Meet Milldred Allexander ~ Vila Video Tape

The announcement that Mildred drunks and organ fans. "They don't. She's the first one." Alexander's methods of learning to "Sir, we're closing now." "Her name?" play the organ are now available on "But I just returned from overseas, "I dunno - Mildred something. video tape comes as no surprise to and I haven't heard music like this She's new here. Been playing about a those who have observed her remark­ since before the war." week - and she'll keep it up all able career, which is divided among The chief usher was not unsympa­ night." teaching, philosophy, writing, com­ thetic. "You're not the first one to I looked at that lovely mop of au­ posing and concert engagements. It is linger. In fact there's someone down burn hair and the spiked heels as my one of the most fascinating success here nearly every night - with their ears soaked up the music. The gal un­ stories, and one which validates the ears wide open.'' dulated slightly as she played. I never musical scene in the USA in recent "Who is the organist? I didn't saw her face. She was unaware of a years. Millie has been in the vanguard know the Hall presented gal organ­ worshiper across the expanse of the of American musicality since her ear­ ists." orchestra pit. The usher glanced at his liest days, and she couldn't have been more than three years old when she first picked up finger exercises she heard her older sister playing, and plunked them out with great accuracy on the family piano. That was in Dur­ ham, North Carolina, Millie's home town. This writer's first encounter with the Alexander magic came about by happenstance. He had just returned from living for many years in Europe, and wanted to catch up on the current American scene. As his port of entry was New York, what better cross sec­ tion than the Radio City Music Hall? He caught the last showing of a for­ gettable movie, and then it happened. The little curtain which then masked the organ console opened and the the­ atre was flooded with organ music for exiting patrons. The organist was a girl and she was pedalling with spiked heels! I edged down to the wide or­ chestra pit and simply gaped; no the­ atre in the USA had featured an organ "march out" for many years. I soon caught the attention of the chief usher, an elderly man whose attention at that time was focused on clearing the auditorium of stragglers, sleepers,

JULY/AUGUST 1983 watch. Sadly, I left, but with the lift was proper . So were the instruments to get adequate instruction. Mildred only good organ sounds can generate. they played. When Mildred tried was well aware of this; on her numer­ That was my first sampling of the some of their tunes on her church or­ ous Hammond demo concerts she Alexander styling and it made a per­ gan, the results were far from satisfy­ was approached many times by peo­ manent impression, yet I didn't learn ing. ple asking for instruction. She ex­ the full name of the organist until ten She asked her teacher about the amined the teaching material then years later. But we are getting ahead great difference, and was told in available. Most was warmed-over of our story, so back to Mildred, the scornful tones that those people courses by pianists and pipe organ­ child, in Durham, North Carolina, a played on those god-awful theatre or­ ists, and much of it was over the heads town remembered largely for that gans, and that their music was an and abilities of home organ pur­ daring (for that time) billboard pic­ abomination. chasers, or simply inadequate. Mil­ turing a very complete bull and plug­ She lost no time in tracking down dred recalled the difficulty she had in ging Bull Durham ''pipe terbacky.'' one of those "abominations." It was her early years obtaining organ in­ The trademark caused a furor among during the '30s when many theatres struction, not to mention the narrow '20s bluenoses. No matter, tobacco sold their unused organs to churches. range of that instruction when avail­ country survived, and one happy by­ One was located in the recreation hall able. product was Mildred. of a Durham church, a sweet little Why not a practical course which At the age of 12 she made her piano two-manual Wurlitzer graduated cum would instruct beginners, intermedi­ concert debut before an admiring au­ laude from a movie house which no ates and advanced students and at the dience of Durham parents. During longer needed it since the installation same time maintain a high interest the same year she discovered another of "Photo-phone" - "talkies," that level? A course based on her experi­ musical wonder - an organ in a is. ence, with easy-to-understand in­ church. This little wheezer had to be It wasn't long before Mildred was struction books plus a network of her dream instrument, so she switched broadcasting the Wurlitzer over teaching studios staffed by instruc­ her studies to classical organ. Before WDNC, CBS radio outlet in Dur­ tors well-versed in the Alexander ac­ long she was an accomplished church ham. She was hired sight unseen, cumulation of music styling started to organist, capable of belting out through an audition record. She take shape in her mind. The course hymns, spirituals and a few pieces of didn't dare approach the manager in would eliminate most of the rigid and classical organ literature. person because she knew he would tedious formalities connected in times She began to feel that she had not hire a child! past with organ instruction. Instead, learned all she could in the old home She graduated from high school at her courses would follow an informal town - but not quite. 15 and was immediately hired by the approach. Emphasis was put on the On the radio and on records she station as musical director. On learn­ ease of playing organ, be it a parlor was hearing a quite different type of ing that Duke University had a pop spinet or a four-manual giant. organ music. Broadcasts by names organ course, she enrolled, but also Mildred had always kept notes con­ such as Jesse Crawford, Eddie Dun­ continued her classical studies. Why cerning her observations, impres­ stedter and Ann Leaf were brought to was the opportunity to learn to play sions, shortcuts, musical values and Durham by network radio. The music the organ so rare? Mildred vowed that talent quotients of interested parties. they played from studios far from one day she would do something She outlined her courses to fill several Durham was very different from about it. short volumes, designed to accommo­ what young Mildred had been taught Then the "big time" called and date the students' levels of accom­ Mildred moved to New York. Long plishment. Then to find a publisher "Omigawd, it's the President!" cries an excited Millie before that historic move she had dis­ who could be convinced of the value as she rallies the troops to greet a presidential look ­ alike during a Home Organ Festival concert . The lady covered the pioneer electric organ, the of her approach. There were then on obliged with a majestic "Hail to the Chief." Hammond. It would change her life. the market a number of hastily assem­ (Stardust Photo Service) In New York, she scored, arranged, bled, simplistic books on how to play conducted, played and was musical the organ, but they rarely went much director for many network TV shows. beyond a rudimentary version of Then Mildred's artistry came to the "Long, Long Ago" and similar easy attention of the Hammond Organ ones. Mildred was determined that Company and an association started her courses would not be self-limiting which would benefit both artist and just to show fast progress. After manufacturer over a period of many many disappointments she located years. The Hammond is still her fa­ the right publisher, Charles Hansen vorite electric organ, although it has Publications, Inc. changed considerably over the years, One of Mildred Alexander's most discarding Laurens Hammond's orig­ notable traits is her ability to establish inal tone wheel generating system for rapport with an audience immediate­ solid-state oscillators. ly. She soon has each individual feel­ The electric, and later the electron­ ing as though she is addressing him ic, organ made the instrument avail­ personally - and she is. Two of the able for home use. And the initial reasons she has been able to establish price was right - $1,250.00. Many arrangements with nearly six hundred people bought them but were unable music studios across the country to

THEATRE ORGAN JULY/ AUGUST 1983 of these often very commercial events, it's Millie. She provides the human touch. Millie's instruction in person is so much in demand that she often ar­ ranges for some classes to be held after the "extravaganza," holding the dedicated students in her spell usually for a one-extra-day cram ses­ sion. She calls such extensions "hap­ penings" but they are actually well­ planned, intensive learning sessions, attended mostly by advanced students of the Method, or those who simply want to bask longer in the Alexander charisma. She also runs teacher qual­ ification exams during these extra days. Not all who try pass the tests; Millie can be an exacting taskmaster Millie with Leroy Davidson. She recorded her " Sweetest Sounds " album in his studio . Leroy is a former Alexander where the quality of teaching is in­ Method student who now teaches by the Method in southern California . ( Stardust Photo Service) volved. use her Mildred Alexander Method of teacher or concert player, her sched­ The constant travel to and from Organ Mastery are the common sense ule calls for frequent travel to any­ concerts and teaching sessions pre­ applied to her approach to learning where in the USA and sometimes out­ cludes much home life. Home life? and the personal magnetism she pro­ side. It's a red letter day for a local When Millie gets to her home in jects from the podium or stage. That studio to be able to present Mildred Oceanside, California, does she re­ latter quality is an immeasurable as­ Alexander in person, and the local lax? Nope. She writes a chapter for a set. To say that she charms members teachers who use her Mildred Alex­ new teaching manual, answers corre­ of both sexes in her classes and audi­ ander Method are glad to have her ap­ spondence, and then it's time for ences is putting it mildly. After a cou­ pear. After all, she is a star and a another of her frequent newsletters ple of learning sessions with Millie glamorous one - also the author of which go out almost monthly to the many are so mesmerized by her en­ the lessons they have been struggling many teachers who live by her teach­ gaging personality that they trade in with. One of her favorite devices is to ing methods. "Just Between Us" is their spinet organs for larger models. connect with one of the "extravagan­ the title, and it's self-explanatory; in a A number of merchants will testify zas," "adventures" or "festivals" chatty style she tells about her adven­ that "trading up" is especially notice­ staged by the electronic organ soci­ tures on the concert circuit, gives able after a visit by Millie. eties for a usually three-day music some playing pointers (illustrated On the personal side, life hasn't jamboree. Some of these associations with notation), offers notation for an been too kind to Millie. The constant are national in scope and hold several organ arrangement by one of her travel was one hurdle. Three mar­ widely-separated weekend sessions a method teachers or students (the riages - one ended in death, one in year, often in some elegant metropoli­ writer once offered his ear-caught no­ divorce, and one in separation. One tan hotel. Such is the Amateur Organ­ tation for the Mary Hartman TV ex-husband, a well-known TV game ists Association International, the soaper, and she ran it). show MC, insists he's always been a brainchild of perennial AOAI offi­ Generosity is an Alexander failing, bachelor, although Millie just might cers, Crane Bodine and Ernest Samp­ or strength, if you prefer. For ex­ show you their marriage certificate son, who cut his editorial teeth on the ample, when she started publishing when the wind blows just rig.ht and long ago Hammond Times. The two her teaching manuals, she made them the moon is full. are dedicated organphiles. "Ernie" available to both teachers and stu­ The lady is on good terms with the Sampson is the editor of the associa­ dents instead of selling them through children which resulted from her mar­ tion's bi-monthly Hurdy Gurdy, teachers. Thus she had to forego any riages. She adores her daughter and which is eagerly devoured by the large Mildred Alexander originated the concept of high eldest son, who is a doctor. But her fa­ membership, especially coverage of heel pedalling when the Music Director at the Radio vorite has got to be her younger son, the most recent "extravaganza" com­ City Music Hall insisted. Her pioneer effort has since Milo, the only one of her children to bination learning and socializing ses­ been imitated by several other gal organists - but Millie did it first! ( Stardust Photo Service) become a professional musician. Milo sion. These events provide a perfect is an orchestral percussionist who, on setting for the Alexander talents. In occasion, plays drums to accent his fact, Millie has been one of the star at­ mother's organ music during con­ tractions since the AOAI started the certs. They're a team! various "extravaganzas," "mini­ So the dream of teaching thou­ shows" and week-long sea cruises sands to play the organ has come true during which enrollees are trans­ for Millie, but not without certain tra­ ported on an organ-equipped ''love vails. Because of the warmth inherent boat'' to romantic landings in the in her personal appearances, either as West Indies. If there is a constant star

JULY/AUGUST 1983 THEATRE ORGAN of course, but Mildred finds that even Millie's fans are always after her to billeting away from home can be al­ make recordings. Unfortunately, the most as dangerous to her health as her lady has a hangup when it comes to constant cigarette smoking. On one grooving; she insists that she can turn Canadian concert stop near the end of out a satisfactory LP only if it is 1969, she checked into a convenient played in the presence of an audience. motel and went to bed. She was awak­ Thus, her two most notable record­ ened by the smell of smoke. The ings were made during a concert at the structure was on fire! Millie donned Los Angeles Wiltern Theatre, where her slippers and staggered out into the she temporarily abandoned the famil­ hall only to find the stairwell ablaze. iar drawbars for the stopkeys of the She was aware that the smoke was Wiltern's 4/37 Kimball pipe organ. lulling her so she went back to the The records were good sellers but a room and tried to open the balcony later try proved a technical disaster. window; it opened to three inches, The taping was done during a morn­ blocked by a limiter! She was very ing concert during which bright sun­ near oblivion when firemen broke the light had warmed up the pipe cham­ window, wrapped Millie in a blanket ber on one side of the theatre but not and took her down the outside stair­ the other side when the weather turned way. She recovered quickly in the cold cloudy. Because heat raises the pitch air, just in time to watch the motel of organ pipes, the sunlight left the burn to the ground. Part of the fuel; pitch higher in that chamber than on her clothes, music, records, handbag the side with merely house tempera­ and suitcases. Her garments for the ture. The results didn't sound so bad next few hours (until she could wire to the concert audience, but the piti­ for funds) were her flannel nightshirt less microphone made a point of and a blanket. A magazine news item showing up the pitch difference. was headlined "Millie Nearly Fried!" Somehow the record got into mail cir­ But she played her concert! culation and was a cause of embar­ A wistful Mildred Alexander muses beneath the chandelier in her San Diego Studio complex. Air travel has also threatened her rassment to Millie until she disposed (Stardust Photo Service) on occasion. One time she gave an of remaining stacks in a novel way. assistant her plane ticket so he could One of the organ magazines tells us profits other than royalties from the sub for her in a distant city. The air­ that she loaded cartons of grooved publisher. It has cost her plenty. Even liner was involved in a minor crash. vinyl onto a friend's boat and got her­ so, she has been plagued by plagiarists No one hurt, but Millie couldn't help self piloted out into the Pacific Ocean who have issued books and arrange­ wondering if there was a message in off San Diego, then had herself a ments lifted from her copyrighted all the negative happenings. great time scaling the records across work. Does she take them to court? Yet, she keeps up her sunny demea­ the whitecaps, until all had sunk into Not necessarily; she usually grins and nor. One thing she employs as a trade­ the briny. That's Millie! bears it; she is most interested in ad­ mark is her southern origin, empha­ More recently she cut a fine record vancing the art of organ playing. sized by frequent playings of "Dixie" on a Hammond X66 in Leroy David­ But the ''lifting'' of material does and her "magnolias and mint julep" son's West Covina studio (he's also not stop with simple piracy. She speech patterns. On one occasion she one of her proteg€s), and to remain was introduced to the late Randy charges each teacher who teaches by true to form she filled the studio with her method a small annual license fee. Sauls, a long-ago silent film accompa­ invited guests to help raise the adrena­ Actually, she has no way of insuring nist, who was also the author of a lin. It worked! The Sweetest Sounds is payment; her books are sold on the course in organ technique. Randy was one of her most popular releases. open market. So she sometimes sees a born in Mississippi, which is far south sign in a music studio window stating of Millie's North Carolina. The intro There is so much more to say about that ''This Studio Teaches by the Mil­ went something like this. Mildred Alexander. She's a colorful dred Alexander Method," which may Millie: Ahm Millie Alexandah. woman. With the completion of six be the first the author knew about it. Wheyah yew furn? hours of video teaching cassettes, She tolerates such freeloaders al­ Randy: Ahm furn Mis'sip, Millie. now anyone interested in learning to though she could have tied up the Wheyah yew furn? play the organ can study with Mildred loose ends through an exclusive distri­ Millie: Ahm furn Nawth Car'lah­ Alexander practically "in person." bution arrangement. It's all for the na, Rayendy. You can come under the spell of this advancement of playing know-how, Randy: Dayamn yang-kee! magnetic personality and at the same and where, she reasons, could better Both "rebs" had kept their speech time learn to play. So we won't write instruction be found? She recently and southern beginnings well honed any further about her. It's better that moved her publishing effort to the and after that encounter both broke you meet her on your home screen. Bradley Publishing Company. Typi­ into laughter at the lengths they had You, too, may fall under her spell. cally, Richard Bradley is a Millie pro­ gone to prove it - especially since And who knows? She just might tege. they were meeting on yankee terri­ make an organist of you! The frequent travel has been tiring, tory. STU GREEN □

20 THEATRE ORGAN JULY/AUGUST 1983