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Transcribed by Lloyd E. Klos

For a number of years, we've been me to a small theatre on Chicago's their first palatial motion picture the­ hearing of the musical artistry of a south side. The management was atre, the Tivoli. I went to its opening theatre and radio organist, Dean pleased with my work, and I was off and was simply enthralled by the play­ Fossler. Obtaining his address, we to a flying start. ing of Jesse Crawford, who had been contacted him. Considerable time "I played piano there for several brought from California to play the elapsed because Mr. Fossler is an ex­ months, learning more about accom­ first big Wurlitzer in Chicago, a 3/ l 7. tremely modest fell ow, not prone to panying the pictures. As time pro­ I just had to have an organ like that to blowing his own horn, as it were. gressed, I was offered other positions, play! However, following his induction each better than the preceding one. "In 1921, the great Chicago The­ into the Theatre Organists Hall of "By then, I was studying the pipe atre opened with Jesse Crawford at Fame in 1979, he came through with organ, having a desire to play one in a the console of the 4/ 29 Wurlitzer, and sufficient material for us to formulate theatre. An increasing number of Milton Charles, also from California, a story.· Chicago theatres had installed organs succeeding Jesse at the Tivoli. Dean L. Fossler was born in Chica­ by that time, many of them two-man­ go in 1895. ''My musical career began ual, six-stop Kimballs. (The Kimball ''Though I was still playing at a with piano lessons at six. Music came factory was located in Chicago.) The very nice, but small theatre, I was to me rather easily, for at about ten I only theatres in Chicago having Wur­ itching to get my hands on one of the was accompanying my elder brother litzers were the Cort (Opus 2) and the large Wurlitzers. I went to see Jesse at who played cornet and sang quite Vox (Opus 14). All these instruments the Chicago, who arranged to hear well. were far cries from the later ones built me play one night after the show. '' I was graduated from high school by Wurlitzer and Robert-Morton. Though I approached the large con­ at 16, having skipped two grades "I subsequently landed my first job sole with some trepidation, I some­ along the way. After one year of col­ at a theatre organ, though I don't re­ how managed to play it to his satisfac­ lege, I decided that my ability to play call the theatre's name. But it was tion. piano could be a means of earning a there that I really became adept in '' A few days later, he attended the living. Seeing a booking agent, he sent movie accompaniment. I then went to matinee at the Vista and told me to the 800-seat Vista Theatre on 47th Dean Fossler in 1980, still active as a musician. Street where I played several years. Dean at the Amos 'n Andy theme song Wurlitzer at (Foss/er collection) "However, my theatrical career WMAQ, Chicago, about 1934. (Foss/er collection) was interrupted in 1917 when Ameri­ ca entered World War I. To avoid the draft, I enlisted in the Navy, along with a large number of Chicago musi­ cians. I was placed in the Band De­ partment and compelled to learn a band instrument. Besides that work, I had e·xperience in dance bands, shows, etc. "When the great influenza epidem­ ic came in 1918, I was one of the first to contract it, and came close to dying because the doctors knew very little about treating the disease. After weathering that crisis, I was mustered out in 1918 and returned to Chicago and the Vista Theatre. "In 1920, Balaban & Katz, the larg­ est theatre chain in Chicago, opened

THEATRE ORGAN give my notice to the management. Louis, but finally was reinstalled in He placed me at the Tivoli as assistant my old position at the Chicago The­ to Milton Charles, and this, I believe, atre where I was very happy. TRAVEL was the biggest thrill of my life. "Talkies came in during the late twenties and though work decreased Before and After San Francisco ''The management thought a great ATOS Convention deal of my picture accompaniment, for the organists, I was kept by B & K and a few months later, moved me to until 1932. The day after my depar­ the Roosevelt Theatre on State Street ture from the chain, their manager of ~HAWAII~ music called me, suggesting I go to downtown, to play its 3/20 Kimball, a JuNE 25 - JuLY1 beautiful instrument. I also did some WMAQ for an audition. I had no idea $749 work at the Chicago, just a block for what, but found out that it was to do the 'Amos 'n Andy' theme, 'The Per Per son sharin g tw o-t o- ro o m includ es: away, also on State. • Reduced Ai rfare from West Coast '' At this time, Balaban & Katz Perfect Song' (from the 1915 picture • 747 Scheduled Airline ordered a duplicate console for the Birth of a Nation). Until that time, • SF Stopover • 4 Days in HONOLULU Chicago so that Jesse and his wife, the theme had been played for the • 2 Days on Big Island HAWAII Helen (also a fine organist), could show by a small combo. • See an Active Volcano, KILAUEA , in Hawaii 's Volcano Nationa l Park perform as a team. She had previous­ "I auditioned all afternoon while • Polynesian Cultural Center Dinner Show ly been at the Roosevelt. the advertising people for Pepsodent '' I was then moved to the Chicago toothpaste listened by remote control as assistant organist, playing Sunday in their offices. At 4 p.m. I was in­ ~ALASKA~ noon concerts as well as a daily pro­ formed that they would try it with me Inside Passage Cruise gram from the theatre over WMAQ once that evening. 7 Days which had a large following. The "Well, that one night became the Anchorage to Vancouver Aboard Gunn School of Music hired me to first of five straight years, until Free­ CUNARD PRINCESS teach theatre organ in my off-hours. man Gosden and Charles Correll From time to time, I was sent to other moved the show to California. I ]ULY 7 - 16 B & K theatres: Uptown, Tivoli, Par­ played the Amos 'n Andy show in Outside Cabin $1276 adise, etc. Chicago from June 1932 until Sep­ Inside Cabin $1126 "In 1926, they sent me to Detroit tember 1937. Per Perso n sharin g two -t o-roo m includ es: where I opened the 4000-seat Michi­ • All Meals "My association with Gosden and • Lavish Entertainment gan Theatre, playing a beautiful 5/28 Correll was a most pleasant one. Af­ • Fly to SF Co nventio n July 1st Wurlitzer. The organ had been in­ ter they moved to the coast , I didn't • On to Ancho rage via DC10 stalled at the same time the builders of • See Gulf of Ala ka , Columbia & Hubbard see them again until 1940 when I G laciers , Prince Wi lliam Sound , Tracy the theatre were working on construc­ moved to California. I was called to Arm Fjord , Juneau , Ketchikan tion. This resulted in an abnormal • Ride narrow gauge railway in Skagway play a two-manual Estey for a party at • Special airfare to fly home July 16th amount of sawdust, plaster dust, etc., the mansion of Earl C. Anthony, the from Vancouver being in the air and some of it settled Packard dealer in Los Angeles. • Optional ferry to Victoria Butchart Gardens in the pipe valves and magnet s. Charley Correll and Freeman Gosden "For my opening solo, I wanted to attended, and we had a renewal of show off the organ, and had prepared friendships. SOUTHERN a flashy introduction. In the middle "The show's announcer, Bill Hay, ~CALIFORNIA~ of it, a cipher developed in the Bom­ and I were very good friends. He and barde ! As you know, the Born barde is ]ULY 7 -10 his wife invited Mrs. Fossler and me $359 a very loud organ stop. It sounded for to their beautiful Palm Springs home, the remainder of the solo, and it did and we had a delightful visit with • Ride Amt rak 's daylight stream liner to nothing to calm my nerves! LOS A GELES them. • 2 Nig hts at PARK PLAZA HOTEL "Another disquieting thing oc­ "While doing A & A, I also played • Open Conso le on Robe rt-Mo rton curred there during my second week. I • 1 ight Anaheim 's GRAND HOTEL for 'The Goldbergs' and 'Lum & Ab­ • DISNEYLA D Admission began my solo, with the console at ner,' which were handled by the same • Fireworks low level, rising into the spotlight to • Hear Spectacu la r 225-ra nk C RYSTA L agency. I didn't lose any time with the solo level. But, the elevator didn't CATH EDRAL Co ncert Organ change of the A & A show to Califor­ stop there - it kept rising! There was nia, for I was immediately offered a PLUS .. . a loud crunch as it tore into the stage ROSEMARY BAILEY staff position on NBC in Chicago. apron and started to wobble. 4 35 WURLITZER CONCERT "Needless to say, it scared me and I "While working in Chicago, a CHRIS ELLIOTT jumped off the organ seat to the stairs friend took me to see a relative, Lau­ 3 20 WURLITZER CONCERT at the side, while the console rose to rens Hammond of the Hammond about a foot above stage level and Clock Co., who was experimenting Write for full details to: with an electric organ. He asked me to swayed dangerously. I suppose the Tom Norman, Genera l Manager audience thought I was trying to do an try the working model and give my opinion. Previously, he had a cele­ G. S. & Associates acrobatic stunt! There was no solo! 2021 E. La Habra Boulevard "Even though I was treated with brated church organist try it, who said La Habra, California 90631 great regard in Detroit, I did not care that it had no future. (213) 697-1701 / (714) 871-3722 for the city, and asked to be returned "Even though the instrument was to Chicago. I refused a position in St. in a very primitive stage, I was able to

MARCH / APRIL 1983 THEATRE ORGAN 9 Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll, the Amos 'n Andy duo, shown in Chicago in 1931. (Klos collection) get a lot of music out of it and could Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, who worked for P .0. after his moving to see its great possibilities. Mr. Ham­ played Sherlock Holmes and Dr. California. Baldwin and Allen were mond was thrilled with what I did Watson, respectively. Well acquainted other firms for whom I worked, sell­ with it, and told my friend .that I had with Billie Burke during the run of her ing organs, and demonstrating for stimulated more than ever his desire show, I found her a delightful and prospective buyers. to go on with its development. charming lady who loved to hear me ''Though I retired in 1964, I was ''The Hammond came on the mar­ play the old songs which were fea­ pressured into accepting a position in ket in 1935 and was a sensation. I was tured in the Ziegfeld Follies. (She was a lovely church where I played over 11 one of the first buyers and have had formerly married to Florenz Zieg­ years and which I enjoyed very much. two other models since. I am in­ feld.) I have attempted to retire completely, trigued by all makes of electronic or­ .-.I was staff organist for NBC, but I guess that's impossible, for I get gans, but of course, I have my favor­ CBS and ABC, the last being the Red calls to substitute in churches and I ites. Network of NBC then. I had to jump enjoy this. This will probably occur "In 1939, I decided I needed a new in and play a program at a moment's for the rest of my days. start - a new outlook. After giving notice, whenever the scheduled artist my notice to NBC, I took off for Cali­ failed to show or something happened "At age 85 (in 1980), I'm still going fornia in April, and never went back. to the cross-country lines. It was nec­ strong. I have so much for which to be I served as staff organist on all the essary to keep a sizeable list of musi­ thankful, a wonderful vocation and radio networks in Los Angeles, play­ cal numbers on file for clearance in never without work, except when I ing for such shows as 'i Love a Mys­ just such emergencies. want to be. I have a lovely daughter, a tery,' 'The Adventures of Sherlock '' In 1951, I had serious surgery and fine son-in-law and four grand- , Holmes,' 'The Billie Burke Show' was unable to work for a year. Be­ children. My wife and I had 55 years and 'The Guiding Light' (when it coming well again, I was hired by of happiness together when she was originated in Los Angeles), to name a Penny Owsley Music Co. of Los An­ taken from me. few. geles to demonstrate and sell Ham­ "My life as a musician has been a "I had a pleasant association with mond organs. Jesse Crawford also very joyful and rewarding one." □

Chicago NBC studios, left the Civic Opera, and right the Merchandise Mart, where Dean Fassler played the Amos and Andy theme while the show originated in Chicago .