Ehapter NOTE~

cini's scores of "Peter Gunn" and "Mr. and an excellent organist, many years Potomac Valley Member Lucky", Irving Berlin and "Duke" ago in the theatres. I located Ace at a Has Prestige Job Ellington, and others. concert and returned the book with a The American Film Institute The Another fine dealer with whom I thousand apologies, saying "I'm dread atre located in the John F. Kennedy have done a lot of business is Mr. Tom fully sorry, Ace, but I don't usually Center for the Performing Arts, Wash Radcliffe of 210 Ocean Avenue, Ocean keep borrowed music this long!" Only ington, D.C., the National Cultural City, New Jersey. At one time Mr. about 30 years! Center, has as its organist and musical Radcliffe had many of his show tunes If you have any questions , drop me consultant, Potomac Valley Chapter and glossy prints from the old shows a line at 17 West Browning Road, ATOS member Ray Brubacher. Ray is mounted on cardboard that could be Collingswood, N. J. 08108. Who at the console of the Rodgers Theatre displayed on peg boards on stands. knows, I may be in the old music Organ to accompany all silent films These displays attracted wide at business myself one of these days. □ presented by the A.F .I. □ tention at various malls and I had the pleasure of playing organs in con junction with the show, filling requests of the songs displayed. Incidently, the most requested number was "Mandy" from The Ziegfeld Follies, don't ask me what year! We were in New Rochelle, New York for a week, Hunt ington, Long Island and nearby Moorestown, New Jersey. It was while playing old tunes here that a lovely young girl requested "TipToe Through eHAPTERNOTE~ the Tulips" many times as she was an ardent admirer of Tiny Tim. It was no surprise to me to learn a little later that she was Miss Vickey who later ',ecame Mrs. Tiny Tim. ALABAMA Motor City Chapter did in handling Mr. Radcliffe was selling his num The Alabama Chapter was repre the mountains of details such a con bers at $2.00 a copy, the last I wrote sented at the National Convention this vention entails. him. Usually a small postage charge is year by Chapter Chairman Riedel The convention ended rather due on these numbers. West, Dr. and Mrs. Cecil Prescott, abruptly for this correspondent. I re Some of my friends have found Ralph and Jim Ferguson and Alleen ceived word of my husbands heart some wonderful old music, in their Cole. We had a ball and we were attack and I had to rush off - sort of own neighborhood, on a trash box, impressed with the tremendous job the "in the heat of the day without my waiting to be carried away to the dump. Another friend recently took a bus trip to New Hope, Pennsylvania. This colorful town is in the heart of Bucks County, the home of many show people, retired actors, artists, etc. Many European show folk retire here. My friend was browsing through an antique shop where she found a lot of old music. As she joined her group at the restaurant, owned by that once great French actress, Odette Mytel, she was ecstatic about her bargain, saying, "I got all of this for $5 .00 and I could have had lots more if I could have carried them." I am still hunting certain numbers and I suppose you are, too. If you are interested, contact these dealers and get on the mailing lists. What a thrill it is, when the postman delivers your package of music, to tear off the wrappings and try it over and over. You will be on Cloud Nine all day with your find. Recently in our attic I found an old out-of-print overture book. I was hor rified to see the name of Ace Pancoast A labama Chapter presents brother and sister act with presentation of Cathy and Tom Helms on it. I worked with Ace, a fine fellow during July meeting at Alabama Theatre 4 / 20 Wurlitzer. (Thomas L. Hatter Photo/ 44 THEATRE ORGAN OCTOBER, 1974 blanket." I'll take this opportunity to Wayne V. Russell, his son Harold, and Steve Rechtoris in Indianapolis for an thank everyone for their help and the Miss Jody Jensen. interesting variety of music, and not good wishes sent our way. I'm happy After a brief meeting, those attend all organ. The first and more serious to report Don is improving and is ing the meeting were invited to play portion of the program was presented already planning a trip to San Fran the giant Wurlitzer. The members of by Bernice Fraction, well known cisco next year! the chapter would like to thank Mr. coloratura soprano from Indianapolis. In July, a program was presented Lawrence Bray for this opportunity Her program included operatic, secular by Tom Helms, a 20 year-old from and also for the use of his kitchen and classical numbers. Her charm, Pensacola, Florida. His parents, Mr. facilities. talent and versatility were a delight to everyone. The group then moved to and Mrs. T.F. Helms, Sr., started him MAXINE V. RUSSELL on his musical education at the age of the downstairs recreation room for the 6, but as youngsters will do, he gave second part of the program presented up music and didn't begin again until A glimpse of San Francisco . .. by several well known Indianapolis 1972. He is presently studying organ personalities. at the University of Alabama. He is Johnny Winn, guitarist and house organist for the Saeng·er Theatre banjoist, whose famed Johnny Winn in Pensacola and serves as director of Trio performed in the 40's and 50's on music and organist for the Holy Spirit radio and television in Indianapolis, Catholic Church in Tuscaloosa. started the program with a group of It is amazing how beautifully Tom selections from that period. A "new" handled the big 4/20 Wurlitzer at the Johnny Winn Trio suddenly sprang Alabama with very effective reg into being, complete with vocalist, istrations and a good selection that when Jack Murray (a member of the included "oldies", pop-tunes, ballads, original trio), and our hostess, classicals, show music and a march. Virginia, joined Johnny at the Ham About half-way through his pro mond organ and piano respectively. gram, a new sound came through, like Jack has been an organist around town a Vox Humana. But no, it was the for a number of years, is well known voice of his sister, Cathy. She went in teaching circles and as the owner of over big with the audience as she a music store, and for many years has joined Tom in several numbers. played in a number of restaurants For the August meeting, we quote around town. Jack and Virginia each member Riedel West, who says: performed several organ solos. Virginia "Atlanta may never be the same has been a well known figure in musical again!" On August 11, members of the circles in Indianapolis for many years, Alabama Chapter "invaded" Atlanta doing theatre organ, TV and radio for a joint meeting with the South work and presently is organist-director eastern Chapter at the Fox Theatre. of Chapel Door on WISH-TV. They were surprised by the appearance It was a lovely setting for an of Lee Erwin at the console of the early June meeting and we do thank "Mighty Mo." As a special treat, Mr. the Rechtorises for their hospitality. Erwin played many selections from his The Embassy Theatre in Fort new Angel recordings of Scott Joplin's Wayne was the location of our July ragtime and some of his own scores meeting which turned out to be a from "Sound of Silents." Mr. Erwin is weekend affair. Some 25 to 30 mem really a master at the theatre organ. bers arrived around noon on Saturday. We are grateful to Joe Patten and After a tour of the theatre, several Bob Vancamp for arranging this visit. hours of open console time gave every Everyone who can, should try to get one a chance to play the beautiful to Atlanta. This group is working hard 4/14 Page. to try to save the Fox Theatre. We A tour was made of several down hope that our chapter visit helped to See it all at . .. town Fort Wayne installations. The first was the Scottish Rite Auditorium show that this magnificent theatre and ATOS CONVENTION organ should remain a part of Atlanta. July 15-20, 1975 which has a lovely, but small, 2/6 Wicks. This was played in the usual ALLEEN COLE good styling of Tim Needler so we could hear the beautiful tone of this BEEHIVE CENTRAL INDIANA interesting installation. Pipes and Pancakes!!! '' Jam session" doesn't usually We then went to Trinity English On June 2, members of the Beehive describe a normal ATOS meeting, Evangelical Lutheran Church where Chapter and their guests enjoyed a however, the June meeting of CIC Richard A. Carlson, organist-choir pancake, bacon and egg breakfast ATOS might well be called just that. master, explained the chamber lo meeting at The Organ Loft. About 80 members gathered at the cations and stops of the 4/91 Aeolian The breakfast was prepared by lovely home of Virginia (Byrd) and Skinner organ. He played a short OCTOBER, 1974 THEATRE ORGAN 45 program to exploit to the fullest this played from the same installation of magnificant instrument. Trinity also pipes, but they cannot be played has a lovely pipe organ in the chapel simultaneously.

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