Volume 29, Nos.9–10 • Sept.-Oct. 2018 www.pstos.org • www.facebook.com/pstos

Two big events for you!MARTIN ELLIS at West Seattle’s famous Kenyon Hall 2/14

Enjoy your favorite pops AN POPS

RG ADMISSION T E O $15 per person at the door HEATR Age 16 and under free with adult SAT., SEPT. 8, 1:30 pm Purchase tickets online at www.pstos.org/events Kenyon Hall Martin has performed in many of the major venues throughout the country. He was one of the “house” organists for the Sanfilippo Palace de Musique in Chicago on the largest 7904 35th Avenue SW • West Seattle theatre in the world. He has served as staff organist at Milwaukee’s Piper Music Palace, and at Uncle Milt’s Pipes and Pizza of Vancouver, WA. He resides in Portland. Returning by popular request! DAVE WICKERHAM at Calvary Christian Assembly’s 3/25 Kimball-Wurlitzer An afternoon of upbeat, toe-tapping, pop music by one of the most entertaining pops organists

ADMISSION (for those who are not series subscribers) PSTOS members $20 • Non-members $25 Age 16 and under free with adult Purchase tickets online at www.pstos.org/events

DAVE was a featured performer at the 2010 ATOS convention right here in the NW. He has been staff organist at Pipes & Pizza in Lansing, and at the Piper Music Palace in Greenfield, both in SAT., OCT. 6, 2:00 pm Illinois. In 2000, the family moved to Las Vegas where Dave was a featured organist at “Roxy’s Pipe Calvary Christian Assembly Organ Pizzeria”, part of a $26,000,000 expansion phase at the FIESTA Casino and Hotel. Later the family lived seven years in South Florida where Dave was Organist - Curator with the legendary 6801 Roosevelt Way NE • Seattle Milhous Collection. Dave and his family currently enjoy living in Upper Michigan where he is Organist in Residence at Crystal Theatre in Crystal Falls. This venue is a regional Performing Arts Center and houses a 3 manual, 21 rank Moller theatre organ that Dave also looks after. Dave has toured Australia/New Zealand four times, playing to sold-out houses in all the major cities. PUGET SOUND PIPELINE • SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER 2018

Memo: Thumbnails are .87” wide A summer bonus event at the Johnston’s Leavenworth home was great fun Vol. 29, Nos. 9–10, Sept.-Oct. 2018 Review by Jamie Snell, photos by Jo Ann Evans Published by The opportunity to play and hear a Puget Sound Theatre Organ Society brand-new home organ installation doesn’t 10002 Aurora Ave N, Suite 36 #516 come along very often, but it did on the Seattle, WA 98133-9329 afternoon of July 22, at the Leavenworth home of Dave and Jennifer Johnston. Puget Sound Theatre Organ Society is a They had asked Pipeline editor Jo Ann 501(c)(3) non-profit organization furthering Evans to announce the event to PSTOS the appreciation, restoration, and use of the historic Theatre Pipe Organs of the 1920s, members and sign up a limited number to attend. Eight of us did: Russ and Jo through education. Ann Evans, Barb Graham, Fred Rowe, Ed OFFICERS Poquette, Ron and Siew Lilley, and yours President–Bob Zat, [email protected] truly. Following the two-hour drive east on Route 2 to just north of Leavenworth, we Past Pres.–Jamie Snell, [email protected] David Johnston and grandson Avery Vice President–Russ Evans, [email protected] converged on the Johnston home, along Secretary–Ellen Sullivan, [email protected] with Sally Wren from East Wenatchee, who “Under the Double Eagle,” and “Those Treasurer–Jon Beveridge, [email protected] works on the Wenatchee Museum Wur- Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer,” and litzer, and several Johnston family mem- others. A highlight of the afternoon was the DIRECTORS bers. brief console session by two-year-old Avery, Fred Rowe, [email protected] • Barbara Graham, [email protected] The event began with a brown-bag the Johnstons’ grandson, under grandpa’s Jamie Snell, [email protected], Phil Hargiss, [email protected] picnic lunch on the Johnstons’ back porch, careful guidance. Attendees were welcome and included a fantastic view of the moun- to step inside the pipe chamber and admire COMMITTEES tains and an equally fantastic dessert of the craftsmanship. Organ Restoration & Maintenance–Bob Zat berries on home-made ice cream. The audience was enthusiastic and Program Planning Team– impressed, by not only the playing and Bob & Susan Buchholz, Jo Ann Evans, Barb Graham, Ray Harris, the sound, but the fact that the organ was Jamie Snell, Ellen Sullivan, Bob Zat installed almost single-handedly by Dave Johnston. Currently it’s a 2/12 Kimball Educational Outreach Committee–Fred Rowe, [email protected] with a Uniflex control system, but it is a Volunteer Coordinator–Barbara Graham work in progress with room for expansion. Paramount Crew Chief–Phil Hargiss, [email protected] For more information, visit www.pstos.org/ Membership Coordinator–Jeff Snyder, [email protected] instruments/wa/leavenworth/johnston. Hospitality HLCC–Ellen Sullivan htm. Many thanks to the Johnstons for Facebook–Jeff Snyder opening their beautiful home to us to play and hear this unique instrument; we look NEWSLETTER & WEBSITE forward to future events there. Pipeline Co-Editors–Jamie Snell, [email protected] Jo Ann Evans, [email protected] Pipeline distribution–Terry Perdue Pipeline Online Website–Tom Blackwell, [email protected]

LIAISONS AMICA, POF, and AGO–Carl Dodrill Haller Lake Community Club–Bob Zat Paramount Theatre–Phil Hargiss Calvary Christian Assembly–Jeff Snyder

JOINING PUGET SOUND The group then migrated to the organ The unique Johnston organ studio THEATRE ORGAN SOCIETY IS studio, with seating around two sides just a few feet from the console and the pipe FAST AND EASY! chamber. Three PSTOSers took turns at Simply click on the link below and select the console, playing three or four songs your preferred level of membership. in a set: Jo Ann played, among others, • Secure! “Come Fly With Me,” “Moonglow,” and • No checks! “Melancholy Baby”; Ron Lilley’s selections • No stamps! included “Auf Wiedersehen, My Dear,” • A few clicks and it’s done! “I May Be Wrong,” and “If You Were http://www.pstos.org/membership/ the Only Girl in the World”; and your new-member.htm trusty reviewer played “The Petite Waltz,” Audience members enjoyed the afternoon 2 PUGET SOUND PIPELINE • SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER 2018 Brett Valliant and Merlyn Johnson’s PSTOS 3/30 Wurlitzer-Morton were a match! Coming Events Review by Jamie Snell, photos by Jeff Snyder http://www.pstos.org/events President Bob Zat, Valliant opened with a snappy arrangement of Cole Porter’s 1950 song “From This Moment On,” Sat., Sept. 8, 1:30pm then jumped back to the late 1800s for “Clarinet Polka,” and then back to MARTIN ELLIS the 20th century for “Bali H’ai” from Returns to South Pacific, “Little White Lies” (styled as tributes to Jesse Crawford and Paul West Seattle’s Quarino), and the Johnny Mathis classic KENYON HALL and “Chances Are.” Switching to the classical its 2/17 Wurlitzer genre, he then played the final movement of Widor’s Symphony No. 5, commonly known as the “Widor Toccata” – entirely without , not a problem on this 2018 series theatre organ! Next, as a partial return Merlyn and Brett at the console to pops, came “And That Reminds Me,” THEATRE During his visit to Seattle last year for his a 1957 popular song adapted from the Calvary concert, Brett Valliant took advan- instrumental “Autumn Concerto” by the tage of the opportunity to play the 3/21 Italian composer Camillo Bargoni. ORGAN POPS Morton-Wurlitzer at the Tacoma home Introducing the next number, Valliant Calvary Christian Assembly of Merlyn Johnson. He loved the organ, described a humorous situation in which she loved his playing, and the organ is well he had agreed to accompany the renowned known to PSTOS; so it was not surprising mezzo-soprano Karla Burns (a Wichita DAVE that she invited him to play a concert there native). Apparently skeptical of his this year, he accepted, and PSTOS agreed repertoire, she asked if he knew the song WICKERHAM to sponsor it. Add to that the fact that Ed “Hey Feller,” which Jerome Kern had and Patti Zollman, who maintain the in- written for Show Boat but was generally Sat., Oct. 6, 2pm strument, are old friends of Valliant (having cut from the musical after about 1946. lived in his home city of Wichita, KS), and But he knew it! Valliant closed the first you have the makings of a happy event. half with a medley of American patriotic Saturday, August 11 was the day, and songs, including “This Land is Your Land,” Sun., Dec. 2 about thirty theatre organ fans assembled in “America the Beautiful,” “God Bless Johnson’s living room for the treat of being America,” and the official songs of the Holidays at Haller a few feet from Valliant as he performed, Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. Annual festive and only a few feet farther from the pipes. Following a brief intermission, Valliant Christmas celebration Thanks to the Zollmans, the organ was in resumed with the march “Pietro’s Return,” Food! Fun! Music! pristine condition (for details, see www.ps- composed by Pietro Deiro originally for tos.org/instruments/wa/tacoma/johnson. accordion (Diero was Italian-born but lived Variety show! htm). Valliant was likewise in top form and in Cle Elum and later Seattle in the early Watch for details! played a full concert that demonstrated the 1900s). Next came several standards includ- organ’s wide variety of sounds as well as the ing “Stardust,” followed by Ernest Gold’s wide range of his repertoire. “Tango Tedesco” from the 1965 filmShip After an introduction by PSTOS of Fools. Turning again to classical music, A warm welcome Valliant played a transcription of Sibelius’s famous 1899 tone to new members… poem “Finlandia,” and after en- thusiastic applause, closed the program with “Vanessa.” The audience then adjourned to Jim Hutchins plentiful refreshments courtesy Mill Creek, WA of Merlyn Johnson. * Many thanks to Brett Valli- ant, Merlyn Johnson, Ed and Lisa Lewis Patti Zollman, Mike Bryant, Jo Ann Evans, Bob Zat, and ev- *Seattle Tickets $22 at the door or eryone who made this delight- fulonline event atpossible!: www.brownpaper- tickets.com/event/3335525 An attentive audience enjoyed the special day PUGET SOUND PIPELINE • SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER 2018

The 2018 ATOS Convention: “Home in Pasadena” Review by Jamie Snell, photos by Jeff Snyder

This year’s convention of the American Alex Jones at Barnum Hall, Santa Mon- Tuesday, July 3 (Encore Day) Theatre Organ Society was based in ica (3/17 Wurlitzer) – He was last year’s Mark Hermann at the Nathan Barr Pasadena, CA and took place from June YTOC winner; his concert included “On Studio, Tarzana (3/19 Wurlitzer) – Top 29 through July 3, counting the Overture a Slow Boat to China” as a tribute to Jim standards including a Jerome Kern medley and Encore days. Seven PSTOS members Riggs and a Duke Ellington medley. and “Hot Dog” as the encore; the concert attended, and all concurred that it was Jelani Eddington at Old Town Music also featured a cameo performance by Da- fabulous in almost every way – top-tier Hall, El Segundo (4/27 Wurlitzer) – vid Marsh. Hermann was also the conven- performers and performances, instruments, Included an Ella Fitzgerald medley and a tion chair and deserves much credit for the venues, seminars, dining, camaraderie, etc. piano performance of “All the Things You convention’s success. (there were some bus delays). Are.” John Giacci at the Nethercutt Collec- Ron Rhode at Old Town Music Hall, El tion, Sylmar (4/73 Wurlitzer) – Top classic Segundo (4/27 Wurlitzer) – Some classic standards including a Rudolf Friml medley. tunes and some less well known, such as Christian Elliott at Founder’s Church, “Pietro’s Return,” composed by Pietro Los Angeles (4/31 Wurlitzer) – Mostly Deiro for accordion. pops, including a Victor Herbert medley Clark Wilson at the Orpheum Theatre, and one from Kiss Me Kate, and a few clas- Los Angeles (3/14 Wurlitzer) – Accompa- sical numbers such as Charles Ives’ “Varia- nied the classic 1923 Harold Lloyd silent tions on America,” appropriate for the eve filmSafety Last. of Independence Day. Sunday, July 1 Lee Isasacson, Fred Rowe, Phil Hargiss Dave Wickerham at the Wilshire Ebell AGO Programs Theatre, Los Angeles (3/13 Barton) – An Coming in September and October eclectic mix including standards, ragtime, “Teddy Bears’ Picnic,” two hymns, and the Sunday September 16, 2018, 3:00 pm “Blue Danube” waltz. Jonathan Moyer, organist, in the Richard D. Moe Organ Series at Pacific Lutheran University, Brett Valliant at the Wilshire Blvd. Tem- Tacoma, on the Fritts Organ in Lagerquist Hall. ple, Los Angeles (4/64 Kimball) – Unusual Dr. Moyer is music director and organist of the in the venue and the all-classical program, Church of the Covenant in Cleveland, Ohio including “Finlandia,” the Widor “Toccata” and assistant professor of organ at Oberlin and Bill Nalle’s arrangement of “All the College. Tickets: $17 General Admission, $10 Things You Are.” Military/60+/Alumni, $5 PLU/18 and younger Jeff Snyder, Jamie Snell, John Berg Annual Awards Banquet at the Altadena Friday September 21, 12:10 pm Town and Country Club. Jack Moelmann Andrew Koch, organist, plays a recital on the Here is a summary: was awarded “Organist of the Year”; Dr. John Brombaugh pipe organ at Christ Episcopal Friday, June 29 (Overture Day) Bill Coale was awarded “Member of the Church, 310 North K Street, Tacoma. Mr. Koch is Simon Gledhill at the Plummer Audito- Year” in recognition of his biography of a doctoral student in organ performance at the rium, Fullerton (4/37 Wurlitzer) – Notable George Wright; Phil Kelsall was awarded University of Washington, and is Organist at St. for a medley from Pinocchio and one of “Honorary Member”; Nigel Ogden and Alphonsus Roman Catholic Church in Seattle. Donation at the door. Anthony Newley songs. Also notable was John Cornue received “Special Merit” David Gray’s introduction, in which he awards. Dick Taylor and Ed Stout were Friday October 19, 8:00 pm playfully likened Simon Gledhill and Rich- elected to the Hall of Fame, ATOS’ highest Mahler Symphony # 2 “Resurrection” with ard Hills (playing that evening) to “god” award. organist David Briggs playing his own organ and “god celeste” of the theatre organ. transcription of the orchestral parts. Four choirs Monday, July 2 and two soloists provide the vocal parts. St. Pierre Fracalanza at the Trousdale Castle, David Gray at the El Capitan Theatre, James Cathedral, Seattle, suggested donation Placentia (3/26 Wurlitzer) – Best-of-the- Hollywood (4/37 Wurlitzer) – Memorable $25, advanced tickets at: best classic standards. for the Glenn Miller Medley and the sub- www.stjames-cathedral.org/music/concerts/ Richard Hills at the Pasadena Civic limely orchestrated “1812 Overture.” Mahler Auditorium (5/28 Moller) – Highlights Phil Kelsall at the San Gabriel Mission Sunday October 21, 2018, 3:00 pm included medleys from Snow White and Playhouse (3/17 Wurlitzer) – A sample 20th anniversary concert of the Gottfried and Finian’s Rainbow. of the “fun” style heard at the Blackpool Mary Fuch Organ built by Paul Fritts and Co, “Works for Organ solo and Organ plus”; PLU Saturday, June 30 Tower Ballroom in England, where Kelsall has been principal organist since 1977. University Organist Paul Tegels is joined by Svend Young Theatre Organist Competition at Rønning, violin; Jennifer Rhyne, flute; and the Barnum Hall, Santa Monica (3/17 Wur- Justin LaVoie at the Vic Lopez Audito- PLU Choral Union under the direction of Richard litzer) – The finalists were Brett Miller, rium, Whittier (4/24 Wurlitzer) – A very Nance. Tickets: $17 General Admission, $10 Mil- Ryan Hardy, and Luke Staisiunas. All played substantial concert, including medleys itary/60+/Alumni, $5 PLU/18 and younger. For very well; Staisiunas was proclaimed the from 42nd Street and Meet Me in St. Louis. updated information, visit our website winner. LaVoie was the YTOC winner in 2013. www.plu.edu/organ 4 PUGET SOUND PIPELINE • SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER 2018 PAGES FROM THE PAST… How Wurlitzer came to be the big name in theatre pipe organs, jukeboxes and more Part 1 of two parts In 1892, the United States govern- ment imposed high import tariffs on both locker rooms, showers, and cafeterias.” street and importation. The company was renamed the At this time only the French company of Rudolph Wurlitzer Company of North Gavioli had an office established in North Tonawanda. This allowed the company America, but the move deterred other to invest in new technology resulting in European organ manufacturers from the adoption of electric motors, and the doing the same. The result was that em- music source was changed from pinned bryonic American fairground ride man- barrels to perforated paper rolls similar to ufacturers were now starved of the high a player . Some larger organs, quality instruments to attract fair goers, such as the style 157 and style 165, have resulting in lower sales. duplex roll frames, on which one roll In 1883, William Herschell, son of car- plays while the other rewinds, allowing ousel builder Allan Herschell, traveled to for continuous music. Each paper roll to meet former Limonaire Fréres contained about ten songs, but during employee Eugene de Kleist. Backed by the Great Depression, this was changed Herschell, in 1893 de Kleist set up band to six longer songs, in order to save mon- organ production in what was then part ey on arranging. of Martinsville, New York (soon to be During the depression leading up to incorporated as North Tonawanda, New the end of production of organs, various York), founding the North Tonawanda cost-cutting measures were made, such as Factory. As parts were not the substitution of brass horn and trum- subject to the import tariffs, many of the pet pipes for ones made of wood. company’s early organs had Limonaire The production of Wurlitzer organs components. The company produced a The Tonophone brought about a com- ceased in 1942, the last organ to leave range of barrel organ-based products suit- mercial agreement between de Kleist and the factory being a style 165 organ in a ed for all ranges of fairground attraction. Wurlitzer, cemented in 1901 after Allan 157 case (done because Wurlitzer had an As production grew, de Kleist ap- Herschell left the Armitage Herschell proached other musical instrument manu- Company due to financial com- facturers to create new instruments under plications. This allowed de Kleist their brands. One of these companies to buy Armitage Herschell out was the Wurlitzer company of Cincinnati, and to seek new investment from Ohio. Wurlitzer said no to buying any his association with Wurlitzer. De of de Kleist’s existing barrel-organ-based Kleist was voted in as mayor of products, but said that they would buy North Tonawanda in 1906, and a coin-operated piano. As development Wurlitzer bought him out of the progressed, in 1903 the business was business in 1908. incorporated as the De Kleist Musical The Wurlitzer building is an Instrument Manufacturing Company. example of the early modernism The Tonopohone, played by a pinned style of architecture, with con- cylinder instead of being operated by struction beginning in 1892 and direct mechanical linkages, was pneumat- continuing until 1950. The build- ically operated. The cylinder pins lifted ing’s proximity to the Erie Canal levers which opened valves to a pneumat- may have been part of the draw ic mechanism which operated the piano. for Rudolph Wurlitzer. Howev- First shown at the 1901 Pan-American er, the structure itself was likely Exposition, the Tonophone won a gold an attraction as well. It was large medal at the exhibition, and went on to enough to accommodate every- be a commercail success. Today, there are thing he needed: “showrooms, thought to be fewer than four complete customer and product training and working Tonophones left in the areas, public relations reception world. rooms, employee recreation areas, 5 PUGET SOUND PIPELINE • SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER 2018

PAGES FROM THE PAST… Continued extra 157 case still in the factory and the owner didn’t mind the change). After the end of World War II, during which the company helped develop and then produce the variable timing prox- imity fuse for the U.S Navy, production changed to producing a variety of items, including radios, jukeboxes and electron- ic organs. The plant closed in 1973 and was purchased in the early 1980s by a group of investors with the goal of turn- ing the old plant into an industrial park. It all began in the 1800s The Wurlitzer family began cultivating its reputation for making and selling fine The Wurlitzer musical instruments during the 19th cen- factory in North tury. The father of the original Wurlitzer Tonawanda N.Y. company, Rudolph Wurlitzer, was born in in its glory days Schilbach, Saxony in 1829. At age 24 he immigrated to America and three years electric piano in 1896. This was just the offices in Chicago, the company also had later, in 1856, he founded The Rudolph beginning of what would prove to be a production facilities in Mississippi and Wurlitzer Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. continuing success story as the first Wur- Illinois. However, the North Tonawanda Initially he imported musical instruments litzer jukebox was just a step away. facility had the distinction of being the from his family in to sell on The next major musical venture for largest music instrument plant in the the American market, but soon made Wurlitzer came with the introduction world at the time. his way into manufacturing. In 1880, of cinema and theatre organs. These Although many products were created the first Wurlitzer piano was built in the instruments, dubbed the “Mighty Wur- in the Wurlitzer building, the “Mighty U.S., followed by the first coin-operated litzer,” created an instant sensation when Wurlitzer” may be Rudolph Wurlitzer’s they appeared on the market during the greatest legacy. They were a magnificent silent movie era. The introduction of line of organs that could be found all over Wurlitzer-driven musical soundtracks to the world. Places like Rockefeller Center, movies fostered dramatic changes within Lincoln Center, the Hollywood Bowl, St. the motion picture and entertainment Patrick’s Cathedral, Metropolitan Opera industries. Music Hall, and Kleinhans Music Hall Wurlitzer has historically implemented were some of the better-known venues to a philosophy still valid today of channel- have embraced the concert grand organ. ing flexibility and advanced technology into the development of innovative products. Consequently, Farny Wurlitzer, successor of the founding father, bought a patented jukebox mechanism in 1933 and hired highly skilled professionals for its design and marketing. From their new location in North Tonawanda, New York, these imaginative inventors developed the first Wurlitzer jukebox. Over the next few years Wurlitzer jukeboxes became widely embraced by operators, and by the late 1930s Wurlitzer was producing over 45,000 jukeboxes a year. The jukebox be- came known as the “small man’s concert hall.” The Wurlitzer Building in North For visiting dignitaries, it was a grand Tonawanda wasn’t alone in producing approach to the entrance to the Wurlitzer world-class musical instruments under factory in North Tonawanda, N.Y. Wurlitzer building in Chicago the Wurlitzer name. With executive 6