ATOS NovDec 50-6 G 10/21/08 7:32 PM Page 1 JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN THEATRE ORGAN SOCIETY NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2008 50THEATRE ORGAN YEARS ATOS NovDec 50-6 G 10/21/08 7:32 PM Page 2 ATOS NovDec 50-6 G 10/22/08 7:56 AM Page 1 THEATRE ORGAN NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2008 Volume 50 | Number 6 FEATURES THEATRE ORGAN 11 Missing Link 18 A Lasting Obsession 20 The Wheaton Fox 50 Camp ATOS YEARS 26 Play it Again 30 Indianapolis Convention Review Jack Moelmann & Friends 42 at Radio City Music Hall Floods Damage 46 Cedar Rapids Theatre Organs DEPARTMENTS 4 Vox Humana 5 Headquarters 6 Vox Pops 7 Directors’ Corner 8 Letters 12 News & Notes 48 Professional Perspectives 50 For the Records 54 Chapter News On the cover: The art department at the Rudolph Wurlitzer Manufacturing Company was kept busy turning out spectacular advertisements to be published in exhibitor trade 64 Around the Circuit publications such as The Motion Picture Herald and Motion Picture News. This spectacular ad comes to us courtesy of the Theatre Historical Society. 69 Meeting Minutes THEATRE ORGAN (ISSN 0040-5531) is published bimonthly by the American Theatre Organ Society, 70 Obituaries Inc., 5 Third Street, Suite 724, San Francisco, California 94103-3200. Periodicals Postage Paid at San Francisco, California and at additional mailing offices. Annual subscription of $33.00 paid from members’ dues. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THEATRE ORGAN, c/o ATOS Membership Office, P.O. Box 5327, Fullerton, California 92838, [email protected]. NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2008 1 ATOS NovDec 50-6 G 10/22/08 5:06 PM Page 2 Paid Advertisement ABIGTHANKYOU!!! ǣǡ ǡǡ ǡǡ Dzdz Ǩ Ǥ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ Ǥ Ǥ Ǥ ȋ Ȍ Ǥ ǡ Ǥ ǯ ǫ ǯ Ǩ 2 THEATRE ORGAN ATOS NovDec 50-6 G 10/21/08 7:48 PM Page 3 Journal of the American Theatre Organ Society Library of Congress Catalog Number ML 1T 334 (ISSN 0040-5531) Printed in U.S.A. NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2008 Volume 50 | Number 6 THEATRE ORGAN EDITORIAL OFFICE CORPORATE OFFICE ELECTRONIC ORGANS (ETONES) WEBSITE (www.atos.org) 1845 South Michigan Avenue #1905 American Theatre Organ Society, Inc. Bucky Reddish Tom Blackwell Chicago, Illinois 60616 5 Third Street, Suite 724 5370 Vinings Lake View Drive 9717 Dayton Avenue North Voice/Fax 312-842-7475 San Francisco, California 94103 Mableton, Georgia 30126-2542 Seattle, Washington 98103 [email protected] [email protected] 206-784-9203 DESIGN & TYPESETTING 206-778-2724 mobile CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD Sleeping Giant Creative ENDOWMENT FUND [email protected] Craig Peterson Indianapolis, Indiana Michael Fellenzer 7800 Laguna Vega Drive 6041 Garver Road PRINTING & MAILING Elk Grove, California 95758 Indianapolis, Indiana 46208 916-682-9699 Johnson Press of America Pontiac, Illinois 317-251-6962 [email protected] Fax 317-251-6940 ATOS MISSION STATEMENT—The Ameri- VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD ATOS COMMITTEES & CHAIRS [email protected] can Theatre Organ Society (ATOS) is TBA the leading international organization ACQUISITIONS & EXPANSIONS INNER-CITY YOUTH/SCHOOLS PROGRAM dedicated to pursuing a positive SECRETARY Ken Double (see above at President) TBA Bob Evans difference in conserving and promot- AMATEUR THEATRE ORGANIST MENTOR PROGRAM ing the theatre pipe organ and its 798 Old Warren Road Donna Parker (see above at Education) Swansea, Massachusetts 02777 COMPETITION music, preserving original instruments Voice/Fax 508-674-0276 Susan Cole NOMINATIONS—BOARD ELECTION where possible. We provide support [email protected] P.O. Box 653 Bill Carr and guidance to all ATOS chapters Mount Dora, Florida 32756 11815 North 77th Drive and others, with promotional and TREASURER 352-383-6875 Peoria, Arizona 85345 educational opportunities to both Paul Van Der Molen [email protected] 623-694-1746 those within the Society, and to the 0 N 468 Willow Road public worldwide through the Internet, Colonel Mike Hartley [email protected] Wheaton, Illinois 60187 publications, conventions, and per- 17 Whippoorwill Drive 630-653-4986 ORGANIST SCHOLARSHIPS sonal contact. We are passionately Palm Coast, Florida 32164 Fax 630-653-4987 Carlton Smith devoted to providing professional 386-445-7562 [email protected] 2175 North Irwin Street leadership and resources so the theatre [email protected] DIRECTORS (current term) Indianapolis, Indiana 46219-2220 pipe organ will thrive in the 21st century. Don Near (2009) ARCHIVE/LIBRARY 317-356-1240 Donna Parker (2009) Jim Patak Fax: 317-322-9379 Doug Powers (2009) Rialto Square PIPE PIPER THEATRE ORGAN (title registered U.S. Jelani Eddington (2010) 5 East Van Buren Street, Suite 210 Jonathan Ortloff Patent Office) is the official publication Michael Fellenzer (2010) Joliet, Illinois 60432 CPU 274369 of the American Theatre Organ Allen Miller (2010) 708-562-8538 Rochester, New York 14627 Society, Inc. (ATOS), a non-profit John Apple (2011) [email protected] 518-572-8397 organization. © 2008 American Theatre John DeMajo (2011) [email protected] Bucky Reddish (2011) ARCHIVAL LIAISON Organ Society, Inc. All rights reserved. Jeff Weiler (see above at Journal PUBLIC RELATIONS YOUTH REPRESENTATIVE Advertising) Donna Parker (see above at Education) Annual membership in the American TO THE BOARD Theatre Organ Society is $40.00 per Tyler Morkin AROUND THE CIRCUIT PUBLICATIONS REVIEW year ($55.00 outside of the U.S.A.), 1240 East Broomfield Street, Apt 00-8 Dave Luttinen Doug Powers which includes six issues of THEATRE Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48858 4710 225th Place SW 3323 Belvoir Boulevard ORGAN. Make check or money order 906-367-1454 Mountlake Terrace, Washington 98043 Beachwood, Ohio 44122 payable to ATOS and mail to the [email protected] 425-678-8813 216-401-9671 ATOS Membership Office, P.O. Box [email protected] PRESIDENT/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Fax 440-338-5651 5327, Fullerton, California 92838, Ken Double AWARDS & RECOGNITION [email protected] [email protected]. MasterCard 5705 80th Street North Don Near RESTORATION & PRESERVATION and VISA are accepted. St. Petersburg, Florida 33709 9700 Chapman Avenue Allen Miller Single copies of current and back issues 281-798-6205 Garden Grove, California 92841 167 Carriage Drive are available for $6.00 each (please [email protected] 714-544-1106 Glastonbury, Connecticut 06033 add $3.00 per issue sent outside of the Fax 714-539-5734 JOURNAL ADVERTISING 860-633-5710 U.S.A.). Make check or money order [email protected] Jeff Weiler Fax 860-633-7230 payable to ATOS and mail with your 1845 South Michigan Avenue #1905 BYLAWS [email protected] order to ATOS Marketplace, Dennis Chicago, Illinois 60616 Jelani Eddington SIMONTON LITERARY PRIZE Unks, 4002 Westbury Ridge Drive, Erie, Voice/Fax 312-842-7475 1706 West Palomino Drive Jelani Eddington (see above at Bylaws) Pennsylvania 16506. [email protected] Racine, Wisconsin 53402 Donna Parker (see above at Education) ATOS MARKETPLACE 262-639-8788 Fax 262-639-8242 STRATEGIC PLANNING Dennis Unks Doug Powers (see above at Opinions expressed in articles and 4002 Westbury Ridge Drive [email protected] Publications Review) advertisements appearing in THEATRE Erie, Pennsylvania 16506 CHAPTER RELATIONS ORGAN are not necessarily those 814-838-8794 Craig Peterson TECHNICAL of the American Theatre Organ Society Fax 440-338-5651 7800 Laguna Vega Drive Allen Miller (see above at Restoration or the Editor. ATOS is not responsible [email protected] Elk Grove, California 95758 & Preservation) for omissions or errors that result MEMBERSHIP/EXECUTIVE SECRETARY 916-682-9699 TECHNICAL CONSULTATION PROGRAM from misrepresentation of information Jim Merry [email protected] Allen Miller (see above at Restoration provided. Advertisers and their agents P.O. Box 5327 assume all liability for advertising con- CONVENTION PLANNING & Preservation) Fullerton, California 92838 tent. Advertisements in THEATRE ORGAN Mike Kinerk 714-773-4354 DAVID L. JUNCHEN TECHNICAL do not constitute an endorsement by 2655 Pine Tree Drive SCHOLARSHIP Fax 714-773-4829 ATOS or the Editor of goods or services Miami Beach, Florida 33140 [email protected] Allen Miller (see above at Restoration offered. The Editorial Office reserves the 305-532-9000 & Preservation) right to accept, reject, or edit any and JOURNAL STAFF Fax 305-376-3679 YOUNG THEATRE ORGANIST COMPETITION all submitted articles and advertising. EDITOR Jeff Weiler [email protected] CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Jelani Eddington (see above at Bylaws) EDUCATION Donna Parker (see above at Education) Article submissions: We are pleased to Vern Bickel, Jonathan Ortloff, accept manuscripts for review. Contact Scott Smith Jelani Eddington (see above at Bylaws) YOUTH INITIATIVES: the Editor, Jeff Weiler ([email protected], PUBLISHER Doug Powers Donna Parker GEORGE WRIGHT MEMORIAL 312-842-7475) to discuss length and PUBLICATIONS MANAGER P.O. Box 6103 FELLOWSHIP content. Alden Stockebrand Aloha, Oregon 97007 THEATRE ORGAN INSTRUCTOR ADVERTISING Jeff Weiler 503-642-7009 & STUDENT LISTS Reproduction: No part of THEATRE ASSOCIATE EDITORS Fax: 503-530-8610 Jelani Eddington (see above at Bylaws) ORGAN may be reproduced in any AROUND THE CIRCUIT Dave Luttinen [email protected] form by any means without prior written THEATRE ORGAN STUDENT OF THE YEAR MUSIC Steven Ball consent from ATOS. For additional Tyler Morkin (see above at Youth REVIEWS Andy Antonczyk, THEATRE ORGAN WORKSHOPS reprint information, please contact Representative) Stanley D. Hightower Jonas Nordwall Jeff Weiler, THEATRE ORGAN Editorial PROFESSIONAL PERSPECTIVES 7221 SW 13th Office, 1845 South Michigan Avenue Edward M. Stout III Portland, Oregon 97219 #1905, Chicago, Illinois 60616, WURLITZER RARITIES Ron Mitchell 503-246-7262 [email protected]. [email protected] NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2008 3 ATOS NovDec 50-6 G 10/21/08 7:48 PM Page 4 --5-=5 0 0 Ed Seward, one of the prime movers Smith in my life? And were it not for and shakers in Detroit area theatre organ ATOS, I would likely have never known circles, asked a number of ATOS officials Lee Erwin or had him as a mentor.