JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN THEATRE ORGAN SOCIETY JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2016 www.atos.org ATOS JanFeb 58-1 G.indd 1 12/16/15 7:18 PM STEP UP YOUR PLAYING THE TEACHING PROGRAM FOR ADULTS IN ATOS HOSTS: The Atlanta Chapter of ATOS LOCATION: Atlanta, Georgia DATE: Friday–Sunday, March 4–6 ORGANS: Stephenson High School, 4/22 Page; Strand Theatre Allen GW4; McGee Residence Allen TO5; Double Residence Allen GW 4 INSTRUCTORS: Donna Parker; Tom Helms; Ken Double; and a Special Teaching Session with Richard Hills EVENTS: Four teaching sessions; Special Seminar with Richard Hills; Saturday night concert with Richard Hills at the Grande Page; Closing night dinner party. HOTEL: Fairfield Inn and Suites, Vinings/ Atlanta; 2450 Paces Ferry Road; Atlanta, GA REGISTRATION: Just $249 per person includes all-day session with four instructors, concert at Stephenson H.S. with Richard Hills, transportation to all events, a farewell dinner party. The 4/22 Grande Page Pipe Organ; Stephenson High Space is limited to 22 participants. School; Stone Reserve now! Mountain, Ga Contact Jonas Nordwall at [email protected]. Visit atos.org for more information. ATOS JanFeb 58-1 G.indd 2 12/16/15 7:19 PM THEATRE ORGAN JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2016 Volume 58 | Number 1 FEATURES Name the 12 Organs The Empire Wurlitzer 14 50 Years in Metro-Land Western Reserve II 26 2016 Annual Convention Memories of 36 Buddy Cole DEPARTMENTS 3 Vox Humana 5 President’s Message 6 Directors’ Corner 8 News & Notes 9 Retreat Forward 10 For the Records 48 Chapter News 57 Closing Chord 58 Around the Circuit Connor Palace, Playhouse Square Center THEATRE ORGAN (ISSN 0040-5531) is published bimonthly by the American Theatre Organ On the cover: Society, Inc., 7800 Laguna Vega Drive, Elk Grove, California 95758. Periodicals Postage Paid Empire Theatre Proscenium and orchestra at Elk Grove, California and at additional mailing offices. Annual subscription of $33.00 paid pit (Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, from members’ dues. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THEATRE ORGAN, c/o ATOS Columbia University) Membership Office, P.O. Box 6491, Aloha, Oregon 97007-0491, [email protected]. www.atos.org JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2016 1 ATOS JanFeb 58-1 G.indd 1 12/16/15 7:19 PM Journal of the American Theatre Organ Society Library of Congress Catalog Number ML 1T 334 (ISSN 0040-5531) Printed in U.S.A. JANAURY | FEBRAURY 2016 Volume 58 | Number 1 THEATRE ORGAN JOURNAL PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE Ken Double ([email protected]) THEATRE ORGAN (title registered U.S. Patent Office) 404-790-5400 is the official publication of the American Theatre PUBLISHER Organ Society, Inc. (ATOS), a non-profit organization. David Barnett ([email protected]) OPERATIONS MANAGER (INTERIM) © 2015 American Theatre Organ Society, Inc. All rights 804-359-6318 Mark Renwick ([email protected]) reserved. 904-616-2896 EDITOR Annual membership in the American Theatre Organ MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Society is $50.00 per year ($65.00 outside of the U.S.A.), Mike Bryant ([email protected]) which includes six issues of THEATRE ORGAN. Join 206-619-6645 Donna Parker ([email protected]) online at www.atos.org/membership. MasterCard, 503-372-6987 VISA, Discover, and American Express are accepted. ASSOCIATE EDITORS Or, mail your completed membership application REVIEWS: Douglas Grant ATOS.ORG WEB CONTENT MANAGER along with a check or money order payable to Don Feely ([email protected]) ATOS to ATOS Membership, P.O. Box 162049, Atlanta, JOURNAL ADVERTISING 503-882-6155 Georgia 30321. Mike Bryant Single copies of current and back issues are [email protected] ATOS MARKETPLACE available for $6.00 each (please add $3.00 per issue Rob Vastine sent outside of the U.S.A.). 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ATOS is not —Theatre Organ Online responsible for omissions or errors that result from David Barnett ([email protected]) (2018) misrepresentations in information provided to us. 804-359-6318 — Membership maintenance: Advertisements in THEATRE ORGAN do not constitute Juan Cardona, Jr. ([email protected])(2018) join or renew online an endorsement of the goods and/or services offered, either by ATOS or the editors. Advertisers 203-426-2443 —Articles and Features added regularly Michael Fellenzer ([email protected]) (2016) and their agents assume all liability for advertising content. The Editorial Office reserves the right to 317-251-6962 —Around the Circuit calendar of events accept, reject, or edit any and all submitted articles David Kelzenberg ([email protected]) (2018) and advertising. 319-621-5528 —Theatre organ locator We are pleased to accept manuscripts for review. John Ledwon ([email protected]) (2016) — ATOS Committees and contact Contact the editors ([email protected]) to discuss 702-767-8772 information length and content. Don Phipps ([email protected]) (2017) No part of THEATRE ORGAN may be reproduced 508-758-3723 —Chapter Liaison contact information in any form by any means without the express Donald J. Rankin IV ([email protected]) (2017) written consent of ATOS. For permission and reprint 330-968-8553 information contact the Publisher. Carlton Smith ([email protected]) (2016) 317-356-1240 YOUTH REPRESENTATIVE Joshua Dill ([email protected]) 229-435-9643 2 THEATRE ORGAN ATOS JanFeb 58-1 G.indd 2 12/16/15 7:19 PM A Few Disconnected Thoughts Every year about this time I, along World College Dictionary, Fourth Edition, Let’s end this topic with a word about with many other Americans, succumb to jumps from “ample” to “amplexicaul,” Theatre Organ. The full title of this an affliction known as “Turkey Coma.” which is a botanical term. The Internet is publication is Theatre Organ, the Journal It seems to come on fairly suddenly, no help either. Search results for Amplex of the American Theatre Organ Society. generally on a Thursday in November, and primarily focus on a corporate name. That’s a mouthful and a half, and nobody I almost always after consuming more food In the theatre organ world, it refers know refers to it by that name. We shorten than one is accustomed to, and earlier in to getting a stop or control to do “double it to Theatre Organ or, simply, the Journal. the day than usual. duty” depending on the setting of another Most folks, though, call it “the Symptoms include an unmistakable stop or control. For example, you may magazine.” I’ve heard some say “It isn’t feeling of satiety, sometimes coupled have a Kinura and a Piano, but you may a magazine, it’s a journal.” Half right. The with a strong urge to either loosen one’s not have room on the stoprail for a full definitions of “magazine” relate to storage. belt a notch or two or, in more advanced complement of both. Since it’s unlikely Think of an ammunition storehouse, or cases, to unbutton the waistband of one’s you’d use both together, you might the carrier for the bullets in a handgun. It trousers (wearing a long sweatshirt helps dedicate a control to “amplex,” or switch happens that the term, when applied to a hide this). From there, a desire to “just between the two voices wherever they publication such as ours, derives from the close one’s eyes for a minute” may come appear. concept of a “storehouse of information.” on, especially if the environment in which As to where the term came from, your Theatre Organ fits the other elements of the sufferer finds him- or herself is a bit guess is as good as mine. the definition of magazine (paper back, overly warm. Hopefully, that environment Speaking of “stoprail,” what about periodic publication, stories and articles will not be one’s car…. “bolster”? In the organ world, “bolster” by various writers, usually illustrations, My most recent bout of “Turkey Coma” is used as a synonym for “stoprail.” often advertisements, etc.), so those who came just a couple of days after loading But searches through several very call it “the magazine” are absolutely a semi-trailer with organ parts destined comprehensive dictionaries fail to correct.