and his mother was the daughter to the young pianist f cx each perfor­ for a year and a half while continuing of the manager of another bank in town. mance. his studies. Wishing to further himself, With this proximity to the realm of high For two years, Sandy was enrolled he moved to Hamilton's Lyric Theater, finance, one would be led to believe at the Amherst Academy. Later, he en­ a vaudeville house on the Keith circuit. that the young boy would turn his tered St. Andrew's College in Toronto. Sandy fondly remembers his days at th oughts to a care er in this field. It is It was here that his musical education the Lyric. The leading variety artists fortunate for the theater organ lover expanded. He continued studying the of the time appeared there, among them that subsequent events steered him from organ, and also became conductor of Alice Lloyd, Chic Sale, and the Marx the path of banking to the road as a the school orchestra. After leaving the Brothers. In 1921, Macpherson moved to cinema organist. college, he returned to Amherst where Hamilton's Loew's Theater, coming un­ Sandy began studying piano at about it had been decided that he join the der the management of MGM. Appoint­ six, his mother instilling in him an bank. He was a member of the staff only ment was secured through James J. early love of music. It was the custom a few months when World War I broke Lindsay, musical director of Loew's in those days for Sandy's father to in­ out. In 1915, after a six-week course, Theaters Inc. Sandy had reached a mile­ vite the young bank clerks into his home Sandy was commissioned a lieutenant stone in his career. Heretofore, all for Sunday afternoon tea. An hour or in the Army Service Corps. Lacking an positions were as pianist. This was two of group singing, featuring religious assignment because of the slow-turning his first as organist, and he hesitated songs and popular ballads with Mrs. official wheels, he held various jobs in before accepting. He had performed on Macpherson at the piano, was part of the meantime. He helped guard German a church organ, but the new job's better this custom. When he was nine, Sandy prisoners-of-war, was a night watchman pay won him over. In time, he persuaded created a furor in Paris by absenting in a New Jersey factory, was a stock­ the theater manager to insert a film himself from home. He had been reading kee per in a stationery firm, and worked strip into the main reel, proclaiming Horatio Alger, and was bound and de­ in a lumber camp. With war's end, he "Special Musical Accompaniment by termined to follow his hero's life. After decided that music was to be his forte, Hal Macpherson at th~ Organ!" Another a few hours of wandering about, he was but befcxe embarking seriously in this big event for him jn 1921-he was married , returned to his home by the town's mill field, he had a brief career as a tobacco While at Loew's Theater, he fol­ manager whom he had encountered. salesman. It was vigorous work, and lowed the elaborate scores for such In 1910, the family moved to Am­ took a lot out of him, travelling about. pictures as "The Birth of a Nation", herst, Nova Scotia, the father having Sandy enrolled in the Hamilton Con­ "Orphans of the Storm", nScaramouche" been made manager of the bank in that servatory of Music as a piano student. "Monsieur Beaucaire't, "The Covered city. It was here that Sandy began organ His instructor was W. H. Hewlett, Wagon", "The Four Horsemen of the lessons in the First Baptist Church, principal of the Conservatory, and or­ Apocalypse", and "Ben Hur". These and it was most intriguing to the lad, ganist and choirmaster of the Centenary scores came neatly bound and bristling because of the wide range of expression Methodist Church. While a student, with cues. They consisted of excerpts and great interpretation possible on this Sandy helped his finance by selling from the classics and semi-c lassies, instrument. He kept up his piano study pianos. One day, he visited the Temple carefully edited, timed and written, as we 11, and at the age of 14, he re­ Theater in Hamilton, and promptly complete with musical bridges, and all ceived his first theater engagement. recognized the pianist accompanying the organist had to do was to keep a The small picture house in Amherst the films as an old friend. Since the sharp eye on the cues, and play the seated 100. Admissioh was 5¢, and the musician was handling two jobs, he music according to the instructions. In pictures were single-reel features of asked Sandy to fill in for him during comparing the music of the silents with 10 to 20 minutes' duration. The piano the lunch period. The job meant $5 a accompaniment was provided by a lady week. Trouble between the regular Continued on page 8 Winter '64- '65 CHICAGO------JULY 3-4-5 CHICAGO 7 during the years in tluttalo. One was York, plus the organ console, rose into Continued from page 7 Jack Yellen, writer of Sophie Tucker's view on an electric lift. Reginald Foort, songs. Another was liar old Ramsay, a organist in the New Gallery Theater in the mood music of today's motion pic­ fellow organist playing the 4M 28R Regent Street, was brought in to ac­ tures, Sandy believes that the former Wur liTzer in Shea's Buffalo Theater. company the pictures, and Sandy Mac­ had more appeal, because that music Sandy and Harold had double and pherson provided the organ interludes. was used as a substitute for the action, triple-decked sandwiches named after The Empire Theater was indeed THE whereas the latter merely establishes them in Buffalo restaurants, more evi­ theater in London. The elite attended a mood. dence of his rising popularity. its offerings. Members of the foreign He remained at Loew's Hamilton from In 1927, he sailed for a vacation in legations and embassies were frequent 1921 to 1923, and his ambition began England. Armed with a letter of intro­ visitors. The Prince of Wales was of­ to make him restless. He made a trip to duction t o the European chief of the ten in attendance. Sandy had the pro­ Buffalo, and was advised by the mana­ WurliTzer Company in Paris, Walter blem of playing the right kind of music ger of a small theater near the railroad Pearce, Sandy was introduced to before the right kind of audience. Tues­ station to stop at Shea's Hippodrome, Pearce's partner in London, Major S. J. day afternoons, for example, he could and try out for the organist post. This Wright, who showed the organist the play Franck, Ravel, Beethoven, Handel, he did, playing for Mike Shea, whose Wur liTzer installations--the Plaza, Brahms, and Bach, but on Saturdays, it name was "Mr. Big" in theater circles Fins bury Park Rink and others. The Em­ was Gershwin and Berlin. Often he had in the Buffalo area. Shea knew nothing pire Theater in Leicester Square was to steer the "middle line" in his se­ about music, and relied upon his musi­ being built. Sandy was asked to stay, lections so that all listeners would be cal director for advice on talent. A but the pay was not as good as in satisfied. In the autumn. of 1929, the short story confirms this. He and his America. He returned to the States in orchestra left the Empire, so Sandy was musical director were present when an October 1927 to resume his work in Buf­ given the added job of accompanying organist auditioned, then asked the falo's State Theater until May 1928, the second feature. His organ interludes director what he thought. "He's not when the theater was closed. were steadily growing in popularity. He quite up to the standard we want, he's He was not out of work long, be­ discovered that while the theater organ a bit heavy on the pedals", said the cause the Empire Theater in Syracuse, had a ten-year start in America, the director. "Oh", replied Shea, "You N .Y. was reopening, and he accepted Americans still preferred current music, don't need to worry about that--I'm going the post of organist there. Re-opening where as the English audiences des ired to have those things ripped out, ~ny­ night was a big event, with flowers, the older melodies. way!" telegrams, well-wishing, excitement. Sandy instituted new ideas in organ Sandy succee

•By David L. Juochen Once the largest theatre organ in the Midwest, outside ·of Chicago and St. Louis, the 4/23 Moller which was in the Capitol Theatre in Davenport, Iowa, is now just a memory. Ge _orge Bickford, former Capitol organist and now Ham­ mondist at the Davenport Club, recalls that this was a "very fine" instrument. Although some people can't see how 23 ranks could be squeezed into the available chamber space, George re­ collects that all the chests were on the same level except the 4' pipes on the Console as rebuilt by Wicks in 1928 .. So lo (Left Chamber) solo side, which were double decked. Piano never connected to Console. There Th is instrument, installed in 1920 were water damaged again in the early is also a Piano and Harp under the right at a cost of $14,405, was unfortunately forties and still again in the fifties, chamber gri lies. badly water-dam~ged several years with the result that the organ is no after its installation. In March of 1928, longer playable, because of both water In addition to its 23 ranks, the Wicks rebuilt what was salvageable of and pipe damage. Various individuals original organ also had triangle, casti­ the organ at a cost of $6,375. Included have worked on the organ in recent net s Indian bloc ks, tom tom, snare in this figure were a new ivory and years, but too much work needs to be drum's, bass drums, cymbal, marimba­ gold 3 manual console, new direct done to make it practicable. The Capi­ phone, celeste, glockenspiel, orch~stral electric chests, and a new generator, tol manager extends a warm welcome to bells, xylophone, and cathedral chimes, although only 10 ranks and part of the anyone wishing to see the organ, and The organ as it now stands has the percussions could be saved. These re­ has indicated a desire to sell the in­ following, from the shutters back: mains of a once-glorious instrument strument.

Specifications - Moller in Capitol Theatre, Davenport, Iowa ORCHESTRAL ACCOMPANIMENT SOLO No. of PEDAL Bottom Middle Top SOLO CHAMBER Pipes Left Stde Of Theatre Manua I Manua I Manual Kinura 73 8 8 8 Gross Flute 73 8 8 8-4 8-4 Violin D'Orchestral 73 8 8 8 Tibia Clausa 85 8 8-4 8-4-2 2/3-2 8-4-2 Tuba 85 16- 8 16-8 8 ACCOMPANIMENT CHAMBER Right Side of Theatre Vox Humana 73 8 8-4 8 32 Res 16-8-4-2 16-8-2 2/3-2 16-8 Bourdon-Flute 97 16-8-4 Violin 73 8 8 16-8 8 Diapason 73 8 8-4 8-4 8 Violin Celeste 61 8 8-4 8 Marimba Harp 49 Bars X X Xylophone 37 Bars X X Cathedral Chimes 20 Tubes X X Bass Drum X Snare Drum X X Cymbal X

Tympani X Tambourine X Tom-Tom X

Sub-Octave Coupler X X X

Super Coupler X X X

Winter 164- 165 CHICAGO - JULY 3-4-5 - CHICAGO 9 :.. :·.:·:·· ~ ·:.. . . ::•.-:· ...... iIDI/;; ·•·•·•!r-J;:::

··········J~ ·•·•·•·• IIl1iil ·:···

The Eastman Theatre Building. On the sixth floor was situated the studio in which was housed a Wurlitzer for Motion Picture Organ instruction. The theatre .. housed a 4M Austin organ, which all MP students used as part of their graduation :-:-:.: examinations.

lo 1922, the Eastman School of Music, 553. The orchestral effects included which was slated to become world­ chimes, auto horn, castanets, cymbal, renowned, opened in Rochester, N.Y. bass drum, snare drum, orchestra bells, The Kodak King, George Eastman, sand block, tambourine and xylophone. admitting he couldn't ''hold a note,'' The studio, which seated about 35, ..·······•.•1 ~ 1;11.\ though being a staunch music lover, contained a complete outfit for the had been the benefactor, contributing projection of motion pictures, and the :J!il!/llilllll it!!::: $1 7½ million for establishing the student was given practical experience school and the building of the adjacent in learning how to accompany the 3300-seat Eastman Theatre, dedicated silents. Both classwork and individual i ll:-:-:-:.;-:-:-:-:-:-:;:-:-:-·,·.·-·-·,·.·.·.·.-■lill...•.·•····· ·· to "the enrichment of community life." instruction were provided. According Courses in voice, compos1t1on, to a 1922 catalogue, this course, under theory, and all the major musical instru­ guidance of a teacher, was "an advant­ ments were provided through a staff of age not heretofore afforded in the teach­ Coursefor Motion extremely competent instructors under ing of this increasingly-important branch the directorship of Dr. Howard Hanson, of organ playing." The course was of who joined the school in 1924. three year's duration, and following is PictureOrganists The organ department included 11 an outline of it as prescribed about by Lloyd E. Klos practice studios, 9 of which were 1927: equipped with 2-manual organs; and Hrs. Units two teaching studios, each furnished Per Per with a 3-manual organ. All of these Subjects Week Sem. Teachers organs as well as the 4M Aeolian- Skinner in Kilbourn Hall, and the 4M Organ I 4 Abel Marie Decoux First Piano 7 ½ 2 Warren Gehrken Austin in the Eastman Theatre, had Year Theory I Me lvi I le Smith consoles which were standardized as 5 3 far as possible to enable students to History of Music l l Dr. J. Barlow Penney progress easily from the smaller to Motion Pie. Organ l 4 Robt. J. Berentsen; H. 0. Smith the larger instruments. Theory IC l l Mel vi I le Smith The studios contained only consoles; Second Theory II 4 4 Melville Smith the pipes being housed in soundproof Year Musical Form 2 2 Donald Tweedy chambers in the attic above the ceiling. Scoring I 2 2 Robt. J. Berentsen; H. 0. Smith A special studio adjacent to the Repertoire I l l Robt. J. Berentsen; H. 0. Smith front corridor on the sixth floor in the Extemporization l 1 Robt. J. Berentsen; H. 0. Smith Eastman Theatre Building was equipped for a Motion Picture Organ course. Motion Pie. Organ 11 1 4 Robt. J. Berensten; H. 0. Smith There were not many music schools Third Orchestration 2 2 Donald Tweedy throughout the country offering chis Year Scoring II 2 2 Robt. J. Berentsen; H. 0. Smith specialized instruction. In chis room was Repertoire II l 1 Robt. J. Berentsen; H. 0. Smith ins called a 2M 8R Wurl i cze r, Opu:s:_:_N:,:o:,:·__ ..::::::::::::::::::E::x::t::e::m::::p::o::r::iz::a::t::i::o::n:::1::: 1:::::::::::1 :::::::::1::::::---R_o_b_t ._J_._B_e_re_n_t_s_e_n_;_H_._O_._S_m_i_th 10 $6.00 DUES ARE DUE FOR '65 $6.00 theatre organ CHART NO. 2 Subjects as Described in the Catalogue 1927 Scorinl:l Class Film Library

Motion Picture Organ I. A thorough Title Featured Actor No. of Reels Film Studio tra1nmg in organ technique, in classical Deception Emi I Jannings 8 Paramount, 1921 and popular style will be given, emphasis Disraeli George Ari i ss 7 Pathe, 1921 being placed upon the attainment of a Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde Lionel Barrymore 7 Paramount, 1920 repertoire of sufficient size and variety Gypsy Blood E. Jannings, Pola Negri 6 First National, 1921 for actual performance in the theatre; Irish Luck Thomas Meighan 7 al so a sufficient know ledge of extemp­ Passion E. Jannings, Pola Negri 9 First National, 1921 orization to improvise short compositions Peter Pan Betty Bron son 10 1925 of some musical merit. Polly of the Follies Constance Talmadge 7 First National, 1920 Motion Picture Organ II. The work of the Potash & Perlmutter Goldwyn, 1923 first year is continued,. including a more Primitive Lover Constance Talmadge 6 First National, 1922 detailed study of popular and classical Ruling Passion George Ari iss 7 United Artists, 1922 numbers, and of special types of playing The Golem German 6 FPL as required in the theatre. Repertoire I. The student is given Comedies instruction in the classification and Cops Buster Keaton 2 First National, 1920 recognition of music suitable for solo Dog's Life Charlie Chaplin 3 First National, 1918 performance and picture accompaniment Gobi Larry Semon 2 Vitagraph until a complete picture library is Homemade Movies Ben Turpin 2 Ma ck Sennett attained; further, the study of musical Shou Ider Arms Charlie Chaplin 5 First National, 1918 dramatic devices, theatre routine, organ construction, and subjects of general 4 News Reels Weeki ies musical knowledge particularly necessary Tony Sorg 's Almanac for theatre work. Repertoire II. This class includes historical development, covering the music of all periods and countries and particularly the dramatic devices of the opera composers. Further attention is give n to organ construction, including the preparation of organ specificat -ions, picture play and cue sheet writing, theatre routine, psychology of the audience, etc. Extemporization l. This class includes the study of harmony, counterpoint, form, transposition, registration, characteristic rhythms as used in the accompaniment of motion pictures. Extemporization II., This is a continuance of Extemporization I, and includes instruction in the fugal and sonata forms. Scoring I. This class is given with the aid of a motion picture operator and includes the scoring of scenes, news reels, cartoons, feature programs, etc. The student prepares and performs Console of ex-Eastman School Wurlitzer as it looks today in Groveland Presby­ complete programs under the supervision terian Church. Woodwork was given a coat of dark stain in an effort to hide the of the instructor. scars of age. The percussion and trumpet rank were removed in the "churchifying" Scoring II. The subject of thematic process. development, coherence and emphasis -L. Klos Collection as required in picture-playing form the major content of this class, students being required to improvise complete picture programs.

SEE CHART NO. 2

The catalogue co ntinues : "For grad­ uation, the student must have satis­ factorily passed examinations in all subjects as outlined in the course, and must present a complete motion picture program as given in the Eastman Thea­ tre .'' Short Motion Picture Organ courses were given in summer school also . Following is the description of the course taken from the summer school bulletin, dated June 25 to July 28, 1923, entitled "Organ Accompaniment of Motion Pictures": "This is a special co urse offered to a class limited to 12 students whose Pipework adjacent to percussion section in ex-Eastman School Wurlitzer. Organ Co ntinued on page 12 was being dismantled prior to instal lotion in church. -L Klos Collection Winter '64- '65 CHICAGO JULY 3-4-5 CHICAGO 11 A group of Motion Picture Organ students pose for the camera Seated are Frank "Gus" Clement, student; Bryant G. Parsons, at the Marr & Colton Organ plant, Warsaw,, NY in the spring of organ repairman and lecturer; Robert G. Berentsen, teacher; 1927. Standing, left to right, are students Alma Li ssow, Sally Ira Sh irk and Chester Klee, students. Through a trip to an Mossman, unidentified and Edith Mansion; David J. Marr, organ plant, students were given the added knowledge of how President of the M&C Co. and host to the occasion; students organs were constructed and how they operated. Doris Germer, Marion Taylor, Eda Roman and Elizabeth Scurry. -L. Klos Collection

instructors will be on duty in the East­ Master Course designed for those who Continued from page 11 man Thea tre during the entire summer have had thorough organ training and preparation is adequate to make m­ period. ex~ensi ve theatrical experience. tensi ve study of organ accompanying "Students who are not prepared to "Students taking the Preparatory of motion pictures immediately possible. meet the requirements of this course, Course receive two individual 1-hour It should be considered as a post­ may take private instruction which will lessons per week at the organ, and a graduate course if considered in relation furnish such preparation." class scoring period with projection, to the regular organ course of the school. Later on, the courses were changed 2 hours per week. In addition to proficiency as a player some what, and following is their "Students in the Master Course of the organ, the candidate for this description, taken from the summ e r receive 2 individual 1-hour lessons per course is requested to have a funda­ school bulletin, dated June 22 to July week at the organ with private pro­ mental knowledge of harmony, modula­ 25, 1925: jection for each lesson, and also a tion, transposition and some knowledge "The Department of Organ Accomp­ weekly 2-hour class conference at of ~,ou~terpoint. animent of Motion Pictures of the East­ which questions pertaining to the work This course is conducted by man Schoo l of Music offers two courses of the motion picture will be discussed. Deszo D'Antalffy and John Hammond, of 5 weeks' duration for the summer "All students are advised to take the organists of the Eastman Theatre. session. The first is a Preparatory the summer course in theory, consisting In the regular sessions of the school, Course, designed for those who work to of a daily lesson in harmony. it is arranged on a 12-week schedule. equip themselves for entrance to th e "Those not wishing to take the regular Motion Picture Course or ad- The course may be thus taken as a Continued on pa ge 13 summer session course since the vancement therein. The second is a 12 $6.00 DUES ARE DUE FOR 165 $6.00 theatre organ University School of Music and Ohio Frank A. "Gus" Clement played State University, then studied abroad nine Rochester Theatres, and is now in Loodon and Berlin. For ten years on the staff of Rochester Institute of following his musical study, he toured Technology. George C. Garis of Pen as piano accompanist with concert Argyle, Pa. played four west-side artists. theatres in Rochester, achieving much Upon assuming his duties in Roches­ popularity while at the Madison, by ter, he and Mr. Berent sen shared the broadcasting over WHAM. Possessor of task of accompanying the silent movies a unique style and friendly personality, in the Eastman Theatre until the advent his theme song "Beyond the Blue of the talkies in the late twenties. A Horizon" drew many listeners. Thorough­ member of the Eastman School faculty, ly enjoying his work, he played up to the starting in 1925, he began in the opera final days of the theatre organ in the department, later teaching courses in city. Harold W. Geschwind, who played Motion Picture Organ and regular organ. nine theatres in Rochester, spent three Harold Osborn Smith, who, with Robert For a number of years, he served as years in a downtown Richmond, Va. Berentsen, taught a course in Motion official organist of the Rochester Phil­ theatre, then returned to this city Picture Organ at the Eastman School of harmonic, and from 1926 to 1953, was where he is a music instructor for the Music in the late Twenties and early organist and choirmaster of First Pres­ Board of Education. He harbors fond thirties. Mr. Smith also accompanied the byterian Church, missing only 6 ·services memories of his theatre organ days, silents at the Eastman and Regent Thea­ in that time - a most enviable record. saying he got his greatest feeling of tres. -L. Klos Collection Former students will argue into the enjoyment and accomplishment which night as to who was the better organist­ succeeded anything he lias done since. courses may study privately with the instructor. Each had his loyal supporters, Chester E. Klee played in five Rochester regular instructor.'' and the writer will not take sides in a houses, then moved to Olean, N. Y. Tht: first instructors of the Motion controversy VITTose answer cannot be where his is a busy schedule - music Picture Organ Course were John Ham­ determined one way or the other. teacher, church organist, President of mond and Deszo Von D' Antallfy. They Suffice to say, these men turned out the Olean Civic Music Assn, Kiwanis were extremely competent teachers, some excellent students. One was J. musician, and a writer of a music column and there are many organists who up to Gordon Baldwin, who hailed from War­ for the Olean Times-Herald. Ira F. Shirk this day regard John Hammond as pure saw, Ohio. A terrific improviser, ac­ from Ephrata, Pa. played ten theatres in genius. Deszo D' Antallfy will be re­ cording to his contemporaries, he had Rochester, eventually becoming a church membered as having gone on to fame several positions in Rochester - organ­ organist and teacher when the silents as one of the members of the first pipe ist at the Monroe Theatre, one of the went out. There were many others who organ trio at the 6200-seat Roxy Theatre "Console Twins" at the Piccadilly's returned to their home towns to serve in in New York, beginning in 1927. two~onsole Wurlitzer, and finally theatres until they were forced by the Later on, two men succeeded to these musical director and organist at WHEC. trend of the times to seek other lines positions. Robert J. Berensten and He is in the middle west at last report. of endeavor. Harold Osborn Smith, two more excellent Joseph L. Briggs of Cheston, West By examination of Eastman School organists, taught the course in addition Virginia played the Arnett, Princess and records, the last Motion Picture organ to accompanying the silent pictures 10 Regent organs in Rochester, and when students were graduated in 1930. The thd Eastman Theatre. theatre organs were stilled, he became handwriting was on the wall for a pro- Mr. Beren ts en came to Rochester in . a teacher of the Hammond, a job in which Concluded on page 14 1923 to become organist at the Eastman he is still very busily engaged. Theatre, later to teach both Motion Picture Organ and regular organ courses in the Eastman School. Born in Chicago of Norwegian descent, he studied music in Minneapolis and later in Europe. While overseas, he was the only organist to participate in Norway's choral cele­ bration in 1914 of the 100th anniversary of the adoption of its constitution. Student Harold W. Before joining the Eastman Theatre Geschw ind at the con­ staff, he was organist at the William sole of the Eastman Fox Academy of Music at the Broadway Theatre, organist and orchestra leader School Wurlitzer. The at the new Atlantic The acre, and Chief organ, situated in a Organist at Major Bowes' Capitol sixth floor studio, was Theatre in New York City. He was a former president of the Society of used almost constantly Theatre Organists of New York. by students who loved Mr. Berentsen was organist at the to play the tunes of Eastman until the end of the silent movie era. For 14 years, he was organist the Roaring Twenties. and pianist for the Rochester Phil­ The picture was taken harmonic Orchestra, and for 24 years in 1925. was organist and choir director at Central Presbyterian Church, providing -L. Klos Collection music for 1500 services and hundreds of other church meetings. Three times he was elected Dean of Rochester Chapter, AGO. Harold Osborn Smith came to Ro­ chester in 1925 at the invitation of Chief Organist Berentsen at the Eastman. Mr. Smith was born in Columbus, Ohio in 1880. He studied music at Cleveland Winter '64- '65 CHICAGO JULY 3-4-5 CHICAGO 13 The Wurlitzer in the MP studio was a the serviceman gets there." EASTMAN ·scHOOL great favorite of the students, and was In connection with his talks, students used night and day, albeit it was were taken on tours of the Eastman OF MUSIC'S COURSE practically worn out, say those who Theatre Organ chambers, thereby gaining Continued from page 13 used it. It was a bit disconcerting to first-hand knowledge of the workings the teachers of regular organ to try to of the King of Instruments. Also on the fession which had flourished for three teach the works of Bach, only to have agenda were visits to the Marr & Colton decades. someone down the hall push the cres­ organ factory in Warsaw, N.Y. where Fallowing are the students of the cendo pedal on the Wurlitzer while the students, escorted by Mr. David J. classes of Motion Picture Organ who giving out with a hot chorus of ••yes Marr, were able to see the building of received degrees or certificates upon Sir, She's My Baby." Soundproof studios a theatre organ from raw material to completion of the course. Not included had not reached the zenith they enjoy finished product. It is doubtful if many were many who majored in the regular today. · Students paid 50¢ an hour for organ students today are given such organ course for church and concert practice time, and had to sign up well specialized instruction to enable .chem work, but took short courses in t•heatre in advance, so popular was ·the Wurlitzei:. to understand the workings of the modern organ. These students were able to get An interesting facet of the course pipe organ. job"!. accompanying the silents in local was the contribution of Mr. Bryant G. According to former organ student, houses, and thereby augmenting their Parsons, a well-known local pipe organ Doris Germer Stang, now living in income to defray school expenses. There maintenance man. President of his own Kingston, N.Y., her class visited the are some, like Margaret Culp Morrow firm, which was organized in 1914, Mr. Marr & Colton plant in the spring of and Harold Geschwind who insist that Parsons was engaged by the Eastman 1927. She remembers: '.'At that time, the MP organ course made them better School to lecture on the mechanics of the organ factory in Warsaw was a church musicians. Others, however, do the pipe organ. Gist of his presentations modern, very up-to-date plant. They not readily talk of their experiences in were • 'What happens when you push the appeared to be very busy at that time. theatres, considering them "degrading.'' starting button" and "What to do until I remember some of the group tried out CHART NO. 3 the various organs, and they were very Year Certifi cote modern with many new and different Student Home Town Grad. or Degree stops which we were not used to.'' Ashbaugh, Joseph Kone, Po. 1928 D When the Motion Picture Organ course Baldwin, J. Gordon Warsaw, Ohio 1928 C was terminated, the organ was removed, Borreuther, Horry New York, N.Y. 1925 C churchified, and installed in South Briggs, Joseph L. Cheston, W. Vo. 1927 C Presbyterian Church. After a span of Brown, Gladys E. Warren, Pa. 1930 C time, the church decided to substitute Clement, Fronk A. Rochester, N. Y. 1930 C an electronic, and the pipe organ be­ Crone, Iva P. Endicott, N.Y. 1930 C came the property of the organ dealer­ Davidson, Turo Boston, Moss. 1926 C repa irman, who later re-installed it, Disque, Charlotte L. Rochester, N. Y. 1929 C minus the trumpet rank, in the Groveland Dougherty, Bueno Vi sto Lewiston, Mont. 1930 C Presbyterian Church where it is today. Forbes, Theron G. Batavia, N. Y. 1930 C The studio where the course was Goris, George C. Pen Argyl, Pa. 1928 C taught is still in evidence. It is used Germer, Doris L. Angelico, N.Y. 1929 C for a classroom, and upon visiting it, Gershwind, Harold W. Boyertown, Pa. 1928 C one may see where the pipes were Goodwin, Jeanette Rochester, N. Y. 1926 C located, as the chambers have been Harper, Harold Rochester, N. Y. 1925 C closed in. The room is rather odd~shaped, Hipwell, Hazel Fredonia, N.Y. 1925 C not rectangular or square, its dimensions Irvine, Katherine J. Bradford, Pa. 1930 C roughly about 20' x 40', and has five Jerge, Wi Iii om Buffalo, N.Y. 1927 C uneven sides to conform with the outside Joi les, Harold Cattaraugus, N.Y. 1925 C contour and the interior design of the Klee, Chester E. Rochester, N. Y. 1929 C 40-year old building. Lehn, Edgar V. Youngstown, Ohio 1929 C Both the instructors who served the Leisle, Dorothy C. Nebraska City, Neb. 1930 C Motion Picture Organ course during Mansion, Edith Sherman, N. Y. 1929 C mos.t of its existence are deceased. Mc Kibben, Fred Dallas, Texas 1926 C Mr. Smith died in Rochester in 1955 at Merrill, Philip Augusto, Moine 1926 C the age of 75. Mr. Berentsen died in Miller, Paul J. Gowanda, N.Y. 1927 C 1962 in Florida. Mills, Ernest Albion, N.Y. 1928 C Thus, we come to the end of our Myers, Fred Rochester, N.Y. 1925 C story of the Motion Picture Organ Course Nicholls, Charles R. Claremont, N. Hamp. 1930 C which ran for 8 years in the Eastman Nickerson, Mercedes Wi 11sboro, Pa. 1927 C School of Music. It is regrettable that Ogborn, Owen 0. Charlotte, N. Car. 1928 C the school wasn't in existence at least O'Nei 11, Morris Conn Warren, Pa. 1929 C ten years earlier, as the country would Peri s, Mi Id red East Rochester, N. Y. 1925 C have been blessed with more theatre Rogers, LeRoy E. Salt Lake City, Utah 1927 C organists of proven merit. That the Romon, Eda · Hannah Red Lodge, Mont. 1929 C school turned out scores of good ones Roobenion, Seenoosh Boston, Moss. 1927 C during its existence offers proof that Rosenberg, Frances D. Rochester, N.Y. 1929 C the Eastman School is indeed top caliber. Rudnicke, Stanley P. Plymouth, Po. 1929 C For, no matter what instrument is taught Schrecngost, Kneol New Kensington, Po. 1927 C there, the superb teaching staff upholds Scurry, Elizabeth Seattle, Wash. 1929 C jealously the original intent of George Sh irk, Ira F. Ephrata, Pa. 1930 C Eastman when he founded the school: Snyder, Elvin R. Minersville, Pa. 1927 C "Dedicated to the Enrichment of Com­ Stratton, Robert Greensboro, N. Cr. 1927 C munity Life.'' Switzer, Morie Olean, N.Y. 1928 D Toy lor, Morion Rouses F>t., N. Y. 1930 C Treat, Edna Rochester, N. Y. 1929 C Have something on your mind? Why not Triplett, Ruth Spokane, Wash. 1927 C write a "Letter to the Editor"? Do it Van Slyke, Harold W. Carthage, N.Y. 1930 C now!

14 $6.00 DUES ARE DUE FOR '65 $6.00 theatre organ By British A. T.O.E. Member Photos By with DAVID HAYES JOHN D. SHARP DDl:ON

Gerold Show at the Odeon Compton.

console) ac the back of the circle , g1vrng a unique '~cho' effect. About 1950 a set of solid tubular chimes were added. The Solo and Orchestral manu­ als have a sustainer stop. Odeon, Leicester Square Compton. Another interesting feature of chis installation is the depth of the cham­ THE COMPTON ORGAN The medium-powered Harmonic Flute bers. Most of the chests stand 6 ft. The five manual console is on a lift is exceedingly useful, and I feel strongly above floor level, making maintenance in the centre of the orchestra pit, and that it should have a place in every. of the magnets a pleasure. The console the organ is in two spacious chambers theatre organ. With or without the slow life coo goes right down to the chamber underneath the stage, and extending the beating tremulant, it is invaluable. The floor level, which is below the level of full width of the stage. The 16 ranks Tibia • is of wood, and it -is of large the orchestral lift, which means that or 17 if you count as two units the scale (what John Howlett did not men­ when required, it can be covered over double rank of strings - In Chamber tion in his article is chat it is a Wur­ so that the orchestra has full use of "A" we have - Diapason, Geigen, litzer tibia on a Compton chest). the entire floor area of the pit, and can Stopped Flute, Salicional, Gamba, Vio­ As for Strings; take your choice be raised or lowered independently. lin, Strings (two ranks) and Posaune. from the pianissimo Salicional with ef­ This is one cinema where the console In the ocher Chamber "B" is - Harmonic fective Haskell-bass in the 16 ft. octave, need never be disconnected and removed' Flute, Tibia Clausa, Clarinet, Krumec, through the placid two rank Strings with backstage for the occasional stage Vox Humana, French Horn, Tuba and slow beats for the Celeste rank, to the shows, a fate which has overtaken Trumpet. rather thin and keen Violin, and broad many other installations. In 1952 when John Howlett was resi­ and very keen Gamba; a well con­ dent organise, he made some observa­ trasted family and a happy one. The THE ORGANISTS tions about the organ in No. 24 issue Geigen is an excellent ra.nk complete There have only been three resident of "Thea-tre Organ Review" from which from 16 ft. T.C. right up to four ranks organists since the Cinema opened. I have permission to quote some ex­ of mixtures (12.19.22 plus fifteenth) James Bell from 1937 until his untimely tracts - "The chorus-reeds contrast and including a 5-1/3 ft. Quine. death in 1947 - he was actually taken well and combine well, and are perhaps There are the usual 'toy-shop' ef­ fatally ill after a broadcast, and died the outstanding feature of the job. From fects and craps. Originally a grand piano almost immediately. the ultra-smooch and faithful French was provided but disconnected because John Howlett took over immediately Horn through the fairly bright Tuba and of its size and a marimba substituted. and remained there until he retired in free Po~aune to the Trumpet (voiced on A feature of the Compton Organs are November 1958. He was succeeded by Willis lines with brass loads) there is their Melotone s, and the one of chis Gerald Show, who has been in residence reed tone of more than usual good organ was completely rebuilt in 1960 ever since. quality and character, and worthy in and is now the finest example of this Gerald Show with over one thousand every way of Compton voicing at its stop in the world. As well as the stand• broadcasts to his credit, is the son of best. Apart from the saucy Krumet (the ard loudspeakers for chis stop in the Capt. Frank Shaw, the well known author comedian of the outfit) the other reeds chambers, there are two extra loud­ of se:i stories~ After four years as a are Clarinet and Vox Humana. speakers (controlled by a switch at the Continued on page 17 Winter '64- '65 CHICAGO JULY 3-4-5 CHICAGO 15 SPECIFICATIONS - 5/17 COMPTON

PEDAL

32 Subbas 32 Accoustic Bass 16 Tuba 16 Posaune 16 French Horn 16 Diaphone 16 Tibia 16 Salicional 16 Bourdon 8 Tuba 8 Posaune 8 Trumpet 8 French Horn 8 Octave 8 Tibia 8 Clarinet 8 Strings (2 rks) 8 'Cello 8 Salicional 8 Flute 4 Tibia 16 Marimba T.C. 8 Marimba 4 Marimba -Drum F Drum P Drum Roll Snare Drum Cymbal Crash Cymba:I Triangle Accompaniment to Pedal Accompaniment Chamber (Foreground) Posaune, Gamba, Strings and Salicional Great to Ped a I 16' Metal Bourdon and Salicional behind traps. So lo to Ped a I 4 Orchestra I to Ped a I 4 Orchestra I to Ped a I 4 Salicional 16 Geigen T.C. 4 Marimba Traps second Touch 4 Concert Flute 16 Gamba T.C. I Solo to Great * Ped a I to Manual 4 Stopped Flute 8 Tuba II Orchestral to Great Pistons Second 2-2/3 Nazard 8 Posaune 111Traps to Great Touch 2-2/3 12th 8 Trumpet 2 Ditto 15th 2 8 French Horn SOLO 3 Ditto 2 Piccolo 8 Diapason 16 Trumpet T.C. 4 Ditto 2 Flautino 8 Tibia 16 Tibia 111Acuta 8 Vox Humana 16 Vox Humana T.C. ACCOMPANIMENT 8 Marimba 8 Clarinet 16 Gamba T.C. 4 Marimba 8 Krumet 8 Tuba 16 Vox Humana T .C. 8 Chrys. 8 Geigen 8 Posaune 16 Viola T .C. 4 Chrys. 8 Gamba 8 Trumpet 16 Sa Ii cional Snare Drum 8 Strings (2 rks) 8 French Horn 16 Bourdon Castanets 8 Violin 8 Diapason 8 Tuba Tambourine 8 Sali cional 8 Tibia 8 Posaune Block 8 Concert Flute 8 Vox Humana 8 Trumpet Tom-Tom 8 Stopped Flute 8 Clarinet 8 French Horn Sleigh Befls 5-1 / 3 Quint 8 Krumet 8 Diapason Sand Block 4 Tuba 8 Geigen 8 Tibia Choke Cymbal 4 Posaune 8 Gamba 8 Vox Humana Solo to Accomp. 4 Trumpet 8 Strings 8 Clarinet 4 Octave 8 Violin 8 Krumet SECOND TOUCH 4 Tibia 8 Salicionol 8 Geigen 4 Gamba 8 Concert FI ute 8 Gamba 8 Tuba 4 Violin 8 Stopped Flute 8 Strings (2 rks) 8 Tibia 4 Geigen 4 Trumpet 8 Violin 8 Krumet 4 Concert Flute 4 Tibia 8 Salicional 4 Tibia 4 Stopped Flute 4 Geigen 8 Concert Flute 4 Gt. to Accompaniment 2-2/3 Tibia Twelfth 4 Gamba 4 Tuba 8 Solo to Accompaniment 2-2/3 Twelfth 4 Strings 4 Tibia 2-2/3 Flute Twelfth 4 Violin 4 Posau ·ne GREAT 2 Ocarina 4 Sa I icional 4 Vox Humana 2 Fifteenth 4 Concert Flute 4 Geigen 16 Tuba 2 Flautina 4 Stopped Flute 4 Gamba 16 Posaune Cornet IV 2-2 / 3 Tibia Twelfth 4 Strings (2 rks) 16 Diaphone 16 Marimba 2 Ocarina 4 Viola 16 Tibia 8 Marimba 2 Piccolo

16 $6.00 - DUES ARE DUE FOR '65 - $6.00 theatre organ Solo Chamber showing Vox Humana, Krum­ et, and Trum­ pet.

SOLO(Continued) TRAPS AND EFFECTS Continued from page 15 schoolmaster, his first professional 111Ouartane (MELOTONE) Syren appointment was at the age of 21 open­ 1-3 / 5 Tierce 8 Cor Angla is Auto Horn ing a small Compton 3c /6 in the Regal, 8 Marimba 8 Musette Fi rebe 11 St. Leonards, Sussex; thence to the Chimes Chimes Railway Whistle Regal, Glasgow with its larger Compton 4 Glockenspiel Carillon Steamboat Syren (3/12). Later he moved south for a 4 Cathedra I Chimes Echo Control Bass Drum Roll short spell _ at the Astoria, Brixton Vibrato Vibraphone Cumbal Roll (Compton ,c /11) then back to Scotfand Melotone 8 Octave Surf to the Glasgow Paramount (Compton Vibraphone Sub-Octave Aeroplane 4c /IO) until he joined the army in 1940. Melotone 4 Telephone At the end of 1945, Gerald Shaw re­ Octave MANUAL V Slapstick joined Odeons at the Manchester Sub-Octave ParamoundOdeon (Wurlitzer 4/20) for 8 Great PEDAL PISTONS a short period and thence to his base ORCHESTRAL 3-1 / 5 Great cinema, The Odeon Swiss Cottage 16 Solo Bird Whistle (Compton 3/8). Other organs at which 5-1 / 3 Solo 16 Tuba Snare Drum and 2nd he was featured for the next few years 4 Solo 16 Posaune Touch Crash included the Rivoli~ Cairo, Egypt 16 Orchestral 16 Trumpet T. C. Crash Cymbal (Compton 4/10) the 3m. Compton elec­ 8 Orchestral 8 Tuba Solo Sustainer tronic Theatrone in the Sao Jorge Cine­ 4 Orchestra I 8 Posaune Orchestral Sustainer ma, Lisbon, Portugal, and the Paramoun~i 8 Trumpet 4 Vibraphone Operator's Cue Odeon Tottenham Court Road, London 8 French Horn Melotone Off (Compton 4c/10). 8 Tibia Me lotone Ten pistons each to Accompani­ In March 195 3 he moved to the then 8 Vox Humana Speaker Switches ment, Great, Solo; Eight to Or­ largest Cinema Organ in Europe, the 8 Krummet l Organ 2 Circle chestral, adjustable at keyboard Odeon (Regal) Marble Arch (4/36) to 4 Tuba by patent mechanism each with become its last resident organist, when 4 Posaune double touch suitable pedal. he soon got the instrument back on the 4 Trumpet TREMULANTS air after 12 years absence. He left in 4 Xylophone Five genera I pistons to Manua I V. November 1958 to go to Odeon 's No. 1 4 Glockenspiel Tuba actuating similar pistons on other premier cinema, The Odeon, Leicester 4 Orchestral Bells Concert Flute four manuals. 8 Piano French Horn Square. Tibia Four toe pistons to Pedal Organ, adjustable at keyboard, duplicated NOTE • The small c after the figure de- ME LOT ONE UN IT Clarinet, Trumpet (on Orchestra I) Krumet by pistons at right hand of Acc. noting the number of manuals denotes 16 Sch a lmei Vox Humana Manual. that the top manual is only a coupler 8 Melotone Posaune, Diapason one. 4 Melotone Stopped FI ute, Two balanced Swell Pedals, with THE CINEMA 2-2 / 3 Melotone Geigen, indicators. 2 Melotone Saliciona I Leicester Square has al ways been 1-3 / 5 Tierce Strings, Violin, Balanced Crescendo Pedal, with and will probably always be, a centre of 8 Krummhorn Gamba indicators. Concluded on page 18 Winter '64- 165 CHICAGO - JULY 3-4-5 CHICAGO 17 Conclusion - ODEON The changing pattern again, now this the entrance with spacious foyers is in LEICESTER SQUARE Empire Cinema has been pulled down Leicester Square. The design which (its organ purchased by up and coming was known at that time as the 'futurist' from page 17 organist, Len Rawle) and a smaller style is in black marble, the whole London's entertainment. Many of the luxurious but organless Empire Cinema being dominated by a tower 230 feet theatres which were sited in and around stands on part of the site, the rest of high. The interior design is modern­ this famous square have gone, and rising the space now being a large dance hall. istic, and the organ console sides are up on their sites have appeared show­ Warner Films have their showplace circular to blend with the theme of the places of the various film companies. in Leicester Square, aptly named the interior wall design scheme. The origi­ These were named cinemas to differen­ Warner Cinema, which stands on the nal seats were covered in leopard skin, tiate them from the traditional theatre site of Daly's Theatre, and as this but the cinema was completely re­ where live stage plays were performed. article is being written it is under­ furnished recently, with blue carpeting The old Empire Variety Theatre of going internal structural alterations and and the 2066 seats in a _rich red cloth. Victorian days was replaceJ by the Em­ modernization, but the fine Compton The cinema is still the number one pire Cinema, where all M_G.M. Films Organ has been saved and will sound house of the Odeon Circuit, and is regu­ had their British premieres. When the again in the chapel of Christ Church larly patronised by Royalty for Pre­ the old time Music Hall shows lost Training College at Canterbury. mieres, charity shows, etc~ their appeal, the old Empire Theatre In 1936 the Odean circuit were look­ was pulled down and the magnificent ing out for a west-end location for their A NEW PIPE ORGAN Empire Cinema was built on the site as premier cinema, and purchased the old RECORD as a showplace for all M.G.M. premieres. Alhambra theatre, which as the name THE REGAL SOUND This cinema contained a 4/20 Wur­ suggests was of eastern style with Featuring litzer with some beautiful stops se­ many minarets. The theatre extended Gerald Shaw at the 4 / 36 Christie lected for accompanying silent films. from Charing Cross Road (where the in the Sandy Macpherson was the organist, and entrance was situated) to Leicester he made many records on the HMV Label Square where the stage scenery docks REGAL THEATRE, MARBLE ARCH on this organ as did Jesse Crawford and artistes entrance were found. When London Available from Carwal Ltd. when he was guest organist on his only Odeons built the present Odeon Cinema, 85 Manor Road, Wa 11ington, visit to England. These records are the layout was reversed. The stage is Surrey, England still eagerly sought after by collectors. now the Charing Cross Road end, so

Aecom pan iment Chamber - I to r - Posaune, Gamba, Strings, Tuba (Solo Chamber) Salicional.

~REAL STEAMCALLIOPE RECORDINGS DECCA No. 9-38231 (45 RPM) recorded aboard Stern.wheel Steamer DELTA QUEEN by Professor E. Jay Quinby and Billy Menke. Traditional Steamboat Tunes and the big Steamboat Whistle. $1.00 Postpaid. Write GREENE LINE STEAMERS, INC.279 'PublicLanding • Cincinnati 2, Ohio 18 $6.00 DUES ARE DUE FOR '65 $6.00 theatre organ THE MANUAL ARTS

RE-CREATION OF

HOWARD TYPE THEATRE ORGAN SEAT

Out of the golden era of the Mighty WurliTzer RETAIL theatre organ, comes this authentic re-creation $225.00 of the famous Howard Seat. Famous for design fidelity, the Manual Arts Furniture Company has FOB Cincinnati, Ohio remained true to_ the original design ·and . function of this unique -seat. Produced specially for theatre organ enthusiasts, as well as for the professional organist, the seat has many features that allow the organist easy access to the horseshoe style console of the theatre organ. The seat is counterbalanced for maximum stability while the base plate fits under the pedal box to securely anchor the seat in place. The upholstered seat is split to provide unobstructed mobility for the organist's legs, and it swivels a full 360° for complete The re-created seat comes in two models. freedom of movement. Model #l-P, recommended for most pipe Further information about this authentic re-creation organs, has an adjustable seat height of from from the golden era of the theatre organ can be 26¼ to 32¼". Model #1-E, recommended for obtained from . . . most electronic organs, has seat adjustment of from 23¼ to 29¼" high. THE MANUAL ARTS FURNITURE COMPANY 3472 Beekman Street • Cincinnati, Ohio 45223

Winter 164- '65 CHICAGO - JULY 3-4-5 - CHICAGO 19 TWONORTH CAROLINA'S

Jane Sparks looks up from a late night practice session at the newly refinished console of the Center Morton. -Picture by Jim Sparks CENTERTHEATRE, DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA By In June, 1962, Don Hall, who is an had long since rotted away and all of Henry B. Aldredge avid theater organ fan, spotted the con­ this was replaced. The combination sole one evening. He asked for and was action was extensively releathered until Live theater organ returned to Dur­ granted permission to play it. The it was restored to proper working con­ ham, North Carolina in March 1963 after blower fired up beautifully at the first dition. an absence of 13 years with the restora­ try, but unfortunately so did most of By this ,,time it was March. The con­ tion of the Center Theater's 2/8 Robert the pipes. Although amazingly free from sole was finished in off white and Morton. major damage, the Morton sounded shades rigged for the c·onsole lights. An 11 pm. concert late in March cli­ pretty sad indeed. During the first few (The original shades had long since maxed almost a year's hard work by Don weeks of work, Don did a little tuning disappeared) The Morton was now Hall (Piedmont ATOE) and Clay Ross, which improved matters greatly, and ready for its first public performance both from nearby Chapel Hill. traced many ciphers to short circuits. in many years. The Center Theater, which opened By this time, much of the organ was Local newspapers wrote feature in 1939, obtained the Morton from the playable, but wiring and some leathers articles on the work of Halland Ross National Theater in Greensboro, where were bad ly in need of repair. which were released prior to the opening it was originally installed in 1922. From In October, 1962, Don was joined by concert, and a Chapel Hill radio sta­ 1939 until 1950, the organ solo and Clay Ross and together they succeeded tion ran a special tape of the newly community sing . were regular intermis­ in putting the organ in top shape. restored instrument. The concert which sion features, and during W.W. II, a Their first major project was to featured both Hall and Ross at the con­ daily program featuring the instrument trace bad connections and broken wir­ sole was well received by local citi­ was broadcast by a local radio station. ing. Upon completion of this project, zens. In 1950, the staff organist position many dead notes had been revived and But work on the Morton was not at the Center Theater was discontinued, both swell and crescendo pedals worked not finished. Through the summer months and for the next 13 years, the Morton properly. Tremulants were also in need Halland Ross tackled leaky swell lay unused, although students from of adjustment as were the often Cem­ engines and replaced leather on several neighboring colleges played and worked peramental traps. The original Morton' on the organ for brief periods of time. rubber tu bing for the combination action Continued on page 22 20 $6.00 DUES ARE DUE FOR 165 $6.00 theatre organ THEATREPIPE ORGANS

Frank Netherland oJ Stu_ort, Va., at the Abernethy C.onsole. -Photo by Jim Sparks DOCTORABERNETHY ACQUIRES OPUS 1371 By Don Hall

For years Dr. Paul Abernethy has been thinking about the sound of the mighty theatre pipe organs that used to hold movie audiences spellbound with their varied sounds and wondered if he would ever hear those sounds again. Well, thanks to HiF i sound, A TOE, and many other things, the doctor found that the theatre pipe organ was not com­ pletely lost, and following the lead of another Piedmont Chapter (ATOE), he started looking for his own pipe organ. George Anthony struck pay dirt first by locating a Robert Morton in the Para­ mount Theatre, Lynchburg, Virginia, which he now owns. The first nibble came last spring when word reached Burlington, that the First Baptist Church in New Born, North Carolina wanted to get rid of its Dr. Pau I Abernethy and friends. -Photo by Jim Sparks old Wurlitzer to replace it with a new and spent most of the Easter week-end and was originally installed in the electronic organ. That was all that taking the organ out of the church. Athens Showshop, New Bern, North Dr. Abernethy needed, he and five The organ (Opus 1371, Model 105) healthy friends piled into a rented truck was shipped from the factory 6/22 / 26, Continued on page 22 Winter '64- '65 CHICAGO------JULY 3-4-5 CH IC AG O 21 ABERNATHY OPUS 1371 CENTER THEATRE MORTON brilliance that it dominated the entire Continued from page 21 Continued from page 20 organ, even when played full. The Kin­ ura was winded so that it received air Carolina in November 1926. It was of them. Leaks in the console were from the same chest which supplied air moved to the First Baptist Church four cured and heavy sound absorbers were to the Tibia. The very deep Tibia tremu­ years later after the advent of talking constructed about the tremulant units. lant would modulate the air • so much pictures did away with the use of or­ As a result, superfluous noise was that the Kinura would nearly stop func­ gans in theatres. It is a five rank organ eliminated. tioning with the trems on. It was de­ with Flute, Tibia, Trumpet, Vox Humana, Later Hall and Ross cured a rather cided to reroute the air line to the Kin­ and Salicional, with all the percussion temperamental second touch and suc­ ura chest so that it would get air from missing. Dr. Abernethy has been able ceeded in rerigging the crash cymbal the lower pressure and more lightly to acquire a set of percussions from a and tympani which for some reason had modulated Vox reservoir. Catholic Church in a nearby town that never been attached when the instrument For this first venture in the craft of has another theatre organ in storage was moved to the Center Theater. metal working, Hall was joined by Jim awaiting installation. The percussions Don Hall presented a second con­ Sparks, a Durham resident whose photo­ include a Xylophone, Orchestra Bells, cert in August of 1963 and a pre­ graphs accompany this article. The old Harp, and Chimes, plus a collection of Christmas concert by guest artist Steve air line was taken loose and the origi­ traps including a Bass Drum, Snare Brown, organist from the Tennessee nal supply hole covered. Then the line Drum, Tom-Tom, Chinese Block, Tam­ Theater in Knoxville, completed the was cut, bent, and refitted to the Vox bourine, Castanets and Cymbals. 1963 season. reservoir. After this work was com­ The re-installation job took nearly During this past summer, work was pleted the Kinura was retuned to its 9 months to complete using the expert once again started on the Morton, this new wind pressure and now makes a services of E. C. White, an organ time to take the squeaks out of the Kin­ useful contribution to the sound of the technician from Greensboro, plus the ura. This stop was of such overpowering Wonder Morton. Hall said, "It's like amateurish but enthusiastic help of friends with plenty of time to kill. "Considering the age of the organ, it was in real good shape. We spent most of our time just hooking it up and making small repairs on the electrical and air systems", said Abernethy. When Abernethy built his new home on the outskirts of Burlington, he had made provisions for making his dreams come true, by having the architect de­ sign a special room in the basement to hold his prospective (beast'. This has certainly paid off as there was no major remodeling necessary to install his Mighty Wurlitzer.

The organ technicians work over one of the pneumatics inside the console. -Photo by Jim Sparks

Dr.. Abernethy 'doctors' the relay and switch stack. -Photo by Jim Sparks

Membership cordially invited - USA $3.00 per year, includes a regular news magazine containing news items, record reviews, articles on electronic organs and specifications of theatre organs in all States of Australia. Address all communications to THE HONORABLE SECRETARY, T.O.S.A., Hall tries the Morton to see how the morning's work went while Ross lends his 10 Caloola Road, Wentworthville, N.S.W. critical ear. -Photo by Jim Sparks -$6___ 0_0 __ D_U_E_S_A_R_E_D_U ...... E~F o=-R~ 1-:-65=--~$6-:-.-=o-=-o 22 theatre organ CENTER THEATRE MORTON Robert Morton Organ - 2 manual 8 rank. Originally instailled in the National Continued from page 22 Theatre, Greensboro, N.C. 1922. Moved to Center Theatre, Durham, N.C. 1938. 8 Violin having an entire new rank added to the PEDAL 8 Violin Celeste organ." 8 Kinura 8 Violin Celeste During October, Don and the author 32 Resultant 8 Vox Humana 8 Kinura began the job of properly restoring the 16 Diaphone 4 Diapason 8 Vox Humana finish of the console. The console was 16 Bourdon 4 Flute 4 Diapason 4 Tibia washed, sanded and filled in with 8 Trumpet 4 Violin 4 Flute plastic wood and painted with two coats 8 Diapason 4 Violin Celeste 4 Violin of flat cream enamel. After this had 8 Flute 2-2 / 3 Twelfth 4 Violin Celeste dried, gold enamel antiquing was ap­ 8 Tibia 2 Flute 4 Vox Humana plied with an air brush borrowed for the 8 Cello Chrysag lot 2-2 / 3 Twelfth occasion. The accompanying pictures Bass Drum Snare Drum 2 Flute will show the improvement in the ap­ Tympani Tambourine 1-3 / 5 Tierce pearance of the console. At this time a Cymbal Castinets Orchestra Bel Is signal light from the projection booth Second Touch Chinese Block Xylophone was added to the console to facilitate Bass Drum Tom Tom Chimes exact timing for intermission perform­ Cymbal Second Touch Second Touch ances, a la Radio City Music Hall. Tympani 8 Tibia 16 Tib'ia tc The organ is now used mainly for Crash Cymbal 8 Trumpet 16 Trurnpet tc the late night and early Sunday morning Chimes 8 Diapason pleasure of the Piedmont Chapter mem­ ACCOMPANIMENT Couplers bers and their guests. The organ is SOLO l 6 So Io to So Io frequently played for Saturday night in­ 16 Bourdon 16 Bourdon 4 Solo to Solo termissions by Hall, Jane Sparks and 16Cellotc 16 Diapason the author. A joint concert is planned 8 Trumpet 16 Vox Humana tc TREMULANTS with the A.G.O. in late April, 1965, with 8 Diapason 8 Trumpet 8 Tibia 8 Diapason Richard Smith of Baltimore as guest Right 8 Flute 8 Tibia artist. Left 8 Violin 8 Flute Vox Humana-Trumpet-Kinura

Ross takes his turn at tuning a Trumpet while Hal I asks one A Vox Humana in the Right Chamber gets Hal I's attention. of the Kinuras to ' say "Ah." Entrance to this chamber is On the chest in front of him are the Kinura, Vox with off set gained by sliding between the Diaphone resonators and under trumpets behind that and in the foreground. the Right wind chest. -Photos by Jim Sparks - Herald-Sun Papers, Durham, N. C. Winter '64- '65 CHICAGO - JULY 3-4-5 CHICAGO 23 TheatreOrgan Activity in theUTICA · ROME Area Father John Quinn at the console of the 3/7

By Moller Deluxe Theatre Organ. Father Quinn is Don Robinson a member of the N.F. Until last year positive theatre organ Chapter and is assistant activity in this Central New York area priest at St. Paul's Ro­ was confined to the recorded sounds of theatre organ music coming from the man Catholic Church in Organ Loft Program over WUFM. Whitesboro, N.Y. Organ After a year of continued efforts to get a project started, August 1963 saw is in Capitol Theatre, a major breakthrough in getting started Rome, N.Y. in restoring the Organ of the Capitol Theatre in Rome, N. Y. The instrument is a Three Manual Moller Deluxe Theatre Organ, with 7 ranks of pipes installed with 5 addition­ al ranks prepared for in the console and relay. Console rests on a lift. The following is the placement of the seven ranks and percussions: Father John Quinn and

CHAMBER ONE (on right side) Don Robinson tuning pipes in the Diapason 16' Tibia Clausa 97 pipes 16' Viole D'Orchestre 97 pipes section of 3/7 Moller 8' Viole Celeste 85 pipes Deluxe in Capitol Thea­ 8' .(inura 73 pipes tre, Rome, N.Y. Don Chimes 20 bells Orchestral Bells 37 bars Robinson is a N. F. Al I drums and traps Chapter member al so and Unit a. Bass drum and cymbal church organist as well Un it b. Castanets, T riang Ie, and sleigh bells as organ programs di­ Unit c. Slap sticks rector at WUFM-FM, Unit d. Snare drum, chinese block, Utica, N.Y. He hosts tom k>m, etc. the ''Organ Loft" pro- CHAMBER TWO gram. 8' Diapason 73 pipes 8' Tuba Harmonic 73 pipes 8' Vox Humana 73 pipes Xylophone 49 bars

The organ presently is in fair con­ dition. The drums as well as most of the other traps work. The faithful staff who have devoted many hours working on the instrument were: Father John Quinn Howard P. Teller Ralph I. Jackson Don Robinson Don Robinson using his John and · Gordon Sergie, two teen­ agers who presently are occupied with critical ear to check tone school activities, deserve mentioning in the 16' Diapason sec­ for their time and efforts during summer tior of 3/7 Moller in vacation. Capitol Theatre, Rome, The manager of the theatre, Bill Keener, has given us full cooperation. N.Y. He as well as the owner, Bob Kallet, are quite anxious to have the Moller play again. It may be of interest to note here that the Organ Loft Program on WUFM played an important part in bringing to­ gether this group.

24 $6.00 DUES ARE DUE FOR '65 $6.00 theatre organ SANDY MacPHERSON JJ((J)JEGITJRJR§ §IPRITNG Continued from page 8 BBC post would be many, so he didn't apply for the j ob immediately. Then, contacting F oort, he was told to apply as "he had as much chan c e as anyone else". This he did, and after several auditions and interviews with BBC ex­ ecutives, was notified on November 20, 1938 that he was chosen to succeed F oort at the Compton organ in St. George's Hall, which was then the most famous theater organ in Europe. Night and day, it was used in broadcasts to Britain and her dominions overseas. The 4M 20R Compton ' organ, the first organ in Britain to be designed specifically for broadcasting, bad 260 stop tabs, 54 pistons, a grand piano, and a Compton Electrone. The console was on whee ls, and the three pipe chambers were the percussion, main, and solo. The E lectrone section pro­ duced, by electric means, all sounds produced by reeds and pipes. The sounds were amplified, and then e m.itted from a loudspeaker suspended from the ceiling. Sandy's first broadcast on this organ was on November 22, 1938. Before this, he worked out a little melody in 4/4 time for his signature tune. Accepting the advice of a professional composer, he changed the tune to a 3/ 4 and the re­ sult was "I'll Play to You", the number which has been his theme ever since. Not only was he playing regular broadcasts, but he was also accompany­ ing stage shows. St. George's Hall was a beehive of musical activity. Concerts, operas, minstrels, tragedies, drama--a 11 Joe Gibbs Spring at the console of the Golden-Voiced Barton in the Orpheum were presented there, and Sandy was a Theatre, Springfield, during the opening in August, 1927. big part of much of it. This was to carry through until the summer of 1939 while by James Soma th preside at the Aragon Ballroom Wurlitzer war clouds gathered ominously. In Aug­ for seven years. ust, the government ordered the BBC Heaven was not a band of angels, Feeling a call to the Southwest, Joe Variety Department to move to Bristol, pearly gates and beautiful clouds to and wife, Bayne, first settled in Al­ the only personnel remaining were two Joe Gibbs Spr;ng. It was a beautiful buquerque and then bought a radio or three producers and Sandy Macpher­ new 28t!0 seat Orpheum Theatre in station in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Suc­ son. On September 3, Sandy played his Springfield, Illinois in August of 1927. cessful in this endeavor, he bought out first war-time program. Hundreds were Heaven was coming up out of the pit on his co :upetition and operated both sta­ to follow. Twenty-three organ programs a brand spanking new 3 manual Barton tion :, for several years. Strangely were broadcast in the first week! One pi,1e organ with a glorious burst of enough, there was quite a bit of organ lady wrote the BBC, "I could be re­ sound that would shame the celestial music on the air-waves from Santa Fe conciled to an air raid, if in the course choir. Reams of publicity and pictures for the next few years. of it, a bomb would fall on Sandy Mac­ had flooded the ]ocal papers for days Several years back Joe sold the radio pherson and his everlasting organ, before the opening and a fine pit band stations and retired to Albuquerque. preferably while he is playing his sig­ and five chCJice acts of Orpheum circuit Tiring of the inactivity he accepted a nature tune." vaudeville was on the bill, but Joe and job as stdf engineer of KGGM Radio in During a late evening air raid, Sandy the organ were the featured attraction. Albuquerque and again started playing had made his way to the shelter in paja­ The talented youngster had with the organ several nights a week at the mas, bathrobe and slippers. The all­ unerring instinct picked the great Arthur local Elks Club. clear was sounded 15 minutes prior to Gutow for a teaclier and had absorbed Joe and Bayne were married in 1927 his broadcast, and since he had no time his art with startling speed. Art, at the shortly after signin~ the contract for to change, dashed to the studio, and be­ time was playing a 3/9 Kimball at the the opening of the Orpheum and 37 years gan playing in this unorthodox get-up. old Woodlawn Theatre in Chicago. As of marriage have drawn them closer The slippers kept falling off, so he soon as Gu tow felt that Joe Spring was together than ever. Very devoted, very kicked them away, finishing the recital qualified he landed him with the old happy and very much ORGANIZED! in bare feet! the care chain of Lubliner and Trinz. The Springs are frequent visitors in Sandy's fan mail was becoming From this point Joe worked into the the El Paso, Texas area where the: , are voluminous. One letter he received from Orpheum organization and wound up as guests of John R. an.J Lela Thomas. a group of servicemen in Franch the beadliner at the opening of the During ·these visits Joe Gibb~ Spring launched an idea for a long series of Springfield Orpheum. After a ver y suc­ ofte1; demons ~rates the old theatre organ programs. These men, having access to cessful season with the Orpheum Thea­ techniques for th~ benefit of the El a radio, had requested some numbers to tre, Joe Spring felt the pang-~ of the Paso Theatre Organ Clubbers on the displaced Chicagoan and went back to Plaza's Mighty Wurlitzer Concluded on page 26 Winter '64'."'"'65 CHICAGO JULY 3-4-5 CHICAGO 25 SANDY MacPHERSON organs in the major c1t1es of Britain, the electronic "Clavioline". The top Continued from page 25 trave 1 restrictions preventing the re la­ manual had been a coupler, having no tives of servicemen to come to London re lays of its own, but coupling other be played for the folks back home. Af­ to appear on his program. Red Cross manuals to it at various pitches. The ter official approval, the program shows, special broadcasts, benefits­ No. 1 Tibia was silenced, its stopkeys 11 Sandy's Half-Hour" was launched in Sandy did them all. In one performance, being wired to the Doppel Flute rank. February 1940. At first, requests had to he was supposed to do a tap dance. He Sandy's new programs were "I'll Play come from servicemen, but later that practiced the rudiments, tried the dance to You", which was a crave lling show; was altered to include requests from later, and promptly fe 11 into the drums "From My Post-Bag"; and "At Your civilians for service personnel. After in the pit! Never a dull moment for this Request". Even though the war was five programs, Sandy was getting 5,000 versatile fellow! over, the veteran organist was still letters a week. The backlog of request In 1943, Sandy was asked to take going as strong as ever. He visited letters totaled 40,000, and his staff had over a program "Tom, Dick a nd Harry Canada and his home town in 1947, and to be enlarged to reduce it. After three in Uniform". The MC, J oho Hilton, had what fond memories he had! Many of months, a program was inaugurated for just died. His program had been tremen­ those who participated in his war-t ime Canada on the overseas service. Every dously popular. This was a sort of soldier programs made themselves known fourth program was spoken in French in Mr. Anthony-type affair which sought to It was a grand reunion. He played some deference to the French-Canadian con­ solve the problems of servicemen and concerts and benefits while there. tingents in Quebec and the Maritime their dependents. With misgivings, Many homes in Britain during recent provinces. In each program, following Sandy took it over, but like all his pre­ years have been tuned in regularly on Sandy's organ stint, 8 Canadian soldiers vious programs, it became a great suc­ Sunday mornings to Sandy Macpherson's talked to the folks back home. cess. "Chape 1 in the Valley", a small chapel On August 24, 1940, a team of With the war's end, the BBC sought in the country conjured by the organist foreign correspondents worked with t'o find a building large enough in Lon­ from the sombre reality of Jubilee Chap­ Sandy on a program beamed to America, don to house its big theater organ with el. Since Sandy first invited listeners and called 11 London After Dark". After the 2-ton console. After months of on May 29, 1949 to "slip inside without Sandy opened the program on the BBC searching, Hoxton Chapel was select e d. disturbing the music", the mythical organ, the correspondents, spotted in The J oho Compton Organ Company Mr. Drewett, village postmaster, plays various locations throughout the city, overhauled it, and installed the organ the organ, and Mr. Edwards leads the gave their wartime impressions. These in its new location. Renamed the J ubi­ singing of the hymns. The chapel has men included Edward R. Murrow, Larry lee Studio, the building appears from bee ome a reality for many, and has con­ Leseur, Cecil Madden, Eric Sevareid the outside as the last place in the tinued in spirit the original purpose of and Gerry Willmot. Ed Murrow had wor Id for broadcasting. the Jubilee Chapel. There have been grimly remarked prior to going on the The organ, built and designed in several series of this program, each air, that it would be apropo . if an air America by Reginald Watson in coopera­ series separated by several months. raid should start during the program. And tion with Reginald F oort, is thoroughly Sandy Macpherson's sign-off words that is precisely what occurred! Through­ English in style. Foort toured about are "Cheerio, everyone, goodbye and out the show, the sirens wailed, anti­ three years with this instrument, and all the best". To this, the writer be­ aircraft barked, bombs exploded. A per­ needed 5 vans to transport it. It was lieves that every theater organ enthusi­ fect backdrop! installed in over 200 locations. After ast, whether he be American, English, The bombing of London was intensi­ 20 years of touring and solid playing, Canadian or Australian, would reply fied, and the authorities felt that St. the organ is still going strong, used an uAll the best to Sandy Ml cpherson-a George's Hall might be a coming tar­ average of eight hours a day for broad­ wonderful _personality, great organist, a get. Therefore, Sandy was ordered to casts and rehearsals. According to humanitarian, and truly a friend of Evesham where a Hammond electronic those who have heard it in person or on millions.'' was installed. A week later, on Septem­ tape, its voicing is exceedingly pungent ber 24, 1940, in~endiaries were dropped and incisive, and the strings and reeds The author expresses his thanks to on St. George's Hall, and the 70-year have a dry quality. In a small studio, Jess G. Little£ ie ld of Rochester, N .Y ., structure, dry as tinder, went up in the Post Horn really sings out! Within and J. R. T. Hopper of the BBC, Lon­ flames, the BBC organ with it. the last five years, the organ has under­ don, for help in the preparation of this At Evesham, Sandy's programs con­ gone some modifications. For a time, feature. 11 tinued. His Canadian program A Mes­ the top manual was removed in favor of sage From Sandy" was extended to 30 * * * * minutes. The electronic was seldom out of use, as some top British organists came by to perform while on their leaves Published quarterly in London from the services. by The Theatre Organ Club Just as Sandy was doing his bit for (President: Rob ins on Cleaver) the war effort, the other British or­ brings you i II ustrated features on famous ganists were doing theirs. Those in the Royal Air Force included Reginald organs and organists, .news items, record Dixon, Al Bollington, Frederick Bayco, reviews, and reports of meetings Horace Finch, Jack Dowle, John Madin, en joyed by theatre organ enthusiasts in Duely Beaven, Stanley Tudor, and Lloyd THEATREGreat Britain. Thomas. The Army claimed Frank New­ man, Phil Park, Donald Thorne, Gerald Shaw, and Dudley Savage, while the Navy had John Howlett and Bobby Pa­ Annual Subscription $1, Post Free gan. ORGANSubscription Agent for U.S.A. In 1941, Reginald F oort offered his R. GROVE travelling organ to the BBC which it 2210 Indiana Ave., Connersvi lie, Ind. readily accepted. It was installed in Overseas Distribution from: the Grand Theater, Llandudno, and in 121 Clyfford Road, April, it became the official BBC or­ REVIEWRuislip Gardens, Middlesex gan. In November 1941, the program "Sandy Calling the Middle East" was begun. This show was run differently. QUARTERLY Sandy broadcast from theaters having 26 $6.00------DUES ARE DUE FOR 165 $6.00 theatre organ NEWS OF ACTIVITY IN ATOE CHAPTERS AS RECEIVED FROM LOCAL from the chapters CORRESPONDENTS • * * * *

CHICAGO AREA CHAPTER NEW YORK CHAPTER PUGET SOUND CHAPTER

Chairman - Dr. Rodney P. Elliott Chairman - Howard A. Day Chairman - Dick Schrum 3101 South Wabash Avenue 2A Prospect Place 12258 Twelfth Street NW Chicago, Illinois 60616 Springfield, New Jersey 07081 Seattle, Washington 98177

Secretary - George C. Johnston Secretary - Allen W. Rossiter Secretary - Roger Johnson 130 North Third Avenue 250 Harrison Street 29015 Thirty-Ninth South Villa Park, Illinois 60181 Passaic, New Jersey 07055 Auburn, Washington

CONNECTICUT VALLEY CHAPTER NIAGARA FRONTIER CHAPTER ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHAPTER

Chairman - Everett Bassett Chairman - Grant Whitcomb Chairman - Duane Searle 213 Homestead Avenue 19 Church Street 472 Quentin Avenue Waterbury, Conn. 0670 l East Aurora, New York Aurora, Colorado

Secretary - Mrs. Eleanor D. Weaver Secretary - Laura Thomas Secretary - Rodney Stich Litchfield Turnpike 3534 Bowen Road 1860 Applewood Drive Bethany, Connecticut 06525 Lancaster, New York Denver 15, Colorado

DELAWARE VALLEY CHAPTER NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTER SOUTHEASTERN CHAPTER

Chairman - John Armstrong, Jr. Chairman - James Roseveare Chairman - Blake Braley Mechanicsville, Pa. 33 Decker Way P.O. Bax 73 Son Jose, California 95127 Tucker, Georgia Secretary · Laura T. Fesmire 241 l Huntingdon Pike Secretary - Jack Bethards Secretary - Arli Sutherland Huntingdon Valley, Pa. P.O. Box 225 San Francisco, California Atlanta 1, Georgia EASTERN MASS. CHAPTER OHIO VALLEY CHAPTER ST. LOUIS AREA CHAPTER Chairman - Jim Rankin 73 Grand Street Chairman - Everard S. Pratt Chairman - George G. Swett Reading, Mass. 855 Dunore Road 106 Manlyn Drive Cincinnati, Ohio 45220 Kir~wood, Missouri 63122 Secretary - Elbert J. Drazy 6 Amherst Road Secretary - Mrs. Edgar D. Wipperman Secretary - Mrs. Alwin L. Baum Andover, Mass. 3062 Brookwood Circl e 6918A Plateau Avenue South Fort Mitchell, Kentucky St. Louis, Missouri 63139 HEART OF AMERICA CHAPTER OREGON CHAPTER VALLEY OF THE SUN CHAPTER Chairman - Rolph (Ed) Love 2500 Gronthurst Chairman - Ted Marks Chairman - Karl R. Warner Topeka, Kansas 706 N. E. 165th Avenue 1221 North 49 Street, Apt 2 Portland, Oregon Phoenix, Arizona 85008 Secretary - Robert L. Foley 1938 Marion Road Secretary - BiII Peterson Secretary - Laurel D. Ruby Wichita, Kansas 67216 2708 N. Portland Blvd., Apt. 2 2230 North 51 Street Portland, Oregon Phoenix, Arizona 85008 LAND O'LAKES CHAPTER PIEDMONT CHAPTER WESTERN RESERVE CHAPTER Chairman - John Zetterstrom Chairman - Don Hall Chairman - Duey Arey 1321 Valders Avenue 10718 Johnnycake Ridge Road North Minneapolis, ,Minne,ota 8-8 Clark Court Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514 Painesville, Ohio 44077 Secretary - Burt Frank Secretary ·- Nelson Guard Secretary Robert S. Kagy 820 Hoyt Avenue W. 8225 Bel Iflower Road St. Pau I, Minnesota 1150 Battleground Avenue Greensboro, North Carolina 27408 Mentor, Ohio LOS ANGELES CHAPTER PINE TREE CHAPTER WOLVERINE CHAPTER Chairman - Lester S. Pepiot 6738 Woodman Avenue Chairman - Forest Perkins Chairman- R. W. Connor Van Nuys, California 91401 l l Shepley Street #22 1406 Elm Portland, Maine 04101 West Dearborn, Michigan Secretary - Gori L. Thompson 3975 South Orange Drive Secretary - Robert Melcher Secretary - Lucille Mitchell Los Angeles, California 90008 18 Monroe Court 13967 Mette ta I Westbrook, Maine Detroit, Michigan 48227

MOTOR CITY CHAPTER POTOMAC VALLEY CHAPTER

Chairman - Al Mason Chairman - Ray Brubacher 15303 Gilchrist 1706 Mayhew Drive Detroit, Michigan 48227 Silver Spring, Maryland

Secretary - Holley Prim Secretary - Elbert Marlowe 20285 Westbrook Avenue 9505 Curran Road Detroit, Michigan 48219 Silver Spring, Maryland

Winter '64- '65 .CHICAGO - JULY 3-4-5 CHICAGO 27 CHAPTER NEWS - Continued NIAGARA FRONTIER CHAPTER formed ATOE Chapter was held Sunday morning September 28, 1964 at the Chief CHICAGO AREA CHAPTER Harvey Elsaesser, popular Buff a lo Theatre, Colorado Springs, Colorado. organist, was the featured artist at the (See August, 1964 BOMBARDE for story Although it was the night of Chicago­ Christmas meeting of Niagara Frontier on rehabilitation of this Wurlitzer) Dick land's first blizzard of the season, Chapter he Id on the evening of December Hull was the featured artist who pre• about 50 brave souls turned out for 14th at Skate Haven Roller Rink. sent ed an exce Ilene and we 11 rounded CATOE'S Annual Election of officers Harvey had arranged a concert of program. Following the performance by meeting, held this year at Karnes Music familiar favorites intermixed with Christ­ Hull, the organ was turned over to the Co. in Des Plaines. Following the busi­ mas music that really showed off the members for a jam session " ness part of the meeting, which included beauty and variety of the Mighty Wur­ the voting of an Honorary Life Member• Rodney Stich, litzer. Xmas Carols were sung by the ship for Stadium organist Al Melgard, Secretary /Public Relations members, led by the soprano voice of everyone gathered around the organs (Mrs.) Edna Elsaesser. An excellent that Karnes Music had provided for the way to get in the Christmas spirit. membership. Included were a 3 manual Rodgers and various models of elec­ tronic Wurlitzers. PUGET SOUND CHAPTER CATOE 'S Christmas Social was held at the MontClare Theatre with Tony The last meeting held at Stan Smith's Tahlman as featured artist at the 3/10 was one of the most enjoyable we can Barton. Tony's program included many remember. It was kicked off by a perfor­ favorites both old and new with the mance of old favorites by our member final part of the prooam being devoted :J(.en Gallwey presiding at the 3/8 Smith co Christmas music including the rarely console. Smith's son and daughter, who heard "Friendly Beasts" and HRise Up are fast becoming excellent masters of Shepards and Follow". The conclusion the pipes followed their fathers perfor­ of the program was the Barton giving mance. its all as Tony played the regal Halle­ The next meeting is scheduled for lujah Chorus, and the organ then des• Sunday, January 31, 1965 and will cended into the pit. feature EDDIE DUNSTEDTER at the 3/12 Robert Morton in the P.ill Morrison residence, Everett, Washington. NEW YORK CHAPTER

On November 29, 1964 over 150 mem• Roger Johnson, Secretary bers and guests assembled in the Rah­ way Theatre, Rahway, New Jersey. After ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHAPTER the talented members tried their hand at the organ, Tom Wayne, the ~eatured artist for the day put the beautiful 2/7 The second meeting of chis newly Wurlitzer to a real test. The organ is Wurlitzer, Style E-X, Opus 1923 with the seven ranks divided left and right. The perfect condition of the organ is credited to Wendell Rotter, whose diligent , and skillful work has placed this Wurlitzer in mint condition. The left chamber is on 10" of wind, while on the other side the Trumpet and Tibia are voiced on 16", with the Vox set on 5".

Wendell Rotter at the Rahway 2/7 Wurlitzer. Wendell Rotter who is a professional musician and teaches accordian and or­ gan opened and closed this meeting The above photos are reprinted with our apologies for the excessive cropping that including in his program a tour through occurr:d in the - last issue of BOMBARDE. (Upper) Wurlitzer 190 Speciai, Opus the organ showing off the percussions, 2067, in the State Theatre, Portland, Maine. (Lower) Pine Tree Chairman Forest traps, and fine pipework. Perkins going over plans for chapter's October concert with Mrs. G~orge E. Francis, Manager, State Theatre. Allan H. Day, Program Chairman -Photos courtesy of Gannett Publishing Company 7$6-.-00--D-U_E_S_A_R_E_D_U_E_F_O_R_'_65--$6 ___o_:_o 28 theatre organ VALLEY OF THE SUN ~~~~~~~~~~~"~~~~"~~"~~~": The January meeting of the Valley of the Sun Chapter was held on Sunday : NICKELODEONS! ~ evening, January 17th, at the warehouse Re-live the fabulous Roaring Twenties with this ~ home of Southwest Organs, Incorporated. ® This relatively new Phoenix firm deals ~ superb new high-fide!ity 33 rpm long-play recording. ~ primarily in restoration and resale of ® Enthusiastically acclaimed everywhere,this record ~ pipe organs, and the occasion was the ® features: The huge WURLITZERPIANORCHESTRA,. ~ first public performance of the restored ~ standing over ten feet tall, which simulated an ~ 3/23 Moller church organ removed from ~ entire humanorchestra with its elaborate orchestral ~ Mc. Sinai Jewish Church in El Paso, Texas, last summer. Host for the evening ~ effects; the Seeburgstyle G Orchestrion with its ~ was Al Comtois, viceepresident and ~ ranks of pipes, piano, mandolin effect, drums, etc.; ~ general manager of the corporation. ~ the Seeburgcoin piano with its honky-tonk sound; ~ The organ was not under expression the Pianolin, a piano with violin pipes and flute ~ and the console and pipework alike pipes; and the sensational Mills Violano-Virtuoso WURLITZER PIANORCHESTRA were most effectively lighted. Trems ~ were jacked up to pleas(' theatre organ f which plays a REAL violin, a machine so unusual that King Edward VII off buffs in the audience. Southwest Or­ ~ England commandedthat one be played in his presence. ~ gans' staff organist, Donna Bechhoefer, ~ The record features machines restored to their original condition from the~ was first artist of the evening and dem• onstrated the theatre organ sound with ~ collections of Q. David Bowersand Harvey N. Roehl of Vestal, New York. Each~ the popular portion of her program, par­ ~ recording was made using original music rolls thus reproducing the music~ ticularly pleasing the crowd with u Ex• ~ exactly as it soundedseveral decadesago. ~ odus. u Her classical selections closed ~ 18 all-time hit tunes including Entry of the Gladiators; Notre DameVictory~ with Bach's u Tocatta and Finale in D ~ March; Entertainers Rag; WhenYou're Smiling, etc. ~ Minor.' ' After a brief intermission the audi­ ~ Acclaimed by collectors everywhere. We_ guarantee you'll be delighted!® ence was treated to Wade Bray , a young ~ Only $4.95 ppd. ~ man whose classical and popular talents ~ WINDSORRESEARCH PUBLICATIONS, INC. ~ are becoming increasingly admired and respected. His crisp style caused much ~ Audio Products Division ® favorable comment from his opening of ~ Empire Building ~ HThere's No Business Like Show Busi­ ~ JohnsonCity 31, New York ~ ness" to his " Psalm XIX" by Marcello, and he was called back to demonstrate ~~~~®®®~~®®~~~~®®®~~®~~®~~~~~ the individual stops of the instrument. Voting members remained after the the firm bought the surrounding area LLOYD KLOS REPORTS program to elect the following slate of many years ago as an investment. The officers for 1965: Chairman, Karl Warn­ sale of this property opens the way to The plant of the Wurlitzer Company er; Vice-Chairman, Don Story; Secretary, development of the area. Laurel Ruby; and Treasurer, Ron Cress. in North Tonawanda, NY is being sold to Irving Levick, a realtor, who owns * * * * * * * * * Respectfully submitted, millions of square feet of industrial and Karl R. Warner commercial property in the Buffalo area. Wurlitzer will lease back about 60% Mrs. David J. Marr, widow of the of the 750,000 square feet of plant fa­ founder of the Marr & Colton Organ Co. cilities where it will continue the pro­ will celebrate her 83rd birthday on duction of juke boxes and certain de• January 29. ATOE fondly wishes her NEWS FROM HARVEY ROEHL fense products. Mr. Levick is also ac­ many happy returns. Vestal, New York quiring the Wurlitzer-owned Melody Park which surrounds the plant. Al together, * * * * * * * * * Harvey's Welte Automatic Pipe Organ he is buying 160 acres, which lends it• expected to be playing in mid-January. self to housing development. The price According to Bob Wilson, ATOE'r * * * * * * * * of the property was not disclosed, but from Yakima, Washington, the Capitol Edwin A. Link has purchased (re• it runs into the millions of dollars. Theater in Vancouver, BC is about to purchased) the 12 rank Link Theatre Or­ Wurlitzer has owned the plant since be extensively remodeled, reducing the gan from Duane Arey. After a complete 1908 "when it manufactured the earliest seating from 4,000 to around 1,800. Fate refurbishing, it will be installed in the versions of automatic music-making of the Wurlitzer 260, opus No. 1657 is Roberson Memorial Building in Vestal, machines. Later it became the home of uncertain in view of plans to install a New York. Luckily, the auditorium is the "Mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ, and wide screen. !)eing planned around the pipe-organ in­ advertised this with a huge sign atop stallation instead of the other way llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll 111111111111111 the main building which showed a horse­ around as is so often the case. Link is shoe console. When the theater organ BACK ISSUES OF "THEATRE ORGAN" anxious to locate r,,ore chests for the died out in the 1930's, the juke box AND "BOMBARDE" STILL AVAILABLE instrument for planned enlargement. came in to its own which Wurlitzer Readers knowing of any should write pioneered and is still the leader in PRICE $1.00 each Harvey Roehl, 3533 Stratford Drive, their manufacture. Vestal, N. Y. The company has been following a THEATRE ORGAN policy of disposing of real estate, 1959 • Volume 1, Number 2 mostly stores. This transaction is the 1962 - Volume 4, Numbers 3 and 4 If you -Mmt to continue receiving first of its major plants to be sold in a 1963 - Volume 5, Numbers 1, 2, 3, 4. THEATRE ORGAN and BOMBARDE, leaseback arrangement. Part of the 1964 • Volume 6, Numbers 1, 2, 3, 4. please keep us advised of your correct plant has been unused for some time, address. The Post Office DOES NOT and has been for rent with no takers. BOMBARDE forward Second Class Mail. Wurlitzer's. headquarters are in Chi­ 1964 • Volume 1, Numbers 1, 2, 3, 4. I:] I:] I:] I:] 8 cago. R C Rolfing, president, said that Ill Ill Ill 111111111111111II Ill Ill Ill Ill Ill IIIll I I Ill Ill I Winter '64- '65 CHICAGO - JULY 3-4-5 - CHICAGO 29 LETTERS - Continued from·page 3 DON BAKER PLAYS FOR resonances of wood & metal pipes. We really don't expect that miracle nor can we expect our "p lug-ins" to produce a OPENING OF NEW sound that can compare with that of the beauty and majesty of well voiced pipes emanating from lofty chambers. But the OAKBROOK THEATRE deftly controlled loud speakers are still "The days of old" when the theatre favorites, and selections from the thea­ better than a blast of shrill whistles in organ and its master at the console were tre organ days of long ago. the ear which can hardly be dampened hc.:adlinc.:d as star attractions were.: rc.:­ Friday night at the Oakbrook was a even by tight closing swell shutters in lived in Oak Brook, Ill., a western special invitational affair for members the average living room. How many of Chicago suburb, on December 18-20. of the p ress, radio, TV, movie industry us can afford the proper installation of Don Baker, long-time theaue organist and special guests only with an esti­ several sets of ranks plµs the monstrous of ye ~tc.:ryear and now a Conn Organ mated 300 in attendance. Saturday and consoles we all love? I'll venture to and Kapp recording artist, and Balaban Sunday were billed . as .,upen house days" guess that 95% of all members and & Katz, Chicago based giant among the for the general public. An estimated readers own and enjoy an electronic naLion 's thc.:atre operators, teamed up for 6,000 took advantage of the opportunity gadget. this revival of the old days. The event to thoroughl y in · pect the 1200 seat I've said my piece and probably have markc.:J the special preview festivities house which rightfully boasts of many trod on a number of toes, but this is the for the new mi II ion dollar Oakbrook new innovations including: Rocking way I feel. I wonder how many agre .e Theatre, the first new facility co be Chair seats with each row on its own with me? level; unprecedented "stretch-out" room constructed by this chain since 1938. Yours very truly, Don played the new Conn Deluxe between each row; perfectl ly proportioned Maurice Scharman Theatre organ at all of his performances screen; foyers and lounges with con­ member L.A. A.T.O.E. during the three days. llis program was tinuous music and other . luxurious ap­ arranged to include something for every­ pointments al 1 keyed to the comfort and one, regardless of age, and ran the gamut convenience of moviegoers, even to "'-""" "'-""" "'-""" from present day pop tunes, to •~White the exten t of push button telephones. Christmas" and other ail-time holiday CLASSIFIED ADS

Classified ads are accepted at the rate of ten cents per word per issue. A ten percent discount allowed if remittance accompanies your order. Head your ads: "WANTED," "SWAP," "FOR SA LE," etc. Send your ad to: Theatre Organ, Adv. Mgr., P .0. Box 248 Alameda, California. SPECIAL OFFER to ATOE MEMBERS: No charge for your first ten words.

WANTED

Console, 3 or 4 manua I with or without re lay. Wur I itzer preferred. C.M. Henning­ sen, 4356 Gertrude Drive, Fremont, Ca I if. Ph one Sycamore 3-4310.

English Post Horn 16'-8'; Tuba Mira­ bilis 8'-4'; Solo Tibia 8'-2'; Wurlitzer or similar, 10" or 15" wind with chest. Please advise price and condition. H. A . Logan, 2292 Brookfield Avenue, Niag­ ara Fa I ls, Ontario, Canada.

PATENT COPY COLLECTIONS, Elec­ tronic organ, Electronic music. Send list to ATOE (PATENT), P.O . Box 248, Alameda, California 94506.

Wurlitzer Stop Tabs. Send list and price to A. T .0.E. c / o Stop Tabs. P .0. Box 248, Alameda, California 94506.

DO WE HAVE THE STORY OF YOUR FAVORITE ORGAN INSTALLATION ?? This smile of complete approval is worn by Don Baker, Conn Organ concert artist, We suggest that you gather the story and as he sat at the console of the new Conn Deluxe Theatre Organ and turned back pictures (black and white) and send them the clock recently to briefly relive his many years of theatre organ playing, which to ATOE, P.O. Box 248, Alameda, included a 13-year engagement at the famous Paramount Theatre, New York City. California. We are always on the look­ The event which prompted Don's smile here marked a 3-day ''open house" on out for story mater ia I of organs and or­ December 18-20 to herald the opening of a new mi II ion dollar theatre in Oak Brook, ganists. Let us hear about the organs Ill., a western Chicago suburb. or organists in YOUR area . ...,...------1 30 $6.00 DUES ARE DUE FOR 65 $6.00 theatre organ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.~w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.~w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.~w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.~~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~b= ...... -~1f.;.-~ ,,,,.,,---t1;~ ~ ~ THE WURLITZER HOPE-JONES UNIT ORCHESTRA ~t/JA,,'f',!)g:-====c-lJ~=n:.====;;;,,,.rJN ,">.... ~

~.•· *Th; s supe,b ,epdnt of !he 60-page 1916 soles b,ochu,e of lhese mogn ;f;cent !.~.!.. ...:~ instruments has been proclaimed by all the experts a "must" for all organ " Th e Exce lsior"---96 Key ...:'

~ enthusiasts' libraries. The first reprinting was a quick sell-out; order yours •••,~~~• .. :;s:;;~":~~;: 1".;..".:;;:;~::.,~";:~'..:::c1:~.~:~;:~:'.c:~:~~""'~ 0 0 1 8 1 1 11 ~1 before the second printing is gone! Only $3.95 postpaid. ' r•;~:,~:::t:~ac:1:;:t;!,~~~~: :ai~~:~i~~1'i~11~ ;;:! :,;!es. ~1 ~~ § § § § § § § § § § § llttn eno rmous . ~, ~ ~ ~~ *OTHER REPRINTS OF COMMANDING IMPORTANCE ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~1 --Wurlitzer One-Man Orchestras for Theatres (see Style '''U" below). 10 pages ~~,IJ.d!~ ~~ ~ ~ ~1 same high quality as the original. $2 postpaid. ~!f~~~~~l~UJ~ ~1 ~ ~ ~1 --Berni Mechanical Band Organs. (see right) 16 pages of some of the finest ~1 ~ instruments of this type ever produced. $2 postpaid. ~ ~ --American Fotoplayer catalog. Interesting nos ta lgi a for pipe organ buffs; ~ ~ these instruments were predecessors of the Robert Morton Organ. $2 postpaid. IWLol•••r...._..;,,i,iJ ~

~ ,\ =,noh,,nt r... ,,I, :,::.:PT,o, ~ ~~ Dlml'nl lo n. 1,; I• 111I ~"S ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ -----~------~------~: ~ ~ ~1 Enclosed is $ ______for items checked. I understand that my complete ;.:1 ~ PIP E O RG AN OR C H EST R A STYLE "U" satisfaction is gumranteed or an immediate refund will be made. ~ ~ SUITABLE FOR HOUSE WITH SEATIN G CAPACITY FROM 400 TO 500 ~ ~ Hope-Jones Catalog $3.95 Wurlitzer One-Man Orchestras $2 ~ W unL=_111_-~ - ., $2 ~~.~ ~ - " "" Berni Band Organs American Fotoplayer catalog $2 ~~-~

~ Name ______~ ~ ~ ~ Street______~ ~ ~ ~ .....-~ ... ,_., .,. ._...... __.... , ....,_.. City ______State ------ip ______~ ~ ~ ~w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.~w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.~w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.~w.w.w.w.w.w.w.w.~w.~~~

PEARL WHITE, one of the outstanding performers of the' 1964 detai Is of this organ.) We certainly hope that she is on the Convention in Buffalo is seen at the 3/ 10 Geneva Theatre program for the 1965 Chicago ATOE Convention. Organ in the Baker Hotel. (See December BOMBARDE for -Photo by John McCarthy Winter '64- 165 CHICAGO JULY 3-4-5 CHICAGO 31 The Rodgers Custom Theatre Organ

PEDAL GREAT 32' Diaphone 4' Tibia 16' Tuba 4' Great to Great Solo Main Off 16' Ophicleide 4' Viol d'Orch 16' Tibia 16' Solo to Great Solo Echo On 16' Tibia 4' Piccolo 16' Contra Viol 8' Solo to Great Solo Reverb On 16' Bourdon 2-2/3' Twelfth 16' Clari net 4' Solo to Great 16' Contra Viol 2' Piccolo 8' Tuba Mirabilis 16' Accomp to Great VOICING 8' Tuba Mirabilis 2' Fifteenth 8' Harmonic Tuba 8' Accomp to Great Tibia ff 8' Tibia Clausa Harp 8' Open Diapason 4' Accomp to Great Flute ff 8' Cello Ch rysog Iott 8' Tibia Clausa Great Main Off Flute becomes Open 8' Flute Bongo Drums 8' Clarabel la Great Echo On Flute Celeste 4' Piccolo Chinese Block 8' Flute Great Reverb On , Viol ff 16' String Bass Pizz. Brush Cymbal 8'•Clarinet Viol becomes Diapaso,1 Bass Drum Sand Block 8' Kinura SOLO Pere ff Brush Cymbal Castanets 8' Viol d'Orch 16' Tuba Chinese Block Tambourine 8' Salicional 16' Tibia ECHO 8' Solo to Pedal Snare Drum Roll 8' Vox Humana 16' Contra Viol Tibia Main Off 8' Great to Pedal Accomp Unison Off 5-1/3' Quint 8' Tuba Mirabilis Tibia Echo On 8' Accomp to Pedal 4' Accomp to Accomp 4' Tuba Clarion 8' English Post Horn Accomp Main Off 4' Tibia 8' Horn Diapason TREMULANT ACCOMPANIMENT Accomp Echo On 4' Viol d'Orch 8' Tibia Clausa Echo Tremulant 8' Brass Trumpet Accomp Reverb On 4' Piccolo 8' Concert Flute Tibia Vibrato 8' Diaphonic Diapason 2-2/3' Twelfth 8' Flute Tibia Tremulant 8' Tibia Clausa ACCOMPANIMENT 2' Piccolo 8' Concert Clarinet Flute Vibrato 8' Concert Flute 2nd TOUCH 2' Fifteenth 8' Musette Flute Tremulant 8' Flute Celeste 8' Tuba Mirabilis 1-3/5' Tierce -S' Solo String Viol Tremulant 8' Flute 8' Tibia Clausa 1' Fife 8' Viol d'Orch Accomp Tremulant 8' Clarinet 4' Tuba Clarion Piano-Harpsichord 8' Orchestral Oboe Great Tremulant 8' Viol d'Orch 4' Tibia Harp 4' Tibia Solo Tremulant 8' Viola d'Amour 8' Solo to Accomp Celesta 4' Viol d'Orch Pere Tremulant 8' Viola Celeste 8' Great to Accomp Glockenspiel 4' Piccolo · 8' French Horn 8' Accomp to Accomp Orchestral Bells 2' Piccolo 8' Krumet Marimba 16' Solo to Solo 8' Vox Humana Xylophone Solo Unison Off Cathedral Chimes 4' Solo to Solo 16' Great to Great Great Unison Off Rodgers Theatre Organs start at $4,950. For more information, write: ORGAN COMPANY I HILLSBORO, OREGON

WHEELER PRINTING INC.