HALL OF FAME

---•Mildred Alexander Frederick Feibel Ambrose Larsen •--- Lowell C. Ayars Mildred M. Fitzpatrick Ann Leaf Edna S. Sellers Donald H. Baker Richard W. Leibert Preston H. Sellers, Jr. Stuart Barrie Paul H. Forster Leonard MacClain Gerald Shaw Dessa Byrd Dean L. Fossler Quentin Maclean Raymond G. Shelley Paul Carson John Gart Roderick H. "Sandy" Macpherson Arsene Siegel Gaylord B. Carter Irma Glen Albert Hay Malotte Milton Slosser Milton Charles Betty Gould Dr. Melchiore Mauro-Cottone Kathleen 0. Stokes Edwin L. "Buddy" Cole Thomas Grierson Kay McAbee Firmin Swinnen Bernie Cowham Arthur Gutow Alfred M. Melgard Helen A. Crawford John F. Hammond Ashley Miller Emil Velazco Jesse J. Crawford Elwell "Eddie" Hanson F. Donald Miller Deszo Von D' Antalffy Francis J. Cronin W. "Tiny" James Charles Sharpe Minor G. Oliver Wallace William R. Dalton Henri A. Keates John T. Muri Thomas "Fats" Waller Lloyd G. del Castillo Gordon Kibbee Henry B. Murtagh Jack Ward Frederick Kinsley Dr. Milton Page Edward J. Weaver Edward J. Dunstedter Rex Koury Henry Francis Parks Lew White Lee 0. Erwin, Jr. Sigmund Krumgold Dr. C. A. J. Parmentier Jean Wiener Francis "Gus" Farney Edith Lang Alexander Richardson ATOS AWARDS 1986 HALL OF FAME ment at the Wiltern Theatre. He also main­ Hotel in Santa Monica, the Huntington in The Hall of Fame Committee selected Gor­ tained the Los Angeles United Artists Wurlit­ Pasadena and other Los Angeles area hotels don Kibbee, a charter member of the Ameri­ zer from 1937 to 1942 and from 1952 to 1955. and country clubs. In 1958 he played for one can Enthusiasts, to be in­ After a term of military service during of the first ATOE conventions in Vallejo, ducted into the ATOS Hall of Fame in 1986. WWII, Kibbee returned to Los Angeles in California, and in 1979 he played at Richard Kibbee was born in Gearhart, Oregon, but 1945 and began his career in radio, playing or­ Simonton's home for the National Conven­ moved to Los Angeles at the age of one. He gan and piano for both NBC and CBS. He tion. began piano lessons when he was seven. also arranged music and played solo Ham­ Kibbee has recorded three long-playing When he was ten years of age, a pipe organ mond organ for many local and network pro­ discs of theatre organ music, one at the Rich­ was installed in a theatre in his neighborhood, grams including five days a week for seven ard Vaughn residence and two at the Lorin and Gordon delivered handbills, changed let­ years on the Beaulah Show starring Hattie Whitney Studio. Since 1970 he has been ters on the marquee and did other odd jobs McDaniels. teaching classes in organ at the Burbank for the theatre owner in exchange for practice Gordon continued his studies in composi­ Adult School and classes in commercial and time on the organ. tion and arranging at the California Academy jazz harmony and improvisation at Los An­ Gordon majored in music in high school of Music and at California State University geles City College. and took lessons during his high school years where he earned teaching credentials which Gordon Kibbee was unable to attend the with Charles Davis Carter (the father of Gay­ qualified him for teaching in adult schools Convention and receive this honor in person, lord Carter) and the late Erwin Yeo. and community colleges. so he asked Lowell Ayars, himself a Hall of In the early years, Kibbee played at the Fox From 1956 to 1967 he played the Ham­ Fame member, to accept the award on his Figueroa Theatre and a six-month engage- mond in a trio for dancing at the Miramar behalf.

ATOS HONORARY MEMBERS ATOS PAST PRESIDENTS 1959 - 1973 - Al and Betty Mason ..... February 1955-October 1958 1960 - Famy 197 4 - Lloyd E. Klos Judd Walton .•...... October 1958-July 1961 1961 - Mel Doner 1975 - Joe Patten Tiny James ...... July 1961-July 1964 1962 - Leonard MacClain 1976 - Floyd and Doris Mumm Carl Norvell...... July 1964-July 1966 Dick Schrum ...... July 1966-July 1968 1963 - Eddie Dunstedter 1977 - Les and Edith Rawle Al Mason ...... July 1968-July 1970 1964 - Reginald Foort 1978 - Len Clarke Stillman Rice ...... July 1970-July 1972 1979 - B. Nethercutt 1965 - Dan Barton J. Erwin A. Young ...... July 1972-July 1974 1966 - W. "Tiny" James 1980 - Sidney Torch Paul M. Abernethy ...... July 1974-July 1976 1967 - Erwin A. Young 1981 - No selection made Ray F. Snitil...... July 1976-July 1978 1968 - Richard C. Simonton 1982 - Lloyd G. del Castillo Preston M. Fleet ...... July 1978-November 1978 1969 - Judd Walton 1983 - Marian Miner Cook Tommy Landrum ...... November 1978-July 1980 1970 - Bill Lamb 1984 - William P. Brown Richard R. Haight ...... July 1980-June 1981 1971 - George & Vi Thompson 1985 - Preston M. "Sandy" Fleet Lois F. Segur ...... July 1981-July 1983 Rex Koury ...... •..... July 1983-August 1985 1972 - Stu Green 1986 - Robert M. Gilbert

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1986 THEATRE ORGAN 29 Hector Olivera receiving the Award of Special Merit Lowell Ayars accepts the Hall of Fame Award for Gordon Kibbee. Dave Junchen is presented the Award for Technical for developing the 01 instrument . (Ward) (Ward) Excellence by Board Member Allen Miller . (Feely)

ORGANIST OF THE YEAR tant and conductor. of other excellent installations to his credit. Thomas Hazleton has established himself The National Board of Directors of ATOS Dave is a member of the American Institute in the forefront of American organists. His is most pleased to have elected Tom Hazleton of Organ builders and is the author of the En­ concert tours have taken him back and forth as 1986 Organist of the Year. cyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ. across the United States and to Canada and His contributions to theatre organs and their Australia. He has performed on the most music also include pioneering the use of the prestigious theatre and classical organs the AW ARD OF SPECIAL MERIT solid state relay for pipe organs and arranging This year the National Board of Directors rolls for automatic musical instruments. world over. of ATOS voted to establish an Award of Spe­ Dave Junchen now lives in Pasadena, Cali­ Tom grew up on the Monterey Peninsula, cial Merit to be given to honor those who have fornia, where he specializes in design, consul­ on the northern California coast, where he made special contributions to the theatre or­ tation, voicing and tonal finishing of theatre began instruction in organ with Robert M. gan movement which might not fit under ex­ and classical pipe organs while completing the Forbes. He completed his undergraduate isting categories. second and third volumes of his Encyclo­ studies at San Francisco State University. The person selected by the Board to receive pedia. During those years he developed an interest in this honor for 1986 was Hector Olivera for his the theatre organ and was pleased to be chos­ creativity and ingenuity in developing and HONORARY MEMBER OF THE YEAR en to play the inaugural concert on the re­ constructing the 01 Orchestra touring instru­ The 1986 Honorary Member of the Year is stored organ in San Francisco's Paramount ment. THEATRE ORGAN Editor Robert M. Gil­ Theatre. Tom completed additional study at bert. The Board of Directors elected Bob Gil­ the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and AW ARD FOR TECHNICAL bert for this honor because he has contributed with Richard Purvis. EXCELLENCE so generously of his time and talent to further Tom Hazleton has recorded sixteen albums The Award for Technical Excellence is the aims and goals of ATOS. thus far, all of which have been well received. given each year to a person who is involved Bob has been a member of ATOS since His reputation as an outstanding organist has with theatre organs used primarily for public 1956, and has been active in Nor-Cal Chapter brought him many an interesting assignment presentation and who has demonstrated a where he served as editor and publisher of the at the console, including a number of perfor­ knowledge of the technical aspects of theatre Windsheet since the early 1960s. He assumed mances at ATOS National Conventions. pipe organs by installing, maintaining and im­ the job as editor of THEATRE ORGAN in proving these instruments in an efficient and the fall of 1981, and has done a superb job in Mr. Hazleton is organist at St. Johns Vian­ workmanlike manner. that capacity. ny Parish in Walnut Creek, California, as well The 1986 recipient of this award is David L. The Board has accepted, with regret, Bob's as Director of Music and organist at Congre­ Junchen who is, perhaps, best known for hav­ retirement as editor, and wishes to express gation Beth Am in Los Altos. He is in con­ ing installed the 5/28 Moller in the Pasadena their appreciation and gratitude for all that he stant demand as a recitalist, lecturer, consul- Civic Stadium. Dave has, however, a number has done for ATOS. □

Tom Hazleton, flanked by Jack Moelmann and Dr. John Landon , accepts his award as Or- Jack Moelmann congratulates Bob Gilbert who is the 1986 Honorary Member of the Year. ganistoftheYear. (Feely) (Feely)

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