SUMMER1965 VOL. VII, NO. 2 J®1]Jill~filili®IF1f [I[; fil~[;illil©ID~ID~~®©ilfil TI1il®I~J ®IF1f [I[;fil 1fill[; ®ill@ID~ [;~1f [I1]J~ilfil~TI1~ New Baldwin organ tnakes you glad you're old enough to retnember Remember flapper girls, raccoon coats, flag, Play a bass drum or rhythm brushes. pole sitters, the Charleston and silent flicks? Ring the doorbell. Laugh at the auto horn. Sing,alongs to a bouncing ball and the mighty Happy days are here again in this exciting theatre organ? They made the 1920's roar. new Baldwin Theatre Organ. See it at your Now Baldwin has captured the romance Baldwin dealer's today, or mail the coupon of those razzle,dazzle years in a great new below for colorful free brochure. theatre organ for the home. fl:-----------------------------------® Baldwin Piano & Organ Company ~ Remarkably authentic from horseshoe 1801 Gilbert Ave., Dept. T.O.M. 7-65 Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 console to special effects, it has true theatre Please send free brochure on the new Baldwin Theatre organ sound. And the brilliant tone of a Organ. Name _ ______________ _ true Baldwin. Sit down and play yourself some mem, Address _______________ _ ories. Thrill to the shimmering tibias, the City ________ State ____ Zip __ _ romantic kinura, and other theatrical voices In Canada, write: Baldwin Piano Company (Canada) Ltd. ~ 86 Rivalda Road, Weston, Ontario -all sparkling, bright and clear. ~------------------------------------111 BALDWIN AND ORGA-SONIC ORGANS • BALDWIN, ACROSONIC, HAMIL TON AND HOW ARD PIANOS editor of "Theatre Organ". W. "Stu" SUMMER 1965 VOL. VII, NO. 2 Green was re-appointed editor of "Bombarde''. A treasurers report indicated suf­ The interior of the massive Chicago ficient money on hand to complete the Studium taken prior to the Sunday issuance of scheduled official maga­ afternoon concert showing the lineup zines making it unnece.ssary to consider theatre of ATOE members waiting their chance any change in the present dues struc­ to get a closeup view of the 6/62 ture. Barton. Photo by ATOE photographer A petition to organize a new chapter Bill Lamb. was received from Kimbar, Inc. lo­ organ cated in Joliet, Illinois. After hearing a presentation by Kimbar President, A. T .0. E. National Membership James P. Slattery, and a thorough $6.00 per year - includes subscrip­ HIGHLIGHTS OF THE discussion, the petition was denied. tion to THEATRE ORGAN and THE The National Board received a bid BOMBARDE, the official publications ANNUAL BOARD OF for holding the 1966 convention from of The American Association of Portland, . Oregon. This matter was held Theatre Organ Enthusiasts. Make DIRECTORS MEETING pending bids from other chapters with your check or Money Order payable deadline set for Sept. 15, 1965, for to A.T.0.E. and mail to P.O. Box Baker Hotel receipt of such bids. 285, Griffin, Georgia. St. Charles,Illinois Three prominent names were sug­ A. T.0.E. HONORARY MEMBERS Saturday, July 3, 1965 gested as candidates for ATOE Hono­ rary Member of 1965. They were Gay­ 1959 ............... Jesse Crawford The mP.eting was called to order by lord Carter, Don Baker, and Dan Bar­ 1960 .......... .... Farny Wurlitzer Carl Norvell, National Director. ton. 1961 ........ ................ Mel Doner Routine business was transacted with The unanimous decision was made to 1962 .......... Leonard MacClain honor Dan Barton, manufacturer and no problems of national scope being 1963 ............ Eddie Dunstedter encountered. As a result of the ballot developer of the Barton Theatre Or­ gan. Presentation to be made at the 1964 ................ Reginald Foort from national members, new board 1965. ................. Dan Barton members were seated; they were Dick annual banquet. Simonton, W. "Tiny'' James, Howard All matters being resolved, the Board Day, and Erwin Young. (Complete tabu­ adjourned. STAFF FOR A.T.O.E. lation listed below.) Results of Board of Directors election from ballots mailed to members: PR ES ID ENT ... ... .............. .. Carl Norvel I The Board re-elected Carl Norvell, Vice President ............ Erwin A. Young President; Erwin Young, Vice-Presi­ dent; Secretary-Treasurer, George Richard Simonton •• 281 Treasurer .......... ... .. .... George Anthony • • 271 National Secretary .......... Betty Norvell Anthony. W. "Tiny " James • It was concluded that aims of ATOE Howard Day ••. • 198 . • 198 should be re-stated in official publica­ Erwin Young •• EDITORIAL STAFF tions. A committee is to be formed to Fredrick Kruse • 175 Irving Toner .• 151 Publications investigate the legal aspects bf pro­ Coordinator ............ W. 'Tiny' James tecting the investment of time, skills, Don Hall .••. • 106 and money expended by chapters and James Mills . • 99 THEATRE ORGAN individuals in restoring and maintain­ Editor ............... ..... George Thompson ing organs in theatres. There were a number of write-in votes Associate Editor .... Dave Brubacher George Thompson was re-appointed with none receiving more than 14 votes. THE BOMBARDE Editor .... .... ............ .... W. 'Stu' Green Associate Editor ........ Peg Nielsen Advertising Manager ........ Dewey Cog le THEATRE ORGAN and THE BOM­ BARDE are quarterly publications devoted to the interests of theatre organ enthusiasts, and to publishing of official notes and proceedings of Theatre Organ Enthusiasts. All communications and material should be sent to THEATRE ORGAN, P.O. Box 248, Alameda, California. In­ quiries and all materials intended for A.T .O.E. should be directed to the above address and will be correctly routed to the proper off ice. THEATRE ORGAN and THE BOM­ BARDE (title registered U.S. Patent Office) are published by the American As soc i at ion of Theatre Organ En­ thusiasts, Carl Norvell, President. All rights reserved, Entire contents copyright 1965 by A. T .O.E ., Inc. POSTMASTER: If undeliverable, send Form 3579 to THEATRE ORGAN, P.O. Box 248, Alameda, California. The A TOE Board of Di rectors in session at the Baker Hotel, St. Charles, 11linoi s, RETURN REQUESTED. Second Class Trimmier Photo. Permit paid at Alameda, California. Summer '65 3 ---- ....' - . '. ......: ' ~ ·---- - - • • • . • • • • • Fred Hennes Junior and Senior pose with their 5/ 28 WurliTzer. Trimm i er Photo. ing, Fred Hermes was not satisfied. On HermesHome Houses hearing that the 5-28 Wurlitzer could be obtained from the Michigan Theatre, Fred Hermes decided he would buy it, Ciani WurlitzerOrqan if he could. In September, 1955, he was able to purchase the organ. It was then removed in February, 1956 by Fred and A FEATUREDORGAN INSTALLATION thre e friends working eighteen hours a OF THE CHICAGOANNUAL MEETING day. Dismantling required a week. The organ was transported to Racine by two vans. The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company built 1949 Fred had a two-manual Wurlitzer The organ is presently housed in a many four manual organs -- from a mere Model E, which had been augmented to room especially designed to accommo­ ten or eleven ranks, to the giant 58 rank nine ranks, installed in the basement date it. The home, 150 feet from Lake instrument in Radio City Music Hall. of his insurance agency in downtown Michigan, is built into the side of a hill, This same company built to Jesse Craw­ Racine. This instrument was later sold thus simplifying some of the excavation ford's specification the Paramount to Bill Liggett of Burlington, Wisconsin, problems for a basement of this magni­ Special 4-36 which was copied four times and is still used in the ballroom known tude. The living portion of the house is at Fox Theatres in Brooklyn, Detroit, as the Royal Palm Inn. After removal of on one floor~ extending over the top of St. Louis, and San Francisco. BUT, Wur­ the two-manual Wurlitzer, a 4-11 Wur­ the organ studio. The main room in the litzer built three, and three only, five litzer was obtained from a Madison, basement, which will eventually seat manual theatre organs. Chicago had the Wisconsin church which had acquired it over 200, complete with balcony, is distinction of being home to two of these from its original installation in thP 30 x 60 feet, by 17-1/2 feet high. Around five-rankers -- at the now-demolished Strand Theatre in Madison. (Fred had to the front and sides of the room is lo­ Marbro and Paradise and Theatres (18 scrounge to obtain the requisite per­ cated six 10 x 20 foot rooms which and 21 ranks, respectively). However, by cussion and toycounter which had not house the 28 ranks of organ pipes and far the largest of these five manual been moved to the church.) This Wur­ equipment. The pipes are installed in organs is the 28 rank instrument that litzer was ultimately sold to a Chicago four chambers just as originally in­ was formerly installed in the Michigan recording studio who subsequently sold stalled in the theatre -- foundation, main, Theatre in Detroit. F_red Hermes of it to Dr. Ray Lawson of Montreal, Que­ orchestral, and brass. The relays, Racine, Wisconsin now has this organ bec where it is an essential part of the blower, and tremolo exhausts are in installed in his lakeside home. Lawson 4-20 home installation (see two additional rooms -- thus a gorgeous Fred Hermes has long been active Theatre Organ, vol. 3, no. 3). sound is developed without the distrac­ as a theatre organ enthusiast. Prior to Even with a four-manual organ play- tion of chattering relays and chugging 4 theatre organ John Muri at the Fred Hermes Wurlitzer talks about the silent picture he is about to accompany. Trimmier Photo Fred Hermes tuning in the Orchestral Chamber of his ex Michigan Theatre Wurlitzer. Racine Bulletin Photo tremolos. The organ is almostnoiseless Thomas Rench, Edward Petersen, Wil­ Metal Diaphone -- a sixteen foot ex­ when not being played. liam Brygger, Peter Charnon, Charles tension of the Viola is now installed. The organ required about four years Conrad, Ralph Pater, Charles Steinke, Since the installation of the five­ to recondition and reassemble, and today and his son, Fred, Jr.