soon after, became organist for WLS. For 1923 Prof. RAYMOND BEDELL, God­ several years, through his brilliant radio ard; EDWIN GRANDIN, T&D; JAMES concerts, he enjoyed possibly the most L. MITCHELL, Liberty . 1924 ALLEN widespread popularity an organist can ever LANE, ARTHUR POWER & CHARLES hope to attain. Wll.SON, Capitol's 2/14 Wurlitzer ... 1925 During this time, he conducted classes ETHA BOWMAN , Capitol; CY GRAVES, in Motion Picture Playing, with which he Godard; GENE HOWARD & EDWIN was very successful. His classes were al­ WALTON, California 's 2/ 6 Wurlitzer; ways filled, backed by a waiting list. You BOB WIDENER , Liberty ... 1927 Miss can see that Mr. Emerson was about the DALTON, Capitol; CY GRAVES, Se­ Prospected busiest organist in the city, being a glutton quoia; E.Y. HEGBON, Alhambra; GENE by for work with plenty to do. HOWARD , Liberty ... 1928 ISABELLE Lloyd From all this, evolved the thing which HARRIS, Hippodrome; ALLEN LANE & E. was to make the name of Ralph Waldo HENRI LE BEL, Senator; EDDIE SELLEN, Klos Emerson popular in the world of organ Godard ... 1929 CY GRAVES, Alhambra; playing. With his valuable knowledge of Mr. MAINARD, Hippodrome. the public 's demands, gleaned through 1986 by Margaret Dilling, Sources were: Diapason (D), Jacobs (J) many thousands of requests , and his ex­ University of California and Local Press (LP). perience as a motion picture organist, it is From the age of nine through high no wonder that he was more than qualified school, ELOISE ROW AN studied classical January 1925 (D) to become the founder of a very unique piano at the Dakota Conservatory of The Marr & Colton Co. was organized institution, the world's largest theatre organ Music in Fargo , North Dakota, under its in Warsaw , New York , in 1915 by David school. That sounds big, and it certainly is. director, Ernest Boehmer. She continued Marr & John J. Colton. Starting in an old Imagine walking into an area 16 stories studies in paino, theory and accompany­ brick building (still standing) not much above the din and roar of Chicago 's fam­ ing from 1922-23 at Northwestern Univer­ larger than a garage , the company has de­ ous Loop, where there are 14 sound­ sity and from 1923-26 at the University of veloped an organization of craftsmen recog­ proofed, specially ventilated studios , each Minnesota , beginning classical organ with nized for the high quality of their instru­ with one of the latest Estey unit organs in­ George Fairclogh. While in college, she ments. The firm has grown purely on the stalled. Every organ has all the traps , se­ turned to theatre organ, took lessons pri­ strength of the merits of the organs pro­ cond touches, percussions and everything vately with Eddie Dunstedter and accom­ duced. indigenous to a good theatre organ . Mr. panied silent films at the Loring , Strand David Marr started with the Hope-Jones Emerson is justified in being very proud of and Garrick theatres in Minneapolis. Electric Organ Co. in Birkenhead, England, pos.sessingsuch excellent teaching facilities. In 1926, she succeeded Dunstedter as in 1892. After a number of years , he was Newcomers who wish to become theatre featured organist at the State , and in 1928 associated with Norman Bros. & Beard of organists are given thorough training . at the Minnesota. At the latter, she played Norwich , England , builders of several There is an Extension Course, which en­ spotlight solos, provided background mu­ famous cathedral organs. Mr. Marr came ables the organist in the small town to not sic for the weekly feature film and accom­ to the United States , joined Hope-Jones & only improve his position , but keeps him panied stage shows for celebrities including Harrison of Watessing , New Jersey, later from getting into a rut. Mr. Err.erson also Ted Lewis, Ray Bolger, Burns & Allen and was connected with the Ernest M. Skinner features a Beginner's Extension Course the Mills Brothers. From 1930-31, she firm of Boston and was Pacific Coast rep­ which helps to qualify the pianist in the played the dual-console Wurlitzer in Den­ resentative for the Hope-Jones Organ Co. smaller community who is not adequately ver's Paramount as "Jean" of the duet of of Elmira, New York . In 1910, Mr. Marr trained for theatre organ work. "Jackie & Jean ." joined the Wurlitzer organization with Ralph Emerson has personality, too, and Between 1931 and 1944, she taught the­ Hope-Jones and upon the death of the latter lots of it. His students are always his best atre organ at the MacPhail School of Mu­ in 1914, he and John Colton left the firm boosters and his finest references. He's a sic in Minneapolis, served as NBC staff and formed the M & C partnership . bear at remembering names and faces; he organist on KSTP and as organist at the During Mr. Marr 's association with would certainly have to be, with scores of Minneapolis Auditorium for special events Hope-Jones, he assisted in many of the in­ pupils to look after. A composer of many from international bicycle races to war ventor 's experiments. John Colton started popular songs, he is constantly in demand bond tours of Bing Crosby, Bob Hope and with the Hope -Jones Co. in 1908, special­ as guest organist for dedications and civic Dennis Morgan. In Chicago , 1944-45 she izing in voicing under H-J. He joined music activities. was employed by NBC station WBBM. Wurlitzer in 1910. After moving to San Francisco in 1945, As business increased for M&C, a new 1915-1929 (LP) she played for local and network shows on structure was built in 1916. A second was Sacramento , California , had a wealth of NBC's KPO and ABC's KGO. A pioneer added in 1920 and in 1921, factory size was organists during the golden days of the in local San Francisco television from 1950, doubled . Still another addition was made. theatre organ. Following are the names of she appeared on KGO, KPIX and KRON. The plant has every modem convenience some, the theatres played and the years : After her retirement in 1975, she continued and labor-saving device. Each instrument is 1915 Prof. F.C. BASSET, Orpheum ; Prof. to teach and to be active in the American made under the personal supervision of the ANTON ROUBICEK, Strand . 1917 Theatre Organ Society in southern Cali­ partners. The company has offices in New GEORGE WELSH, T&D Theatre 's Wur­ fornia. York, Buffalo, Rochester, Philadelphia , litzer ... 1918 MAURJCE SMITH , T&D ; GOLD DUST: Detroit, Indianapolis; Portland , Oregon ; HENRY SPILLER and CECIL TEAGUE , 7138 Organist HAROLD TURNER play­ Pittsburgh and Los Angeles. Goddard 's 2/7 Wurlitzer ... 1919 CLAR­ ing piano on the Mutual Network from October 1926 (J) ENCE REYNOLDS , Godard 's ... 1920 Chicago; LEW WHITE , CBS from NY; Chicago's RALPH WALOO EMERSON DANTES BALLEAU & LIELA ELLERY, ARTHUR CHANDLER, Jr., Cincinnati's is sittin' on top of the world. A few years T&D; E. FLATT BENT, Hippodrome 's WLW ; FRED FEIBEL over WABC, NY; ago, he came to Chicago , practically un­ 2/ 6 Wurlitzer ; FREDERICK BURR CHARLES PAUL, CBS Network; FLOR­ known. It wasn 't long, however until the SCHOLL, Godard 's ... 1921 JAMES L. ENCE DUNHAM, WMMN , Fairmont , folks in the Windy City were sitting up and MITCHELL, T&D; MAURICE SMITH , W.Va. taking serious notice of this energetic young State; ROBERT E. SPENCER, Liberty's man. He became affiliated with the Barton Robert-Morton ; G .S. HERALD & AR­ That does it for now . So long, sourdoughs! Organ Co. as their official organist , and THUR POWER , Sequoias 's Wurlitzer ... Jason & The Old Prospector THEATRE ORGAN MARCH/APRIL 1991 • 19 .