JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN THEATRE ORGAN SOCIETY

VOLUME 12 NUMBER 3

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The 4/26 Studio Wurlitzer in Dick Kline's home. Story begins on Page 5.

Journal of the American Theatre Organ Society

Volume 12, Number 3 In This Issue June, 1970 FEATURES 5 Richard F. Kline, Jr. Studio Wurlitzer ...... Ray Brubacher A.T.O.S . National Membership is $8.00 per cal­ 8 Portrait of Lee Erwin ...... Lloyd Klos endar year, which includes a subscrip tion to 16 Big Moller on Campus THEATRE ORGAN, the official publication of the American Theatre Organ Society. Single 18 The Boyd Kimball's Move to Wilmington ...... Don and "K" copies: $1.25 . Make check or money order 20 Theatre Organ Revival ...... Thomas Willis payable to A.T.O.S., and mail to P. 0. Box 24 Here We Have Idaho (Sequel) ...... N. R. Kelley 2329, Livonia, Michigan 48150. 25 Mighty Mo' in Educational Role ...... Joseph Patten OVERSEAS Membership: $8.00. 25 News from Greenfield Garden ...... Allen Miller ALL MATERIAL FOR PUBLICATION 28 I Remember Dan Papp ...... Clealan Blakely EXCEPT ADVERTISING SHOULD BE 31 What Price Glamour ...... John Muri SENT TO A.T.O.S. PUBLICATIONS P. 0. BOX 2329, LIVONIA, MICHIGAN 48150 TECHNICAL ADVERTISING ADDRESS: Dewey Cagle, 3291 13 Taming the Savage Beast ...... Allen Miller Guido Street, Oakland, California 94602. * * * DEPARTMENTS A.T.O.S. National Officers 3 President's Message 30 Letters to the Editor Albert T. Mason, President 4 Acre of Seats 32 Hollywood Cavalcade Allen W. Rossiter, Vice President 12 Pipe Piper 32 Vox Pops Dorothy Whitcomb, Secretary-Treasurer 22 Nuggets from the Golden Days 34 Closing Chord Betty Mason, Executive Secretary 24 Book Review 34 Chapter News A.T.O.S. National Board of Directors 26 For the Records 38 Classified Ads Lee Erwin Ben M. Hall Fred Kruse PRESIDENT'SMESSAGE Dorothy Whitcomb Gaylord Carter W. "Tiny" James NOTICE Allen W. Rossiter NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING, COMMODORE HOTEL Richard Simonton Richard H. Schrum, Past President FRIDAY EVENING, JULY 10, 1970, 8 P. M. A.T.O.S. Honorary Members * * * 1959 - Jesse Crawford GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING, JULY 17, 1970 1960 - Farny Wurlitzer Commodore Hotel, New York City 1961 - Mel Doner 1962 - Leonard MacClain 1963 - Eddie Dunstedter LEADERSHIP 1964 - Reginald Foort Leadership is the prime need most everywhere but an organization such as 1965 - Dan Barton ours must have more self starters as we are so scattered. Wherever leadership has 1966 -W. "Tiny" James shown itself, we have a chapter and an active program. We have had many inquiries 1967 - Erwin A. Young, Jr. about forming a chapter but the first ingredient is someone to volunteer to do the 1968 - Richard C. Simonton work. All the members we have that do not belong to a chapter do help, indeed, 1969 - Judd Walton we need twice as many to support a magazine large enough to be able to print the EDITORIAL STAFF flood of news submitted by active chapters and individual members. The only Editor - George Thompson reward may be the satisfaction of hearing the great sound that only a theatre organ Associate Editors - Ray Brubacher can produce but I will testify that it is really worth it. Lloyd Klos There are several areas in the country where there are still theatre organs Peg Nielsen needing a chapter's support. There are theatre organs coming into the market that Editor-Emeritus - W. "Stu" Green might be taken to places that are currently without one. Do something positive to Publications Director - Don Lockwood help. Ask your chapter officials for something to do. Get your friends to help Advertising Manager - Dewey Cagle organize a chapter if there isn't one in your area. Action is now the cry and it Circulation Manager - Vi Thompson applies to us also. THEATRE ORGAN (title registered U. S. Patent Remind your chapter officials that the new charters will be available in New Office) is published bi-monthly by the American Theatre Organ Society, Inc., a non-profit or­ York for the chapters that have signed the charter agreement and returned them ganization, Albert T. Mason, President. All to National Headquarters. The eligible chapter representative may vote at the rights reserved. Entire contents copyrighted National Board Meeting July 10th at 8 p.m. 1970 by A.T.O.S., Inc., Office of publication is P.O. Box 2329, Livonia, Michigan 48150. Printed by Detroit Master-Craft, Livonia, Mich­ igan 48150.

POSTMASTER: Second Class postage paid at Livonia, Michigan. IF UNDELIVERABLE, send form 3579 to A.T.O.S. Circulation Department, Box 1314, Salinas, California 93901. Al Mason, President r"" ATn~ 3 ARCP theatre organ By Bill Peterson, Number 21 in a series FOX THEATRE - WASHINGTON, D. C. This theatre was later renamed Loew's Capitol, and was entrance doors opened into the mezzanine. The main floor designed by Rapp and Rapp. The house was part of the lobby was downstairs. In the mid-sixties the theatre was National Press Club building and opened in 1927. One torn out of the Press Club building, which still stands. notable feature of this theatre was the fact that the front The Wurlitzer organ is now owned by Dick Kline.

june 1970 4 ICK'S enthusiasm for a theatre South end of the studio. The fanfare and percussion chambers are behind the pipe facade. organ began with the purchase Dof Wurlitzer Opus 1391, which was installed in the New Manos Theatre in Greensburg, Pennsylvania in 1926. This was a model H special, meaning TheRichard F.Kline, Jr. that the Standard ten ranks were equip­ ped with a three-manual console. The instrument had not been playable since 1940 and was in need of a complete . rebuilding. In 1960, Dick brought the StudioWurlitzer Pipe Organ instrument back to Frederick and put it in storage. In the late summer of 1963, Wash­ Story and photos by Ray Brubacher ington, D. C. lost its largest and most lavish movie palace, the Capitol, which had opened as the Washington, D. C. Fox Theatre in 1927. In it was installed Throughout the history of ATOS, the name a Wurlitzer Model 260 with 15 ranks of Richard F. Kline, Jr., has been a familiar and was listed as opus 1647. Dick was one. His interest in the organization which able to secure this instrument as its began almost from the initial inception and condition was generally better than formation led to several terms as national vice that of the Greensburg Wurlitzer, so president and member of the national board the organ was brought back to Dick's of directors. His interest in the growth of the residence, Auburn Springs, where con­ organization has also led him to realize the struction had begun on the specially dream that many theatre organ devotees have, designed studio for these two instru­ that is, ownership of one of the most outstand­ ments. The task of drawing up a speci­ ing examples of a restored and improved theatre fication for a combination of two pipe organ. How this installation was born and organs into one was then approached reared in the serene Frederick County, Mary­ with a great deal of thought and plan­ land, countryside is now told. ning as to what would sound balanced in its new environment.

5 theatre organ North end of the studio. The main and solo chambers are behind the ornate screen. The Solo Chamber.

After the initial specification was By now the room to house the organ is 26 feet wide, 65 feet long and 22 plotted, both consoles were sent to the was beginning to take its final form. feet high, is a gallery supporting the M. P. Moller Organ Company in Having the services of Mr. Lem Keller, fanfare and percussion II chambers, Hagerstown (thanks to the intervention close friend and fellow organ addict each approximately 8 by 13 with of Peter Moller Daniels, one of Dick's as contractor (Lem's instrument has 11-foot ceilings. been previously described in past issues The blower-relay room is adjacent best friends). Under the expert guid­ of this magazine) assured Dick that to the solo chamber and is 9 by 15 ance of Mr. Nate Souders, head of the his room would be acoustically and feet. Across the back of the main and console department at Moller, a beau­ structurally good for the new organ. solo chambers is a special wind room tifully redesigned four-manual console The main and solo chambers have di­ 9 feet deep which houses wind trunks, using the shell of the Capitol organ mensions each of 13 by 15 and 18 feet reservoirs, and tremulants thus allow­ emerged with all of the original ornate in height. Percussion Chamber I which ing all units chests to be boxed to the trim and scrollwork intact and finished is located on top of the main and solo floor which h.elps mask wind noise. in gold. The combining of consoles also chambers is 10 by 10 feet. At the There are double sets of swell shades added 86 tablets. other end of the listening area, which on two levels for the main and solo

Before After

june 1970 6 giving the organist an additional amount of control over the dynamic range. Switches on the console allow the player to have all sets in operation or to close off sets in various combinations . In 1967 the room was completed and it was decided that the rather brassy gold of the console could be improved upon to better match the decor of the room so the console was glazed and lacquered to its present grained gold and walnut color. Installa­ tion of the organ as far as chests , blower , reservoirs and associated equip­ ment was complete. John Steele from Miami , Florida was enormously helpful with the general chamber and pipe­ work layout. The renovation required the re­ leathering of well over 6,700 pneu­ matics and 19 reservoirs. All work was The main chamber. The Wilfred Hall tracker organ at the north end done on the spot with tables set up in of the studio. the studio proper. Jerry Sauter, de­ amply illuminated during the daylight ceased member of the chapter , took on hours because of the many large floor him well, realize that until every single the task of recovering 15 of the regula­ to ceiling windows which give a beau­ pipe and percussion speaks to the best tors himself - a big job to be sure. tiful view of the private lake formed of its ability there will be no complete Both relays were then coupled in tan­ by an abandoned limestone quarry. The satisfaction on his part. dem to give control for the 28 ranks. recent completion of an elegant resi­ Pipework in the organ is not totally Twin 30-ampere rectifiers supply the dence adjacent to the organ studio Wurlitzer. There is no reason why in­ low voltage for the actions. A 15-horse­ makes this setting an outstanding one telligent and judicious blending of pipe­ power Spencer turbine three-phase both musically and artistically. In the work of other good builders cannot blower supplies wind for the entire evening an elaborate colored indirect result in a well balanced sound. In organ. (It is interesting to note that lighting display illuminates the room addition to the original 15 ranks of the three-phase power was available, a giving it an aura of the grand days of Capitol organ , analysis to follow, the rarity in most cases, due to the fact the motion picture palace. following Wurlitzer ranks were added. that the power lines of the now aban­ The organ is now approaching its A rare Musette , Open Diapason , Vox doned Hagerstown and Frederick In­ final stages of voicing and regulation. Humana, Small Tibia Clausa, and a terurban trolley line are adjacent to The task has taken years to complete Dick's farm.) Concert Flute (Celeste). "Orphans" and it will be sometime yet before now in the organ include a Gamba and At this point one should become Dick, who being a fine organist and a Celeste from the Moller organ origin­ a ware of the setting for the organ and painstaking perfectionist, will feel com­ ally in the Washington, D. C. Palace its home. The room for the organ is pletely satisfied. Those of us who know Theatre , and a French Horn from the same instrument. A medium scaled FANFARE ORGAN (On Gallery) unleathered Morton Tibia Clausa, a ANALYSISANDCHAMBER LAYOUT 1. French Horn 12" 3. English Post Horn 10" new Moller English Post Horn built 2. Tibia Clause 10" Cathedral Chimes SOLO CHAMBER(Right Side - Front to Rear of for the organ in 1966, and a small Post Chamber) with Pressures PERCUSSIONII (On Gallery) 12" Wind Horn of anonymous parentage. Chest 1. Kinura 1O" 8. Gamba 16' 11" Master Xylophone Chrysoglott 2. Brass Trumpet 1O " 9. Gamba Celeste 11" Marimba Harp Traps and Effects space is provided in the main chamber 3. Orchestral Oboe 1O" 10. Open Diapason CONSOLELAYOUT for a pair of soft strings. 4. Quintadeno 10" 16' 10" MANUAL 1 ACCOMPANIMENT 11. English Post Horn MANUAL2 GREAT 5. Tibia Clause 16' 15" 15" Dick's musical interests are as much 6. Oboe Horn 1O" MANUAL3 SOLO 12. Vox Humana 8" MANUAL4 ORCHESTRAL in the classical vein as the popular, and 7. Bross Saxophone Tower Chimes - 10" two tubes - 14" 200 TABLETS- 40 Combinations - All manual pis• when a small tracker one-manual organ tons have second touch for pedal combinations. First MAIN CHAMBER(Left Side - Front lo Rear of five pistons on the greet ore collective generals on built in 1826 by Wilfred Hall of Phila­ Chamber) with Pressures second touch . Old suitable boss toblets ore now delphia (Ben Hall's great grandfather?) manual cancels. Also provided ore cancels for : Trems, l. Musette l O" 8. Salicionol Celeste traps and general cancel for all stops. 2. Clarinet l O" (prepared for) l O" became available from a church in 3. Viol d' Orchestra 9. Concert Flute EXPRESSIONSSHOES (Left to Right) Frederick, Dick purchased it and reno­ Celeste l O" Celeste l O" 1. Fanfare 4 . Solo - Moster vated and installed it in front of the 4. Concert Flute 10. Solo String 10" 2. Percuss ion I and 11 5. Crescendo 16' 10" 11. Diophonic Diapason 3. Main 5. Vox Humana 6" 16' 15" organ grilles at the north end of the 6. Solicional (pre­ 12. Viol d' Orchestra TOGGLESWITCHES ON BACKRAIL studio. In addition there is a Weber pored for) 1O" 10" 1. Top Main Shades 6. Percussion I to grand piano with a duo art player and 7. Tibia Claus a 1O" 13. Tuba Horn 16' 15" 2. Top Solo Shades Percussion Shoe 3. Fanfare to Master 7. Percussion 11to a nine-foot Steinway concert grand PERCUSSION I (Above Main and Solo Chamber at 5. Main to Moster Percussion Shoe North End) 12" Wind which may eventually be playable from Sforzando Toe Stud with Indicator Light l . Tuned Sleighbells 4 . Traps and Effects Crescendo Indicator Light the Wurlitzer. 2. Glockenspiel - Sells 5. Robert Morton Surf 3. Chrysoglott Effect with Reversible Analysis of Wilfred Hall Tracker Organ All in all, here is a perfect blend 1826 PERCUSSIONSOUTSIDE THIS CHAMBER All Ranks on 2¼" Pressure - 56 Notes for any musician's pipe dream. To Dick 1. Xylophone from Wurlitzer or 1. Open Diapason 8' 4. Dulciana 8' Kline and his pipe dream come true, 2. Six Sell German Tracker) 2. Stopped Diapason 8' 5. Principal 4' Zimbelstern (Playable 3. Gamba 8' 6. Fifteenth 2• ATOS and its members wish him well for a job well done. D

7 theatre organ Portrait of

LEE ERWIN

Theatre Organist

Story by Lloyd E. Klos Photos, Lee Erwin Collection In 1930 at the age of 18, Lee Erwin was playing the 4/19 Wurlitzer in the Alabama Theatre.

Ope of the nicest fellows in the a note of music (he played everything twelve-year-old boy who was already business of perpetuating the glorious in one of three keys-E major, B major hooked on the theatre organ. heritage of the theatre organ, is Lee or F sharp major), but he did a terrific "I can't remember any of those old Erwin of New York City. The writer job of improvising music for a film. films except that Douglas Fairbanks in first met Mr. Erwin in the Detroit Fox "The Grand Theatre originally had "Robin Hood" stands out sharply, prob­ Theater during the 1967 ATOS Con­ ably because I didn't play the organ. vention, and was immediately impressed a piano, and a lady piano player, but they finally installed a small pipe organ. The theatre hired an orchestra for ~this by his warmth and geniality. His sub­ picture and I was the only kid in town sequent visit to Rochester to perform After a time, I was given permission to play the supper show in both thea­ who could both read music and strug­ at the Auditorium Theatre Wurlitzer gle successfully with a clarinet. So, for strengthened this impression. tres any time I wanted to, but without pay, of course. It did give me the "Robin Hood", I became Lee Erwin, Lee Erwin was born in Huntsville, opportunity to attend both theatres clarinetist - not good, but brave!" Alabama. "One of my first remem­ without admission - a real prize for a brances was listening to music. My In high school, Lee won a state piano mother was the organist of a very small contest which rewarded him with a church; she was probably the only scholarship to the Cincinnati Conserva­ member of the congregation who could tory of Music. While at the Conserva­ play. When I was three or four, I was tory, in which he studied under Parvin given a toy piano for Christmas. It Titus, he helped defray expenses by must have been a better-than-average playing organ in the neighborhood toy, because it was exactly in tune, and theatres, seven nights a week, for $20 it had a keyboard of almost four a week. octaves. After three years at the conservatory, "Although I couldn't possibly have he left school to accept his first big­ known at that time that I was gifted time theatre position - assistant or­ with absolute pitch, I realize now that ganist on the 4/ 60 Moller in Loew's I was demonstrating it regularly by Temple Theatre in Birmingham, Ala. reproducing accurately any group of The Temple was a "presentation house" notes which I heard. So, I found that with first-run films sharing equal bill­ I could automatically play on my toy ing with big-time vaudeville. Each per­ piano almost anything I heard my formance featured a solo organ spot, mother play on her big piano. When one in which the organist could even I started to school, I also started formal program a straight performance of a music lessons, taking piano from Miss Bach Prelude and Fugue if he wanted Bessie Pettus, a remarkable lady, who to do so. And, the audience listened! still teaches a few selected students in "The chief organist, Joseph Stoves, Huntsville. was a genuine artist, not a retreaded "As a kid, I haunted the two movie piano player. He really knew classical houses in Huntsville. The Lyric Theatre and popular music, and his improvisa­ had a Photoplayer (Ben Hall's research tions were marvelous. Even his first has established that it was a Style L 'cold' performance of a silent film ( a Lee plays the 4/60 Moller in Loew's Temple Wurlitzer Pipe Organ-Orchestra). The Theatre in Birmingham, Alabama. This was his new one each week) was nearly al­ organist, George Hatch, couldn't read first big-time theatre position, ways a masterpiece.

june 1970 8 "From his examples, I learned , in an According to Lee Erwin , this "four doing away with the traditional vaude­ unforgettable way , that an organist weeks' notice" ( written on All Fools' ville-pit band type of music and chang­ should never use current popular day, remember), was extended for ing it to the new, modern , big-band music , or even well-known classical about two years after the talkies came sound. It was great fun, and I got my selections as accompaniment for a in. The orchestra and organ continued first experience writing orchestrations serious film. Any familiar piece of until 1931, possibly 1932, with a stage for a large orchestra. But, it was ob­ music already has preconceived con­ show policy. "As that all came to an viously too expensive , so it did not last notations for any audience , and there­ end, musicians were given their final very long." fore , draws too muc h attention to the four weeks' notice. Like many thea­ One item Lee Erwin treasures is a organ , at the expense of the film. For tres , the management wanted to keep check statement , dated September 30, him, each film had to have a new , com ­ the organ on as a special attraction , 1932, crediting him with $80 for a pletely original score which he impro ­ but the union said , 'no orchestra, no week's accompaniment of Madame vised on the spot . organ'! " Schumann-Heink. As a very old lady, "It was a lesson which very few or­ "So, for a short time, I was trans­ she was on a vaudeville tour just to ganists learned, probably because man y ferred to a special booth in the balcony make money, and Lee says, "she was of them simply weren't capable. Of of the theatre with two phonograph simply a wonderful person, but it was course , there were books of cue music turntables to synchronize records with sad to see her doing four-a-day vaude­ to fit any given situation, except usuall y the newsreel and a few other things ville with five performances on Satur­ it didn 't really fit. During my short time which did not have a sound track. One days and Sundays." at the Temple, one film, "The Big of the most difficult things to do was Another clipping from "The Bill­ Parade" ran without vaudeville for to find a recording of popular music board" reviews the bill at the Albee on many weeks. It had a complete which did not contain a vocal solo." December 19, 1932. The entertainment orchestra-and-organ score of its own , on stage, apparently had slipped into and made use of liv~ sound effects, by the doldrums since the four Marx having stage hands simulate battle Brothers' appearance six weeks pre­ scenes with hundreds of sound-produc­ viously. However, things picked up ing gadgets, including real guns." " -•..·~ . - ::_i. with Horace Heidt and his Califor­ Lee Erwin had plenty of time be­ nians. "Lee Erwin, organist, rapidly "...,..~-'!: _. .· tween theatre performances. For loaf­ ,~-'.:.:~ '!!!e'~ gaining in popularity here, drew power­ ing? Not exactly. He took on pianist .. a:-~ -··• ful applause with his playing and song­ and organist chores for radio stations . ,.._•~ .-s, - ~ .,... ..• coaxing." WRBC and W APL He assumed the The year 1933 marked the start of organist position at First Methodist ..,,...... j a major segment in Lee Erwin's career. Church , and in his odd moments, he ..~ ' .;. ' ..... \ ·.·•·'-·} :,. ...•~'G' ..• -...... He became staff organist at Cincinnati's "',;,. .... i ~ .- - T1 began to compose. WLW, and launched his 11-year stint ,l ' In 1930, Lee went to Paris to study on the famous "Moon River" program. for two years under such greats as .;-.,;. .. The station had not one, not two, but Andre Marchal ( Lee was his first -· THREE Wurlitzers in use constantly American student), Nadia Boulanger, ~-· during those days. Lee also worked on Mlle. Grandjany and Jean Verd. In " such progr ams as "Singin' Sam, The 1931, Lee was appointed assistant or­ Barbasol Man" with Harry Frankel; ganist at the American Cathedral in and "Boy's Town." Paris. He then returned to Birmingham For a short time in 1934, he was and the organist's position in the Ala­ organist at the Paramount Theatre in bama Theatre. Cincinnati. A news item of April 12, There is a most interesting story be­ 1934, had this to say: "Lee Erwin, hind the continued use of the organ popular young organist, will be at the and orchestra in this theatre after the console of that instrument at the Para­ Lee posed with the DeVore Sisters in Cincinnati's talkies arrived. It began with a letter, mount on Sunday when the organ inter­ dated April 1, 1929, written by Charles WLW in 1935 where the famous "Moon River" broadcasts emanated. Notice the marked resem- lude returns to its former place in the G. Branham, the theatre's manager, blance to classical organist, Virgil Fox. programs of the Peebles Corner theatre. and addressed to Bert Hollowell, con­ Appropriately, Erwin has arranged a ductor of the Alabama Theatre Or­ In 1932, Lee went back to Cincin­ nati, this time as organist in the RKO medley of holiday melodies under the chestra, and posted on the back-stage title of "The Easter Parade," to be bulletin board: Albee Theatre. A faded clipping has this to say about the youthful organist: illustrated by attractive song slides. "Despite his classical background, Cincinnati theatre-goers will remember Dear Mr. Hollowell: young Erwin is particularly deft in the Erwin for his organ interludes at the Albee Theatre a few years ago. Due to possible change of policy, interpretation of popular songs upon "Manager Joe Goetz of the Para­ which will be definitely decided with­ the organ . The heaviest number he has essayed in his current engagement has mount announces that the organ will in the next few days, you will accept been 'The Rhapsody in Blue' ". be featured for a limited time only, to this as a four-weeks' notice, accord­ Lee says, "The Albee Theatre was test the public reaction to this type of ing to the terms of the contract be­ one of the last houses in Cincinnati to entertainment. The booking of Erwin tween yourself as conductor for the maintain the use of both organ and follows many requests by Paramount patrons for the resumption of these Alabama orchestra, and the Alabama orchestra. About once a month, we did a very special number which featured musical periods." Theatre. the combined resources of organ and In 1935, Lee directed "Lee Erwin's Yours very truly, orchestra. The RKO chain at that time Musical Troupe," which was aired on Charles G. Branham was experimenting with the idea of WCKY, Sunday evenings. The half-

9 theatre organ hour variety show demonstrated Lee's gram to a dead microphone. After sev­ Scouts" and "The Arthur Godfrey marked versatility as conductor and eral such instances, the real thing hap­ Show" provided plenty of work for arranger. pened one night. After the network Lee Erwin. He served as arranger, com­ In 1941, he was granted a pilot's had 'dead air' for about two minutes, poser and organist, and wrote hit license and it wasn't long before he and the engineer began to turn green, songs such as "Dance Me Loose," was flying his own plane about the I finally got the idea that I should "Hello, Sunshine," "There Ought to Be country. actually play. We almost got fired, but a Society" and "Go Now." These were However, his big forte during this no engineer tried that trick again!" sung by Arthur Godfrey and "all the period was the "Moon River Show." In 1945-46, he served as organist little Godfreys" - Janette Davis, Julius It was a seven-nights-a-week program, on weekends at the RKO Madison, LaRosa, Bill Lawrence, Marion Mar­ featuring poetry, songs by the DeVore RKO Richmond Hill, Brooklyn Fox lowe, Frank Parker, Johnny Nash, Sisters trio, and of course, quiet music and the Academy of Music until in­ LuAnn Simms, Carmel Quinn, Pat by Lee Erwin at the Wurlitzer. Vocal­ creased work on the Godfrey shows Boone, The Chordettes, The Mariners ists who went on to fame and fortune made outside work impossible. and the McGuire Sisters. include Betty and Rosemary Clooney, The Godfrey shows - "Arthur God­ "There are many anecdotes concern­ and Doris Day. frey Time," "Arthur Godfrey's Talent ing the Godfrey years, but I suppose the one which was the most dramatic, was the Julius LaRosa incident, when Arthur Godfrey introduced his singer with the immortal words 'Julius will now sing his swan song on this pro­ gram.' I am sure that every member Lee Erwin and Gloria of the orchestra played a few wrong Swanson were the big notes during that vocal accompaniment names on New York's Beacon Theatre mar­ that morning. quee on May 8, 1967. "Naturally, the one question I still hear is 'What's Arthur Godfrey really like?' I can always say, truthfully, that he has always been great as far as I'm concerned. Other members of the cast might not make the same statement. Not long ago, I received a note from Arthur, apologizing for not giving us a In 1956, Lee recorded 16 songs, which he had frequently played on that show, an album entitled "Moon River Music." It was done on ATOS member Build this magnificent E. Jay Quinby 's home organ in Summit, New Jersey. Schober Theatre Incidentally, to clear up a miscon­ ception, Henry Mancini's hit song :<;;~:-:=..-~,,_ Organ for "Moon River," popularized by singer : ~ ...... 0 Andy Williams, was not composed until , ...... •••. . only $1730 !* 1961. It is an interesting coincidence 11 that Lee Erwin accompanied the Wil­ I You couldn't touch an organ like this in a store for less than $3500-and there hasn't liams Brothers quartet at WL W when been a musical instrumentwith this Andy, the youngest member, was an vast variety of genuineTheatre Organ unknown high school kid. voices since the days of the silent In 1944, Lee moved to New York movies!Haunting tibias, biting strings, where he became staff organist ( elec­ blaring reeds-the wholeA to Z gamut tronics, now), arranger and composer of realpipe sounds that makethe sim­ plest playinga thrilling experienceand for CBS. "When I first went to work give the professionalorganist every­ for CBS, there were at least a dozen thing he needs.If you'vedreamed of organists on the staff. One of our as­ the grandeurof authenticbig-organ sound in signments was to do stand-by work, •Jnc/udes finished walnut console. Amplifier, your own home,you won't find a moresatis­ which meant sitting in a studio with speaker system, optional accessories extra. fying instrumentanywhere-kit or no kit. Only $1256 it you build your own console. the organ turned on, ready to play if ------.. Youcan learnto play it. Andyou can build it, a program from the west coast failed to Thefll~organ corp., Dept. y 0 •12 from Schob~rKits, worl~ famousfor easeof come through because of technical 43 West 61st Street, New York, N.Y. 10023 assemblywithout the slightest knowledgeof difficulties, or if any remote broadcast electronicsor music,for designand parts qual­ D Please send me Schober Organ Catalog and from a hotel, restaurant, etc. did not free 7-inch "sample" record. ity from the ground up, and-above all-for the highestpraise from musicianseverywhere. come through properly. No recordings 0 Enclosed please find $1.00 for 12-inch L.P. were permitted by any of the networks record of Schober Organ music. Sendright nowfor your copyof the full-color in those days. Schobercatalog, containing specifications of "It was a favorite trick of engineers NAM~------the five SchoberOrgan models, beginning at to treat all newcomers to the gag that ADD RES,,.______$499.50. Nocharge, no obligation-but lots of food for a healthymusical appetite! the station had gone off the air, and CITY----~TA'.TF VP __ let the organist play a 30-minute pro- L------J june 1970 10 The writer asked Lee Erwin to ex­ pound his ideas on the theatre organ's revival, and he willingly complied as follows:

"I have compared notes with other organists who have had equally for­ Buddy Rogers' and Lee Erwin's names tunate opportunities to work extensively adorned the Beacon with the theatre organ. There is general marquee on February agreement that we all realize, more 24, 1969. Lee wrote than ever, that Hope-Jones and his the music for this picture. fellow pioneers were developing a truly unique musical instrument. Thanks to the ATOS, that instrument has been saved from becoming a museum cur­ iosity, and as more and more instru­ ments come back to active playing life, more and more people are hearing - big plug on the air for a recent silent Tracy" comic strip. It seems that a and understanding - that great theatre film show. His girl apparently didn't broad-shouldered vocalist named "Ton­ organ sound. give him the information in time." sils" was having trouble learning a song "The most significant thing to me is "The Rainbow Turned Muddy." "Aw, Since leaving the Godfrey show in the magnetic attraction which the Dude," he said to his manager, "why 1966, Lee has been a freelancer, with theatre organ has for young people - doncha have L'Irwin write a new tune? many musical activities. both young audiences and young per­ This one's too hard!" With two pistols In 1967, after being commissioned formers. To them, the theatre organ is aimed at him, "Tonsils" did not have by the New York Chapter ATOS as modern as the Moog Synthesizer; to utilize our subject's talents! to compose a new organ score for both have tremendous resources to be While playing a full week's run the Gloria Swanson silent picture explored and exploited. "Queen Kelly," he joined Miss Swan­ of the Valentino film "The Eagle" on son in a gala sell-out of this classic the Woody Wise Grande Barton organ "The older, more 'classical' branch film on May 8, 1967 at Manhattan's in the Virginia Theatre in Alexandria of the pipe organ family seems to be Beacon Theatre. in October 1969, Lee made a guest ap­ sailing a steady course back to the This effort was so successful that pearance on the Ed Walker- Willard middle ages, possibly even to oblivion. the New York Chapter commissioned Scott show, an NBC program, in Wash­ It is my firm conviction that the key­ him to write another score, this time ington. Ed Walker asked, "Lee, you board instrument of the future will de­ for the Rudolph Valentino film "The were with Arthur Godfrey radio and rive from the theatre organ, applying Eagle," which was performed at the television programs for years; you are the flexibility and playing facilities of Beacon and the Academy of Music. a composer and now you are teaching the theatre organ to a new design and The Academy presentation was re­ electronic music in New York. Out of construction , using contemporary tech- viewed by Allen Hughes of the New York Times staff, who wrote: "Waves of magnificent sound rolled through the Academy of Music Theatre last night . . . Lee Erwin was the organist, and he was excellent . . . The nationwide theatre organ revival is resulting in the establishment of a concert circuit which includes Rochester, Detroit, San Fran­ cisco and Dunedin in Florida . . . If all goes well, the sound of the theatre organs may again be heard regularly throughout the land." Next came Lee Irwin's scores in 1969 for "My Best Girl" with Mary Pickford and Buddy Rogers, and "Irene" with Colleen Moore and A group of happy people pose in Detroit's Redford Theatre, March 4, 1969 on occasion of Lee Erwin's George K. Arthur. accompaniment of the silent film "Irene". They are, left to right, Lee Erwin; ATOS President, Al Lee has made several recordings, Mason; actress Colleen Moore; and master of ceremonies, Ben M. Hall. Miss Moore starred in the film. embracing all the major labels, while serving as organist, arranger and con­ all the things you have done what has nology and materials, to meet the ductor. His most recent recording is been your real ambition?" needs of contemporary musicians." "Sounds of the Silents" on Concert Lee replied, "Come to think of And so, we come to the end of this Recording Label, and is highly recom­ it, I'm finally doing the one thing which narrative, but certainly not to the end mended. He is a member of the music I always wanted to do more than any­ of the Lee Erwin story. We believe department of Lehman College in New thing else - playing a theatre organ in that there are many years ahead for York, serving as instructor in electronic a theatre. Radio and television shows this fellow in his efforts to perpetuate music composition. were wonderful; they kept organists the renaissance of the theatre organ. Though lie was not directly involved going for a good many years, but how All of us who love the big sound of in the sequence, he was once mentioned wonderful it is to be playing in front the king of instruments, wish him con­ offhandedly in Chester Gould's "Dick of a real live audience!" tinued success in his efforts. D

11 theatre organ TULSA SAN DIEGO MINNESOTA Fox Theatre, 720 B Street Christian Crusade Auditorium, 4/31 Robert Morton played reg­ 2808 South Sheridan Rd. ularly and for ATOS concerts. MINNEAPOLIS 3/10 Morton played for Sunday Diamond Jim's morning and evening services. SAN FRANCISCO (By membership only) Avenue Theatre, 2/7 Wurlitzer played nightly. 2650 San Bruno Ave. OREGON 3/14 Wurlitzer played by Bob MOORHEAD Vaughn, Vernon Gregory or Bud 's Roller Rink , OAKS I'ARK others on Friday evenings for 2120 First Ave . N. concerts and silent movies. 3/7 Johnson-Barton played Sat­ Oaks Park Holler Rink urday and Sunday evenings by 4/ 17 Wurlitzer played by Don Lance Johnson. Simmons daily. GEORGIA MISSOURI ATLANTA TENNESSEE Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. NE KANSAS CITY KNOXVILLE The following are additions and 4/ 42 Moller played by Bob Van Russell Stover Auditorium Tennessee Theatre, 604 Gay St. Camp Friday and Saturday corrections to the February 1970 3/ 8 Wurlitzer played for ATOS 3/ 14 Wurlitzer played by Preston nites and 30 minutes for Sun­ events. listing. Any additions or correc­ day openings. Spaulding Friday, Saturday and Sunday eves. tions should be reported to Lloyd ST. LOUIS E. Klos, 104 Long Acre Rd., Rochester, N.Y. 14621. ILLINOIS Fox Theatre, N. Grand & Washington TEXAS 4/ 36 Wurlitzer played by Stan Kann or Jerry Marian daily . CALIFORNIA CHICAGO The organs in the Capri and Palace Aragon Ballroom, theatres in Dallas are no longer 1106 W. Lawrence used. BURLINGAME 3/ 10 Wurlitzer played by NEW JERSEY Encore Theatre, Hal Pearl. 1157 California St. Montclare Theatre , UTAH 2/ 11 Wurlitzer played by Bill 7133 W . Grand RAHWAY Taylor for Sunday nite inter­ 3/ 10 Barton used by Chicago Rahway Theatre missions. chapter ATOS for concerts. 2/7 Wurlitzer used by New York Chapter ATOS for concerts. SALT LAKE CITY Oriental Theatre , The Organ Loft, 3331 Edison St. COURTLAND 20 W . Randolph St. River Mansion , Steamboat Slough 4/ 20 Wurlitzer used by Chicago 5/42 Wurli-Morton played by 3/ 11 Robert Morton played Chapter ATOS for concerts. NEW YORK Mrs . Joann Harmond and S<:ott regularly . Gillespie for Saturday ~1;11ght Patio Theatre , dances, dinner concerts, pnvate 6008 W . Irving Pk. parties , etc. EL SEGUNDO 3/ 17 Barton used by Chicago BINGHAMTON Old Town Music Hall, Chapter ATOS for concerts. Roberson Center for the Arts & 146 Richmond Sciences, 30 Front Street VIRGINIA 4/ 20 Wurlitzer played regularly. PARK RIDGE 3 / 17 Link played by leading Pickwick Theatre, 5 S. Prospect artists monthly. FRESNO 3/ 10 Wurlitzer played for RICHMOND Chicago Chapter ATOS affairs. NORTH TONAWANDA Warner Theatre, Loew's Theatre, Fulton & Toulumne Riviera Theatre, 6th and Grace Sts. 4/16 Robert Morton played week­ 67 Webster St. 3/13 Wurlitzer played by Nick ends by Dick Cencilbaugh INDIANA 3/ 11 Wurlitzer played by Andy Pitt every Friday & Saturday. Jarosik Saturday & Sunday Wilson Theatre, 1455 Fulton EAST CHICAGO before movie time. Also used Mosque Auditorium 2/11 Wurlitzer played weekends. by Niagara Frontier Chapter 3/ 17 Wurlitzer played frequently Indiana Theatre, 3458 Michigan ATOS for monthly concerts . every month. GARDENA 3/ 11 Wurlitzer played for special events . PLATTSBURGH Roosevelt Memorial Park, ROANOKE 18255 S. Vermont Strand Theatre 3/25 Wurlitzer played often for American Theatre 4/17 Wurlitzer played regularly. FORT WAYNE stage shows or concerts with 3/11 Wurlitzer played every ~un­ Embassy Theatre, leading organists performing. day morning before showtime. GLENDALE 121 W. Jefferson St. 4/ 15 Page played by Buddy ROCHESTER Whitney Recording Studio Nolan between weekend shows, September thru May. Auditorium Theatre, WASHINGTON 4/34 Wurli-Morton played occa­ 875 Main St. E. sionally for ATOS concerts etc. 4/22 Wurlitzer played by leading INDIANAPOLIS artists in monthly concerts Sep­ FEDERAL WAY LOS ALTOS New Rivoli Theatre, 3155 E. Tenth tember thru May. Info. from RTOS, Box 53, Fishers, N. Y. Melody Inn, 233 Third A venue 3/ 14 Uniphone played between Big Bob's Pizza, shows by Tom Ferree and 14453. 31406 Pacific Hwy. S. 4/20 Wurlitzer played by Bill guest artists. Watts or Dave Barrett every 2/5 Morton played nightly by evening. Ron Barrett, Tom Kaasa or WHITING OHIO Brad Miller. LOS ANGELES Hoosier Theatre, 1335 119th St. 3/11 Wurlitzer played for special LORAIN SEATTLE Elks Lodge, 607 S. Parkview Ave. events. Palace Theatre Ridge Skating Rink, 4/61 Robert Morton, played reg- 3/10 Wurlitzer played on special 620 N. 85th St. ularly for ATOS affairs. occasions. 2/7 Wurlitzer played nightly. MICHIGAN Tubes Inc. Warehouse OLMSTEAD FALLS Seattle Center Food Circus 2/15 Wurlitzer played often. Lamplighter's Inn, 3/8 Wurlitzer played daily by DETROIT AREA 7068 Columbia Rd. Dick Schrum or Earline Hunt, Wiltern Theatre, 3/13 Kimball played by Gerald May thru October. Senate Theater, Gregorius Wed., Fri. & Sat. nites 3790 Wilshire Blvd. 6424 Michigan A venue 4/37 Kimball played for monthly 4/34 Wurlitzer, operated by De­ ATOS & public concerts. troit Theater Organ Club for WISCONSIN monthly concerts by leading OKLAHOMA artists. REDWOOD CITY MILWAUKEE LANSING MIAMI Captain's Galley #2, Centre Theatre, 821 Winslow St. Michigan Theater Coleman Theatre Wisconsin Ave. and 2nd St. 4/19 Wurlitzer played nightly ex­ 3/10 Barton played Sunday nites 3/7 Wurlitzer played by Oneta 3/28 Kimball played by Gary cept Monday by Tom Hazleton, between features by Bryan Puckette on irregular schedule McWithey on Friday and Jack Gustafson or Ralph Trout. Grinnell. on Sundays and Wednesdays. Saturday nites.

;une 1970 12 r

T IS now widely known that determined the tone and vol­ I to capture a m~nster the- ume, not the voicers. The voic­ atre organ from the depths of ers only made adjustments in a Bijou or Pantages , and cage the pipes so that they would it in the confines of a small TAMING produce the tone and volume room, only to let it loose in intended by the tonal designer, the family living room, can and adjusted each pipe so that bring disaster to any home. it had the same tone quality Just as "Audio Bugs" have dis­ and loudness as its neighbor. covered that they don't want In cases where care was taken to have the sound of a full in the installation of the organ , symphony orchestra playing in the tonal finisher would com­ their living rooms , Organ Buffs plete the job by regulating the don't really want to hear a pipes so that they sounded theatre organ playing in their right in the auditorium. You living rooms. What the stereo cannot make a pipe produce hi-fl enthusiast wants to hear a sound which was not orig­ in his living room , is the sound inally intended in the scale, he would hear if he were lis­ construction and voicing of tening to the orchestra in the the pipe. It is possible to pro­ best seat in a concert hall. duce a different tone from a Likewise, the theatre organ IJipe only by making it less enthusiast hopes to hear the efficient. theatre sound in his living by Allen Miller In general, theatre organ room. Anyone who has ever pipes can be more easily loud­ been in an organ chamber when a theatre organ was being ened than softened . This is due to many things. The large played would not want to duplicate this in his home. Is it scale of the pipes, excepting the Violes, accommodates loud­ possible to achieve the theatre sound in a home? ening which might have been necessary in a less-than-ideal The answer is, yes, and no. It is possible to achieve a theatre installation. Also, the high cut-ups or mouth heights sound close to that heard in the theatre, but it is impossible used to accommodate high pressures is a factor. Anyone who to produce the acoustics of a theatre in a small room. Let's has blown a whistle knows that the harder you blow, the consider three factors governing the successful sounding louder the sound is, within certain limits. If you blow too theatre organ in a home installation. First, and most obvious, hard or too little, you will reach a point where no sound (or is the volume or loudness; second and more subtle, the bal­ an unpleasant sound) is produced. ance and intimacy; and third, the illusion of space. We may soften pipes by reducing the amount of air being blown across the mouths or through the reeds. An individual Regulating pipe may be softened by closing the hole in the toe, or a given To begin with, I want to make it clear that the only right rank may be softened by reducing its wind pressure at the way to alter the tone and volume of a pipe organ is at the regulator. Only an experienced voicer or organman should pipes themselves. When the organ was built, the tonal de­ attempt to adjust the voicing of pipes, as this is one area signer decided what scales (diameters) and pressures the where the inexperienced can get himself into much, and often pipes would be to achieve the desired results in the audi­ irreparable trouble. It may be impossible to soften some pipes torium the organ was to be installed in. Ideally, the organ without affecting their tone. For instance, the Tibia gets some builder knew the size and acoustical properties of the audi­ of its charm from being nearly overblown, and carries on torium before the organ was designed, but we know that in with the tremulant because it nearly flies off speech at each most cases where theatres were involved, only basic generali­ upward excursion of the pressure. Lowering the pressure may ties served as guidelines for the tonal design. destroy this characteristic. The initial dimensions of the pipes and their mouths Wind pressure by itself does not determine the tone of a

13 theatre organ pipe. High pressures are used to obtain volume or power, not of a pipe is at the pipe itself, and have recommended re­ theatrical tone. Theatre voicing can be accomplished with low regulation of pipework after its installation in a home, or new wind pressures if volume is not needed. In a recent experi­ auditorium, for that matter. I have also said that this re­ ment with a Wurlitzer Tibia voiced on 1O" wind, a hypo­ regulation has certain limits imposed by the construction of dermic needle attached to a sensitive wind gauge and inserted the pipes, and must not be done by the home tinkerer. While into the flue of the pipes showed the actual speaking pressure it is hoped that every home installation will be re-regulated, (at the mouth) to be 2½ to 3½ inches. With the toe holes and often the services of a competent person can be obtained opened up, the pipes sounded the same on a lower chest without undue hardships, the employment of a professional pressure, but since the speak- can be expensive, so I'll offer ing pressure was kept the some other suggestions which same, the pipes sounded the should be done in conjunction same. It can be seen that on with pipe regulation: 10" wind, there is more lati­ PIPE CHAMBER PIPE CHAMBER tude for increasing the speak­ Tone Chambers 3 to 4' ing pressure, and loudness of It is desirable (whether the the pipe, than there would be J_ organ has been revoiced or on 4" wind. ~\\\\\\\\\\\\~ Ill/I/I/II///, not) to provide an area where Most closely linked with the sound can mix and pick the volume of a pipe on a MIXING CHAMBER up some life, if not some given pressure is the cutup, or honest-to-goodness reverbera­ mouth height. For a ,given to tion, before it reaches the lis­ speaking pressure, the pipe will f 34'--, tening area. This area must be overblow if the cutup is too between the swell shades and low, or will wheeze or not the listening room, and should speak at all if the cutup is too be as reflective as possible. A high. Lowering the speaking tone chute of ceramic tile has pressure of a pipe to soften it been suggested as the best a great deal might mean low­ solution. The sound should not ering the cutup, which can be able to travel directly from only be done by adding a the chambers to the listening piece to the upper lip, or cut­ room, but should follow a cir­ ting the pipe apart and starting cuitous route. If the tone chute fresh. This is what limits pipe is baffled, some high frequen­ softening. cies will be lost by their ina­ It is entirely possible to re­ LISTENING AREA bility to travel around corners. voice, or more correctly, regu­ If the tone chute is constructed late a theatre organ to speak with non-parallel walls, stand­ directly into a small area with- ing waves will be avoided. out being too loud or over­ The tone chamber will not bearing. There are several FIGURE 1. MIXING AREA AND PIPE CHAMBERS ON only mix and blend the tone, examples of such installations SAME LEVEL and calm the high frequencies about the country. before they are heard, but will Revoicing to a certain extent should always be considered add some life to the sound if the surfaces are hard and if possible, since often only the upper octaves of each rank reflective. need to be softened to render the rank listenable. This is Can the chamber itself be treated to add reverberation, because the high frequencies are more easily absorbed by or soften the sound of the organ? the theatre's acoustics, and were emphasized in the initial The answer to this is no. Padding in the chambers will voicing of the pipes. In addition, the upper octaves may have absorb more sound from ranks farthest from the shades than been loudened (by opening up the toes, but not cutting up from the ranks near the shades, which could upset the tonal the mouths) to force the high frequencies through drapes or balance or relative loudness of the various ranks in the cham­ other bad tonal openings. Re-regulating and softening the ber. On the other hand, although the walls of the chamber upper octaves of the organ can have a great effect on its should be as reflective as possible to avoid disturbing tonal shrillness. balance, this will not add reverberation. The chamber may So far, these comments have been directed toward regu­ be quite reverberant when empty, but fill it up with organ lation of flue pipes, but the reeds must also be considered. parts, and you have reduced the volume of the room, and Many organ tuners do not realize that reed pipes must be filled it with irregular surfaces and obstacles. regulated when they are tuned. In general, reeds are tuned What can the enthusiast do if the organ is still too loud both at the wire (reed length) and at the resonator. Some even with a mixing chamber? pipes, such as Clarinets and Vox Humanas, have marks show­ At this point, there are only two places where we can cut ing the proper position of the resonator tuner at 70°F. Re­ down the volume of the organ: at the grille between the tone member that as you open up or shorten a resonator, the tone chute and the listening room, or at the swell shades. becomes brighter and sharper. To flatten the pitch, you must Cutting down the volume at the grilles would be a mistake raise the wire, making the reed longer (flatter) and a longer if the tone chute was at all effective, since you would be cut­ reed lets more air through with each vibration, thus produces ting down the effect of the tone chute at the same time. Thus more sound. Lengthening the resonator and knocking the only the swell shade opening is left to work with. Two basic wire down will soften the pipe. In general, reed pipes are approaches are suggested and I will ·elaborate upon them. voiced to "sing" when they are regulated to the point where the harmonics just begin to develop, and further loudening Reducing Swell Shade Opening makes the tone raspy, while softening makes it dull. Reducing the area of swell shade opening will more nearly So far, I have said that the best place to adjust the volume attenuate all frequencies by the same amount. This is likened june 1970 14 OPEN GRILLE NOTE: ALL CHAMBER --3•---+ SURFACES TO BE HARD, REFLECTING LISTENING ROOM TONE CHUTE ANGLE SHADES Bottom of tone chute UPWARD ~ ./ showing unenclosed ~~ chimes. Note shades .... are horizontal and ~ CHAMBER open upward . CHAMBER ...... ~ FIGURE 2. TONE CHUTE WITH CHAMBERS ON LOWER LEVEL

t ATTIC, OR 'CRAWL SPACE'

Looking up into tone chute. Note curved top GRILLE IN SWELL CEILING SHADES and opening at top left. Brickwork is chimney. Tone chutes SOUNDPROOF flank fireplace. WALL CHAMBER LISTENING ROOM '-...

FIGURE 3. SPACE ABOVE CEILING USED AS TONE CHUTE to cutting down on the number of swell shades. If we cut whole must be brought down equally. Any softening which down on the number of shades, the effect of swell is lost. can be accomplished by reducing pressures or regulating pipes Instead, it is best to restrict the motion of each shade. Ideally, will be rewarded · by an intimate sound which cannot be the first few might open ¼ inch, the rest 1 inch or so. Not achieved when the organ is so loud it must be bottled up. only will this cut down the effective opening, but it will reduce shade noise and make the shades seem to work faster. Artificial Reverberation This also gives a more gradual and realistic swell effect. Any In addition to the illusion of space generated by a tone other method of restricting shade opening, such as blocking chute, there are artificial means of producing this effect. off half of the shades, or covering half of the opening, will Artificial reverberation may be added to any organ installa­ only make the first few stages of opening seem too great. tion. It only requires good microphones, a reverberation In practice, the easiest way to cut down the shade motion device, amplifier and speakers. I have heard effective results is to mount the shade engine (individual type which screws obtained with spring and plate type reverberation devices as on shade frame) on blocks, thus spacing it further from the well as tape loops with multiple speakers placed down the shades. This type of shade engine pushes the shades open, and length of the listening room. in its new position, cannot push the shades so far. You can For the most realistic reverberation, the pickup must be graduate the motion by using a 1½" thick block at the end outside the shades, so that the reverberation affects the organ near the narrow shades, and a l" block at the end with the sound naturally. Speaker placement is most important. Speak­ wide shades. ers should be located high (in the ceiling) and there should be Sound Absorbent Mask enough so that the reverberation does not come from any one Although this next suggestion seems wrong acoustically, point. A very simple reverberation unit can be made for it is the most obvious, and has considerable merit. The aver­ installation in a tone chute, with the reverberation unit serv­ age theatre organ lover likes robust bass. By hanging absorb­ ing as the pickup, thus eliminating the need for separate ent material, such as a blanket or rug, over the swell shade microphones and amplifier, and will be covered in a future opening, high frequencies will be absorbed more than low technical article. frequencies, resulting in treble attenuation - like the tone Personal taste will dictate the approach to taming an control on a car radio. This method is by far the quickest organ, and so will budget. In all cases, a tone chute is strongly and easiest way to soften an organ, and lends itself easily to recommended to those planning organ chambers, and there is experimentation. no question that an organ regulated to match its surroundings Balance will be better sounding than one which is buried or smothered No matter how you go about taming the organ, you must to reduce its volume. keep the proper balance between ranks. You cannot just In any case, do try to tame that beast ... the wife and kids soften those ranks which are too loud; the volume of the might even move back into the house! □

15 theatre organ ATheatre Organ "Pipe-in" atthe UniversityofRhode Island Photos by Bob Izzo, U.R.I.

HE B.M.O.C. (Big Moller on Campus!) is definitely "in," Like a cluster of trumpeting angels is this Ill rank mixture in the great T "hip," and "groovy" these days at the University of chamber. Rhode Island. At a time in history when the headlines pro­ claim student unrest and lurid accounts of the "Be-In" and installed to raise the console from the orchestra pit to stage the "Love-In," it's refreshing to hear about at least one college level. Whether by intent or happy accident the acoustics campus where students are supporting a live theater organ proved to be ideal in the 1040 seat theater. More about the "Pipe-In." installation later. It all began in the fall of 1968 when the Moller-Austin About the time when Arnold Rathbun (the M. P. Moller four manual, forty-four rank pipe organ was installed in representative in Providence) and ATOS member Art Edwards Auditorium on the campus of Rhode Island's State Fraites were completing the soldering and tuning, another University. How the University came to acquire the Moller theater organ buff arrived on the Kingston, Rhode Island - the Austin console was added in 1952 - is an interesting campus from Omaha, Nebraska. Dr. Walter Beaupre had story in itself. been lured East to establish a new graduate training program Professor Ward Abusamra of the Music Department is a for .Speech Pathologists and Audiologists at U.R.I.. Dr. teacher of vocal music at U.R.I. and his wife Barbara is a Beaupre (as Theatre Organ - Bombarde readers may recall) very fine church organist. Ward and Barbara discovered the had engineered university sponsored concerts on the Orplreum Moller-Austin in 1965 while they were performing a concert Wurlitzer in Omaha. at the First Congregational Church in Worcester, Mass. Both Although busy with his own professional duties, Beaupre the professor and his wife fell in love with the magnificent, kept one amateur ear open for organ sounds. None were romantic instrument. They also discovered that the famous forthcoming. He made inquiries. The University of Rhode "Old South Church" was slated for demolition, and that the Island had no resident organist at that time, and no one was Moller (vintage 1932) organ would be up for sale. allowed to play the instrument until a University Organ Com­ Ward and Barbara returned to the University determined mittee was formed to set policy for its use. It should come to get the instrument for U.R.I. if at all possible. Fortunately, as no surprise that Professor Beaupre found himself appointed there were friends in high places who were willing to listen. to the new Organ Committee. He also discovered that movies A generous gift from Mrs. Bertha R. M. Sperry ( Class of were shown in Edwards Auditorium every Friday through 1916) assured the success of the project. The Moller-Austin Sunday sponsored by Student Activities. The idea that sud­ became University property in 1966 and all of the chests, denly took shape was as simple as it was inevitable: Why not actions, reservoirs, and reed pipes were shipped to the M. P. use the organ before the weekend movies? Moller factory in Hagerstown, Md., for rebuilding and re­ The Director of Student Activities at U.R.I., Bob Rainville, voicing. liked the idea instantly. Movie attendance had been poor in While all this was taking place, architects were redesign­ spite of excellent film bookings. Perhaps a live organ concert ing Edwards Auditorium to accommodate the four chambers would help. Rainville and Beaupre agreed to comb the of pipes (2993 in all) and percussions. An elevator lift was campus for an organist who could or would be willing to try the experiment. No volunteers. The two men were forced Dr. Walter Beaupre at the four manual console of the mammoth Moller to a moment of truth. organ in Edwards Auditorium. From top to bottom: Solo, Swell, Great and Choir manuals. There are 123 stop tabs, 244 keys, 32 pedals, 50 presets, "Walt, unless you're willing to take on the playing assign­ 17 toe studs and 4 presets for special effects. ment yourself, we're stumped!" said Rainville. Until that moment Dr. Beaupre hadn't faced such a prospect. He was only an amateur organ enthusiast who enjoyed his own "plug-in" at home. True, he had made dozens of theater organ tapes on the Wurlitzer in Omaha for his ATOE buddy Stanley Gross. He had also played a few organ club concerts - enough to convince him that he did not enjoy "making a fool of myself" in public. Furthermore, he hadn't touched the keyboard of the Moller-Austin nor examined the stop tabs carefully. With all those pipes there ought to be a theater sound somewhere, - but he wasn't sure. The Professor took a deep breath and replied to Bob Rain­ ville's challenge this way: "Let me work out on the organ for a week or so in my spare time. If I can come up with a theater sound that pleases me I'll give it the old college try."

16 Dr. Beaupre paid his first solo visit to the Austin console Before long Dr. Beaupre became convinced that the late one night in March. The cleaning crew had left, and Moller-Austin had only one serious liability as a potential Edwards Auditorium was dark and empty. He found a work theater organ, his own capabilities as a musician. He in­ light and began to explore. sisted that his "Mini-Concerts" began without announcement First he looked for signs of unification ( the ability to play or fanfare of any kind. Whoever came to the movie a little selected ranks of pipes on any manual). The only actual uni­ early would simply find the organ playing with "somebody" fication involved the percussions and pedal organ. This lack seated at the console. The lift could not be operated from of unification might have ended the project then and there, the console, so one of the ushers was assigned the job of except that there were plenty of couplers and a superb array raising the console 7: 15 and lowering it at 7:30. No spot­ of preset buttons. The four swell shoes could be placed on lights. No introductions for tunes. No milking applause. master control in any combination. This Austin console was Just theater music. virtually a computer! As he auditioned the individual ranks of pipes in the Choir organ his spirits brightened. The Clarinet proved to be an incredibly fine solo instrument and the flutes and strings were lush and full. The Harp and Celesta blended nicely with all ranks but were strong enough to serve as solo instruments or as rhythm accompaniment on their own. The largest and small­ est pipes in the great The Great organ chamber offered new delights. Although chamber. Dr. Beaupre the Tromba was disappointing as a solo instrument, the Sec­ shows that the speak­ ond Diapason, Harmonic Flute and Gamba in combination ing part of the small­ produced a gorgeous theater sound. Trems were perfect - est is no bigger than and on a "straight" organ this was almost too good to be true. his fingernail while the Double Diapasons The Swell chamber provided the greatest thrill. Beaupre are almost two feet has a weakness for masses of strings, and there they were. in diameter and up The Reeds were fantastic with as nice a Vox, Oboe and to 16 feet tall. French Trumpet as one could find anywhere. In the Solo chamber were still more good strings and flutes along with a wild Cor D'Amour. Throughout all the chambers was a standing army of diapasons that would blend perfectly or support any effect.

Were the "Mini-Concerts" an immediate roaring success? No, they were not. At first the students greeted the innovation with polite surprise or total indifference. Six weeks went by. By this time a few students' became suspicious that these organ concerts were a "put on" by the Establishment and began to make smart remarks, sail paper airplanes and even pitch pennies. At the same time, however, people began to arrive early and regularly for the organ music. Dr. Beaupre began to have mixed feelings about the whole project. He knew that his playing was improving and he couldn't figure out the reason for the open hostility. Of course, the students had no way of knowing that he had refused to accept payment for his services. The money for the concerts was allocated at his request to a special fund to provide professional concerts for the students. Gratitude he didn't expect - but open hostility was something else! Then it happened. One night during the summer he worked up a special arrangement of Exodus. The audience liked it, so he filed it away for use at another time. When the regular college year resumed in the fall, the hostile group returned to the movies. Quite by accident Dr. Beaupre had schedul~d Exodus as the finale for the first "Mini-Concert" of the new school year. The students didn't know this because Vox Humana in rhe swell chamber is enclosed in a wooden resonating the programs were never announced. All during the opening chamber. George Kebt, U.R.I. organist in residence, inspects a ciphering reed. selections the hostile group set up a chant. "Play Exodus!" "We want Exodus!" The professor became increasingly Then began the exciting safari to find the right ensemble more annoyed as the minutes wore on. Finally he turned to combinations. Dr. Beaupre says his first attempts were frus­ the noisy group, held up his hands for silence and said with trating. Every time he massed too many ranks in one chamber a forced grin, "I thought you'd never ask!" He then turned the sound became overpoweringly "church-like." The ultimate back to the console and tore into Exodus. His arrangement solution was to spread the ensemble combinations carefully called for a slow buildup to a strong climax, and then a throughout the four chambers with judicious use of 16, 8, wistful fade. But the closer he got to the climax the more and 4 foot couplers. Happily, the acoustics of the small audi­ determined he became to make this his Swan Song. At the torium cre.ated a rich blend which was never muddy. It was climax he kept right on adding ranks of pipes until the effect possible, for example, to combine the Harp in the Choir was deafening. Before the last crashing dissonance the entire chamber with the Clarabella in the Solo chamber - over student audience rose up out of their seats for a wild standing fifty feet apart - into one unique sound. ovation.

17 theatre organ Looking back on the incident Dr. Beaupre now admits love for theater pipes, he must learn to interpret the melodies "Actually their generous response had me thoroughly con­ and moods of the NOW generation. The theater pipe organ fused. I wasn't sure who had won what." Only gradually did with all of its versatility - and no built in pretentions - is it dawn on him that the students had taught him a very im­ the perfect instrument for closing the "generation gap" in portant lesson. It's a lesson that every pro knows from the musical tastes. beginning. Only amateurs have to learn it the hard way. Right now, the students at the University of Rhode Island The lesson can be stated very simply: If you have the audacity know that they have a magnificent Moller-Austin pipe organ to play before the public, forget about your own limitations on campus and they come to hear it. It's a good beginning! as an amateur and play what the public wants to hear. Music is like conversation: the man who insists upon discussing only □ those topics which interest himself - no matter how brilliant Incidentally, the Moller-Austin is only three hours drive he may be - is a conversational bore. The amateur organist from New York City and the heart of a fabulous resort area. who insists upon playing only those tunes which interest him­ Maybe some of the convention visitors would like to junket self - no matter how well he plays them - is a musical bore. up to Rhode Island to work out on the instrument. I will be Dr. Beaupre believes that there will always be a place for here in July and could arrange an invitation. Oh yes, train theater organ nostalgia, those superb performances of "good service from New York City to West Kingston via Penn. old tunes" by great artists. But he is also firmly convinced Central is excellent - bus service via Shore Line also. that as an enthusiastic amateur who wants others to share his -Walter J. Beaupre

SEQUEL To their dismay, the current to the ma­ chine had been turned off for the night. Therefore, to quench their thirst, they The Boyd Kimball'sMove to Wilmington strung a 110 volt cable along the street by Don and "K" to the machine and all had a coke. Excitement ran high in the area of In January reinstallation of the pneu­ Wilmington, Delaware, as work was matics began; in February , Mr. Duddy completed on the installation of a and T.O.S.D.V. members began voic­ three manual, nineteen rank Kimball ing, tuning, and deciding what parts Pipe Organ in the John Dickinson High of the organ could be used for the con­ School, 1801 Milltown Road. cert. There were many, many interested The organ, which was first heard on people who donated their time and tal­ Christmas Day, 1928, was recently re­ ents out of pure interest. moved from the Boyd Theatre, Phila­ On the morning of the concert, Feb­ delphia, through the efforts of Robert ruary 22, the lift was still inoperative. E. Dilworth, Audio-Visual Coordinator Don Stott and Dick Kroft worked all at the high school. day rewiring the complete control Dilworth first heard in June, 1968, mechanism and were finally able to get about the offer of the RKO-Stanley it to work. Just in case, students were Warner Corporation to give to public standing by, prepared to crank up the institutions those pipe organs which console by hand. At midnight, Larry were lying silent and in the dark cham­ Bob Dilworth working on stop tabs of the console. Ferrari was seated at the console, not bers of their movie houses. With the sure whether or not the lift would re­ consent of the school officials he wrote hers did not leak. The console, painted member to stop. A tremendous debt of to Walter Froehlich, the representative a hideous blue, had been protected un­ gratitude is owed to Larry for his gra­ of the theater chain. At first Walt of­ der a plywood floor. Although all com­ ciousness and fortitude in giving the fered an organ in a theater on Long bination actions and pneumatics were concert. The odds were almost insur­ Island, but when this became involved inoperative, it was in satisfactory . con­ in legal complications, he suggested mountable to anyone but an artist of dition. his ability. He had not practiced on that the school could have the Kimball After much discussion, it was decided at the Boyd Theater. the organ with the swell shades work­ to try for a farewell concert at the ing. No combination actions were On November 5, Dilworth visited the Boyd before removing the organ. Dur­ working and very few of the softer organ for the first time and the follow­ ing Thanksgiving Vacation recondition­ solo stops could be heard through the ing Saturday he, Froehlich and Brant ing was started. A crew of eleven stu­ heavily plastered grills and the heavy Duddy, a pipe organ builder and serv­ dents and Mr. Dilworth began cleaning, drapes covering them. iceman, turned on the instrument to releathering, fixing as many air leaks as assess its condition. It played, although possible, pulling out exposed pneumat­ Nevertheless, Larry, well-known in it had been silent since the late thirties ics and shade pneumatics, and fixing the Philadelphia area through his tele­ and the beautiful sound of its pipes damaged pipes. Work sessions ran from vision show on WFIL-TV, gave a convinced them that the endeavor midnight to 8:00 a.m. each Friday and memorable concert. The audience of would be worthwhile. The solo cham­ Saturday night, including most of more than 600 enthusiastic people in­ ber, on the left, was intact with no Christmas vacation. The crew, which cluded twb former staff organists at the damaged pipes, but the shades had had at this time dwindled to seven Boyd, Buddy Bonds and Esther Hig­ been damaged as scaffolding for the members, worked feverishly to com­ gins. The concert ended with "Auld cinerama screen had been attached to plete the Herculean task. During one Lang Syne" and, through misty eyes, the basic instrument. The main cham­ of these early morning sessions, around the audience watched as the console ber, on the right, had suffered the ef­ 3:00 a.m., the crew, not content with sank from sight, never to rise for an­ fects of careless workmen who had the water fountains at the theater, dis­ other concert at the Boyd Theatre. trampled the pipes. There was evidence covered that the nearest coke machine Removal of the organ began in of water damage, although the cham- was a block away, at a service station. March and continued through April.

june 1970 18 All parts of the solo division came Penna., who has generously donated through a trap door and down a 15' his time. He has 80 organs under main­ ladder. The niain chamber was more tenance contract and furthermore he difficult. All but the piano, chests, re­ builds and rebuilds pipe organs. Mr. lays and switches came through the Duddy is the representative for Austin trap door; these five pieces required Organs in an area encompassing Balti­ a bit of engineering. In order to remove more, Scranton and Philadelphia. them, a brick wall between the cham­ The driving force behind this huge ber and the adjacent blower room was project, Bob Dilworth, a graduate of torn down. The relay and switch stack, Bucknell University, has been inter­ which weighed a total of 1700 pounds, ested in organ since childhood. In had to be removed as a tandem unit 1958, his high school friend, Duddy, in order not to cut the five-foot con­ allowed him to work for a summer, necting cable of 10,000 wires. It took cleaning and overhauling an eleven­ 30 people (15 students and 15 adults) rank Moller. He then began an installa­ five hours to remove these five pieces. tion in his home of a 14-rank Haskell The only damage during the removal removed from a church and has be­ occurred to a tuba reed block which come hopelessly addicted. was dropped 25 feet. The only missing parts, not yet found, were two supports Now that the installation of the Kim­ for an offset chest. The entire removal ball is completed it is of interest to was completed by April 30, one day musicians and to the general public. before the theatre's deadline. In all it An exciting feature of this installation required 15 trips between Wilmington is a second Kimball organ being readied and Philadelphia, using a 6x14-foot Bob Wilhelm wiring the switch stack. for the stage. It has four ranks of its trailer and a station wagon. own and in addition will be connected peted with carols from the auditorium to the main organ. Plans for the Dick­ The organ was stored in the base­ P.A. as a four-foot pit was created in inson Organ include its use as an ment and stage workshop of the high front of the stage to hold the console. integral part in school activities as well school and reconditioning began im­ The crew, with great camaraderie, set as for concerts by well-known artists. mediately. Each part was washed and up a Christmas Tree in one of the The Kimball is now available to all wooden parts were shellacked. Most chambers to welcome Mr. Duddy who civic groups, organ clubs and indi­ leathers which had not been checked came to voice and tune the pipes. viduals wishing to practice pipe organ for the concert were replaced. Car­ Of the students in the crew, Peter technique. penters started immediately making Wool is the most experienced organist. changes in the auditorium; ventilating Those involved with the restoration Bob Wilhelm is in charge of wiring, shafts were relocated , and extensive can sit back contentedly, forgetting Gary Connor is the all-around handy structural changes were made to create about aching muscles, burned fingers, the main organ chamber on the left and man, and Ernest Redfield is the strong irritated wives and parents, late dinners the solo chamber on the right. man of the crew. His muscles were and missed lunches. They also can for­ put to good use breaking the brick wall get the people who said, "It can't be Of the $10,000 budget allowed by and a concrete floor. The only girl in done. It' s not worth it. Spend the the school board , $8500 was spent to the crew, Debbie Gartley, was active money elsewhere, who wants a pipe locate the chambers at the front rather through July. organ? " As the lights go down and than at the rear of the 1184-seat audi­ Of invaluable assistance has been the voices of the past begin to sing torium . This left only $1500 for remov­ Mr. Brant Duddy , a Music Education again , they can say, with pride, "An­ ing and reconditioning the organ. The graduate of West Chester State College , other one has been rescued." D school board asked to be reimbursed from the proceeds of future concerts. Installation began July 4th and through continued efforts of many people the basic instrument was set up by Labor Day . Even the Principal and Vice Prin­ cipal were pressed into service to pull the ropes lifting the heavy relay and switch stack , piano and chests into the chambers. From Labor Day through Christmas , work slowed somewhat because school was in session and the work schedule included only Saturday. Also, the crew at this time numbered only four. Dur­ ing the last part of November and early December , several adults from the community helped as their schedule permitted. The Crew worked feverishly through Christmas vacation wiring the console and positioning air ducts. On Christmas Eve, the sound of Jack-Hammers com- Dave Mudruch and Bob Dilworth working on organ pit.

19 theatre organ · CHICAGO TRIBUNE - SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 1970 Theatre Organ Revival Is More Than Nostalgia by Thomas Willis (Reprinted, Courtesy of The Chicago Tribune)

The men from the Chicago Associa­ celerating race - duplicated last week EDITORS NOTE: A real boost for tion of Theatre Organ Enthusiasts who - where the organist plays faster at the theatre organ was obtained when worked long volunteer stints during each repetion of "Casey Would Waltz" Feature Writer Thomas Willis took the Oriental's dark hours may have and the slides replace more and more over the task of explaining to the public what ATOS is all about in been doing it for the love of tinkering. words with blanks? reviewing the Lee Erwin program Any pipe organ has plenty to delight The important point in such cases is at Chicago's Oriental Theatre re­ the mechanically dexterous in its crowd­ not that we are being manipulated, but cently. ed, dusty chambers. Replacing anti­ that we are surrendering a little control, Mr. Willis is to be complimented on his insight as to our purpose, and quated wiring and cracked leather bel­ loosening a few bonds, playing as a goal. lows and gaskets can be fun. The two group. And that we are doing this in men with flashlights hunting for a the same room where we have been There Lee Erwin sat last week at the sticking pipe valve while Mr. Erwin lending our fee1ings to the fantasy Oriental Theatre's "mighty Wurlitzer," was playing must have had quite a world of the silent movies, a world playing from slides of "Clang, Clang, sonorous trip behind those flapping where visual forms and musical sounds Clang Went the Trolley," "Always," shutters. are primary and where words and re­ "Deep in the He:irt of Texas," and * * * ferential sounds are kept to a mini­ "T 4 2." Some of the enthusiasts cherish their mum. Before that, there had been an old­ reconstructed "monsters" as an antique Every minute of a "movie palace" fashioned two-reeler, "Crazy Like a car owner does his Deusenberg. They performance in the pre-sound track Fox," with Charlie Chase as the tem­ delight in showing off the castanets, days united the living present with the porarily insane playboy. At one point, double xylophones, oogah horn, cym­ canned and arc-lit past. No one could Mr. Chase borrowed an alarm clock, bal, drum roll, thunder sheet, and other escape completely. The distant hero on one of those old-fashioned kind with motorized percussions. They lovingly the screen was complemented by the the bell on top, and placed in on the refinish exteriors, sometimes approach­ local man at the keyboard. He might floor. His foot was asleep, of course, ing the carnival splendor of the Orien­ not be as dexterous as his successor in and he was waking it up. When the tal 's red and gold console, tasseled seat, the audio studio. His reinforcement alarm went off, the visible sound was and bas-relief fire-birds. They give con­ might leave a lot to be desired on sev­ rendered audible by a ding-a-ling of a certs for their friends, film "bouncing eral levels. But he was indubitably bell high in the organ chamber on the ball" songs with their super-cameras, present and part of the rite. right. and help one another with the more Today we are faced with an elec­ Later, there were 72 minutes of Ru­ difficult installation jobs in much the tronic information barrage of lethal dolph Valentino's "The Eagle" with Mr. same spirit that our rural ancestors dimensions. Background music lulls Erwin's newly composed accompani­ "raised" barns. Like the partisans of our musical sensibilities into lethargy. ment. Rushing winds, super-stereo the whooping crane, they are deter­ The transistor and the stereo set have piped strings, vibrant with tremolo, and mined preservationists. made listening a private act, to be en­ the syrupy "Tibia" sound characteristic But those who are seeking to restore joyed by family or friends. Churches of theatre organs everywhere washed theatre organs, learn the music, and and concert halls have backed them­ over the audience in waves. save a few of the period palaces are on selves into socio-cultural corners, taking Mr. Erwin knows his stuff. All those to something which may be exception­ their music along. years on "Moon River" - remember, ally important. It may have been a The rock palaces have the best of it, old timers, those midnight love poems press agent who called them "mighty with their open floors, contagious in­ from Cincinnati's then-powerful radio Wurlitzers," but the adjective was not formality, and easy access to the high station WL W? - and the Arthur God­ mere hyperbole. The name of the game level sound. But even rock remains frey shows add up. As the Pushkin tale for the theatre organist was power - aloof. Its audience either listens or on which "The Eagle" was based un­ sound power pure and simple; the dances. The one can be an alienated wound, every spoonful of courtly mush power of shared reactions and fanta­ sensual trip, the other a silent com­ and pungent Russian treacle was homo­ sies, and the therapeutic, joyful power munication of exhibited muscles. The genized. which sweeps thru a group of strangers souped-up machines and would-be The runaway troika went from left as they unite in a single, trusting action. supermen onstage may be blowing our to right, then receded in the distance, This action can be as simple and as senses loose from their moorings. But but the hoofbeats were in the pulse, not complex as the singing of a partly what power there is, belopgs only to the sound of the score. Like the best of familiar song. Mr. Erwin leading "Al­ them. the film scores of the vanishing sym­ ways" and Arlo Guthrie bringing us The silent movie and its accompany­ phonic era, Mr. Erwin's kept sound all in on the "Alice's Restaurant" ing organist are as necessary a blend of effects minimal. And because he is chorus are doing the same thing. But fantasy, sight, sound, machine, and par­ good and silent film is the remarkable Mr. Guthrie depends on our memories. ticipating public as any we have today. medium it is, nobody missed voices at Mr. Erwin offers the added security We need all the mighty Wurlitzers we all. blanket of slides and animated verbal can save, not just to remind us how I think it is high time we acknowl­ segments. He and his slide-maker can lucky our fathers were, but to show our edged that there is a lot more than manipulate us to a degree. Games are sons and daughters what direction to nostalgia behind the reviving interests possible. Remember those "who can take with their synthesizers and hyped­ in the theatre organs. sing louder?" sing-a-longs? Or the ac- up guitars.

june 1970 20 Now Playing. Thrill to the authentic sounds of the new Conn 3-Manual Theatre Organ. Now showing at a Conn dealer near you

Accompaniment Great Tremolo General Chiff Rhythm Section Pedal Bass Drur:1 Snare Roll Tuba 16' Tuba 8' Tuba 16' Clarion 4' General Trem. L Master Express Pedal Chiff Diapason 16' Octave 4' General Trem. F External Speakers Off Chiff Crash CvnJ,ul Snare Drum Diaphor.e 16' Diapason 8' I Cc'.lO•J 0·1.::,. Br:1s'1 Cv:11:::al l;lourdon 16' Tibia 8' Tibia 16' Tibia4' Tibia Leslie Tre1:c. Console Speakers G:: Tibia 1 II T1ck--Tcd: Si,ort Brcsh CelloS' Scft Strn,g 16' Soft String 4' Tibia Leslie Celeste Phantcm Bass (Ofi 011 Tiiu String Bass Claves Bongo Drt1r.: Sustain Periol Echo Horn 8' Vox Hur..ana 16' NazcHd 2 2 3' Solo Fun-Master T clni~- :J'~::it:e iv1Jr:ualCi·. 1ie Octave 4' Brass Trumpet 8' Tibia 2' Bombrde 16' Solo Percuss. Off On Tibia S' Cac:t1:,et R':yt,,r:. F Accomp. Tibia 4' Oboe Horn 8' Fife I' Tuba 16' Sele Per :lrss. S~crt LcLq Scclo Per;'uss . P1zz Rer-eat to Pedal 8' Violina 4' Diapason 8' Kinurc 16' Horn 4' Tibia 8' Tibia JG' ~- !u T1i-1aRe,;eat L!f C•, Piccolo 2' Viole De Ord·. 8' E11q.Pest Horn S' :;,s (Rpt. Speed T. Whl.1 Soft String 8' Clar111et S' Vex Humana 8' Orch. Oboe 2: Sax 8 1 Tibia 8' Quint 5 1 3' ConnOrgan Tioia 4' Ch1n:e Harr!~onic GIG Enterprise Drive, Ouk Brook, Illinois 60521 ists was held in New York on Septem­ GOLD DUST: 2/ 18, Organists AR­ ber 21 at the Magna Chordia Studios THUR DEPEW, UDA WALDROP, where there is a 3-manual organ. All ARTHUR G. ROBYN, and PROF. candidates passed, and the class aver­ FIRMIN SWINNEN have been se­ age was 83%. Examining Board includ­ lected to assist S. M. Rothapfel in ed FIRMIN SWINNEN, Chairman; operating the Rivoli and Rialto thea­ JOHN D. M. PRIEST, EDWARD tres ... 7 /19, RALPH H. BRIGHAM NAPIER, HAROLD OSBORNE & HERBERT SISSON at the Strand ... SMITH and WALTER WILD. Exams 8/ 19, GEORGE C. CROOK at the will be held every 3 months and a fee Rialto ... 5/21, FREDERICK M. of $10 is charged. SMITH at the Strand . . . 7 / 21, Organ­ ists and musicians in all leading theatres Dec. 1922 (D) The Society of Thea­ in New York went on strike August 6 tre Organists had its Halloween Party, when managers reduced salaries 20% October 31 in the Haven Studios at ... 1/22, DR. PERCY J. STARNES midnight. ROBERT BERENTSEN, & RALPH S. BRAINARD at the RUTH BARRETT and E. C. HAVENS Strand ... 7/22, DR. MELCHIORRE were in charge of the event. FRANK MAURO-COTTONE at the Capitol's S. ADAMS, in a humorous talk, con­ Estey . . . 8/ 22, OTTO F. BECK at Prospected by Lloyd E. Klos vulsed his audience by repeatedly fall­ the Rialto ... 6/23, During the week ing off the stage. of May 6 at the Rialto, C. SHARP This month, Jason and I salute New Nov. 1923 (D) Consolidated Or­ MINOR offered a travesty on the "Poet York City, ATOE's 1970 Convention chestra Booking Exchange of New and Peasant Overture" ... 8/ 23, SIG­ Metropolis, with the entire column de­ York has a department for motion pic­ MUND KRUMGOLD back at the voted to that city's theatre organ past. ture organists. At present, it is so Rialto ... 10/23, HOWARD A. References were Diapason ( D), Jacobs flooded with calls for organists, it can't MURPHY subbing at Brooklyn Strand (J), and Metronome (Met.). fill the demand. The office is in charge ... 1/24, HAROLD RAMSBOTTOM at the Rivoli . . . 2/ 24, CARL K. Mc­ June 1916 (Met.) S. L. Rothapfel's of Bert E. Williams, who has had 10 years' experience in this field. KINLEY assistant organist at the new Rialto Theatre, which opened in a Capitol ... 9/24, JOHN PRIEST at blaze of glory on April 22, boasts the Oct. 1924 (D) Erno Rapee has edited the Cameo ... 10/24, HERBERT F. largest pipe organ ever installed in a a book for theatre organists, "The En­ SPRAGUE doing sub work at the theatre. There are 4,500 pipes, ranging cyclopedia of Music for Pictures," con­ Folly, City and Audubon; JOHN HAM­ from 32-footers to lead pencil size. Th e taining over 400 classifications. Three MOND at the 4/28 M&C in the Pic­ Austin Organ Co. of Hartford, Conn., years in compiling, it lists 8,000 compo­ cadilly . . . 12/ 24, MARSH Mc­ installed the instrument, and the organ­ sitions , divided into classifications and CURDY at Loew's Lexington ... 3/25, ists are Dr. ALFRED G. ROBYN and characters. LEE WOODBURY at the Brooklyn EDWIN JOHNSON. The 30-piece or­ Albee ... 5/25, SIGMUND KRUM­ chestra is directed by Hugo Riesen/ eld. Dec. 1924 (D) The $60,000 Marr & Colton in the Piccadilly Theatre is at­ GOLD & ALEXANDER RICHARD­ June 1916 (Met.) At the Strand , the tracting a lot of attention. The 4/ 28 SON at the Rialto's Wurlitzer . . . organ is used considerably with the or­ instrument features a mahogany con­ 10/ 25, J. ARTHUR GEIS, OLIVER chestra for the building of special cli­ sole on an elevator. There are 33 com­ STRUNK, C. HERBERT MacAHAN maxes or for scenes in which the organ bination pistons, plus 8 pistons to oper­ & ALEXANDER RICHARDSON tak­ tone is needed. Solo use of the organ ate the traps. Herbert Henderson and ing turns at the Rialto ... 1/ 26, VERA is always restricted to the so-called Paul H. Forster are the current or­ KITCHENER at Loew's Lincoln "supper show" when the orchestra is ganists . Square Theatre ... 2/26, DOROTHY out; at other times, it may be used for SILETT at the Park in Long Island, 15 minutes to give the orchestra a Feb. 1926 (D) Wurlitzer sales rec­ N. Y .... 3/ 26, MARION TELLER at breathing spell, but never longer. First ords indicate an intense struggle for the Miracle ... 4/26 , ROBERT SOF­ organist is ARTHUR DEPEW. supremacy in theatre organs between FER at the Cosmo . . . 5 I 26 HENRY Chicago and New York. More orders July 1918 (Met.) The Symphony B. MURTAGH at the Rivoli ... 7/26, have come from Chicago in the past MARGARET FRENCH at the 3-man­ Theatre, newly opened for mov ing pic­ year than from any other city. Nin e tures, is making music an important ual Moller at Loew 's 83rd & Broadway organs will be installed there this year. feature of its programs. A 52-piece or­ Four are 3-manual organs, and the re­ Theatre; LLOYD G. DEL CASTILLO chestra plays symphonic and popular mainder are 4-manual ones. at the Rialto ... 9/27, LEW WHITE , music. HAROLD OSBORNE SMlTH DESZO VON D'ANTALFFY & C. A. Dec. 1926 (J.) HENRY B. MUR­ plays the organ, which is claimed to be J. PARMENTIER manning the triple­ TAGH at New York's Rivoli , is luring valued at $20,000. console Kimball at the Roxy; The 99 ½ % of his audience to sing with June 1921 ( J) An organist and a his organ numbers. Strand is renovating its beautiful , but 12-man orchestra provide the music for rather antiquated Austin. WALTER the Sunday and Holiday vaudeville Sept. 1927 (J) JESSE CRAWFORD KIDD is chief organist; Brooklyn is making as many friends at the New shows at Brooklyn's Academy of Music . Strand installing a new Kimball for York Paramount as he did in Chicago . Oct. 1921 (J) At Fay 's Theatre (for­ One of his most effective bits a few solo work. GEORGE CROOK and merly the Knickerbocker), an orchestra weeks ago consisted of a couple songs WALTER LITT accompany the pic­ plays two performances daily , while an with slides in his inimitable manner, and tures; HERBERT SISSON at the Ri­ organist does the intermediary show then he introduced on stage, at a sec­ voli's Wurlitzer. from 5 to 8 p.m. ond console, MRS. CRAWFORD. That should do it until August . So Nov. 1921 (Met.) The first examin­ Lighting was soft and artistic, blending long, sourdoughs! ation of the Society of Theatre Organ- with the music. - Lloyd & Jason

jun e 1970 22 ) ;.. •

AMERICAN THEATRE ORGAN SOCIETY FABULOUS FIFTEENTH ANNUAL CONVENTION JULY 11-17, 1970 NEW YORK CITY CLAUD BECKHAM, CONVENTION CHAIRMAN 370 First Ave., 6f New York, N. Y. 10010 212 674-4328 TheFabulous Talent ! (in order of appearance)

BmM. HAll ...... "MR.CoNVENTION EMcEE" ASHLEYMILLER • , , • , , ••• , "ORCHESTRALOPULENCE FoROPENERS"

SEARL£WRIGHT I I I I I I I I I I "THEWONDER ANDWEALTH OFTHE WURLITZER"

AUE~MI llS I I I I I I I I I I "TRADIT IONS, TRENDS, AND TRIUMPHS" 11 FREDTULAJ~ I I I I I I I I I I "CATHEDRALCADENCE --WINCHESTER S1YLE JEFFPARKER . • • • • • , , , • '1"HE MA.NcuN IAN MANNER -- M® ANDfVbD"

DENNISJNB I I I I I I I I I I "PRODIGIOUSPRODIGY" LOWELLAYARS • • , • , , • , • • "V1RTL.Oso VoCALS w1TH Vax"

JERRYMB.JDELSON I I I I I I I I I "FLAME,FLASH, AND FLAIR"

RICHARDROffiERS I I I I I I I I I '1"HE o. K. OKIE"

MELROBINSON I I I I I I I I I I "ffll\INTAININGTHEMusic rv tL\CHINE"

OONKINNIER I I I I I I I I I I "PHENOMENALPHILADELPHIAN PHALANGES" CALVrnf-W ,1PTON• • • • • • • • • "THEMAJEsT1c MARCH oF MELODY"

j IrvMYPAULIN I I I I I I I I I I "GOTHAMGOSPEL"

ALLENMIlliR I I I I I I I I I I '1"HE WORKS -- HOI-J AND WHY" BIll Y NAU£ • , • , • , • , , • "MEMORABLEfvbDESFRavl A MA.STEROFMus Ic" THEWORTH/CROW DUO• , , • • • • , '1"wo FoRTHE Mus Ic"

ALLB~HUGHES I I I I I I I I I I "LEARNING FROM LISTEN ING"

LEEERWIN I I I I I I I I I I "CREATIVESOl.r.JDS FOR THE CLASSIC SILENTS"

00NPAKER I I I I I I I I I I '1"HE PRO OF THE PARN'lJUNT"

ROBERTPALfOUR/l£E ERWIN I I I I I "RECORDINGFORREAL" RICHARDLEIBERT • • • • • • • • • "GRANDvJURLITZER GRANDEE"

, and 1 1 3 at the Radio City Music Hall AFTERGLOW---

RAYBOHR I I I I I I I I I I '1"HEBIG SOUND --ON THE BIGGEST" 11 JACKWARD • , , , , , , • , , "SOPHISTI CATED STUD!0 S1YL1 NGS

JOHNH. JACKSON,JR, I I I I I I "BACKSTAGEBAEDEKER" * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * REGISTER~ ! ! REGISTER~ ! ! REGISTER00d. ! ! REGISTER~ ! ! has gone to some trouble to list many organs, the technical side of music and little-known Hope-Jones stops. For ex­ such interesting items as a chart show­ r:Bool1{ eview ample, did you ever hear of a "Hedeia­ ing a comparison of the major schools phone?" Neither did we. Steve describes of organ building - baroque, Ameri­ Dictionary of Electronic Organ Stops, it as a set of pitched gongs energized can classical and theatre. by jets of wind. Another example is by Stevens Irwin, published by G. It's an excellent book, one which is Pedal Orchestral Bells - at 8', 4', 2' Schirmer. List price $6.00. difficult to put down until read from and 1' pitches! It sets a reviewer to cover to cover. A TOSer Steve Irwin, already well­ wondering where such rare and exotic - Stu Green, Hollywood known for his previous instructional stops may be heard. books (especially his Dictionary of Pipe We couldn't find many omissions. We SEQUEL Organ Stops), has produced his best did note that there was no cross refer­ work yet in his effort to explain the ence to the Chrysoglott under "Harp." many terms used by electronic organ And apparently Steve isn't a ware that HereWe HaveIdaho manufacturers to enhance their stop­ the term "Baritone" is used on some lists. In his pipe organ stop dictionary, by N. R. Kelley Robert Mortons for a certain "fat" type Steve touched on theatre organ matters Lon Chaney, as the Phantom, Erik, of Diapason, although the practice is somewhat lightly. After all, he had to in Gaston Leroux's "Phantom of the not widespread. think of some stuffy characters in the Opera" held captive not only the beau­ straight organ field who would drop If there is a point with which we tiful understudy for Marguerite, in their uppers at the mention of the word disagree with Steve it's concerning the "Faust," the opera of the film, but "Kinura." And, let's face it, those in­ Diapason. He states that the Diapason approximately 1000 Moscow residents terested in straight organs out-number is the most important stop on any or­ and students during two showings of T. 0. fans becaus~ straight organs are gan. The statement is repeated and re­ this silent film classic at the University still being planned, built and sold. flected a number of times. It's true, of of Idaho, Friday, February 13, 1970. That's Steve's market. course , for church and concert organs, The University Auditorium echoed but not for theatre organs. There is the haunting strains of spooky music To one interested primarily in pipe performed by veteran theatre organist organs, why would a work about elec­ Lew Wells, of Bremerton, Washington, tronic organ stops be of interest? Irwin who played selections from the silent explains that in a point he drives home era before each performance. During again and again; all electronic organ his more than 40 years of experience voices attempt to imitate pipe voices. QUADis coming. as organist, he accompanied silent films So, following up on that premise, when in theatres throughout the Northwest he describes the tonality of a Tuba and at the end of the era performed as Horn, for example, does he attempt to concert artist and accompanist in the analyze all the Tuba Horn sounds on .Seattle area. After playing two 65- the various makes of plug-in? No, he much evidence denying this assumption. minute shows for an audience, new, for takes the easy and delightful way out Many theatre organs were built with the most part, to the Theatre Organ and and describes the pipe tonality from no Diapason. The majority of theatre silent film, Mr. Wells received a stand­ which the plug-in voice was derived. It organs which have them relegate the ing ovation ( critics of the standing ova­ is, in effect a "pop" version of Steve's Diapason to accompaniment chores. If tion take notice!). At the first perform­ pipe organ dictionary. Because the vast there is only one Diapason it is usually ance, University President Ernest Har­ majority of electronic organ owners are voiced softly to give substance, or tung dedicated the 2/ 6 Robert Morton uninhibited entertainment organ buffs, foundation, to the accompaniment stops as the Milburn Kenworthy Organ, in he casts off all restraint and discusses and located in the "main" chamber. If honor of its donor. theatre pipe organ stops openly, intel­ the organ is large enough to rate a Proceeds from the performances will ligently and completely; let the squares' second Diapason, it may be a fairly provide for improvement and mainte­ uppers fall where they may. The book loud "open" because silent films were nance of the Kenworthy Organ and covers straight organ stops also. well-spiked with religious themes and assist in the University's Fund for the Steve has an enjoyable time expound­ scenes in churches. Performing Arts Center. Assistant Di­ ing his theories, facts, and the relation­ We tend to agree with the late great rector of University Development, Ste­ ship of pipe sounds to those produced organist Tom Grierson who stated that ven Harrison, states that future concerts by, say "en chamade" speakers. Some­ the Tibia is the foundation stop of the are planned, but the major problem is times he forgets to substitute the word theatre organ. And no less an authority finding an organist. (Why not encour­ "speaker" for "pipe"; it happens often than Judd Walton has written that a age music students to learn Theatre enough to make the pipe enthusiastic Tibia is the stop that "makes" a theatre Organ Techniques via a special course almost forget that it's a book intended organ. The Diapason has its role, but in the curriculum?) primarily for those interested in plug-in on the theatre organ it's a subordinate Said Dr. Floyd Peterson, Chairman organs. He usually "Draws" a stop in­ one. of the Department of Music, "The The­ stead of "switching" it on. atre Organ and its repertoire represent There is necessarily some duplica­ an important part of America's musical The book contains much pipe organ tion of information in the pipe and heritage. We are very fortunate in hav­ lore in addition to the definitions of electronic organ dictionaries but there ing this installation at the University voices. Steve is free in this volume to is also much information in the new and in being able to experience this art discuss the contributions to the organ­ book which was not in the previous form." building art of Robert Hope-Jones and book. There are "how to" chapters e.g. A standing ovation to the University his stable of tonal experts (he even cor­ "How to Accompany on the Organ", of Idaho and the Department of Music rectly credits James H. Nuttall with the tips on "How to Play Pedals." Also for their outstanding job in furthering development of the Kinura). In fact he chapters on the mechanical aspects of the Renaissance of the Theatre Organ!

june 1970 24 NEWS FROM THE AtlantaFox Mighty Mo' In Educational RoleGREENFIELD GARDEN Members will recall our oasis in by Joe Patten piano on its own 18-foot lift at the Greenfield, Mass., the Garden Theatre, center of the orchestra pit. This in­ which houses the 3/ 9 Marr & Colton The Atlanta Fox Theatre's 4/ 42 formative production bit was well Moller pioneered a new field of theatre restored by the late Allen Strauss and received and whetted interest for the other members. Wondering what had organ interests on Saturday, February music to follow. 28, when a special concert was pre­ become of the most Northern theatre sented under the title "A Children's The concert was clearly geared to organ in New England (in a theatre), Morning at the Fabulous Fox." The the musical interest of the younger set, John Angevine, Ben Hall and Al Miller concept was jointly developed by Wil­ with songs of the Beatles, Tijuana recently checked in on the instrument. bur-Kincy Theatres City Manager, Jim Brass, Glen Campbell, and some of the The theatre is under new manage­ Demos; Joe Patten, organ technician top items from the Hot 100 Hit Charts. ment which is very sympathetic toward for the Mighty Mo'; and Bob Van Joe Patten and the Fox stage crew had the organ. We were pleased to find that Camp, Fox house organist for the past worked hard and long to get the Fox Hugh Sears, a student at Greenfield eight years. lighting equipment in prime condition Community College, and local resident The presentation was billed as a full and rainbows of light cascaded from practices on the organ for about two morning's entertainment with Bob Van the light bridge and balcony spots of hours daily, which has kept the grem­ Camp's organ concert offered in com­ the Moorish castle interior of the 40- lins of disuse out of the mechanisms. year-old Atlanta landmark. bination with a movie slanted for the Two weekends have been spent re­ younger audience, "Jack The Giant Audience enthusiasm remained high, pairing bass pipes, curing ciphers and Killer." On-screen promotion was used Van Camp kept the children's attention dead stops, ·and silencing banging swell as well as newspaper advertising and with both music and interesting talk shutters. The organ was also tuned and radio-TV promotion. about the history of movie palaces in the reeds regulated and cleaned. (Some The big question was how much general and the Fox in particular, and of the ceiling ·plaster had fallen on the response would such a venture be likely after nearly 40 minutes there was roar­ chests due to a roof leak.) to elicit. The answer came the Satur­ ing applause as the concert portion of Future plans are to replace broken day morning of the show, when over the program ended and the console contacts in the swell pedals, add the 16' 4,000 were lined up for blocks to get sunk out of sight. Diaphone, which is in the theatre but into the Atlanta showcase movie palace. not installed, and do some adjusting in By concert time the lines outside were Following the intermission Bob Van the console. still long and the performance had to Camp's star student brought up the be delayed by 20 minutes. Over 500 console and played the introduction The organ is well designed, fun to had to be turned away. The audience music before the feature film. Fourteen­ play, and sounds excellent in the thea­ was composed mainly of children but year-oJd Robbie Irvin, making his first tre. It is an unusual instrument in that a goodly number of parents as well as appearance to play a full solo spot the Viole Celeste was omitted from the older enthusiasts were among those made a tremendous hit with the aud­ specifications and an English Post Horn present. ience. He performed like an old pro, included, making the organ real jazzy. working the organ elevator controls by -Al Miller As the great golden console rose himself, making his own announcement from the pit, Bob Van Camp played on the microphone, and taking the giant phrases of "Talk to the Animals" first organ through its paces with great on one section of the organ, then an­ aplomb. other, with the house darkened and GET THE GUYS spotlights guiding the children's atten­ Comments on the entire venture has TO VOCALIZE tion to the chambers from which the been excellent and the Fox Theatre sound was coming. This led to a "trip plans repeat "Children's Mornings" WITH"SING-ALONG SONG SLIDES"!! through the organ" with Van Camp every three months. Here is a real Send for National's FREE Catalog explaining the five chambers, then chance to educate a new generation to of all-time hit songs-for as low demonstrating the sounds in each with the sound of theatre organ and in as 50¢ a tune. Projectors too. "in-chamber" lighting visible through Atlanta it's being seized as one way to the swell shades. The "trip" was cli­ serve the cause of keeping the movie N4TIDNALson SLIDE SEBVICI INC. maxed by bringing up the golden grand palace alive and thriving. D 42 I. 48tbSt. NewYork, N.T. 10038

DON THOMPSON JOHN MURI Europe's leading Concert Organist Theatre Organ Concerts rapidly becoming America's busiest entertainer at the Theatre Organ 1735 BOSTON BOULEV ARD DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48206 3832 Alta Mesa Drive Studio City, Cal. 91604 (213) 769-8174 (313) 868-3322

25 theatre organ mention to Last Spring because it comes Starry Night (which has been carved from classical literature, and has been from Tchaikowsky's 6th Symphony) and pulled out of oblivion by an Eric Larsen the organist's theme, You Made Me who is becoming increasingly aware of Love You. William Walker's recording the musical treasures among the classics is good and Frank Hare's jacket notes which are perfect for theatre organ enlightening about artist and organ; an­ presentation. The Fantasy Impromptu other winner for Concert Recording - (if divested of an urge to chase rain­ and for Bryan Rodwell. bows) would fall into the same classifi­ * * * cation. Both are highly satisfying. WHEN DAY IS DONE, Jesse The Senate organ is a perfect facility Crawford at the pipe organ, Voca­ for the projection of the Larsen musi­ lion VL-73869, "simulated stereo," cality. It's his best yet. 98c to $1.98 at record dealers, However, the jacket is something drug stores and supermarkets. else. It does supply a stoplist for the Decca has gotten good mileage from Wurli, but in an attempt to expand the this set of tracks first released as 78s Manufacturers, distributors or individuals Larsen image, a foldout cover has been in the late '30s. They were reissued in sponsoring or merchandising theatre pipe adopted. The jacket is covered with the early LP days both as 10-inch LPs organ records are encouraged to send random notes and photos, some perti­ and some on 45 rpm. This Vocalion review pressings to THEATRE ORGAN nent, some not. But the overall result reissue clearly shows its age from the SOUTHWEST, Box 5013, Bendix Station, is no substitute for the whimsical, com­ technical viewpoint but it's a valuable No. Hollywood, Calif. 91605. Be sure prehensive ( and even entertaining) study of Crawford during his middle to include purchasing information, if notes supplied by Stu Green and Ben years. applicable. Hall for Larsen's earlier discs. With his days of glory on Broadway * * * GET HAPPY, Eric Lyn Larsen at * * * well behind him, the undisputed master ONCE AGAIN! Bryan Rodwell at of the theatre organ decided to study the Senate (Detroit) theater 4/34 the 3/19 Wurlitzer in the Odeon Wurlitzer. ERA-1007 (stereo). music! He had thus far been a self­ Theatre, Leeds, England. CR-0044 taught musician and knew his limita­ Available by mail at $5.00 post­ (Stereo). Available from Concert paid from Essential Records, Box tions. He wanted to know music theory, Recording, Box 531, Lynwood, harmony and orchestration, in order to 3304, Glendale, California 91201. California 90262, $4.50 postpaid We were a little less than enthusiastic apply his talents to music in a world (also available on 7½ ips 4-track without theatre organs. During this pe­ about Lyn's "People" release, mainly stereo tape at $5.95). because he mixed "mod" and traditional riod he had been working at NBC as theatre organ stylings, to the benefit of The Odeon Theatre opened as a a producer of variety musical shows neither. We like Lyn's treatment of both Paramount and the organ is a model and he saw an opportunity to do orches­ - but not on the same disc. sometimes called a "Balaban & Katz trations for radio, once he learned the This time it's Lyn at his traditional No. l" after the Chicago-based theatre tricks. So, in the late '30s he started best - all theatre organ in style. In chain for which the model was designed. studying with Schillinger, a teacher who fact we feel it's his best since "Intro­ Bryan Rodwell is a master of variety is supposed to have worked wonders ducing Lyn Larsen" and his slyly clever whether he's ladling out diaphonous with the talents of such dance band "Evening at Home." clouds of Misty or taking The Conti­ musicians as Glenn Miller, Billy May It's also Lyn's debut soloing on an nental apart like never before. Outside and Tommy Dorsey, to name a few. instrument much larger than used for of those, Mr. Rodwell's list of tunes The effects of Schillinger's influence most recording, most of which were avoids the obvious and over-played on Crawford's stylings can be heard played on the Bob Carson 3/26 Wur­ standards. His registration favors the clearly in this recording. In brief, the litzer. This time it's the 4/ 34 beast big organ sound with bright reed top­ teacher enhanced Crawford's subtlety owned by the Detroit Theater Organ ping but we get plenty of exposure to and harmonic scope - but at the ex­ Club. Yet, Lyn handles it as though he the Wurli's solo reeds, as well. The pense of Jesse's naturally flamboyant had played it all his life. The kid is a organist takes whopping liberties with showmanship. Never again would he real pro! some of the tunes (e.g., The Nearness produce such unorthodox but ear­ We should mention the reason for the of You) but always in good taste and catching arrangements as those heard "Eric" preceding Lyn's name above. It in the interest of heightened entertain­ 10 to 15 years earlier on his Victor came about when a little girl asked for ment value. He's an expert in four-to­ recordings, those highly individual treat­ his autograph following his Detroit the-bar pedal rhythm while performing ments such as Confessin', Tiptoe concert. She said "My name is Lynne a wild "ride" on a solo reed ( e.g., With­ Through the Tulips, I Love to Hear Larsen, too!" That settled it! The name out a Song, Foggy Day, Have You Met You Singing, High Hat, Little White confusion had arisen too many times, Miss Jones?). Lies and When Day Is Done. so the youthful organist decided then His posthorn accents are exemplary. The latter tune illustrates our point and there to resurrect his unmistakably It all adds up to an orchestral approach, because it is played also in this collec­ masculine first name - Eric. So, Eric which is what the theatre organ is all tion, but minus the verse and brassy it shall be from now on. about. In some tunes (e.g., Younger rhythmic first chorus of the earlier ar­ Tunes are Get Happy, Soon It's Than Springtime, That Sunday That rangement. Perhaps this later version Gonna Rain, Sunny, tunes from 42nd Summer) we detect a Buddy Cole in­ better illustrates the mood of the song Street, Only A Rose, March of the fluence to add to the registration and and if we'd never heard When Day Is Siamese Children (from "The King and harmonic color. Heaven Scent is an Done as recorded circa 13 years earlier, I"), Lullabye (from "Rosemary's Baby") exercise for solo reeds in beguine tempo. we'd be happy with this one. Such argu­ the Ashley Miller treatment of Chopin's Also heard are an upbeat opener, I ment makes this sampling of the maes­ Fantasy Impromptu and a very special Hear Music (not the Fred Waring sig­ tro's middle years output all the more Last Spring (Grieg). We give special nature), Star Eyes, The Story of a valuable. There are still many remind- june 1970 26 ers of the former style here - occa­ suited to organ performance - "the This is almost a duet between a sional short rolls, mordants and 1927 Magic Fire Music" from Wagner's theatre organ and a steam railroad train phrasing. In all, it's an intriguing col­ opera, "Die Walkure" (mislabeled on - although the music and sound over­ lection. After this recording session both disc and in jacket notes). It cues lap only a little. The album title is that Crawford was heard no more on re­ a magic moment in the opera when the of England's last steam train, now pri­ corded pipes until 1955. god Wotan mesmerizes his daughter and vately owned but still capable of mak­ The organ heard is not identified and surrounds her resting place with a ring ing frequent excursions on Britain's the only clue comes from a former of fire - which only a hero would dare railroad tracks. Therefore, this album is colleague who revealed that Crawford brave to claim her (punishment for get­ of interest primarily to organ buffs who told him it was a Kimball church organ ting too friendly with mortals). The are also steam trnin buffs - and they in the Chicago area which required music has the qualities of a lullabye, a are legion in the USA as well as in much adjustment, especially the trems, grim warning and rising flames-plenty Britain. to meet Crawford's requirements. It is of work for a whole orchestra. This is All of the tune titles suggest travel adequate but can't compare with the music for which there is a score, and it - When the Midnight Choo-Choo sound of the 4/21 Wurlitzer in the allows little latitude; to be effective the Leaves for Alabam', Tuxedo Junction, N. Y. Paramount Theatre studio. organ must do everything Wagner's 80- The Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe, man orchestra does. This is the task Take the A Train (a New York subway Selection are: When the Organ Played Mr. Fenner has undertaken - and he reference, yet!), Sentimental Journey, at Twilight, The Perfect Song, Sym­ comes out smelling like a rose. It's all Casey Jones and a hangup Orient Ex­ pathy, L'Amour Toujours L'Amour, A there, and just as effective as an or­ press, among others. The tunes are Perfect Day, When Day Is Done, Chan­ chestral version. A bow to Andrew linked by the sounds of the Flying Scot sonette, Serenade (Schubert), Only a Fenner! train in motion. And another Scot is at Rose, and Goin' Home. the throttle - er - the console. Long After this feat, one might think the a lively fixture in British organ circles, This may be the last time around for rest would be down hill sailing. For the Jackie Brown turns in lively perform­ these cuts, so stock up. It's an important most part it is, although the organist ances which match the motion suggest­ collection. sometimes delivers an overdose of toy ed by the train sounds. With the wind counter effects (e.g., Monkey's Business) and smoke in his face Jackie has little and plays the octave-hopping melody of time for subtle registration; his combi­ You are My Lucky Star as an un­ nations are full most of the time. But fingered "schmear." Jackie has caught the enthusiasm of the However, the remainder is pure joy. project and we couldn't ask for a better Fenner uses all the time he needs to get oriented engineer - organist, we mean. his ideas across. Thus The Last Time I Again, recorder William Walker has Saw Paris adds up to 7:08 minutes of taped the unidentified 4/ 14 Wurlitzer spring-laden atmosphere except for the with good fidelity. The jacket notes by intruding Siren and Klaxon. The string/ Stanley White, John and Noreen Foskett bell conclusion is gorgeous. Fenner tell much about the locomotive, a little makes good use of massed strings in about the organist and nothing about several selections, a too seldom heard the instrument. There is one photo of sound. the console and eight of the big choo­ choo. It's a really novel approach to Sentimental Journey has a drag both hobbies. tempo and nice Trumpet punctuation. * * * Other tunes are Carioca, Can-Can (Of­ ALSO OF INTEREST fenbach), The Swan (St. Saens), Tango Crawford (Albeniz) and Alligator Crawl (Fats * * * * * * Waller). Each is an orchestration unto JAMES PAULIN, Jr. AT THE itself, providing about the widest range RODGERS THEATRE ORGAN. ANDREW FENNER - THEA­ Av.ailable by mail for $5.00 from TRE ORGAN, played on the 4/15 (Wagner to Waller) one could hope for, but apparently all in a day's work for James Paulin, Jr., 11 Rhodes Lane, Compton Organ in the Odeon West Hempstead, N. Y. 11552. Theatre, Hammersmith (England), this skillful old pro. CR-0059 (Stereo). Available from We have a special spot in our cal- The Compton provides all the color loused reviewer's heart for the indi­ Concert Recording, Box 531, Lyn­ Fenner needs for his program. It's a wood, California 90262, $4.50 vidual with enough confidence in his fine-sounding instrument in all voice own ability to shoot his bankroll on postpaid (also available on 7½ ips divisions. 4-track stereo tape at $5.95). what may be a one-shot recording__:_ especially when the result has as much We had never heard of Andrew Fen­ William Walker again captures the big sound with his microphones, and merit as this one. Using one of the ner until this recording came along larger Rodgers electronic models, although, thanks to Concert Recording, Stanley White's jacket notes extend the enjoyment. A TOSer Jim Paulin presents a variety we have come to expect the unexpected of musical impressions (all different), from British theatre organists. Mr. Fen­ * * * some with a most pipelike sound. Tunes ner lived up to all our "unexpectations." THE FLYING SCOTSMAN are played before an audience. Heard A veteran of 30 years, he is a master GOES ON TOUR. Jackie Brown are: Everything's Coming Up. Roses, orchestrator and arranger for organ on at the 4/14 Wurlitzer. CR-S058 W-aters of the Minnetonka, Satin Doll, one hand, and on the other he displays (stereo). Available from Concert Jalousie, No Other Love, Ode to Billie an earthy sense of humor. Recording, Box 531, Lynwood, Joe, Spanish Flea, Ebb Tide and Ce­ The selection which entitles him to Calif. 90262. $4.50 postpaid. (Also celia. The enthusiasm of the artist and the former title is a composition most available on 7½ ips 4-track stereo his arranging imagination make this one organists would shun as completely un- tape for $5.95). worth having.

27 theatre organ correspondence with Jesse Crawford I REMJ]MBER confirmed that I should have had no fear of him at this time either. In any case, these later visits with Dan at the DAN PAPP Theatre were very rewarding to me. Dan would always take whatever time by Clealan Blakely was required from his busy schedule to take me on tours through the Organ, The death of the man whose efforts, and to discuss in detail any matters over a period of 36 years, made the pertaining to the Organ. I once compli­ 4/ 36 Wurlitzer in the New York Para­ mented him on the tremendously effec­ mount the standard to which others tive Tibias on this Organ, and he at were compared has resulted in the re­ once took me up to the console so that ceipt of a number of tributes and notes I could try them out; needless to say, of appreciation. In a previous issue we this was a real thrill for me. Dan was heard from Ben Hall. The following quite jubilant when I visited him the day following the "Milkman's Ma­ words come from Canada, from Clealan tinee," the first theatre party held by Blakely, who knew Dan and appreciated Dan Papp inspects the New York Paramount's the AGO at their New York conven­ mighty wind supply (1957). his dedication to the instrument Jesse tion in June, 1956. Many of the clas­ Crawford rode to fame. sical and church organists who ap­ condition. She thought it was fine, and It is a source of great regret to me proached with a bit of derision for remarked about Dan's affection for the that I did not get to know Dan Papp the "Mighty Wurlitzer" left with a pro­ Organ as well as her. It was a wonder­ much sooner than I did, but this was found respect for this Organ. It is ful though sad experience to be privi­ my own fault. I was fortunate enough noteworthy that a Theatre party has leged to hear the final concert which to be in New York City for the first been a very popular feature of their Don Baker so capably performed. One six months of 1929, and some of my conventions ever since. of the highlights for me was to watch most cherished memories are of Jesse Dan sit back and enjoy his favorite Crawford's Organ Interludes on this During the summer of 1957 I took Wurlitzer (mine too). He laughed my wife and my elderly aunt in with heartily at the "Rumba on the Tuba me to see Dan. He was very pleased to Down in Cuba" number, and was ob­ see us, and showed us around the viously as thrilled as the rest of us at Organ. We were down in his workshop, Don's tremendous arrangement of "76 and when we started to get into a dis­ Trombones." It was certainly a great cussion regarding some action prob­ day for Dan; we didn't expect that this lems, Dan went out and brought in would be the last time we would see chairs for my wife and aunt, and made him. He was looking forward to the sure they were comfortable. If any­ rebirth of the Organ in its new home, body ever loved an Organ, you could and it would have been a great thing fairly say that Dan did; he was tre­ for him to be present for the finish mendously proud of this Wurlitzer and voicing. rightly so. During the period he had been away, the condition had deter­ However, Dan Papp will be remem­ iorated, and he told me with great bered as long as the glorious voices of concern that he was trying hard to this Wurlitzer continue to speak. He bring it back to equal its condition in is the unsung hero of thousands of tre­ mendous musical performances by The author, Clealan Blakely, gets a chance to Crawford's day. try out the 'Dowager Empress', courtesy of Jesse and Helen Crawford, Reg. Foort, Dan Papp. My last memory of Dan is at the Don Baker, George Wright, Bill Floyd final concert presented by Don Baker and Bob Mack; keeping the myriad fabulous Wurlitzer. It became a habit in September, 1964. My wife, daughter parts of the great Wurlitzer all func­ with me to spend my Saturdays in and I were seated in the center of the tioning properly for these meticulous the Paramount: I would stay from Orchestra when I spotted Dan, he at artists required an unusual degree of morning until late night so that I didn't once brought his wife over and gra­ technical ability, patience and diplom­ miss Jesse for a single performance. ciously introduced her to us. I asked acy. On top of it all, he was a real Each time I would hear it from a dif­ her what it was like to be married to gentleman, and will never be forgotten ferent spot in the theatre, and often the man who was capable of keeping by those of us who were fortunate would work my way up to the front the greatest Wurlitzer ever built in top enough to have known him. D row left orchestra seats right behind the console, in order to watch him at close range. However, as a shy boy from a small town, I was so completely FABULOUS FIFTEENTH REMINDER over-awed by this tremendous Organ and Organist that I never did get For full information on the Fabulous Fifteenth Annual Conven­ enough nerve to speak to Jesse. When I got back to the theatre several times tion of ATOS in New York City July 11-17, 1970, see the April during the 50's and became acquainted Issue of Theatre Organ or write to ATOS Convention, Box 1331, with Dan, he told me that he would have been delighted to show me the Passaic, N. J. 07055. Organ had he known, and subsequent

june 1970 28 EXTRAORDINARYALL-STAR COLLECTION THEORGAN MUSIC SPECTACULAR Edited by LEE ERWIN

~ ALL ORGANS

MY BEST GIRL inspired by the Mary Pickford film of the same name , a classic movie now being shown at some ATOS gala evenings .. . EL SAMBA CHICO encompasses that big reverberating sound of the glittering Paramount organ interlude ... ARLENE, Jody Weaver's waltz, twinkles with flicker fame in Eddie Weaver's arrangement . .. PIPE ORGAN BLUES fills the entire cinema pa1ace with magnificent sounds and is registered for 2- or 3- manual organs ... play ACAPULCO and you visualize Don Baker and organ raising to stage height at any of the majestic movie palaces around the world . . . RICKSHAWRIDE is an impressionistic solo loaded with the bouncing ball memories and characteristics . . . Rosa Rio 's DREAMINGis a show of colors, change of pace and polished to a concert cheer . . . TANGO BY CANDLELIGHT con;urs up Rudolph Valentino and the love scene closeups of yesteryear . . . up , up and away with the JET STREAM! - theme music styled as you hear it on television ... PORTRAIT IN SOUND is just that - a spectrum of organ hues, a solo featured on foremost television serial. List Price $2.50 in U.S.A.

Original AU-Organ Solos by Famous Organist-Composer Members of the American Theatre Organ Society * DON BAKER* JEFF BARKER* AL HOLLINGTON* LEE ERWIN * EDDIE LAYTON* ANN LEAF* ALLEN R. MILLS * ASHLEY MILLER * ROSA RIO * EDDIE WEAVER

LEE ERWIN wrote a brilliant arrangement of At your music dealer or direct IF YOU GO AWAY - Solo for all organs ...... $1.00 EDDIE LAYTON'S All-Organ folio Edward B. Marks Music Corporation "WONDERFUL! WONDERFUL!" is fun .. . 136 West 52nd Street songs and radio themes ...... $1. 7 5 New York, N. Y. 10019

29 theatre organ • Mr. Editor: Was that King-size "Bellaire bum" .~. who clowned for the Jack Loren Con­ cert (Dec. issue, page 41) actually or­ ganist Jim Day with his beard shorn ~ for the makeup? I noted that Gaylord ~ ...... ~ Carter was there and where Gaylord is, can Jim be far behind? ~ ~ Frank Fuschek TTT~;rTTT Penobscot, Maine (You are partly right; Jim Day, the Letters to the Editor concerning all less conspicuous member of the "Flick­ aspects of the theatre organ hobby erfingers" (Silent-films-with-organ) pro­ are encouraged. Send them to tpe ject was indeed on hand, but with his hirsute growth intact and in full bloom. editor concerned. Unless it's stated The Tuba-playing bum pictured is our clearly on the letter rrnot for pub­ esteemed editor-emeritus, Stu Green, lication," the editors feel free to displaying another facet of his - er - reproduce it, in whole or part. talents. Ed.) Tuba-playing Stu-Bum, but not by Day. Address: P. 0. Box 2329 Livonia, Michigan 4815 0 Editor: Here' the tune that nearly got a young organist friend of mine expelled from Pingree Prep School. He played it in chapel, after the visiting Minister finished his sermon. Editor, Theatre Organ: The V.M. was scandalized. So were the Faculty members, who brought the young perpetrator up on charges. Only when the defendant was able to actually exhibit the You may be interested in the follow­ page in the hymnal on which this music was set forth, was he reluctantly forgiven - ing series of coincidences for publica­ with admonishment to watch his step in the future, and avoid "The Quest of Goodness". tion in the VOX POPS department of All the hymnals in which this tune appeared were hastily gathered up and shipped to the THEATRE ORGAN BOMBARDE. a mission in South Africa. Let's hope the natives over there are enjoying this lively musical bit at the same swift pace my young pianist friend employed. My hat is off to In your October 1968 edition, you Miss Sallie Hume Douglas who composed this air in 1915. It is just right for the Steam had an item about a young organist, Calliope aboard the Paddlewheel Steamer DELTA QUEEN which Dick Simonton and Eric Zeliff, and, directly beneath that, I rescued to continue her traditional cruises on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. The another item concerning a young or­ high-powered "organ" which we installed up on her top deck can be heard over a radius of five miles, and we use this tune as one of our "Calliope Capers." Since it is a bona ganist, Eddie Zimmerman. fide hymn, we feel that it should be considered appropriate for Sunday projection to the In addition to having shared page 27 surrounding counties. Yours sincerely, E. J. Quinby of that edition, both young men ( who obviously have the same initials) are the same age and now live in the same CALLIOPE CAPERS dormitory at Westminster Choir Col­ THE QUEST OF GOODNESS lege, Princeton, N. J., where they re­ To the Knights in the Days of Old (FOLLOW THE GLEAM. Irregular.) Fir1t Tu11<1 cently met a freshman majoring in Bryn Mawr College SALLIE HUME DouoLAB organ. Needless to say, they have struck ..u,nsolf up a warm friendship.

Very truly yours, of old, Keep-ing watch on the the King And loy -~ - ly Sidney J. Zimmerman

Jim Day with 'beaver' intad. l1":!:~•;,','.'t';'t,':i\':,· ,':i1~,.·,~':i~';.,~1\:;:•.~:' ,t~:::;:~;r th.-,. , w, o. A, Ill~ june 1970 30' Dear Mr. Thompson: pulsion to reveal their personal lives I greatly enjoyed the February, 1970 and their professional secrets. It is bad issue of THEATRE ORGAN. WhatPrice Glamour? business. You've got to stay fresh and I noticed one little thing, however. different if you want to stay in the which will no doubt bring many more by John Muri theatre for a long career. There has notes to your attention - and that is to be something about you that the Much of the charm of the theatre audiences don't quite grasp. on page 22 - pix of Don Baker. The organ exists in the immediate presence note mentions that the instrument ob­ of the performer. How much richer is Since glamor consists largely in the viously is not that of his sponsors. a performance "in person" than on a unfamiliar , it would appear artistically We might tell the writer to look phonograph record! How much richer and economically suicidal to show the closer and he'll see that it is the new is our experience when we listen to a audience how the machinery works. I 3-manual Conn 650. We have one like performer whose name we know and never had the same strong reaction to it at our TV studios, and Don was guest have come to depend upon for a fine movies after I saw how they were on our show recently when he was in performance! Identification and em­ made. Backstage operations are usually town doing a concert - so we know the pathy with the artist is a very important grubby and dirty; knowing what back­ instrument. element in an aesthetic experience; ab­ stage life is like dispels much of the Again, this new magazine surely is sence of this identification results in pleasure of a theatrical experience. a beauty. Congratulations! little more than background music. There are a few tricks that organists Sincerely , use that are intriguing when heard, but Ken Wright, WKY-TV One of the great weaknesses of mod­ they are very dull in the execution. Al * * * ern film and television people is their Melgard used to convulse movie audi­ Dear Mr. Thompson: unwillingness to create or support per­ ences with his organ interpretation of sonalities that the public can love and I am an avid reader of Theatre Or­ a couple of.old women gossiping. Today dream about. Their dislike of the star gan and have a question I hope some­ people ask me how I made frog-croaks system comes from the high salaries one might be able to answer. I would and hog-grunts for movie-comedy ac­ that stars or public idols can command. like to know what became of the orig­ companiments. The effects are very The result is that we get picture after inal console to the 5-manual Chicago­ simple to create. Should I tell these picture with new faces, many of them Paradise Wurlitzer (Opus 1942) now good people how they are done? I good players but unknowns whom we owned by Mr. Bill Brown of Phoenix. think not, because then listeners will do not recognize and whom we rarely Theatre historian Ben Hall , in an ar­ never again be able to enjoy my frog­ see again in a motion picture. There ticle in American Heritage as well as croaks and hog-grunts without being is very little glamor in most strangers; in his own The Best Remaining Seats, aware of the ugly mechanics. Recently described the Paradise console as being rarely does a star blossom immediately I used Jesse Crawford's old trick of into public favor. most cases the "a crawl with alabastine cupids . . . " In putting a tenor soloist into an organ glamor in the entertainment business (p. 198, The Best Remaining Seats). A chamber to sing a melody without careful examination of the photo of the is something that has been built up words, creating the effect of an organ Theatre's interior on page 92 and also gradually. The hold that stars like stop duplicating the human voice. Any­ the photo on page 4 of the June '69 Norma Shearer, Greta Garbo, Marie one knowing pipe organs would see TOB ("An Acre of Seats ... ") reveals Dressler, Lon Chaney, and Milton Sills through the gimmick at once, but most that the console was indeed very ornate had over their audiences was carefully listeners went home wondering at the and typically Wurlitzer. planned and nurtured by their pro­ wonderful things a player can do with In contrast, however, the console ducing companies. Many of the great an organ! Should I have given away photographs on the record jackets of stars who appeared before sound movies "the secret" to the audience? Not if I George Wright's early HiFi recordings came in, such as John Bunny, Flora wanted to give a good show. The enter­ which featured this instrument show a Finch, Marguerite Courtot, and Theda tainment business thrives on illusion, 5-manual console whose appearance is Bara are forgotten, but many others and I don't mean deception. One is sleek, modern and very "on-Wurlitzer" . who flourished when sound films gave foolish to destroy good theatrical illu­ Perhaps someone knows the fate of them their opportunities are watched sion. today on television. The studios of the the original console and the builder of We have a few glamorous organists the present console, and whether the twenties and thirties were painstaking in building up glamor in their star­ in ATOS. None of them ever tells you present console contains any parts how he gets his effects. None of them transplanted from the original. I would actors. They revealed very little of the true personal lives of the stars; cer­ bores you with explanations that you be most interested in seeing a close-up have heard others give. None of them photograph of the original console. tainly nothing adversely critical was permitted to emerge from the studio. uses the same program material or pat­ Very truly yours, A wonderful job of glamor-building tern repeatedly. None of them tries to James Zieba was done for actresses like Great make you believe he is just a simple­ Garbo, Myrna Loy, and Olga Bacla­ minded Joe trying to get along like NEW POCKET SIZE nova, a Russian import who made anyone else. They have something MEMBERSHIP ROSTER quite a flurry at Paramount studios. special that we sense from the begin­ ning, something that makes itself more NOW AVAILABLE In our presentations of theatre organ and more evident as time passes. For to the general public, we ought always them to show us how the wheels turn­ Only$1.00 Postpaid to keep in mind the principle of theatre that is, to show us how they get their glamor, which demands that much of effects-would be- to destroy an aes­ Send Your Check to: what is done remain aloof, mysterious, thetic delight and a good theatrical A.T.O.S. ROSTER and unknown. In recent years, particu­ image. Let us create, encourage, and P. 0. Box 2329 larly since television entered the scene, cherish all the glamor of the organ Livonia, Mich. 48150 younger show people have demon­ world that we can. The general public strated an almost pathological com- loves it. □

31 theatre organ POLA Negri has published her bio­ graphy: "Memoirs of A Star." The firey Polish actress writes an interesting story of her career and includes minor stuff about Hollywood's golden silent days. She says that Chaplin, her amour at one time, was less than truthful in his writings about her. She says " ... all clowns live in a world of fantasy . . . and Charlie lacks a sense of humor about his private life." • WHO IS WHERE ... Yes, Mae West is in the phone book. You may Directed by call her at 213-469-5391. Her mail ad­ Lyle W. Nash dress is 570 North Rossmore Ave., Los

Angeles, Calif. 90004 . . . Rochelle Readers are encouraged to submit inter­ Hudson, reported wealthy from her esting sidelights on the organ hobby (ex­ real estate holdings, was last thought clusive of chapter news items), material OF ALL the dashing, tall, handsome to be living in Palm Desert, Calif . ... they believe will be of general interest and talented actors, the one Douglas The last address I had on Jean Acker about local organ activities and installa­ Fairbanks selected to repeat his old was 2146 Fox Hills Drive, Los Angeles, tions and the people who work at the silent roles in sound films would startle Calif. 90025 ... Pola Negri recently hobby. We know "there's VOX POPS in them there chapters" and it only requires you. Doug and Mary Pickford were had been living at 417 Mandalay Drive entertaining a newcomer to films in a Sc postcard to get it to VOX POPS East, San Antonio, Texas. Editor, Box 5013 Bendix Station, North 1932. Doug suddenly told his guest: • • Hollywood, Calif. 91605 . "NOW LOOK here . .. I saw your "SELZNICK" By Bob Thomas act last night and I think you are just (Doubleday) is the final volume of a Encouraging Note: Members of the the fellow I have been looking for! biographical trilogy of three giants of New York State Theatre and Musical Between you and me, they don't want Hollywood. As is to be expected of Instruments Museum (ESTMIM for me any more on the screen. Fash ions Thomas, an excellent biography is the short) have burned the mortgage on change in actors. I am old now (48) result. "DOS" gained world fame by the club's 3/ 11 Wurlitzer. The debt, and the American public only wants to producing "Gone With the Wind." If which has hung over the club ever since look at youth. Besides, the talkies have you enjoyed "Thalberg" and "King it removed the organ from the now come and I guess may be my voice is Cohn" by the same author, you will leveled Syracuse Keith's theatre and re­ not so good. Anyway, I don't sell like enjoy this fascinating story of the man installed it in a State Fair building, has I used to. who lived some of his screen stories. been paid in full and the papers were • • consigned to flames during the Karl "NOW HERE'S the thing: I don't MARJORIE WOODWORTH looks Cole concert on April 26. New con­ want to retire - I want to direct. You wonder/ ul today and could step before certs, which so far have featured main­ see, I own all the properties I made in the cameras without much effort. 1 ly the excellent talent available locally the past and my idea i~ to remake them watched her greet fans at a USC cin­ ( e.g. Carleton James, Luella Wick­ as talkies - if I can find the right fellow ema function last month and the old ham), will be spiced with nationally to play the parts. Well, I have been charm was still radiating. You may looking them all over, and there are prominent artists such as John Muri write to her at 807 East La Brea Drive, (Sept. 26). some good actors on the screen today, Inglewood, Calif. 90301. but none of them have any vitality. * * * That's what I must have for these parts • A complaint sometimes made about QUESTION DEPT. "Yes, Richard - vitality! Now I saw you on the stage the Los Angeles Wiltern Theatre's 4/ 37 Dix had twin sons. One of them, Rob­ last night, and boy, you've got it. How Kimball is that it "hasn't enough ert, was top man in an independent would you like to play the parts and Tibia." It has now, thanks to LA chap­ western of last year. Title of film was let me direct you?" ter chairman Bill Exner. Bill brought "Five Bloody Graves." • in pipework expert Lee Haggart to see BRIAN Aherne was the most sur- • what could be done to correct the con­ prised actor in the world at that mo­ SHORT TAKES: Watch for Neil dition. Lee made some measurements ment. Hamilton in the new Jerry Lewis pic­ of the Kimball's Tibia pipe mouths and • ture "Which Way to the Front." ... determined that the cut-up was de­ FAIRBANKS had long been his idol. Asta Nielsen, greatest living Danish signed for a wind pressure of 16 inches. Aherne said no. He tells of this inci­ silent screen star, will be 89 in Sept. Bill had the pressure raised from the dent in his interesting biography: "A and was reported living in Copenhagen ten inches the rank had been operating Proper Job." Mary Pickford, too, ... Myrna Loy, who made silent films on for years to sixteen inches in time thought Aherne was ideal for the old before her great MGM days, was for the Randy Sauls concert in April. swashbuckling characters of her hus­ warmly received by fans at the 1970 Randy was delighted in the very notice­ band. Oscar Award Show. able increase in Tibia volume, an im­ • provement which gave the entire organ MARY was then 39 and, in a brief • a more velvety tonal sheen. And long­ moment of philosophy on an acting COMMENTS, questions and contri­ existing plants to install a solo Tibia, career spoke of the futility of ambition butions are welcomed to P. 0. Box 113, probably on the chest of a rarely-used and the "evanescence" of fame. Pasadena, Calif. 91102. Diapason, will be carried out shortly.

june 1970 32 In reply to the many inquiries re­ Mary Leedom reports on the activi­ Famous Players Corp 50th anniversary ceived concerning the health of veteran ties of organ-fancying thieves who lifted celebration in Toronto on April 20th. organ builder Lee Haggart, we are a plug-in from the Southern Baptist There to play a session on Bernie happy to say he's well pn the road to Church in San Bernardino, Calif. They Venus' 2/ 11 home-based Wurlitzer recovery from the recurrence of an old had carefully removed all identification (from Buffalo's Olympian theatre) the heart condition. His future plans are from the instrument, so they thought. night before, Millie attended the event of interest to organ enthusiasts every­ The fuzz, somewhat curious on seeing at the Imperial theatre and her report where; the doc has barred him from four guys carrying an organ down the bubbles with enthusiasm for the score returning to his electronics engineering street in the dead of night, took them played by Horace Lapp for the Mary job so Lee will resume what has always to the pokey for questioning. It was Pickford silent classic, "Pollyanna." been nearest to his heart-pipe voicing. theirs, they insisted, and there was no Lapp, who opened the theatre five His family is helping him set up a law against taking their console out for decades ago (playing pipes), had to play voicing shop in his garage in Encino, an airing. About that time the theft this show on a well-amplified Ham­ Calif. of an organ was reported by the church. mond. It was a complete vaudeville * * * Must be some other organ, they in­ show accompanied by a pit band plus Koria Pandit is back in Flickerville sisted. True, there were no serial an organ/ orchestra overture and the after several years living in Canada, number-bearing plates anywhere on the movie. Former actor Buddy Rodgers was there to introduce his wife's star­ and, judging from the numerous stories instrument - only clean spots where ring vehicle. Mary was born and raised about him appearing in the Hollywood they had been. It looked very suspi­ area press, he has apparently hired an cious but there was no proof. Then in Toronto so it was a hometown audi­ ence which paid admittances for the able fl,ack. Most of the current articles the minister recalled writing his phone benefit of the Canadian Arthritis So­ review his fast rise to TV prominence number on a slip of paper and fasten­ ing it inside the cabinet with a paper ciety. The good attendance brought in in the '50s as a Hammond-thumping several thousand dollars for the Society. star from the mystic East and regret clip months ago. The cops checked and Next day's ·"Toronto Globe and Mail" that due to changes in TV viewers' found it. "This business is getting rough when a paper clip is strong ran a scathing review on the "massive, tastes, such exposure is no longer in enough to get us busted," complained cringingly camp variety show that demand. Therefore, it was stated, the seemed designed to make an outworn beturbaned organist will sell his wares one of the culprits. circus like the Radio City Music Hall via the concert circuit. He made a good * * * stage presentation ... look like the last start with a concert played on a plug-in Our recent series of articles entitled word in sophistication." Mary was at the Wilshire-Ebel! Theatre in Los "Unification - What is it?" aroused Ben described as "insipid insufferably sweet" Angeles in April. Hall's recollections of the great "Unit­ while Lapp's work at the organ was * * * versus - Straight Organ" controversy described as "cutting up." The review­ which raged in the pages of "The Am­ er's disapproval of even the audience erican Organist" in the early '20s. Ben was evident when he mentioned "its writes, "Editor Burnham allowed roar of approval for that appalling George Ashdown Audsley, who was vaudeville show . . ." The poor re­ fanatically anti-unit, to devote page viewer would have been better off back after page to his opinions in 1921 and in the corner saloon and we are glad '22. In those days half of each issue of Millie was there to report on the show the magazine was given over to theatre from the showbiz standpoint. organ news, so Audsley's tirade gener­ ated pro-unit rebuttals from a number * * * of equally well-known people." The The Riviera theatre's 3/ 11 Wurlitzer fight is still going on - but under re­ in North Tonawanda, N. Y., "in the duced wind pressure. shadow of its factory," has been the subject of two extensive newspaper fea­ * * * tures recently. The Tonawanda News Glad we had our "hard luck gal" has told of Bill Hatzenbuhler's rehabili­ Millie Alexander reporting on the tation of the organ, and the Niagara KORLA, back from a Canadian caper. Frontier Chapter's project to enlarge the instrument to triple its size in the THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA! 1200-seat theatre. The Buffalo Evening When Fred Tulan, who will play silent News also featur~

33 theatre organ One of ATOS' most active members To celebrate our birthday, Al Miller is John J. Strader, a wealthy Cincin­ told a brief story of how the chapter natian, who has the ex-Cincinnati Para­ got started, which was humorous and mount 3/ 15 Wurliter in his home. In interesting to us old members as well April , a "farewell to the Gayety Bur­ as the newer members. A beautifully lesque Theatre" in the Queen City was decorated (and delicious) birthday cake held. The event was covered by Time was provided by the Social Committee. Magazine, and mentioned Jack "loving­ Just before our business meeting, ly cradling six boxes of G strings and Dan Cupid showed up with a box of pasties as he said: "I've bought these Valentines, and boy, had he ever been to give to old friends - to the lovers busy! There was something for every­ of the better things in life." Added his one present. Mrs., "We like to see a little Amer­ ,.... ······· .. Later on, we adjourned to the New icana left. If we don't preserve some of the things which make up our his­ VJ&'\... V Haven Paramount, where members tory, we'll end up with a country full Ill Ill John Angevine , Al Miller , Warren of parking lots." True , but G-strings? Goshler, Stillman Rice, Russell Hub­ Pasties? Hmmmmmm! •CHAPTERNEWS• bard, and Ev Bassett provided a very CONNECTICUT VALLEY musical program. Part way through the program, the Phantom of the Para­ The Chapter opened the new decade mount struck. Stillman Rice began to with a triple celebration ... our ninth add all kinds of embellishments to his

june 1970 34 Don, born of English nobility, has quarters that is a perfect showplace for Organ Playing Plan continues under played a command performance before their 2/ 9 Wurlitzer, installed by Elmer the coordination of Bob and Ruth the British Royal Family before mov­ and Bob Arndt of Des Moines, Iowa. Stratton, with many members taking ing to the United States. He has been The Mattson Wurlitzer was originally advantage of the opportunity to play playing organ in the Milwaukee area in the Century Theatre in Minneapolis. regularly on a giant theatre organ. over six years. The program was ar­ Removed in the late '40's, it was in­ The San Gabriel Wurlitzer installa­ ranged by Bill Klinger. stalled in a church in Preston, Minn. tion is nearing completion, with a Sep­ then in 1964, Dr. Mattson purchased tember target date set for dedication EASTERNMASSACHUSETTS the organ and installation began in the activities. A large number of members In June of 1968, EMCATOS ac­ "barn." are planning to attend Organ Holiday quired as its club organ the 3/ 13 modi­ Bob Arndt was the guest artist for on May 13 through 17 upstate in Santa fied Style 235 Wurlitzer from the now the day and played a fine program, Cruz. They will meet members of the demolished Loew's State (Back Bay) complete with a Charlie Chaplin film. Northern California ATOS Chapter, Theatre in Boston. For nearly two attend workshops and seminars, and years, our instrument has languished LOS ANGELES hear an all-star cast of artists on all in Burke's Storage Warehouse in Wal­ A busy season of organ concerts and major brands of electronic organs. It tham while our Sites Committeee ( Carl activities continues. On March 22, over is understood that the concerts will in­ Getz, Dick Linder and Jim Rockett) , 600 members and guests heard an out­ clude Bill Thomson premiering the new considered all potential locations. Fin­ standing concert by new-westerner 3-manual custom Rodgers, as adver­ ally, a contract was signed with Babson Ralph Wolf on the Wiltern Kimball. tised recently on the back cover of this College in Wellesley, and it was to the On Friday, April 17, a General Busi­ magazine, and George Wright on the Knight Auditorium on the Babson ness meeting was held in the San new 3-manual Conn theatre organ. A Campus that our Wurli was moved on Gabriel Civic Auditorium. Prior to the number of members also plan to hear Saturday, April 4, 1970. meeting members inspected the pro­ pipes in various restaurants, night clubs Knight Auditorium is Colonial in gressing Wurlitzer installation. On and theatres in nearby San Francisco style, seats about 1100, and has two April 19 at 9: 30 a.m. Randy Sauls and suburbs. Coming events locally organ chambers. Al Winslow is super­ presented a program reminiscent of the include another joint organ crawl with visor in charge of enlarging the cham­ days when the theatre organ was truly the American Guild of Organists on bers so that they will hold our 13 ranks the King of Instruments. Randy used Sunday afternoon, May 24. We are to and percussion. original lantern slides for his presenta­ hear four concerts on four different tion and for a sing-a-long at the Wil­ organs. The crawl will include a spe­ The most ticklish part of the mov­ tern. Following the concert, members cial 2-manual carillon demonstration, ing was handling the "train" of three trooped down to the Elks Building for a concert on the Bell Friends Church relay cabinets connected by cables. Our a jam session on the 4-manual 58-rank 2/ 10 Wurlitzer theatre organ, and a crew successfully transported the relays Morton. The jam session was adjourned concert by George Wright at St. Mary's from warehouse to van, from van up early to enable members to attend a in Whittier. That same day at 6: 30 p.m. the front steps of the hall, and finally 4 p.m. concert by George Wright at members will trek west to Culver City to the space beneath the stage. The Hollywood Presbyterian Church. to hear Tom Hazleton in a dedicatory In command of general restoration Three days later, on Wednesday, April concert on the Wurlitzer in the West at Babson are Don and John Phipps; 22, many members heard George again. Culver City Baptist Church. Local console renovation will be done under This time on a true theatre organ, at ATOS members located this organ in the joint leadership of Dick Linder and the Rialto Theatre in nearby South New Jersey, arranged shipment, and Pat Fucci at the Fucci residence. Pasadena. installed it. Two days later, on May Tentative plans are to have the Wur­ 26, Gaylord Carter and the Flicker­ litzer singing by October or November. fingers show returns to The Wiltern. However, we aim for a thorough job This time Gaylord will accompany two of restoration, including 100% re­ rarely seen silent film classics, Harold leathering, so that our organ will remain Lloyd's "Sailor Made Man" and "Never trouble-free for years to come. Weaken." On June 26 Australian Tony - J. Paul Chavanne Fenelon returns to the Wiltern. -Ray Bonner LAND O'LAKES Liaison Chairman March 15 saw our members at the home of Ed and Doris Boroweic in MOTOR CITY Bloomington featuring their Marr & The STANDING ROOM ONLY sign Colton that will be moved with them went up in the box office just before when they settle in Rockford, Ill. the start of our Spring show f ea tu ring After giving us a little background on Lee Erwin at the 3/ 10 Barton in the himself, Ed opened his program with Redford Theatre. The work crew, "This Could Be the Start of Some­ headed by Jim Brown, labored many Donna Parker. She launched a concert career thing Big" and it turned out to be a at 13. week-ends previous to the show and description of his program. the results of their efforts were appre­ Fred Hermes sent us an invitation On April 28 a number of members ciated by those who heard this instru­ to visit him at Racine and the date attended a concert by rising young ment again. decided upon was June 7th. organist and fellow member, Donna The Royal Oak Theatre restoration Our next activity was a day at the Parker. Thirteen-year-old Donna per­ is progressing very well and with luck, home of Dr. and Mrs. Roland Mattson formed like an experienced pro on a should be playing by fall - another of Spring Valley, Minn. They con­ large 3 manual electronic organ. She 3/ 10 Barton revived in a theatre. verted an old barn into beautiful living is equally great on pipes. The Elks There have been many combined

35 theatre organ OREGON Working only one or two nights a week and on Saturday morning, it will Another school is benefiting from the take quite a while to complete the job, efforts of an ATOS chapter. The Ben­ son Polytech High School in Portland , but there is plenty of enthusiam . Not Oregon , has had a 3/ 26 Kimball in only will the club benefit , but it is a their auditorium for the past 33 years. wonderful public relations job, that will At the present it is in very poor condi­ promote interest in the theatre organ tion for there has been no one in the among the teen-agers. In this school school system to care for it. alone , there are about a dozen , eagerly This is where the Oregon ATOS awaiting the time that they can learn chapter comes in. Dr. Harold Ander­ to play it. son, the principal of Benson , was ap­ proached by the club , and the offer POTOMAC VALLEY was made to restore the organ to first­ Our March meeting was held on Sun­ class working condition , with the club day afternoon, the 22nd, at Doug members donating the labor, if the Bailey 's Studio , 140 Congressional Phil Gorden (/) and Don Lockwood are proud of school district would furnish the cash Lane , Rockville , Maryland. the sign in the box office. - Photo by Phil Gorden needed for the replacement of parts . This was an open house with many In return , the club would have the use members trying their hand at the con­ activities with the Wolverine Chapter of the organ four nights per year. sole of the two-manual nine-rank Mol­ this year , including two programs at Dr. Anderson was quite receptive to ler. Parts for this organ came from the 6 Mile Uptown Theatre 3/ 11 Wur­ the plan , and presented it to the school various places. The console came from litzer and a program at DTOC played board . The Benson Dad's Club was the Shoreham Hotel. The pipes and by Lee Hohner , a member of both willing to help with the fund raising chests from Loew's Palace , Washing­ Chapters and DTOC. for the necessary expenses, and the ton , D. C. NIAGARA FRONTIER board OK'd the project. Gerald Duffy One of the Chapter organs, the This Chapter's first venture in some­ was put in charge of the project , and Woody Wise Grande Barton, featuring thing different proved to be a success lost no time in starting work on it. Jimmy Boyce at the console , recently on April 3 as Dr. Ed Bebko accom­ Quite a number of club members played a two-week engagement with panied a live vaudeville show on the signed up to help on the job. As the the Paramount picture "Wings." The Riviera stage. Included in the program accompanying photograph shows, space 1927 silent classic and winner of the were singers, a dancer, a pianist, a was limited, so only three or four first Academy Award. young banjo plucker, and a magician. people at a time were called. The number of theatre organs in the "Doc" Bebko played for a short Chap­ chapter is still increasing. At the pres­ lin flick, entitled "Liberty," that was ent time there are four home installa­ shown for the first time since 1918 tions in progress in addition to about ANYWHERE! Harry Langdon's fam­ 15 which are already playing. ous hilarity, "The Strong Man," was - George R. Johnson the feature. It was a fun evening, to say nothing of the memories it brought PUGET SOUND back from The Good Old Days. On April 26th, members and guests At the installation-of-officers banquet , met at the Seattle Center Food Circus April 10, members of the local press and were able to try out the newly re­ and radio, as well as the Riviera's installed 3/ 8 Special Wurlitzer. After fabulous manager - Frank Guzzetta - the jam session, the Food Circus opened were presented with plaques in appre­ its doors to the public and organist ciation of their services to promote Dick Schrum took over the console. the cause of the mighty theatre organ. Dick shares the fine Wurlitzer with On April 15 Don Baker presided at Earline Hunt, alternating every two the Riviera's 3/ 11 Wurlitzer in a con­ weeks. The organ is played daily dur­ cert that contributed a little bit of all ing the spring and summer seasons. kinds of music to please his packed The Food Circus, the old Armory audience. At one point in the program, the velvet drapes parted to reveal three girls with a lighted birthday cake - a complete surprise for Don's special Above: Gerald Duffy (but belated) day. wondering where to Professor John Muri appeared at the start. Riviera to present an evening of nos­ talgia. He played to a 1,400-plus record crowd the music of Buffalo's own song­ writer, Jack Yellen. Among his more Right: Burt Hedderly, famous tunes were "Alabama Jubilee," Gerald Duffy and Bob "Down by the O-HI-O" and "Happy Burke. Note date on the wall. Days Are Here Again." A tenor sang four of Yellen's tunes, and even the sing-along was comprised of his works , carrying us through the concert. - Shirley Cole

june 1970 36 After the intermission, all of the SOUTH FLORIDA group participated enthusiastically in the Sing-A-Long, using slides from Mr. UPDATE FLORIDA GOLD Brite's collection of old favorites. This COAST. Taking complete advantage was capably handled by Mr. Tony of our popular member, REGGIE Cantu who is Mr. Brite's projectionist POORT, a concert took place at the in his theatre. Tony operated as only a Jureit residence December 14, 1969. professional would in keeping exactly Reggie was in his usual "top form" at the console of this 3/ 14 organ going in time with Joe. through a familiar array of popular Mr. Maddy had his Wurlitzer in top classics for which he is noted. All of condition for the evening. Several mem­ those in attendance do appreciate his bers remarked about the condition and generosity in making this appearance. beautiful tone of the tibia. He has re­ Being semi-retired these days Reggie New young member Mike Kirita barely reached cently completed the installation of a the foot pedals for his well executed arrange­ only holds down four jobs any more. ment of "A Time for Us". Dick Schrum watches second console , located in the studio We were also happy to extend member­ over the stop rail. ship to Mr. and Mrs. Herb Shriner, recently located in Ft. Lauderdale. Building, is cavernous in scope, making Sunday, March 22, 1970 found our the acoustics fantastic. own John Steele in concert at the Following the music, the chapter had Jureit organ. John, our past chairman, its membership meeting. Treasurer gave one of his delightful programs Russ Evans presented nostalgic old which passed through the entire musical 16mm sound movies of Jessie Craw­ spectrum. Not only is he a talented ford, Ann Leaf and Don Baker play­ musician but also a thoroughly com­ ing the New York Paramount studio petent technician handling first class Wurlitzer. Some shots of Baker were at maintenance- on the instrument he plays the console of the "Mother Wurlitzer." so well. John is one of the few who can Russ also showed some films he took install, play and maintain, all of which at the L.A. and Chicago Conventions. are par excelle,nce. Also at this meeting At the close of the meeting, members Portion of the living room of the R. C. Maddy residence in Denver, Colorado. Joe Brite playing the gavel was turned over to the new were invited by Harold and Ann Shaw­ the 2/8 Wurlitzer. chairman, Bob Andre. Vice-chairman ver to come and try their 3/ 9 Kimball. for 1970 is Jim Glisson and G. W. - Eddie Zollman, Jr. below the living room, and on the same Gerhart remains as correspondent and floor as the organ chambers. The two banker. ROCKY MOUNTAIN consoles are connected by an intercom Chairman Bob Andre was successful Our chapter met March 30th at the system. This is the only twin-console bidder on the 3/15 Wurlitzer located Bit o' Sea residence of Mr. and Mrs. home installation in this area, and one in the Florida Theatre, Jacksonville. R. C. Maddy. Mr. Joe Brite, guest of a very few in the nation. This is opus #1569, a standard 260, artist, presented the evening's program Mr. Brite and Mr. Cantu drove more installed early in 1927. The entire on the Maddy 2/ 8 Wurlitzer formerly than 200 miles including a 10,000-foot organ has been removed to Miami and in a Denver theatre and written up in mountain pass in a snowstorm the day after being rehabilitated will replace the the December 1966 issue. before the concert. After refreshments ensemble currently in the Andre home. Joe Brite is the Manager-Organist of were served by the Maddys, they drove John Steele has acquired a 3/ 8 Wur­ the Rialto Theatre in Alamosa, situated the entire distance in a snowstorm litzer church organ now reposing in the in a mountain valley in south central arriving home a little before 6 a.m. We First Baptist Church, Palatka, Florida. Colorado at an elevation of over 7500 hope that the ordeal will not discourage This is opus #1352 installed there in feet above sea level. This theatre is them from giving us a return engage­ 1926, is in mint condition and waiting one of the few in the country featuring ment some time in the future. for John to take it home to a recently daily pipe organ music between shows. - Kenneth Tillotson, Secretary finished addition on his house. Until a few years ago Joe was also featured at the Wurlitzer on regular radio broadcasts in that city. The audience was impressed with the clever way in which Mr. Brite planned the order of his program, beginning with more lively music as he played his own composition "Blue Melody." As he progressed onward to slower and dreamier melodies, the hosts turned down the house lights. This afforded the 60 members and guests both the beauty of the music inside, and the beauty of a mild spring snowstorm out­ side. The large fluffy snowflakes could be seen drifting downward by means of the yard lights outside. The view through the picture windows overlooks the large landscaped yard and the ad­ John Steele, past chairman, Mrs. Shriner and Herb, Mildred and Cal Jureit, hosts. joining lake. - Photo by G. W. Gerhart

37 theatre organ May 3rd saw a general meeting at the Andre home as we bid adieu to the 2/ 12 hybrid soon to be replaced by all Wurlitzer. - G. W. Gerhart - CLASSIFIEDADS - FOR SALE- 3 manual RODGERS 33 FOR SALE- Reisner Relay and Switches SOUTHEASTERN electronic theatre organ with 4 Rodgers for 3 manual and pedal and 5 ranks. As­ The September meeting was held at and 4 Leslie cabinets. All in excellent con­ sembled. $875.00. W. H. BREUER, 20 the Sheraton Biltmore Hotel in Atlanta. dition. Can be demonstrated and played. Kirby Place, Palo Alto, California 94301. Long term financing available to respon­ Officers for the year were elected: sible parties. Priced to save you 40%. WANTED - 6-rank chest (Wurlitzer). Chairman, Robert H. Clark, Jr.; Vice­ This is the organ that Rodgers advertises, Small scale tibia to 8' with offset, 16' Chairman, Thomas E. Ford; Secretary­ "Copy-cat, you bet!". Nearest thing to ac­ metal diaphone and chest. Tuba mirabilis. Treasurer, Dr. and Mrs. Edd Simmons. tual Wurlitzer theatre organ available, yet Send condition and price. W. H. BREUER, will go in your home or class-room and 20 Kirby Place, Palo Alto, Calif. 94301. In October at the Tivoli Theatre in ready to play in 5 minutes time. Write Chattanooga, Tenn., Bill Barger, Tivoli Post Office Box 5264, Austin, Texas 78703. FOR SALE - Used Electronic and Pipe Organist, presented a concert on the Organs, both Theatre and Classic. Elec­ FOR SALE BOOKS: Hope Jones Unit tronic voices for pipe organs and genuine 3/ 12 Wurlitzer. The left chamber has Orchestra, $3.95. Wurlitzer Unit Organs, pipes for electronic organs. Consoles, been completely remodeled and a ma­ $4.50; Wurlitzer Fact Book, $2.00; Whit­ parts, accessories. Write for lists: NEW­ jestic new Diaphone has been added worth: Cinema and Theatre Organs, PORT ORGANS, 1593 Monrovia, New­ under Bill's expert supervision. Follow­ $15.00; Williams: European Organ, $20.00; port Beach, Calif. 92660. ing the concert there was a jam session Wurlitzer Church Organs, $2.00; Audsley Art of Organ Building, $17.50; Norman: FOR SALE - Completely rebuilt 2 man­ and members had a chance at the Organ Today, $7.50; Sears: Reed Organ, ual 6 rank Robert-Morton, vintage 1920 console. $2.00. THE ORGAN LITERATURE with xylophone and harp. $1,900 or best FOUNDATION, 45 Norfolk Road, Brain­ offer. DON SEARS, 206 South 44th St., tree, Mass. 02184. Omaha, Nebraska 68131, (402) 553-1165. FOR SALE - Marr & Colton, 2 manual, FOR SALE-16' Wurlitzer Tuba 85 pipes 10 rank, residence organ in immaculate off set chest. $300. 16' Morton Bass Flute condition. Includes Horseshoe Console, 12 pipes with chest, $150. Morton shutters Spencer Orgoblo, 3 strings, 2 tibias, 2 with motors, $35. 7½ HP phase shifter, reeds and 3 flutes, plus 6 couplers. All $150. KIRK WHITCOMBE, 208 Lake pipe-work mitered by Marr & Colton for Sammamish Drive S.E., Redmond, Wash­ 2 small chambers with low ceilings. Per­ ington 98052. fect for home installation because of its FOR SALE-Robert-Morton 2/7 in beau­ size and voicing. $2,000 complete. A. R. tiful condition. All original except Wur­ JOHNSON, 147 Walrath Road, Syracuse, litzer toy-counter and chimes. Now play­ N. Y. 13205. Phone: (315) 469-1273 or ing - must sell to make room for 260 (315) 834-9370. Special. $4,500. Also I have many other FOR SALE- Must sell to decrease in­ ranks and chests and a complete 260 con­ ventory. No reasonable offer refused. All sole. Write for list and information or ca11 (305) 446-0775. ROBERT KING At the home of Clay Holbrook, Fairburn, Ga., equipment from Geneva Theatre Organ: 2 manual console and relays; 8' flute and ANDRE, 611 Alhambra Circle, Coral members of the Southeastern Chapter view Gables, Florida 33134. movies at the March meeting. 16' bourdon with offset chest; broken set oboe horn; broken set kinura; 8' tuba 61 FOR SALE - Rodgers Trio DeLuxe, two Dr. and Mrs. Edd Simmons hosted pipes; 8' tibia 73 pipes; 8' open diapason cabinets with speakers, $5,000. F. W. 73 pipes; 16' wood diaphone with chests NITZSCHKE, 52 Clark St., Brooklyn, the November meeting. The program - mitered 9' 10" including chest; 8' vox N. Y. 11201. 212 - 624-7660. consisted of members playing the humana 61 pipes; 13 note chimes and ac­ newly-installed 2/ 8 Theatre Kimball. tion; 37 note orchestra bells; 37 note xylo­ FOR SALE- 3/10 Wurlitzer, 7 tuned This instrument was originally housed phone; 3 regulators; 3 trems; 1 Kinetic percussions, mostly releathered and refin­ Turbine 2 HP 3 PHASE 500 cu. ft. per ished. Best offer over $6,000 takes it in the Plaza Theatre, Miami Beach. min. HOOSIER THEATRE, 1335 - 119th home. Includes SECOND console. Write: On December 14, 1969, members Street, Whiting, Indiana 46394. Phone: ORGAN, 18732 Sound View Place, Ed­ and their guests gathered at the Fabu­ (219) 659-9835, 6 to 10 p.m. monds, Wash. 98020 or Phone 774-0068. lous Fox Theatre in Atlanta for "Christ­ mas at the Fox" featuring Bob Van were shown - most interesting and Our sincere thanks to the Flint Camp at the Great Moller Organ. informative. Capitol Theatre Organ Club for the Bob's program included a number of Our next meeting is planned for May kind invitation to participate in their traditional Christmas favorites and 24, 1970, at the "Fabulous Fox." April program. Walt McNulty, presi­ many songs heard during the hey-day dent, opened the program at 9: 30 a.m. of the theatre organ. "Christmas at the WOLVERINE Sunday, April 12, with a big welcome Fox" has become a tradition with the Certainly a good time was had by to members and to Wolverine chapter Southeastern Chapter. all when Michigan's two great ATOS members in attendance. The first half Our February meeting was held at chapters combined forces for our sec­ of the program was performed by Flint the Allen Organ Studio through the ond annual banquet. The afternoon Organ Club members ... a lot of fine courtesy of Ned Marshall and George was highlighted by much good organ talent. A short intermission featuring McKenzie and featured the Crystal music provided by many of the chap­ good food and coffee and a real honest Carousel organ. After the formal meet­ ter's members who accepted encour­ to goodness hurdy-gurdy type organ ing everyone was invited to try the agement of their friends to try their tootin' away in the lobby. A few Wol­ organs on display. hands at the two-manual electronic in verine Chapter members played the In March we met at the home of the Ali Baba Restaurant. Chapter mem­ 3/ 11 Barton during the second half. Clay Holbrook where he is installing a ber Pete Henkel and his wife Jean are The April CIPHER, newsletter for 29-rank theatre organ controlled by the to be congratulated for their efforts in the Wolverine Chapter, listed a total of four-manual Kilgen console formerly making this a gala event. We look for­ 41 pipe organs installed in area homes. in Chicago's Piccadilly Theatre. At the ward to an even larger get-together next The list was compiled by Roger meeting two movies about pipe organs time around. Mumbrue.

june 1970 38 WILLIAM H. BARNES, Mus. Doc. Organ architect and author of THE CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN ORGAN (8 Editions), announces publication by J. Fischer and Bro. of a new book co-authored by Edward B. Gammons, organ architect and Director of Music, Groton School ... TWOCENTURIES OF AMERICAN ORGAN BUILDING including a major chapter devoted to THEATRE ORGANS * Hope-Jones' contributions to the theatre organ * Historical notes on all the other great names of theatre organ building with special attention to Wurlitzer and Robert-Morton * A straightforward approach to the analysis of theatre organ tonal design including a chart that shows at a glance how theatre organ stops are classified and specifications are developed ... plus a,:i easy to understand explanation of unification * History and analysis of the tonal development of the theatre organ from its early beginnings through the end of the "golden era" * Rare pictures including Hope-Jones and Jesse Crawford ... plus com­ plete specifications of the New York Paramount Studio Wurlitzer and a standard Style D Wurlitzer

"In this book, Dr. Barnes brings "Dr. Barnes' discussion of the "I have watched with interest us a view of American Organ theatre organ should be of value building tempered with years of the recent re-birth of enthusiasm not only to seasoned theatre ..practical experience that adds for the theatre organ and de­ organ enthusiasts but to new­ balance to the 'fads' that have cided that this book should in­ comers who want a brief, yet come and gone over the years. complete digest of the subject. clude a complete treatment of The chapter on theatre or­ I found his presentation of early gans, for example, is not merely the subiect, putting the theatre historical background particular­ Ia listing of facts, but a thought- BEN HALL, organ in proper perspective as ly interesting." author ful analysis of the theatre organ a distinct and valid art form." I of THE BEST REMAINING SEATS, from historical, technical and WILLIAM H. BARNES, Mus. Doc. "The Story of the Golden Age artistic points of view." of the Movie Palace." JUDD WALTON -··-..·-···-··- ..····- · Several chapters (including over 50 pages of stop lists, drawings and pictures) of historical facts and anecdotes from Dr. Barnes' 50 years of personal association Plus with America's great organ builders • KIMBALL (including specs. of the Atlantic City Ballroom organ) • MOLLER • WICKS • AEOLIAN • ROOSEVELT • MIDMER-LOSH • KILGEN • AUSTIN • SKINNER • WANAMAKER STORE ORGAN * A history of the important 19th Century builders * A no-holds-barred assessment of the so-called organ reform movement and modern tracker organs * A technical history of the organ action PRICE $5.50 POSTPAID Send Check or TWO CENTURIES Money Order to: 1530 EAST SPRING STREET (DEPT. T) TUCSON, ARIZONA 85719

39 theatre organ Make a Date to Play the Rodgers 33-E Find out what all the shouting is about. Write us. We'll send you some more vital statistics and let you know where you two can get together.

Organ Company 1300 N. E. 25th Avenue Hillsboro, Oregon 97123