The Organ Spiel

Newsletter for the Sierra Chapter of the American Society

Silent Movie From 1929 September 2010 Sunday, Guest artist September 19 Bob Salisbury

will accompany California Auto Museum The .

(Formerly the Towe)

6:00 PM About the Artist,

New Date Bob Salisbury first exhibited his interest in music at the age of 7 when he began piano lessons in . And Time He moved on to organ lessons at the age 10 and thea- tre organ at age 13, studying with Gaylord Carter. This

began a 45 year relationship as friend and instructor. About the Film: In his home town of Avalon California on Catalina Is- land, Bob played the Page Theater Pipe Organ on a Musketeer par excellence Douglas Fairbanks (as D'Artagnan) is back, in nightly basis before the movie. He also played organ this extraordinary sequel to his "The Three Musketeers" (1921). After some for all 3 churches on Catalina Island. years, Mr. Fairbanks' main job becomes protecting the French King's good son. Unbeknownst to most everyone (except the movie audience), the Bob and his wife Mary have now semi-retired to Big Prince and heir to the throne, William Bakewell (as Prince Louis XIV), has Bear City, California. Bob continues to play silent mov- an evil twin brother; the identical twosome were separated-at-birth, in order ies and concerts and is organist for St. Columba Epis- to assure one King ascended to the throne, without incident. However, copal Church in Big Bear. "good" Prince Bakewell is abducted, and locked up in "The Iron Mask"; Bob feels that silent films are the basis for today's film then, "bad" Prince Bakewell takes his place. Fairbanks and his musketeer industry and his mission is to teach the proper tech- pals must set things right. nique for silent film accompaniment so that films may With its superb acting, brilliant pace, and stunning photography, this is be preserved and enjoyed by future audiences. Bob is the one Douglas Fairbanks film you must see, if you only see one. "The working with the Los Angeles County Theater Organ Iron Mask" is among the best films in the swashbuckler and silent film gen- Society and the Orange County Theater Society to de- res. It's also (probably) Fairbanks' best performance as an actor. His quin- velop a silent film accom- tessential performance, and film, might have been overlooked for paniment teaching pro- "Academy Award" consideration due to Fairbanks being, at the time, Presi- gram. dent of the Academy. It was also apparent, to Fairbanks and others, that the Bob was honored by the popularity of talking pictures would soon silence the older style, despite the American Theater Organ artful late 1920s silent film productions. Society with a national award at their convention Fairbanks, with director Allan Dwan and photographer Henry Sharp, in 2010. came up with an ending so memorable it's been said to symbolize the ap- proaching end of its star's career, and the end of silent films in general. His favorite program is al- They could hardly have had a more suitable ending. For Douglas Fairbanks ways the one he does next! and company, "The Iron Mask" was a perfect fit. (courtesy of Wes Connors from IMDB) Bob Salisbury September PICNIC AT THE ATWOOD’S Page 2 Kelseyville (Clear Lake) Sunday,

September 26th 11:30 AM to Dusk

Bert and Ann Atwood once again are hosting a picnic at their lovely home on Clear Lake and have invited both NorCal and Sierra Chapter members to attend. Bert’s Allen GW-4 organ will be available for anyone wishing to play. Recent upgrades to the expression shades were installed and tonal improvements made by Tom DeLay, Chris Nichols, Bill Schlotter, and Neal Wood. Those who attended the last picnic know what a treat is in store for all of us. So mark the date and figure about a 2 1⁄2 hour drive from the Sacramento area. Bert and Ann built the house with the organ in mind. Please call or e-mail by September 19, so that Bert will have a headcount and can have time to get directions to you. See back page for details.

OROVILLE STATE THEATRE UPDATE

The Oroville State Theatre, PAC façade restoration started tre Organ Pro- again last week with the removal of the sidewalk and store fronts. ject." Come see The new fronts are in Oregon, and on their way, according to the this great silent in contractor. an historic movie A little problem happened while cutting up the sidewalk. Some house on the BIG sparks got into the basement and started some debris on fire. For- screen! More details: David Dewey 530-589-3676. tunately the sprinkler system did it's job and all the fire depart- Theatre box office: 530-538-2470, theatre website: ment had to do was clean up and make certain we all stayed out www.orovillestatetheatre.org of the building (carbon monoxide fears). It did make the front We also have tentative plans for November 12th for another page though! "Silents at the State" event. Since Be certain to set aside Saturday, October 30 for "Silents at the Dave's organ is in the building, State"; a special night with "The Phantom of the Opera" staring might as well use it! The short, Lon Chaney, and accompanied by our Dave Moreno with Linda "Big Business" will be shown, and Small singing the opera parts. There will also be a costume con- (a full-length movie, or a selection test, so show up in your Halloween finery! Showtime is 7:30 PM, of shorts) details to follow, or call Tickets are $10, as this is a fund raiser for the "Restore the Thea- the above numbers. Tickets price will be under $10 (TBA).

Chapter Officers

President Treasurer/Web Master Board Member Membership 2nd term expires Dec 2011 1st term expires Dec 2011 1st term expires Dec 2010 Terry Clifton Carol Zerbo Dave Sauer Robert Barrett, MD 916/863-6344 916/624-9182 916/925-7440 916/962-1988 [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected]

Program Director Board Member Newsletter Editors Vice President/Publicity 2nd term expires Dec 2010 1st term expires Dec 2010 Craig Peterson Sherry & Terry Clifton 916/682-9699 Marian Galbraith Randy Warwick 916/863-6344 E-Mail: [email protected] 916/722-0411 661/392-0269 [email protected]

E-Mail: [email protected] Historian Board Member Barbara Harris 2nd term expires Dec 2011 Organ Technician Secretary 916/332-2837 Jim Leach Dave Moreno 1st term expires Dec 2010 916/484-7356 916/797-9125 Terry Clifton E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected] Recording Library 916/863-6344 Beverly Harris E-mail: 916/332-2837 Board Member Music Librarian [email protected] 2nd term expires Dec 2011 Jim Leach Craig Peterson 916/797-9125 916/682-9699 E-Mail: [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected]

September Page 3

President’s perspective—Carol Zerbo

What a summer! on the Fox lobby organ at Wendell SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19th at Looking back on the last Jacob's home in Davis. 6:00PM. The movie will be The three months, it's hard to Add in Board meetings, a few Iron Mask with Bob Salisbury ac- believe an "organaut" could be trips to Bay area events, a couple companying. I would appreciate bored. June started with a trip to of mini-organ crawls and boredom your input on the date change. Chicago (Hopeful Heart) and was not an option this summer. For those of you who fancy a ended with a trip to . In be- Many thanks to all of our hosts, nice Sunday drive, on Sept 26th, tween was a picnic/open console who made our local events possi- NorCal is sponsoring a pic- at Pete and Dianne McCluer's. ble and the organists who made nic/open console on the Allen July started with us still in Se- them enjoyable. Thanks to Dave GW-4 at Bert and Ann Atwood's attle - correction: most of Wash- Moreno, lovely home overlooking Clear ington and Portland, Oregon. without Lake in Kelseyville, CA. It should Thank you, Ed Stout, for a very whom there be beautiful on the lake at this entertaining commentary on the would be time of year and a very nice way ATOS convention in last month's nothing to to end our SSS - summer social

Spiel. play. And, of season. July ended with a picnic/open course, to those Sierra and NorCal Stay tuned for console/concert/debut of Jan and members and guests who attended Autumn! Craig Peterson Bill Hunter's "Hunter Hall" in Rio and made it all such fun! is already lining up artists for next

Vista ( 3/15 courtesy of September finds us back at year. Geoffrey Hansen). CAM (Towe to us diehards). We August began with open con- are trying something a little differ- See y'all at CAM sole on our chapter organ at Fair ent - now, pay attention, y'all. The on the 19th. Oaks and ended with open console silent movie for this month will be Carol Z

BOARD MEETING- MEMBERSHIP NEWS

SATURDAY Renewing at the Benefactor Level: Oct 9 10:00AM Troy Killorn Home of Tom Norvell Carol Zerbo. Renewing at the Patron Level: Charles Lindquist Open to all Regular Renewing at the Contributing Level: Members, but David & Linda Dewey please RSVP to Gregg Isett Carol if you are Robert Allen planning to attend. First Class Postage Stamp

P.O. Box 2017 Fair Oaks, California 95628

We are on the Web:

sierrachapterATOS.org

youtube.com/SierraChapterATOS

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MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR EVENTS

SIERRA CHAPTER EVENT CLEAR LAKE EVENT Oroville State Theatre Event California Auto Museum Silents at the State Picnic and Open Console 2200 Front Street

Featuring: Sunday Sept 19 6:00 PM Dave Moreno & Sunday Sept 26th 11:30 AM Linda Small The Iron Mask — 1929 Ann & Bert Atwood Saturday October 30 7:30PM Silent Film - For directions:

with Phone (707) 277-7208 Stockton Fox Event Bob Salisbury E-mail: [email protected]

Friday Sept 17 6:30PM $8/Adults $10/General Rebecca $8/Member $5/Student Featuring $20/ Family Tom Thompson The Chapter was organized in 1968 as a not-for-profit corporation under the statutes of the State of California and is recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and Section 23701d of the California Revenue and Taxation Code. It was organized for the purpose of preservation and promotion of the Theatre Pipe Organ and its music. Membership in the local Chapter also encourages membership in the National Organization, American Theatre Organ Society (ATOS.) www.atos.org